The Conversation

Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic − as some cities are doing − carries hidden costs

Written by Rajpreet Grewal, Water Policy Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Plastic water pipes may be cheaper, but they also come with risksMark Bernard/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Flint, Michigan, made headlines in 2015 when tests revealed dangerously high lead levels in its drinking water. The city had switched its water supply to the Flint River a year earlier, and corrosive water had damaged aging lead pipes, exposing...

When people are under economic stress, their pets suffer too – we found parts of Detroit that are animal welfare deserts

Written by Laura A. Reese, Professor Emeritus of Urban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one pet. More than ever before, companion animals are a part of life – particularly in cities, where the majority of Americans live.

Cities offer access to many resources, but often it’s not distributed evenly. Some scholars describe parts of U.S. cities with few or no grocery stores...

Kidneys from Black donors are more likely to be thrown away − a bioethicist explains why

Written by Ana S. Iltis, Professor of Philosophy; Carlson Professor of University Studies; and Director, Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University

Corey Mayes at his New York home on Feb. 10, 2023, after receiving a kidney transplant.Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images

As one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., kidney disease is a serious public health problem. The disease is particularly severe among Black Americans, who are three times more likely than white Americans to develop...

Genetic testing cannot reveal the gender of your baby − two genetic counselors explain the complexities of sex and gender

Written by Maggie Ruderman, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Boston University

Gender and sex are more complicated than X and Y chromosomes.I Like That One/Digital Vision via Getty Images

Gender reveal parties are best known as celebrations involving pink and blue, cake and confetti, and the occasional wildfire. Along with being social media hits, gender reveals are a testament to how society is squeezing children into one of...

US charitable giving dipped to $557B in 2023, but outlook is getting brighter

Written by Anna Pruitt, Associate Director of Research, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and Managing Editor, Giving USA, Indiana University

Donors give more to social service groups, including homeless shelters, than to any other kind of charity besides religious institutions.AP Photo/Morgan Lee

U.S. charitable giving declined by 2.1% to US$557 billion in 2023, but the flow of funds began to stabilize following several years of volatility.

The annual report from the Giving USA Foundation...

Escalating Israel-Hezbollah clashes threaten to spark regional war and force US into conflict with Iran

Written by Asher Kaufman, Professor of History and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

A plane uses a fire retardant to extinguish a fire near the border between Israel and Lebanon.AP Photo/Leo Corre

Months of relentless exchanges between Israel and Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah have seen mass civilian evacuations and widespread death, injury and destruction.

The violence has worsened since early June, accompanied by increas...

‘I love this work, but it’s killing me’: The unique toll of being a spiritual leader today

Written by Laura Captari, Clinical and Research Psychologist, The Danielsen Institute, Boston University

The past few years have put even more stress on many clergy.Martine Severin/E+

Clergy, chaplains and other spiritual leaders play vital roles in their communities, from celebrating life’s most joyous moments to offering comfort and guidance in the face of tragedy.

However, the personal toll of this work on spiritual leaders can be immense,...

Rocks on Rapa Nui tell the story of a small, resilient population − countering the notion of a doomed overpopulated island

Written by Carl Lipo, Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean for Research, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Covering the ground with rocks is actually a good way to grow some crops in poor soil.Carl Lipo

Conventional wisdom holds that the island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, once had a large population that crashed after living beyond its means and stripping the island of resources. A new research study my colleagues and I conducted has...

Making art is a uniquely human act, and one that provides a wellspring of health benefits

Written by Girija Kaimal, Professor of Art Therapy Research, Drexel University

The act of creating art serves as exercise for the brain and is integral to physical and mental health. hzechphotography/Moment via Getty Images

When you think about the word “art,” what comes to mind? A child’s artwork pinned to the fridge? A favorite artist whose work always inspires? Abstract art that is hard to understand?

Eac...

Boost your immune system with this centuries-old health hack: Vaccines

Written by Aimee Pugh Bernard, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

When it comes to vaccines and immune health, the results aren't too good to be true.Jena Ardell/Moment via Getty Images

There are a dizzying number of tips, hacks and recommendations on how to stay healthy, from dietary supplements to what color of clothes promotes optimal wellness. Some of these tips are helpful and based on good evidence, while...