The Conversation

Deep sea carbon reservoirs once superheated the Earth – could it happen again?

Written by Lowell D. Stott, Professor, University of Southern California

Droplets rising from the Champagne vent on the ocean floor in the Mariana Islands. Fluids venting from the site contain dissolved carbon dioxide. NOAA Ocean Explorer

As concern grows over human-induced climate change, many scientists are looking back through Earth’s history to events that can shed light on changes occurring today. Analyzing...

Misery and memory in Glendora, Mississippi: How poverty is reshaping the story of Emmett Till's murder

Written by Dave Tell, Professor of Communication, University of Kansas

Some say Till's body was dumped from the Old Black Bayou Bridge in Glendora, Mississippi. Others dispute this detail.cmh2315fl/flickr, CC BY-NC

In August of 1955, Emmett Till was lynched in the Mississippi Delta. The 14-year-old African American reportedly whistled at a white woman, violating the racial norms of the Jim Crow South. For this...

Will Trump's use of executive privilege help him avoid congressional oversight? It didn't help Richard Nixon

Written by Ken Hughes, Research specialist, University of Virginia

On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard M. Nixon resigned and left the White HouseAP/Chick Harrity

Like Donald Trump, Richard Nixon tried to stonewall congressional investigations into crimes allegedly committed in the White House.

“Why, we’ll just let it go to the (Supreme) Court. Fight it like hell,” Nixon said.

But the stone wall crumbled...

Uber drivers strike and the future of labor: 4 essential reads

Written by Bryan Keogh, Economics + Business Editor

Uber drivers protest outside of the New York Stock Exchange.AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Uber drivers across the globe logged out of their company’s app for several hours on May 8 to protest its compensation policies.

Strikes occurred in at least eight U.S. cities including New York and San Francisco as well as places as far-flung as London and...

Psychology behind why your mom may be the mother of all heroes

Written by Scott T. Allison, Professor of Psychology, University of Richmond

Moms leave their mark.Bruno Nascimento/Unsplash, CC BY

Each May, the United States celebrates Mother’s Day, and for good reason. According to surveys I’ve conducted, over 25% of Americans cite their mother as their number one hero. Fathers come in a distant second at 16%.

Moms are indeed the mother of all heroes.

Abraham Maslow organized...

Why the ancient promise of alchemy is fulfilled in reading

Written by Elisabeth Gruner, Associate Professor of English, University of Richmond

The potions classroom at the Making of Harry Potter Studio.Alex Volosianko

Within a 20-minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, is the oldest house in the city: the house of Nicolas Flamel. If the name rings a vague bell, perhaps it’s because you read J. K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the...

Trump's 'energy dominance' ambitions hit another snag on the West Coast

Written by Shawn Olson Hazboun, Faculty, Graduate Program on the Environment, Evergreen State College

West Coast opponents of fossil fuel exports have blocked industry plans for years.AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Oregon environmental authorities have denied a permit for the the Jordan Cove natural gas export project, citing concerns about water pollution and damage to waterways. The company behind it can appeal or reapply. But this latest hurdle could...

Harsh punishments under Sharia are modern interpretations of an ancient tradition

Written by Jessica Marglin, Associate Professor of Religion, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, one of the landmarks in Brunei. Brunei recently announced punishing gay sex by stoning offenders to death.AP Photo/Vincent Thian

After Brunei introduced death by stoning for homosexuals under its Islamic law, or Sharia, the condemnation from human rights organizations and others was swift. Recently, the...

Electricity grid cybersecurity will be expensive – who will pay, and how much?

Written by Dominic Saebeler, Adjunct Instructor of Business Administration, University of Illinois at Springfield

In a power outage, some lights are on, but others are not.Felix Lipov/Shutterstock.com

Recently, a neighbor asked one of us whether Russia, China, North Korea and Iran really are capable of hacking into the computers that control the U.S. electricity grid. The answer, based on available evidence, is “Yes.” The follow-up question was,...

Science images can capture attention and pique curiosity in a way words alone can't

Written by Felice Frankel, Research Scientist in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

These small 'robots' can create a complex system when they find each other as they roam around.Felice Frankel, CC BY-ND

Were you recently gobsmacked when you saw the very first image of a black hole? I know I was.

This first image shows a bright ring formed as light bends in the intense gravity around a black hole that is 6.5 billion times more...