The Conversation

Doctors are preoccupied with threats of criminal charges in states with abortion bans, putting patients’ lives at risk

Written by Sophie Bjork-James, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University

The study took place in Tennessee, a state that has had a near-total ban on abortions since 2022.Anchiy/E+ via Getty Images

Abortion bans are intended to reduce elective abortions, but they are also affecting the way physicians practice medicine.

That is the key finding from our recently published article in the journal Social Science & Medicine...

Expanding abortion access strengthens democracy, while abortion bans signal broader repression − worldwide study

Written by Alison Brysk, Professor of Political Science and Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

Abortion is on the agenda not just in the United States but worldwide.

A majority of people in developed democracies increasingly favor abortion rights and self-determination. And, in most places, laws are shifting to reflect public opinion. Since 2020, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, among others, have legalized abortion. In 2024, France adopted...

Is America ready for a woman president? Voters’ attitudes to women politicians are radically different from a decade ago

Written by Angela L. Bos, Dean and Professor, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise State University

Voters hold clear and positive stereotypes of women politicians − while they don't think as positively about men in politics. Artis777/iStock/Getty Images

If U.S. voters elect Kamala Harris – a Black, Asian American woman – president, it would be historic on multiple levels. This is now a real possibility due to voters’...

Your politics can affect whether you click on sponsored search results, new research shows

Written by Alexander Davidson, Associate Professor of Marketing, Wayne State University

Good news for digital marketers.Boy Wirat/Getty Images

American businesses spend close to US$100 billion each year to secure top advertising spots in search engine results – even though it’s not exactly a secret that most online shoppers scroll right past them.

In fact, organic links – results that aren’t sponsored...

Your next favorite story won’t be written by AI – but it could be someday

Written by Haoran Chu, Assistant Professor of Communications, University of Florida

AI language models are getting pretty good at writing – but not so much at creative storytelling.Moor Studio/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

Stories define people – they shape our relationships, cultures and societies. Unlike other skills replaced by technology, storytelling has remained uniquely human, setting people apart from...

Tiny airborne particles within air pollution could be a silent killer – new study uncovers hidden risks and reveals who’s most at risk in New York state

Written by Shao Lin, Professor of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York

Ultrafine particles stem from a variety of natural and human-made sources, including vehicle exhaust. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Long-term high ultrafine particle concentrations in New York state neighborhoods are linked to higher numbers of deaths. That is the key finding of our new research, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Our study...

Proof that immigrants fuel the US economy is found in the billions they send back home

Written by Ernesto Castañeda, Professor, American University

Migrant workers pick strawberries during harvest south of San Francisco, Calif. Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions of immigrants if he is elected to a second term, claiming that, among other things, foreign-born workers take jobs from others. His running mate JD Vance has...

For many Latter-day Saints, America has a special relationship with God − but Christian nationalism is a step too far

Written by Nicholas Shrum, Doctoral Student in Religious Studies, University of Virginia

Patriotism and faith can weave together in complicated ways − but when does that count as 'Christian nationalism'?RiverNorthPhotography/iStock via Getty Images Plus

On the verge of the 2024 elections, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are ramping up their campaigns in Arizona and Nevada. Beyond being considered swing states, the two have...

Colorado’s Amendment 80 wants to make school choice ‘a right’ when it already is – an expert in educational policy explains the disconnect

Written by Christopher Lubienski, Professor of Education Policy, Indiana University

In November, Colorado voters will decide whether the state’s constitution should be amended to specify a right to school choice.

But school choice is already guaranteed by state statute and federal courts. So why is this initiative being posed at all?

Even the initiative’s backers acknowledge that Colorado already has “one of the...

Having the ‘right’ friends may hold the secret to building wealth, according to new study on socioeconomic ties

Written by Brad Cannon, Assistant Professor of Finance, Binghamton University, State University of New York

A study finds that making friends with wealthy individuals plays an important role in shaping financial behaviors.Nicola Katie/Getty Images

Having wealthy people in your social network significantly boosts the likelihood that you’ll participate in stock markets and savings plans, according to a new working paper I co-authored.

My colleagues...