The Conversation

A road map for the lawful use of stop-and-frisk in Philadelphia – and elsewhere

Written by Michael D. White, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University

Police officers talk to students during a recruiting event at Temple University.Robert Klemko/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Violent crime, and how to reduce it, dominated the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral campaign.

As a candidate, Cherelle Parker suggested she would support using stop-and-frisk to combat gun violence. After being elected, Parker...

Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here's what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it

Written by Monica Wang, Associate Professor of Public Health, Boston University

Media literacy is more essential than ever. Wanlee Prachyapanaprai/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating.

According to a survey of U.S. adults, Americans in October 2023 were less likely to view approved vaccines as safe than they...

Growth of autocracies will expand Chinese global influence via Belt and Road Initiative as it enters second decade

Written by Richard Carney, Associate professor of global studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Xi Jinping shakes hands with Chinese construction workers at a Belt and Road Initiative site in Trinidad and Tobago in June 2023.Frederic Dubray/AFP via Getty Images

China currently faces daunting challenges in its domestic economy. But weakness in the real estate market and consumer spending at home is unlikely to stem its rising influence abroad....

Nonalcoholic beer: New techniques craft flavorful brews without the buzz

Written by Clark Danderson, Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management and Director of Brewing Science and Operations, Auburn University

Brewers today are delivering nonalcoholic beers that are a far cry from the sweet, watery options of the past.Pramote Polyamate/Moment via Getty Images

The holiday season for me includes socializing over drinks with friends and family. But all the celebrating tends to catch up with my waistline, and by New Year’s Day, it’s time to get...

'Good Times': 50 years ago, Norman Lear changed TV with a show about a working-class Black family's struggles and joys

Written by Angela M. Nelson, Associate Professor of Popular Culture, Bowling Green State University

Esther Rolle, right, and John Amos starred in the pathbreaking 1970s Black sitcom.Moviepix via Getty Images

I loved watching Norman Lear’s trailblazing television shows when I was growing up in Dalzell, South Carolina, in the 1970s.

“Good Times,” my favorite, debuted on Feb. 8, 1974 – nearly 50 years ago. CBS aired the show...

Arctic Report Card 2023: From wildfires to melting sea ice, the warmest summer on record had cascading impacts across the Arctic

Written by Rick Thoman, Alaska Climate Specialist, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Giovanna Stevens grew up harvesting salmon at her family’s fish camp on Alaska's Yukon River. Climate change is interrupting hunting and fishing traditions in many areas.AP Photo/Nathan Howard

The year 2023 shattered the record for the warmest summer in the Arctic, and people and ecosystems across the region felt the impact. Wildfires forced...

Israelis and Palestinians warring over a homeland is far from unique

Written by Monica Duffy Toft, Professor of International Politics and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

The golden Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine, a holy site for Muslims, stands close to the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in an aerial view of Jerusalem's Old City. David Silverman/Getty Images

The ongoing horrors unfolding in Israel and Gaza have deep-rooted origins that stem from a complex and contested question: Who has rights to the same...

Israel-Hamas war may not restore Israelis' support for military reserves

Written by Arie Perliger, Director of Security Studies and Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

Israeli reservists take a moment to rest in southern Israel on Nov. 13, 2023.Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

One of the first Israeli government responses to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack was the mobilization of about 360,000 reservists into active duty for the Israel military. This amounts to roughly 4% of the nation’s population...

Could UPS and FedEx get holiday packages to their destinations faster? This research suggests yes

Written by Toyin Clottey, Professor of Supply Chain Management, Wayne State University

The real heroes of the holidays.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Every year, parcel delivery companies – think UPS and FedEx – hire tens of thousands of seasonal driver helpers to handle the deluge of presents that arrive with the holidays. At peak times, shipping firms depend on their helpers just as much as Santa depends on his elves. And...

Before he was House speaker, Mike Johnson represented a creationist museum in court. Here’s what that episode reveals about his politics

Written by William Trollinger, Professor of History, University of Dayton

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson takes questions from reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Nov. 14, 2023.AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has been the subject of considerable media attention following his elevation to the post on Oct. 25, 2023. Since his appointment, news reports have highlighted the fact that he...