The Conversation

Rural Americans' struggles against factory farm pollution find traction in court

Written by Sacoby Wilson, Assistant Professor of Applied Environmental Health , University of Maryland

A barn that can hold up to 4,800 hogs outside Berwick, Pa. The state says the farm is in compliance with regulations, but residents have gone to court seeking relief from odors.AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam

As U.S. livestock farming becomes more industrial, it is changing rural life. Many people now live near Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations...

Flu lasts for more than an hour in air and on surfaces – why cleaning can really help

Written by Seema Lakdawala, Assisstant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Cleaning counters and keyboards can remove flu virus, which can survive well there, a study suggests.AVAVA/Shutterstock.com

Influenza, or flu, viruses cause about 200,000 hospitalizations every year in the U.S. Annual seasonal vaccination is our best line of defense, but in recent years, it has become clear that mismatches in the vaccine can limit...

Observing the universe with a camera traveling near the speed of light

Written by Bing Zhang, Professor of Astrophysics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

What could a 'relativistic camera' capture on the way to Alpha Centauri?ESA/NASA, CC BY

Astronomers strive to observe the universe via ever more advanced techniques. Whenever researchers invent a new method, unprecedented information is collected and people’s understanding of the cosmos deepens.

An ambitious program to blast cameras far beyond...

Mexico's next president likely to defy Trump on immigration

Written by Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong

The Trump administration's new family separation policy has become a hot issue in Mexico's presidential election. All four candidates say that Mexico must do more to respect the human rights of Central American migrants. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

United States President Donald Trump has long blamed Mexico for the flow of Central Americans seeking to...

Reggae's sacred roots and call to protest injustice

Written by David W. Stowe, Professor of English and Religious Studies, Michigan State University

Guitarist David Hinds at Reggae on the Rocks in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP

July 1 is International Reggae Day – a time to celebrate the popular music of Jamaica with dance parties exhibitions, presentations and even tree planting.

Reggae is universally associated with Bob Marley, its most influential artist. However,...

Is Juul making it easy for kids to vape in school? New study suggests yes

Written by Jon-Patrick Allem, Research Scientist, University of Southern California

Young people may be vaping during school, a study of Twitter posts suggests. J.A. Dunbar/shutterstock.com

The Juul vaporizer is the latest advancement in electronic cigarette technology, delivering nicotine to the user from a device about the size and shape of a thumb drive. Juul has taken the electronic cigarette market by storm experiencing a ye...

What's involved in designing World Cup jerseys?

Written by Susan L. Sokolowski, Director & Associate Professor: Sports Product Design, University of Oregon

The designs, materials, cuts and graphics of jerseys are meant to stand out.AP Photo/Frank Augstein

Nearly 3.5 billion people are expected to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. They’ll all see players wearing a fresh batch of national jerseys, designed by the major sport product manufacturers. Millions of authentic tops are made for fans...

Math explains why your bus route seems so unreliable

Written by Vikash V. Gayah, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

The tricky math behind your bus route.Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com

Have you ever waited for your bus at a bus stop for a very long time – only to be greeted by two or more buses arriving together?

This phenomenon, known as “bus bunching,” is a problem that bus transit systems around the world have been trying to solve...

Could new legislation lead to a Route 66 economic revival?

Written by Daniel Milowski, Ph.D. Student in History, Arizona State University

An aerial view of Seligman, Arizona, looking west, dated March 12, 1971. Route 66 bisects the town.James R. Powell Route 66 Collection/Newberry Library

In his 1939 novel “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 “The Mother Road.”

The 2,448 mile-long highway that once wound from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa...

Why are Democratic voters more approving of compromise than Republicans?

Written by James Glaser, Professor, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, Tufts University

At a time when political division is heightened and the parties in Washington are deeply polarized, it is worth asking whether there is any payoff for politicians to work together.

Will they be rewarded by their constituents for getting things done, balancing different interests for the public good and working across the aisle with civility and...