The Conversation

Intolerance on the march: do Brexit and Trump point to global rejection of liberal ideals?

Written by Charles Hankla, Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Walls intended to separate, such as this one in Berlin, seem to be back in vogue.Berlin wall via www.shutterstock.com

Back in 1991, the eminent political scientist Samuel Huntington pointed out that democratic transitions around the world often come in waves.

He pointed to a “third wave” of democratization that began in the 1970s with...

Sex and other myths about weight loss

Written by Tammy Chang, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University of Michigan

Contrary to myth, sex is not good exercise. From www.shutterstock.com

The estimated annual health care costs related to obesity are over $210 billion, or nearly 21 percent of annual medical spending in the United States. Americans spend $60 billion on weight loss products each year, trying everything from expensive meal replacement products to...

Just graduated? Does it make you feel like a grown up?

Written by Michael Vuolo, Assistant Professor of Sociology, The Ohio State University

Adults? Or not yet?HCC Public Information Office, CC BY-NC-ND

We may think that a simple age cutoff – such as 18 – should make us feel like adults. And why not? After all, crossing an age threshold can bestow certain rights, such as voting, military enlistment, purchase of certain substances as well as adult images or videos.

From our...

Even scientists take selfies with wild animals. Here's why they shouldn't.

Written by Christine A. Ward-Paige, Founder/Scientist at eOceans.org, Research Associate at Dalhousie University, Dalhousie University

Researchers in Maine pose with terns after measuring, weighing and banding the birds. But what if they weren't scientists?Amanda Boyd, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/Flickr, CC BY

One of the great things about being a biologist is getting to work in the field and connect with wildlife. Through my career, I have enjoyed many unforgettable close...

What's lost when we photograph life instead of experiencing it?

Written by Rebecca Macmillan, Ph.D. Candidate in English, University of Texas at Austin

With our attention diverted, we're no longer in the moment.'Concert' via www.shutterstock.com

At a conference on June 14, Facebook executive Nicola Mendelsohn predicted that the social networking site would be “all video” within five years.

“We’re seeing a year-on-year decline of text,” she said. “If I was having...

Un-Trapped: Supreme Court strikes down Texas law limiting abortion

Written by Renee Cramer, Professor of Law, Politics and Society, Drake University

The U. S. Supreme Court on Monday invalidated two Texas provisions that would have closed at least seven of 17 abortion clinics in the state, saying that neither provision had a positive effect on women’s health, and that both existed primarily for the unconstitutional purpose of restricting access to abortion. Some are calling the 5-3...

How do food manufacturers pick those dates on their product packaging – and what do they mean?

Written by Londa Nwadike, Assistant Professor of Food Safety, Extension Food Safety Specialist at University of Missouri, Kansas State University

When does it all become dangerous to eat?Rich Johnstone, CC BY-NC-ND

No one wants to serve spoiled food to their families. Conversely, consumers don’t want to throw food away unnecessarily – but we certainly do. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates Americans toss out the equivalent of US$162 billion in food every year,...

How do children learn to detect snakes, spiders and other dangerous things?

Written by Vanessa LoBue, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University Newark

How do kids develop fears?Craig Bradshaw, CC BY-NC-ND

As summer approaches, children will be spending less time in the classroom and more time navigating the outside world. Outdoor activities are a fun and exciting part of summertime, but they can also filled with natural (and unnatural) dangers, like fast-moving cars, steep cliffs, crashing waves...

Explainer: how Panama Canal expansion will transform shipping once again

Written by Frank Townsend, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering, University of Florida

World shipping changed forever when the Panama Canal opened on August 15, 1914. It was an engineering marvel of its day, cutting the distance required to get from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic by as much as 8,000 nautical miles.

The shipping industry is changing once again as 70 heads of state gathered in Panama City recently to celebrate the...

License and registration, please: how regulating guns like cars could improve safety

Written by Keith Guzik, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Colorado Denver

In the midst of the Senate’s failure to agree on measures designed to tighten controls around the sales of firearms, a new idea is emerging.

Last week, U.S. Representative Jim Hines, a Democrat from Connecticut, appeared on “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” and said, “we ought to probably test people and make sure there is...