The Conversation

Lil Nas X's dance with the devil evokes tradition of resisting, mocking religious demonization

Written by S. Kyle Johnson, PhD Candidate/Teaching Fellow in Systematic Theology, Boston College

Looking for the meaning of Lil Nas X's latest video? The detail is in the devil.SME on behalf of Columbia/Sony ATV Publishing/UMPG Publishing/Youtube

Musician Lil Nas X’s video for his new single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” is a defiant expression of queer sexuality. Filled with Christian imagery, it offers a complex...

Anxious about going out into the world? You're not alone, but there's help

Written by Claudia Finkelstein, Associate Professor of Medicine, Michigan State University

Even though people are ready to venture out and socialize, many are fearful. And some also remember those who lost their lives and want to be careful in their memory. RealPeopleGroup/Getty Images

It’s the moment we thought we were all waiting for…or is it? We were cautiously optimistic about the end of the pandemic in view of increasing...

Water being pumped into Tampa Bay could cause a massive algae bloom, putting fragile manatee and fish habitats at risk

Written by Larry Brand, Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami

Tampa Bay's sea grass meadows need sunlight to thrive. Algae blooms block that light and can be toxic to marine life.Joe Whalen Caulerpa/Tampa Bay Estuary Program via Unsplash

Millions of gallons of water laced with fertilizer ingredients are being pumped into Florida’s Tampa Bay from a leaking reservoir at an abandoned phosphate plant at...

Faith in numbers: Trump held steady among believers at the ballot – it was the nonreligious vote he lost in 2020

Written by Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University

White evangelicals continued to back Trump in 2020 in significant numbers.Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

For all the predictions and talk of a slump in support among evangelicals, it appears Donald Trump’s election loss was not at the hands of religious voters.

As an analyst of religious data, I’ve been crunching data...

India prepares for Kumbh Mela, world's largest religious gathering, amid COVID-19 fears

Written by Tulasi Srinivas, Professor of Anthropology, Religion and Transnational Studies, Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson College

Hindu devotees attend evening prayers on the banks of the Ganges River during the religious Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar, India.Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images

Massive crowds are expected to gather at India’s northern city of Haridwar throughout April 2021 for the religious festival of Kumbh Mela, despite the country’s grappling...

How worried should you be about coronavirus variants? A virologist explains his concerns

Written by Paulo Verardi, Associate Professor of Virology and Vaccinology, University of Connecticut

A COVID-19 patient in an ICU unit in a hospital in Capetown, South Africa, in December 2020. A variant emerged in South Africa that has since spread to other parts of the world. Other new variants could emerge elsewhere.Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images

Spring has sprung, and there is a sense of relief in the air. After one year of lockdowns and...

Why you should expect more Suez-like supply chain disruptions and shortages at your local grocery store

Written by Nada R. Sanders, Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management, Northeastern University

A Target in Sheridan, Colorado, was very low on paper towels in November 2020. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

When the Ever Given container ship choked off traffic in the Suez Canal for almost a week in late March 2021, it made big headlines around the world.

The price of oil rose, and companies fretted as hundreds of ships carrying everything from coffee...

Bringing 'behavioral vaccines' to school: 5 ways educators can support student well-being

Written by Sandra M. Chafouleas, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut

Research shows small acts of kindness can make a big difference in classrooms. kali9/E+ via Getty Images

As many schools in the U.S. figure out how to safely and fully resume in-person instruction, much of the focus is on vaccinations.

But there’s another type of “vaccine” that may be beneficial for some returning K-12 students...

Beverly Cleary refused to teach kids how to be good -- and generations of young readers fell in love with her rebel Ramona

Written by Kristin Girten, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Arts and Humanities/Associate Professor of English, University of Nebraska Omaha

Beverly Cleary's beloved characters, including Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins, have enthralled readers for decades.AP Photo/Anthony McCartney

There’s nothing like being reasoned with by a 4-year-old girl.

“‘Stop it,’ ordered Beezus. ‘Stop it this instant! You can’t eat one bite and then throw the rest...

White supremacy is the root of all race-related violence in the US

Written by Jennifer Ho, Professor of Asian American Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

As fears of anti-Asian violence grow, police seek to be more visible to deter attacks.AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Amid the disturbing rise in attacks on Asian Americans since March 2020 is a troubling category of these assaults: Black people are also attacking Asian Americans.

White people are the main perpetrators of anti-Asian racism. But in February...