The Conversation

Why it was once unthinkable for the president to be seen with the pope

Written by David Mislin, Assistant Professor, Intellectual Heritage Program, Temple University

President Trump stands beside Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. An unidentified priest looks on.Evan Vucci/AP

The much-anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Pope Francis – the third stop on the first overseas trip of Trump’s presidency – proved successful. Reports from the Vatican note that after “...

How Google Street View became fertile ground for artists

Written by Allison L. Rowland, Assistant Professor of Performance and Communication Arts, St. Lawrence University

A scene in the Bronx curated from Google Street View.Nick Lehr/The Conversation via Google, CC BY-SA

On May 25, Google Street View celebrates its 10th birthday. A feature of Google Maps, it lets users explore cities and towns around the world – and even peer inside businesses and government institutions (including the White House). Games have...

The Islamic State group has weaponized children

Written by Mia Bloom, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University

In claiming responsibility for the attack in Manchester at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, the Islamic State group has sunk to a new low.

We have seen terrorists target venues where young people congregate before – shopping malls, discos and schools. If IS was indeed involved, they have now deliberately targeted young children, tweens and...

How social ties make us resilient to trauma

Written by Daniel P. Aldrich, Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director, Security and Resilience Program, Northeastern University

Manchester, England, May 23, 2017, the day after the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert that left 22 people dead. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

The May 22 suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester, England has claimed at least 22 lives. Once again we find ourselves mourning the loss of innocents and wondering how our societies can find...

How childhood trauma can affect mental and physical health into adulthood

Written by Shanta R. Dube, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Georgia State University

Childhood trauma can have an impact across generations.ambrozinio/Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This article is the first in a series exploring how research into adverse childhood experiences – or ACEs – is helping therapists, parents, educators and the medical community better understand the...

How Trump and Tom Price can kill Obamacare without the Senate

Written by Simon Haeder, Assistant Professor of Political Science, West Virginia University

Pres. Trump and HHS Secretary Tom Price in the Oval Office on March 24, 2017, the day the original version of the AHCA was pulled. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Senate leadership has indicated that passage of the American Health Care Act “will not be quick,” but it may not matter.

Individual insurance markets already are shaky, in limbo...

Getting ready for hurricane season: 6 essential reads

Written by Jennifer Weeks, Editor, Environment and Energy, The Conversation

All tropical cyclones in the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, with their locations shown at six-hour intervals and color representing maximum wind speed.Cyclonebiskit/Wikipedia

Editor’s note: The following is a roundup of archival stories.

June 1 marks the start of Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November. While hurricanes can...

What is the Shia-Sunni divide?

Written by Ken Chitwood, Ph.D. Student, Religion in the Americas, Global Islam, University of Florida

The Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, when both Shia and Sunni Muslims come together to pray.Al Jazeera English, CC BY-SA

In his address in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, May 21, while calling on Muslim leaders to lead the fight against terrorism, President Donald Trump identified Iran as a despotic state giving safe harbor and financing terror in the Middle...

Neuromechanics of flamingos' amazing feats of balance

Written by Lena Ting, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Emory University

How do they do while sleeping what we can barely do at all?Carlos Bustamante Restrepo, CC BY-NC-ND

If you’ve watched flamingos at the zoo – or if you’re lucky, in the wild – you’ve likely wondered how flamingos manage to sleep standing on one leg.

Of course, as humans, we think standing on one leg is hard because...

Helping military service members complete college

Written by Jonathan Smith, Assistant Professor of Economics, Georgia State University

Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

Every year, over half a million military service members and veterans enroll in undergraduate institutions. Only about half leave with a certificate or degree.

Getting a college degree can help graduates get jobs and earn higher wages, but veterans and active military service members may face obstacles on their way to...