The Conversation

Brazil's tide against corruption swells

Written by Susan Rose-Ackerman, Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence (Law and Political Science), Yale University

Calls for Brazilian President Michel Temer's ouster are growing louder due to allegations of government corruption.Pilar Olivares/Reuters

Brazil’s political turmoil is going into overdrive, exacerbated in recent days by the discovery of a tape recording allegedly of President Michel Temer approving some US$600,000 in hush money to pay off a...

Should spies use secret software vulnerabilities?

Written by Nir Kshetri, Professor of Management, University of North Carolina – Greensboro

When is it okay for the government to keep a secret?sharpshutter via shutterstock.com

The recent WannaCry ransomware attack infected about 300,000 computers in 150 countries, and cost computer users thousands of dollars in ransom money and billions in lost productivity.

The attack took advantage of a vulnerability in the Windows operating system...

Understanding tornadoes: 5 questions answered

Written by Paul Markowski, Professor of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University

Tornado seven miles south of Anadarko, Oklahoma, May 3, 1999.OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory/Flickr, CC BY

Editor’s note: May and June are typically peak months for tornadoes in North America. We asked Penn State meteorology professors Paul Markowski and Yvette Richardson to explain why tornadoes form, how to stay safe if...

Child anxiety and parenting in the Trump era

Written by Barbara Milrod, Professor of Psychiatry, Medical College, Cornell University

What can parents do to help their children manage the political climate?AP Photo/Richard Vogel

“Lucy,” a shy, intelligent six-year-old, missed three days of school because she had stomachaches. The symptoms started the day after Lucy witnessed a loud argument while waiting for the bus with her babysitter. A “scary man”...

When some US firms move production overseas, they also offshore their pollution

Written by Yue Maggie Zhou, Assistant Professor of Strategy, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Heavy gray smog blankets northeastern China, including Beijing and Tianjin, on Dec. 18, 2016 during a five-day air pollution 'red alert.' NASA Earth Observatory

On April 22, as protesters swelled Earth Day rallies in U.S. cities and around the world, President Trump tweeted that he was “committed to keeping our air and water clean but always...

Trump's global gag order: 5 questions answered

Written by Maureen Miller, Professor, Columbia University Medical Center

Community health workers like these visit patients’ homes in Malawi to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation–Malawi/Chris Cox, CC BY-ND

Editor’s note: President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that media reports say could obstruct nearly US$8.8 billion...

Meet Ebrahim Raisi, the cleric challenging incumbent Rouhani for president of Iran

Written by Emily L. Blout, Faculty Fellow, Internet Governance Lab, American University School of Communication

Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi is an important newcomer to electoral politics.

Last year, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Raisi custodian of the shrine of Imam Reza and chairman of the foundation that manages its extensive complex. This is no minor post. The foundation nets the regime billions of dollars.

The shrine of...

Meet Ebrahim Raisi, the cleric who challenged incumbent Rouhani for president of Iran

Written by Emily L. Blout, Faculty Fellow, Internet Governance Lab, American University School of Communication

Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi is an important newcomer to electoral politics.

The shrine of...

Comey isn't the first FBI director to keep memos on a president

Written by Douglas M. Charles, Associate Professor of History, Pennsylvania State University

President Donald Trump allegedly asked FBI Director James Comey to drop the FBI’s investigation into Michael Flynn.

President Franklin Roosevelt asked FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to collect information on Americans who had committed no crimes.

President Richard Nixon asked Hoover to provide the White House a list of reporters the FBI knew...

Fidget toys aren't just hype

Written by Katherine Isbister, Professor of Computational Media, University of California, Santa Cruz

Balancing and doing tricks requires visual attention.ThamKC via shutterstock.com

The fidget spinner craze has been sweeping elementary and middle schools. As of May 17 every one of the top 10 best-selling toys on Amazon was a form of the hand-held toy people can spin and do tricks with. Kids and parents are even making them for themselves using 3D...