The Conversation

Jupiter's moons hide giant subsurface oceans – two missions are sending spacecraft to see if these moons could support life

Written by Mike Sori, Assistant Professor of Planetary Science, Purdue University

The surface of Europa – one of Jupiter's moons – is a thick layer of solid ice.NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute, CC BY-SA

On April 13, 2023, the European Space Agency launched a rocket carrying a spacecraft destined for Jupiter. The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – or JUICE – will spend at least three years on Jupiter’s...

Hangry bacteria in your gut microbiome are linked to chronic disease – feeding them what they need could lead to happier cells and a healthier body

Written by Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, University of Washington

The gut microbiome may play a role in regulating the body's appetite, cognition and immune responses. nopparit/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Diet-related chronic diseases have reached a critical juncture in the U.S.

Nearly half the population has prediabetes or diabetes. Over 40% are overweight or obese. One in nine people over the age of 65 has...

For Black social workers, anxiety and depression are on the rise

Written by Carmen Reese Foster, Interim Online MSSW Program Director, Assistant Professor of Practice, Director of Alumni Affairs, University of Tennessee

A woman raises her fist during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Queens, New York. Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images

When George Floyd was brutally murdered in the summer of 2020, a wave of activism spread throughout the country.

People protested. Anti-racism books became bestsellers. Diversity, equity and inclusion jobs increased by 55%,...

Ditching a friend who is not like you can deepen social inequality

Written by Mark C. Pachucki, Associate Professor of Sociology, UMass Amherst

Newly released research of residents in northern California suggests that since the 2016 presidential election, some friendship groups have become more homogeneous. Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images

Since the 2016 presidential election, news accounts and scientific research have illustrated how defriending, a term originally associated with...

How direct admission is changing the process of applying for college

Written by Mary L. Churchill, Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement and Professor of the Practice, Boston University

A college admission letter might come from a school you haven't applied to – or even heard of.Antonio_Diaz / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

For students and families who are considering college, a relatively new option for admission is gaining popularity. In addition to the long-standing regular admissions process, and various...

A new femininity is starting to emerge in China

Written by Qingyue Sun, Ph.D. Candidate in Communication, Culture and Media, Drexel University

Models wearing outfits that reflect traditional Chinese culture walk the runway during China's International Fashion Week in March 2023.VCG/Getty Images

Over the course of the last century, Western beauty ideals – thinness, light skin, large breasts, large eyes, a small nose and high cheekbones – have seeped into countries and cultures...

How do trees die?

Written by Camille Stevens-Rumann, Assistant Professor of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University

Eventually weather, pests and disease will take their toll, but the story doesn't end there. Emanuel David / 500px via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

How and why do trees die? – Anish K., age 11, Boston,...

I tried to pay my taxes in cash – here's what happened, and why the IRS should make it easier to do so

Written by Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor, Boston University

It turns out paying taxes in cash ain't easy. nikom khotjan/Moment via Getty Images

About two-thirds of all U.S. residents who file federal income taxes typically get a refund. Unfortunately, this year I am among the other third who owe the Internal Revenue Service money.

So I tried something I’ve never done before and few people do: I wanted...

Jobs report hints that Fed policy is paying off – and that a 'growth recession' awaits

Written by Christopher Decker, Professor of Economics, University of Nebraska Omaha

Inching toward a recession .. but what kind?Eskay Lim/EyeEm via Getty Images

The latest jobs report is in, and the good news is Federal Reserve policy on inflation appears to be working. The bad news is Fed policy on inflation appears to be working.

The March 2023 jobs report reveals that the U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs during the month –...

Efforts to ban critical race theory have been put forth in all but one state – and many threaten schools with a loss of funds

Written by Taifha Natalee Alexander, CRT Forward Project Director, University of California, Los Angeles

Bans on critical race theory target teachers and curriculums.Kobus Louw via Getty Images

Few topics in education have dominated the news over the past few years as much as efforts to ban critical race theory from the nation’s schools. The topic is so pervasive that researchers at the UCLA School of Law Critical Race Studies Program have...