The Conversation

AI is making reading books feel obsolete – and students have a lot to lose

Written by Naomi S. Baron, Professor Emerita of Linguistics, American University

Workarounds to reading a book cover-to-cover have existed for decades, but generative AI takes it to new heights.dem10/E+ via Getty Images

A perfect storm is brewing for reading.

AI arrived as both kids and adults were already spending less time reading books than they did in the not-so-distant past.

As a linguist, I study how technology influences...

Labor Day and May Day emerged from the movement for a shorter workday in industrial America

Written by Jeffrey Sklansky, Professor of History, University of Illinois Chicago

It took more than a century for Chicago's Haymarket Square to get this memorial to the historic labor strife that occurred there. Jeffrey Sklansky

Most of the world observes International Workers’ Day on May 1 or the first Monday in May each year, but not the United States and Canada. Instead, Americans and Canadians have celebrated Labor Day...

The new NextGen Acela trains promise faster travel and more seats – but arrive as US rail faces an uncertain future

Written by David Alff, Associate Professor of English, University at Buffalo

The new Acela trains are scheduled to start running on the Northeast Corridor soon. Courtesy of Amtrak

When former President Joe Biden unveiled his US$1.9 trillion infrastructure plan in 2021, he found the perfect place to go public: Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station rail yard.

Over the din of crackling wires and grumbling engines, the...

4 laws that could stymie the Trump EPA’s plan to rescind the endangerment finding that underpins US climate policies

Written by H. Christopher Frey, Glenn E. Futrell Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, left, takes a selfie with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in front of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.AP Photo/Jenny Kane

The Trump administration’s plan to unravel many of the nation’s climate policies hinges on rescinding what’s known as the endangerment...

The dark history of forced starvation as a weapon of war against Indigenous peoples

Written by Rosalyn R. LaPier, Professor of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yazan Abu Ful, a 2-year-old malnourished child, sitting in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on July 23, 2025. AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi

There is increasing evidence that “widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease” are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths“ in Gaza, a group of United Nations and aid organizations have...

Getting beyond answers like ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’: 5 simple ways to spark real talk with kids

Written by Shelbie Witte, Dean, College of Education and Human Development, University of North Dakota

Most kids want to know whether the adults in their lives are genuinely interested in their day – and aren't just going through the motions.FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

Each afternoon, a familiar conversation unfolds in many households.

“How was school today?”

“Fine.”

“What did you learn?”

“Nothing.”...

4 laws that could stymie the Trump EPA’s plan to rescind the endangerment finding, central to US climate policies

Written by H. Christopher Frey, Glenn E. Futrell Distinguished University Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, left, takes a selfie with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in front of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.AP Photo/Jenny Kane

The Trump administration’s plan to unravel many of the nation’s climate policies hinges on rescinding what’s known as the endangerment...

San Francisco and other cities, following a Supreme Court ruling, are arresting more homeless people for living on the streets

Written by Stephen Przybylinski, Assistant Professor of Geography, Michigan State University

A person walks past a homeless encampment in the Skid Row community in Los Angeles in June 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Homelessness is on the rise in the United States, and in some places, it is becoming more common for the police to arrest someone for sleeping or living in a public space.

In June 2024, the Supreme Court issued a ruling, Grants...

Women in STEM face challenges and underrepresentation – this course gives them tools to succeed

Written by Filomena Nunes, Professor of Physics, Michigan State University

Women with strong networks and communities are most likely to succeed in the STEM fields. LWA/Dann Tardif via Getty Images

As a graduate student in physics, I was often the only woman in the room. As I gained more experience, I learned valuable lessons about the scientific community and how to better advance my career. Once I started mentoring...

My research team used 18 years of sea wave records to learn how destructive ‘rogue waves’ form – here’s what we found

Written by Francesco Fedele, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Rogue waves have captivated the attention of both seafarers and scientists for decades. These are giant, isolated waves that appear suddenly in the open ocean.

These puzzling giants are brief, typically lasting less than a minute before disappearing. They can reach heights of 65 feet (20 meters) or greater and often more than twice the height of...