The Conversation

Migrants at US-Mexico border must get past cartels before their long journey ends

Written by Paola Díaz, Investigadora en la Escuela de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Sociales CEMS- EHESS- Francia y en COES- Chile (Centre for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies), Diego Portales University

Undocumented migrants climb on a train known as 'La Bestia' in Las Patronas town, Veracruz state, Mexico, Aug. 9, 2018, to travel through Mexico and reach the U.S. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

Every train car in “La Bestia” – The Beast – is a world unto itself, with all the good and evil that entails. Ariel saw the...

Coronavirus reminds Americans that pursuit of happiness is tied to the collective good

Written by Christopher Beem, Managing Director of the McCourtney Institute of Democracy, Co-host of Democracy Works Podcast, Pennsylvania State University

People practice social distancing by standing apart during a news conference in Washington D.C.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

At its core, the United States Declaration of Independence argues that all human beings have “unalienable rights.” These include right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These rights apply to...

How hope can keep you healthier and happier

Written by Everett Worthington, Emeritus Commonwealth Professor of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University

Hope springs eternal -- if you nurture it.Getty Images / ipopba

Hope can erode when we perceive threats to our way of life, and these days, plenty are out there. As we age, we may struggle with a tragic loss or chronic disease. As we watch the news, we see our political system polarized, hopelessly locked in chaos. The coronavirus spreads wider...

How Chinese people came together when separated by quarantine, creating hope, humor and art

Written by Belinda Kong, Professor of Asian Studies, Bowdoin College

Zuo Ansheng, a flour figurine master, makes flour works related to the coronavirus in Yinan county in Shandong province, Feb. 7, 2020.Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Fear and blame appear to be fast becoming Americans’ defining emotions around COVID-19. Headlines seem to offer either worst-case estimates or government...

The digital divide leaves millions at a disadvantage during the coronavirus pandemic

Written by Gregory Porumbescu, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University Newark

Slow or unreliable internet access is a reality for millions of Americans.ben dalton/Flickr, CC BY-SACC BY-ND

Amidst the flurry of social media updates about the COVID-19 pandemic, a chart illustrating the importance of flattening the curve has gone viral. The idea is that taking measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 lowers the chances of overwhel...

The coronavirus could be Generation Z's 9/11

Written by Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University

A pedestrian wearing a protective face mask walks past a nearly empty restaurant in New York City.John Minchillo/AP Photo

Less than two weeks ago, everything still seemed pretty normal.

On March 6, I was returning home from a short business trip; my flight was full, and the airport was full. My phone’s newsfeed, however, was far from normal:...

Balloon releases have deadly consequences – we're helping citizen scientists map them

Written by Lara O'Brien, Master's Degree Candidate in Conservation Ecology and Environmental Informatics, University of Michigan

A mylar balloon at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.Lara O'Brien, CC BY-ND

Balloons are often seen as fun, harmless decorations. But they become deadly litter as soon as they are released into the air and forgotten.

Plastic pollution is one of today’s biggest environmental challenges. Microplastics have been found in our drinking...

Don’t expect the coronavirus epidemic in the US to bring down President Trump

Written by Alex De Waal, Research Professor and Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at The Fletcher School, Tufts University

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the press briefing room at the White House on March 15, 2020.Getty/Tasos Katopodis

The Trump administration’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis has been widely condemned by health experts.

But if the administration’s bungling proves costly to Trump in the November election, it...

Students less likely to report sexual harassment when the perpetrator is a professor

Written by Stephen Aguilar, Assistant Professor of Education, University of Southern California

Some victims say their reports drew retaliation.pic_studio/Getty Images

In 2017, Karen Kelsky, a consultant for people looking for academic jobs, launched a survey to capture people’s experiences of sexual harassment at colleges and universities. I took interest in this survey because it was widely reported and sparked a lot of interest how...

Coronavirus: Social distancing is delaying vital scientific research

Written by Chris Impey, University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona

Many scientists have had to hang up their lab coats and go home.Jonathan Pow/Cultura via Getty Images

Scientists are facing stiff headwinds from the rapid spread of COVID-19.

The coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a national emergency in the U.S. While the impact of the pandemic on scientific research pales...