The Conversation

How does spider venom damage human cells? Researchers uncover the killer mechanism of recluse spider toxin

Written by Matthew Cordes, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona

While rarely aggressive, the brown recluse is known for the damage its venom can inflict on people.Lisa Zins/Flickr, CC BY-SA

Spiders are among Earth’s most resourceful predators, nabbing prey by any means necessary. Orb weavers spin webs for capture. Wolf spiders ambush on the ground at night. Almost all spiders use venom when they hunt.

But...

Hormuz closure threatens the global food supply – why grocery price hikes are coming

Written by Aya S. Chacar, Professor of International Business, Florida International University

Fertilizer scarcity and costs are just the beginning of the problems.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The global energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is only the beginning of the economic cost of the war with Iran.

I study how institutions affect businesses and supply chains, and I expect food prices to rise next, with high...

Philadelphia’s founding years were rife with conspiracy fears about ‘godless’ Freemasons and the Illuminati

Written by Derek Arnold, Instructor in Communication, Villanova University

George Washington was initiated into Freemasonry at the age of 20.Strobridge & Co. Lith./Library of Congress via AP

How conspiracies spread has changed immensely over the history of the United States, as technology and media have evolved. But the nature of conspiracies has not.

I teach communications courses at Villanova University, 12 miles...

What is CREC and how does it shape Pete Hegseth’s religious rhetoric?

Written by Samuel Perry, Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Baylor University

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on March 31, 2026. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s conservative evangelical religious beliefs drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. He is a member of the Communion of Reformed...

What I learned from analyzing 789 ‘Shark Tank’ pitches: Narcissists get funding if they’re not arrogant or defensive

Written by Paul Sanchez Ruiz, Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, Iowa State University

On 'Shark Tank,' the 'sharks,' or investors, hear pitches from entrepreneurs to invest in their business. Courtesy of ABC

Entrepreneurs displaying narcissistic behavior are better able to convince investors to give them money when their grandiosity comes across as confidence as opposed to defensiveness or arrogance.

That’s what we learned from...

About 80% of breast cancer biopsies turn out benign – new imaging tool promises clearer diagnoses and fewer biopsies

Written by Quing Zhu, Professor of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis

Ultrasound is standard for breast cancer screening, but it has its limitations.Anchiy/E+ via Getty Images

Ultrasound is widely used in breast cancer diagnosis. While it can effectively show that a lump is filled with fluid – indicating it is unlikely to be cancer – it cannot reliably determine whether a solid mass is benign or...

Teenagers and younger kids are learning coded predator phrases like ‘MAP’ online, long before their parents have even heard of it

Written by Sharlette A. Kellum, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Texas Southern University

Teenagers and children may encounter terms like MAP in memes, comments or other ways online. Catherine Falls Commercial

When I checked my 10-year-old daughter’s TikTok messages in early February 2026, I expected to find the usual mix of dance challenges, school jokes and anime clips. Instead, I saw a stranger ask her, “Do you like...

What gig workers and employees who get tips need to know about the new no-tax-on-tips tax break

Written by Annette Nellen, Professor of Tax and Accounting, San José State University

Gig workers, including DoorDash delivery people, are eligible for a new tax break on their tips.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

About 1 in 10 American workers are earning a living as a gig worker. That means they find their customers through Lyft, DoorDash, TaskRabbit and other digital platforms, or do another form of what the IRS...

Lebanon’s political elites are using displacement and humanitarian crisis to delay elections again

Written by Jasmin Lilian Diab, Assistant Professor of Migration Studies; Director of the Institute for Migration Studies, Lebanese American University

Long-time Lebanese power broker and speaker of the parliament Nabih Berri speaks during a legislative session. AP Photo/Hussein Malla

Lebanon was meant to be preparing for key parliamentary elections in May 2026. Then came the return of war.

Two days after the U.S. and Israel launched their military operation in Iran on Feb. 28, Hezbollah and Israel...

US and Iran: A brief history of how decades of mistrust and bad blood led to open warfare

Written by Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

An Iranian walks past an anti-U.S. mural in Tehran on April 5, 2025.Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

With U.S. bombs raining down on Iran and Tehran’s leaders responding by hitting targets across the Persian Gulf and restricting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it is fair to suggest that the present moment represents a low in relations...