The Conversation

Vaccines and values: When you’re having a tough conversation about medicine, don’t just pile on evidence − listen to someone’s ‘moral foundations’

Written by John Rovers, Professor of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Drake University

Listen for values and emotions, not just points you can rebut with facts.kupicoo/E+ via Getty Images

It’s that special time of year when family and friends come together to celebrate the holidays, share meals, spread cheer – and, too often, pass along their germs.

Because vaccines can save lives and prevent serious illness, health...

Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season

Written by Libby Richards, Professor of Nursing, Purdue University

Respiratory viruses rise in the wintertime, but not because people are outside in the cold. gilaxia/E+ via Getty Images

You’ve probably heard “Don’t go outside in the winter with your hair wet or without a coat; you’ll catch a cold.”

That’s not exactly true. As with many things, the reality is more complicated....

15% of global population lives within a few miles of a coast − and the number is growing rapidly

Written by Arthur Cosby, Professor of Sociology, Mississippi State University

Large parts of Mumbai face increasing flood risks from storms and sea-level rise.AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool

Coastal populations are expanding quickly around the world. The rise is evident in burgeoning waterfront cities and in the increasing damage from powerful storms and rising sea levels. Yet, reliable, detailed data on the scale of that population...

‘Administrative law’ sounds dry but likely will be key to success or failure of Trump’s plans for government reform

Written by Sidney Shapiro, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

Judges will likely be asked to rule on how changes to federal rules were made and what conclusions were drawn from that process.Chris Collins/The Image Bank via Getty Images

There’s a lot of speculation about what Donald Trump’s second term in the White House will bring. But there’s one thread that’s likely to tie together...

Why the religious beliefs of Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth matter

Written by Julie Ingersoll, Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Florida

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The most serious allegations against Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick to head the U.S. Department of Defense, involve mismanagement, heavy drinking, infidelity, sexual harassment and even rape.

Hegseth denies the allegations but also claims that because of...

We interviewed 30 Black public school teachers in Philadelphia to understand why so many are leaving the profession

Written by Lynnette Mawhinney, Professor of Urban Education and Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Academic Initiatives, Rutgers University - Newark

Philadelphia had 1,250 fewer Black teachers in 2022 than in 2000.10'000 Hours/DigitalVision Collection via Getty Images

Tracey, a high school teacher in the Philadelphia School District, remembers the hurtful comments she heard from parents when she started her career over a decade ago as a young Black teacher in what was then a predominantly white...

US role in Syria is unclear in wake of Assad’s fall from power

Written by Jordan Tama, Provost Associate Professor, American University School of International Service

U.S. forces patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border near Turkey on Sept. 3, 2024. Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images

As a new government is set to form in Syria following a sudden coup earlier this week, the United States’ response to the political upheaval appears uncertain.

Rebel groups unexpectedly overthrew Syria’s...

What the US Supreme Court will consider when it rules on gender-affirming care for trans children

Written by Mark Satta, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Law, Wayne State University

Transgender rights supporters and opponents rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 2024, as the Skrmetti case is being argued. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

A case recently argued in the U.S. Supreme Court will likely determine for the foreseeable future how difficult it will be for trans people to win constitutional challenges to laws that...

What’s next for Albertsons after calling off its $25B grocery merger with Kroger: More lawsuits

Written by Christine P. Bartholomew, Professor of Law, University at Buffalo

Albertsons is now suing the competitor that had tried to acquire it.AP Photo/Jenny Kane

Albertsons announced on Dec. 11, 2024, that it had called off an attempted merger with Kroger and would sue Kroger for breach of contract. The US$25 billion deal, first announced in 2022, would have combined Cincinnati-based Kroger, already the largest...

Assad’s fall in Syria will further weaken Hezbollah and curtails Tehran’s ‘Iranization’ of region

Written by Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies and Associate Professor of Francophone and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Dickinson College

The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect the 24 million Syrians who lived – and largely suffered – under his brutal rule. Over the border in Lebanon, the impact will be felt, too.

The collapse of Assad’s government provides another blow to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which was already reeling from an Israel...