The Conversation

Election violence in November? Here’s what the research says

Written by Ore Koren, Assistant Professor, Indiana University Bloomington; International Security Fellow, Indiana University

A man carrying a club is seen as the Proud Boys, a right-wing pro-Trump group, gather with their allies in a rally against left-wing Antifa in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 26, 2020. John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

After Kenya’s 2007 election, as incumbent President Mwai Kibaki declared victory, the opposition alleged the election had...

Climate warming is altering animals' gut microbes, which are critical to their health and survival

Written by Sasha Greenspan, Research Associate, University of Alabama

A snapshot of the rich plant diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.Gui Becker, CC BY-SA

It seems like each day scientists report more dire consequences of climate change on animals and plants worldwide. Birds that are migrating later in the year can’t find enough food. Plants are flowering before their insect pollinators hatch. Prey...

When politicians use hate speech, political violence increases

Written by James Piazza, Liberal Arts Professor of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University

Both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump have been accused of using hate speech.AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi

Politicians deepen existing divides when they use inflammatory language, such as hate speech, and this makes their societies more likely to experience political violence and terrorism. That’s the conclusion from...

Belarus' embattled leader secretly inaugurated himself, sparking new protests and global backlash

Written by Tatsiana Kulakevich, Lecturer and Research Fellow at USF Institute on Russia, University of South Florida

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office during an unannounced inauguration ceremony Sept. 23 in Minsk.Andrei Stasevich\TASS via Getty Images

As if a fraudulent election and months of mass protest weren’t enough drama for Belarus, its embattled authoritarian leader went ahead and inaugurated himself as president in a...

Kids’ perceptions of police fall as they age – for Black children the decline starts earlier and is constant

Written by Kathleen Padilla, Graduate Student of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University

Taking a peek, but probably not seeing a future career. Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

The deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and most recently Dijon Kizzee at the hands of officers come in an age when overpolicing and underserving minority communities has, as some experts believe, resulted in a “legitimacy crisis” in American...

Science untangles the elusive power and influence of hope in our lives

Written by Richard Miller, Professor of Practice, T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamic, Arizona State University

Traditional dancers celebrate Hari Raya, the end of Ramadan. Photo by Aniq Danial for Unsplash, CC BY-ND

On Erin Gruwell’s first day as a high school English teacher, she faced a classroom of 150 “at risk” freshmen. Most of these kids, statistically, were going to fail. They were tough, their young lives already defined by...

Can you have too much Botox?

Written by Matthew J. Lin, Assistant Clinical Professor, Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Six million Botox procedures are performed every year.Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

Demand for cosmetic treatments, including botox and fillers, has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons are attributing the boom to patients wanting to put their best face forward for online Zoom meetings, as well as...

How even a casual brush with the law can permanently mar a young man's life – especially if he's Black

Written by Gary Painter, Professor of Public Policy, University of Southern California

Even a minor arrest and no conviction can be devastating. Doug Berry/Photodisc via Getty Images

George Floyd’s death highlighted how even a minor alleged infraction – in his case, over a fake $20 bill – can lead to a fatal interaction with law enforcement.

As a result, a coalition of advocacy organizations, criminal justice reform...

Women equal men in computing skill, but are less confident

Written by Matthew J. Liberatore, John F. Connelly Chair in Management at the Villanova School of Business, Villanova University

Studies show women are perfectly capable of getting the job done.Dean Mitchell/E+ via Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

In the workplace, women are now as good as men when it comes to computing performance, but there is still a gender gap when it comes to confidence, according to our new...

Stressful times are an opportunity to teach children resilience

Written by Vanessa LoBue, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University Newark

To protect students and communities across the U.S. from COVID-19, many districts have switched to digital learning or a hybrid of in-classroom and virtual schooling.ZEPHYR/Getty Images

Between the global COVID-19 pandemic, the associated economic downturn and widespread protests over racism, it’s difficult for everyone. Many people are...