The Conversation

Why do Christians wear ashes on Ash Wednesday?

Written by Michael Laver, Department Chair, Associate professor, Rochester Institute of Technology

Worshippers at Ash Wednesday mass.AP Photo/Alan Diaz

This coming Wednesday many Christians will arrive at work with a black cross smudged on their foreheads; countless more will slip into a church or a chapel during their lunch break or after work to receive the sign that tells the arrival of Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of the Christian...

Delivering packages with drones might be good for the environment

Written by Constantine Samaras, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

Could drone delivery help the environment?AP Photo/Claude Paris

There are more than 1 million drones registered in the U.S. Most of them belong to people flying them for fun, but a growing number are used commercially. Companies including Amazon, UPS, Google and DHL are already exploring ways to deliver packages with drones instead of trucks. Our...

Prehistoric wine discovered in inaccessible caves forces a rethink of ancient Sicilian culture

Written by Davide Tanasi, Assistant Professor, Department of History and Center for Visualization and Applied Spatial Technologies (CVAST), University of South Florida

Deep inside Monte Kronio, hot, humid and sulfurous caves held an ancient secret.Giuseppe Savino, La Venta Esplorazioni Geografiche, CC BY-ND

Monte Kronio rises 1,300 feet above the geothermally active landscape of southwestern Sicily. Hidden in its bowels is a labyrinthine system of caves, filled with hot sulfuric vapors. At lower levels, these...

The failed president who almost got ousted

Written by Donald Nieman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Binghamton University, State University of New York

'Farewell, to all my greatness' — President Andrew Johnson's departure from office was lampooned by Harper's Weekly. Library of Congress

Who’s the most vulgar, racist, thin-skinned, vituperative U.S. president?

As a historian of Reconstruction, I’ve always believed that it was Andrew Johnson. However, considering his astonishing...

How to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry across North America

Written by Kate Konschnik, Director, Climate & Energy Program, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University

Shale gas drilling site, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY

U.S. natural gas production has boomed in the past decade, driving gas prices sharply downward. Natural gas has become a competitive choice for electricity generation, edging out coal. Because gas contains less carbon than coal, greenhouse gas emissions from power...

The 'real' St. Valentine was no patron of love

Written by Lisa Bitel, Professor of History & Religion, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Relics of St. Valentine of Terni at the basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin.Dnalor 01 (Own work) , CC BY-SA

On Feb. 14, sweethearts of all ages will exchange cards, flowers, candy, and more lavish gifts in the name of St. Valentine. But as a historian of Christianity, I can tell you that at the root of our modern holiday is a beautiful fiction. St....

Andrew Johnson's failed presidency echoes in Trump's White House

Written by Donald Nieman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Binghamton University, State University of New York

'Farewell, to all my greatness' — President Andrew Johnson's departure from office was lampooned by Harper's Weekly. Library of Congress

Who’s the most vulgar, racist, thin-skinned, vituperative U.S. president?

As a historian of Reconstruction, I’ve always believed that it was Andrew Johnson. However, considering his astonishing...

In the DACA debate, which version of America – nice or nasty – will prevail?

Written by Carrie Tirado Bramen, Associate Professor of English, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

DACA supporters march to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office to protest after the September 2017 announcement that the program would be suspended with a six-month delay.AP Photo/Matt York

Toward the beginning of my new book “American Niceness: A Cultural History,” I recount Cuban writer José Martí’s 1894...

It's not just you – politics is stressing out America's youth

Written by Melissa DeJonckheere, Research Fellow, Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan

A 24-hour news cycle can leave young people feeling more distressed than usual. Darren Baker/shutterstock.com

“I can’t sleep.” - A 16-year-old

“It’s been extremely hard to concentrate.” - A 22-year-old

“I got behind in school.” - A 22-year-old

“I feel like I could get killed any second.”- An...

What 'merit-based' immigration means in different parts of the world

Written by Kevin Johnson, Dean and Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o Studies, University of California, Davis

A naturalization ceremony in Los Angeles.AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Editor’s note: The White House is seeking to create a “merit-based” immigration system rather than one based on family reunification. We turned to The Conversation’s global network of scholars to get their insight on how merit-based systems work in other...