The Conversation

Henry Kissinger's bombing campaign likely killed hundreds of thousands of Cambodians − and set path for the ravages of the Khmer Rouge

Written by Sophal Ear, Associate Professor in the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University

The aftermath of U.S. bombs in Neak Luong, Cambodia, on Aug. 7, 1973.AP Photo

Henry Kissinger, who died on Nov. 29, 2023 at the age of 100, stood as a colossus of U.S. foreign policy. His influence on American politics lasted long beyond his eight-year stint guiding the Nixon and Ford administrations as national security adviser and secretary of...

The path to net-zero emissions runs through industry

Written by Morgan Bazilian, Professor of Public Policy and Director, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines

Steel factories, like this one in China, are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

As government leaders and climate negotiators gather in Dubai for the COP28 United Nations climate conference, an enormous challenge looms over the proceedings: decarbonizing the global industrial sector.

Industry has accounted for over...

ChatGPT turns 1: AI chatbot's success says as much about humans as technology

Written by Tim Gorichanaz, Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Science, Drexel University

The drama surrounding OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, left − joined on stage here by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella − has overshadowed the first anniversary of the company's ChatGPT.AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay

ChatGPT was launched on Nov. 30, 2022, ushering in what many have called artificial intelligence’s breakout year. Within days of its...

Why the Fed should treat climate change's $150B economic toll like other national crises it's helped fight

Written by Jennie C. Stephens, Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science & Policy, Northeastern University

Climate disasters are now costing the United States US$150 billion per year, and the economic harm is rising.

The real estate market has been disrupted, as home insurance rates skyrocket as wildfire and flood risks rise with the warming climate. Food prices have gone up with disruptions in agriculture. Health care costs have increased as heat takes...

There’s a financial literacy gender gap − and older women are eager for education that meets their needs

Written by Lila Rabinovich, Social scientist, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Knowledge is power − especially where money is concerned.Rockaa/E+/Getty Images

Every day, families across the U.S. have to make difficult decisions about budgeting, spending, insurance, investments, savings, retirement and on and on. When faced with these choices, financial literacy – that is, knowing how to make informed decisions...

3 ways AI can help farmers tackle the challenges of modern agriculture

Written by Joe Hollis, PhD student in Rural Sociology and Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University

Farming today is as much about data as hardware.AP Photo/Nati Harnik

For all the attention on flashy new artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, the challenges of regulating AI, and doomsday scenarios of superintelligent machines, AI is a useful tool in many fields. In fact, it has enormous potential to benefit humanity.

In agriculture, farmers...

US food insecurity surveys aren't getting accurate data regarding Latino families

Written by Cassandra M. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Texas State University

It's hard to divulge an inability to put food on the table.Shestock/Tetra images via Getty Images

The federal government has conducted the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module for more than 25 years. The data collected annually from about 50,000 U.S. households helps form estimates of the scale of food insecurity – not having access to...

People who experienced childhood adversity had poorer COVID-19 outcomes, new study shows

Written by Jamie Hanson, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

The study demonstrated that adverse childhood experiences can have lasting affects.andreswd/E+ via Getty Images

Adults who faced adversity during childhood were significantly more likely to die from or be hospitalized because of COVID-19. That’s the key finding of my team’s recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and...

Gentle parenting can be really hard on parents, new research suggests

Written by Annie Pezalla, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, Macalester College

Gentle parents often feel overwhelmed and alone, researchers found. Jamie Grill/The Image Bank/Getty Images

Are you a gentle parent? If so, chances are good that, just like your children, you may need a nap.

The idea of gentle parenting has been around since the 1930s but received increased attention over the past few years on social media and blogs,...

LGTBQIA+ sanctuary declarations help cities take a stand to defend rights -- but may not have much actual legal impact

Written by John E. Finn, Professor Emeritus of Government, Wesleyan University

Minnesotans hold a rally at the state capitol in St. Paul to support trans kids in March 2022. Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Several cities and towns, mostly in the American Midwest and South, are responding to a surge of proposed and approved legislation that restricts gay and transgender people’s rights by...