The Conversation

Why Facebook antitrust case relies so heavily on Mark Zuckerberg's emails

Written by Rebecca Haw Allensworth, Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University

Mark Zuckerberg's own words are key evidence in the FTC lawsuit against Facebook. AP Images/Olivier Matthys

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s own words play a starring role in the government’s case to break up his social network.

“It is better to buy than compete,” he allegedly wrote in an email in 2008, according to the...

When families of murder victims speak at death penalty trials, their anguish may make sentencing less fair

Written by Austin Sarat, Associate Provost and Associate Dean of the Faculty and Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College

Four of the 10 federal prisoners executed this year: Wesley Purkey, killed July 16; Dustin Honken, killed July 17; Brandon Bernard, killed Dec. 10; and Alfred Bourgeois, killed Dec. 11. In some cases, survivors of their victims addressed the court.AP Photo

The Trump administration is spending its final months authorizing executions. Ten federal...

What you need to know about this year's winter solstice and the great conjunction

Written by William Teets, Acting Director and Astronomer, Dyer Observatory, Vanderbilt University

Editor’s note: Dr. William Teets is the director of Vanderbilt University’s Dyer Observatory. In this interview, he explains what does and doesn’t happen during the winter solstice on Dec. 21. Another cosmic phenomenon is also going to occur on the same day called “the great conjunction,” where Saturn and Jupiter,...

Here's why Christmas movies are so appealing this holiday season

Written by S. Brent Rodriguez-Plate, Professor of Religious Studies and Cinema and Media Studies, by special appointment, Hamilton College

A still from the 1946 classic 'It's A Wonderful Life.'RKO Pictures/Archive Photos/Moviepix/Getty Images

With the pandemic limiting travel over the holiday season, many Americans will be settling in front of the television to watch their favorite holiday movies, along with their favorite drink – a cup of hot apple cider or a glass of wine...

Llamas are having a moment in the US, but they've been icons in South America for millennia

Written by Emily Wakild, Professor of History and Director, Environmental Studies Program, Boise State University

Llamas In a pen, Pasajes, Tarija, Bolivia. Insights/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

With their long eyelashes, banana-shaped ears, upturned mouths and stocky bodies covered with curly wool, llamas look like creatures that walked out of a Dr. Seuss story. And now they’re celebrities in the U.S.

Because of their gentle and docile...

FDA authorized first over-the-counter COVID-19 test – useful but not a game changer

Written by Zoë McLaren, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The new rapid test is available without a prescription, but only 20 million are set to be sold by the middle of next year. Ellume/AP

Soon, people in the U.S. will be able to pick up a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 from their local drugstore without a prescription, test themselves and process the results at home.

The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test that...

The top scientific breakthrough for 2020 was understanding SARS-CoV-2 and how it causes COVID-19 – and then developing multiple vaccines

Written by David Pride, Associate Director of Microbiology, University of California San Diego

The number one scientific breakthrough for 2020: multiple vaccines to prevent COVID-19Philippe Raimbault/Photodisc via Getty Images

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has killed approximately 2.2% of those worldwide who are known to have contracted it. But the situation could be a lot worse without modern medicine...

Why retired generals rarely lead the Pentagon

Written by Dwight Stirling, Lecturer in Law, University of Southern California

President-elect Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to be secretary of defense.AP Photo/Susan Walsh

By all accounts, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Defense Department, is eminently qualified to be secretary of defense. A man who achieved the rank of four-st...

As heavenly bodies converge, many ask: Is the Star of Bethlehem making a comeback?

Written by Eric M. Vanden Eykel, Associate Professor of Religion, Ferrum College

A Nativity presentation showing the three wise men being led by the Star of Bethlehem.Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will cross paths in the night’s sky and for a brief moment, they will appear to shine together as one body. While planetary conjunctions like this are not everyday events, they a...

10 reasons why Anthony Fauci was ready to be the face of the US pandemic response

Written by Barbara Gastel, Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and of Humanities in Medicine, Texas A&M University

Fauci is an accomplished scientist who also excels at connecting with the public.AP Photo/Cliff Owen

His call to “Wear a mask” tops a list of 2020’s notable quotes. Brad Pitt portrayed him – and praised him – on “Saturday Night Live.” Time magazine named him a 2020 guardian of the year. Amazon features...