The Conversation

What’s at risk for Arctic wildlife if Trump expands oil drilling in the fragile National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

Written by Mariah Meek, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University

Teshekpuk caribou graze in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Bob Wick/BLM, CC BY

The largest tract of public land in the United States is a wild expanse of tundra and wetlands stretching across nearly 23 million acres of northern Alaska. It’s called the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, but despite its industrial-sounding name, the...

1 in 3 Florida third graders have untreated cavities – how parents can protect their children’s teeth

Written by Olga Ensz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Community Dentistry, University of Florida

Many Florida children lack access to routine dental care.Lu ShaoJi/Moment via Getty Images

“He hides his smile in every school photo,” Jayden’s mother told me, holding up a picture of her 6-year-old son.

I first met Jayden – not his real name – as a patient at the University of Florida community dental outreach program...

How can the James Webb Space Telescope see so far?

Written by Adi Foord, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

This is a James Webb Space Telescope image of NGC 604, a star-forming region about 2.7 million light-years from Earth.NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI

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 does the camera on the James Webb Space Telescope...

From the marriage contract to breaking the glass under the chuppah, many Jewish couples adapt their weddings to celebrate gender equality

Written by Samira Mehta, Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies & Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

The ketubah is a binding document in Jewish law that traditionally spells out a groom's responsibilities toward his wife − but that many couples adapt to be more egalitarian.PowerSiege/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Traditional Jewish weddings share one key aspect with traditional Christian weddings. Historically, the ceremony was essentially a...

Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk

Written by Katherine Gregory, Assistant Professor, University Libraries, Mississippi State University

The papers of members of Congress are fertile ground for research into Congress’ role in shaping U.S. history.cunfek, iStock/Getty Images Plus

In 1971, the president of Mississippi State University, Dr. William L. Giles, invited President Richard Nixon to attend the dedication of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis’ papers to the university...

Iran emerged weakened and vulnerable after war with Israel − and that could mean trouble for country’s ethnic minorities

Written by Shukriya Bradost, Ph.D. Student of Planning, Governance and Globalization, Virginia Tech

Iranians celebrate the ceasefire in downtown Tehran, but many blame their own leaders for the escalation.Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel in June 2025 may not have escalated into a full-scale regional war, but it marks a potentially critical turning point in Iran’s internal political...

Supreme Court upholds childproofing porn sites

Written by Meg Leta Jones, Associate Professor of Technology Law & Policy, Georgetown University

The Supreme Court greenlights states' efforts to block kids from online porn by requiring age verification.AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision on June 27, 2025, that will reshape how states protect children online. In a case assessing a Texas law requiring age verification to access porn sites, the court...

What the Supreme Court ruling against ‘universal injunctions’ means for court challenges to presidential actions

Written by Cassandra Burke Robertson, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University

A journalist runs out of the U.S. Supreme Court building carrying a ruling on the last day of the court's term on June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

When presidents have tried to make big changes through executive orders, they have often hit a roadblock: A single federal judge, whether located in Seattle or Miami or...

Michelin Guide scrutiny could boost Philly tourism, but will it stifle chefs’ freedom to experiment and innovate?

Written by Jonathan Deutsch, Professor of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University

Chef Phila Lorn prepares a bowl of noodle soup at Mawn restaurant in Philadelphia.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

The Philadelphia restaurant scene is abuzz with the news that the famed Michelin Guide is coming to town.

As a research chef and educator at Drexel University in Philadelphia, I am following the Michelin developments closely.

Having eaten in...

What Trump’s budget proposal says about his environmental values

Written by Stan Meiburg, Executive Director, Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University

The president's spending proposal doesn't leave much behind.Alexey Kravchuk/iStock / Getty Images Plus

To understand the federal government’s true priorities, follow the money.

After months of saying his administration is committed to clean air and water for Americans, President Donald Trump has proposed a detailed budget for the U.S....