The Conversation

Freddie Mercury's family faith: The ancient religion of Zoroastrianism

Written by Vasudha Narayanan, Professor of Religion, University of Florida

Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara, came from a family of Zoroastrians.atelier nerodimARTE/flickr, CC BY-NC-SA

In the Freddie Mercury biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” there’s a scene in which a family member scolds Mercury.

“So now the family name is not good enough for you?”

“I changed it legally,” Mercury re...

Republican ads feature MS-13, hoping fear will motivate voters

Written by Anthony W. Fontes, Assistant Professor of Human Security, American University School of International Service

Screenshot from Republican John Rose's campaign ad 'Build the Wall,' which equates all immigration with the Salvadoran gang MS-13. John Rose For Tennessee via YouTube

Campaign advertisements appearing for this year’s midterm elections include a stream of Republican campaign ads linking immigration to crime.

One-quarter of Republican ads...

Prenatal blood screening may predict Zika virus-associated fetal defects

Written by Suan-Sin Foo, Postdoctoral scholar, University of Southern California

These photos show mothers or family members holding infants born with microcephaly, one of many serious medical problems caused by congenital Zika syndrome.AP Photo/Felipe Dana

The sudden and rampant outbreak of Zika virus in 2016 terrified pregnant women, particularly those residing in Zika-endemic regions, such as Brazil, as well as those in the...

Does giving donors stuff actually raise more money?

Written by Jonathan Meer, Professor of Economics, Texas A&M University

There's no such thing as a free luggage tag.Chatcharin Sombutpinyo/Shutterstock.com

You’ve almost certainly opened an envelope containing a solicitation from a nonprofit and discovered a set of mailing labels with your name and address on them. Or a few bookmarks with the group’s branding. Or, just as likely, the offer of a mug, a tote...

One way to reduce food waste: Use it to make soil healthier

Written by Matthew Wallenstein, Professor and Department Head, Colorado State University

Wastes from facilities like this cheese factory could find uses in agriculture.Shutterstock.com/Giuseppe Parisi

Imagine that one-third of cars manufactured by Ford or GM were never even driven once, but instead were left to rust and ended up in landfills. This exact situation is true today in agriculture, where up to 40 percent of food produced...

Campaign spending isn't the problem – where the money comes from is

Written by Richard Briffault, Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation, Columbia University

Lots of money is spent on campaigns. But is that a problem?Shutterstock

The tide of campaign money seems to be running high and threatening to swamp our democracy.

For the first time, the cost of congressional elections is likely to surpass US$5 billion.

Certainly, $5 billion sounds like a lot to spend on a midterm election. But consider the stakes...

How safe is your place of worship?

Written by Christopher P. Scheitle, Assistant Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University

Many Americans may be wondering what security measures are in place at their place of worship after 11 people were killed in Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

President Donald Trump also alluded to this question when he said “the results would have been far better” if the Tree of Life congregation had armed...

Developing teen brains are vulnerable to anxiety – but treatment can help

Written by Paola Odriozola, Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Yale University

The character of Kayla in 'Eighth Grade' is a true-to-life representation of an anxious teen.A24

Adolescence is the life stage when mental illnesses are most likely to emerge, with anxiety disorders being the most common. Recent estimates suggest that over 30 percent of teens have an anxiety disorder. That means about one of every three teenagers...

New findings on ocean warming: 5 questions answered

Written by Scott Denning, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University

The ocean absorbs about 90 percent of the excess heat produced as climate change warms the earth. Image Catalog

Editor’s note: A new study by scientists in the United States, China, France and Germany estimates that the world’s oceans have absorbed much more excess heat from human-induced climate change than researchers had estimated up...

DJ Durkin's firing won't solve college football's deepest problems

Written by Joseph Cooper, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Connecticut

Former University of Maryland football coach DJ Durkin pictured on the field in an undated photo.mpi34/MediaPunch /IPX

Maryland college football coach DJ Durkin was ultimately fired after the death of a player during practice – and findings that his players were bullied and abused by coaches and staff over the course his three-year tenure....