The Conversation

Burt Bacharach mastered the art of the perfect pop song – and that ain't easy

Written by Gena R. Greher, Professor of Music, UMass Lowell

A pop pioneer whose songs were performed by the great and good for decades.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Easy on the ear, perhaps. But the label of “easy listening” often attached to the songs of Burt Bacharach belies the mastery of his talent in crafting perfect moments in music.

Yes, Bacharach’s back catalog is filled with...

A boon for sports fandom or a looming mental health crisis? 5 essential reads on the effects of legal sports betting

Written by Nick Lehr, Arts + Culture Editor

In a remarkable shift, pro sports leagues like the NFL have eagerly embraced gambling.michaelquirk/iStock via Getty Images

A lifelong sports fan, I grew up hearing tales of sports figures felled by gambling scandals – baseball stars “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete Rose, the 1978-79 Boston College basketball team and NBA referee Tim...

What are stock buybacks? A finance professor explains why President Biden wants to raise the tax on this controversial use of corporate capital

Written by D. Brian Blank, Assistant Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University

Investors on Wall Street love share buybacks. AP Photo/John Minchillo

Companies have been buying back their own stock at record levels – something President Joe Biden doesn’t care for. In his state of the union address, Biden said “corporations ought to do the right thing” and invest more of their profits in producing more...

A nagging cough can hang on for weeks or months following a respiratory illness – and there is precious little you can do about it

Written by Kyle B. Enfield, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia

Relentless coughing after a viral infection can be frustrating and worrisome, but in most cases, coughs resolve over time.The Good Brigade/DigitalVision via Getty Images

When was the last time you walked into a public space and didn’t hear someone coughing? After three years of flinching at the sound, it can be disarming to hear so many...

Use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic pain – a researcher discusses recent trials, possible risks

Written by Jennifer Mitchell, Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco

There are some possible health issues with the drugs, including cardiovascular risks.wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs, taken under strict medical supervision, might help in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. SciLine...

Two years after its historic deep freeze, Texas is increasingly vulnerable to cold snaps – and there are more solutions than just building power plants

Written by Michael E. Webber, Josey Centennial Professor of Energy Resources, The University of Texas at Austin

Snow on cattle drive sculptures in Dallas after a winter storm, Feb. 3, 2022. Emil Lippe/Getty Images

Texans like to think of their state as the energy capital of the world. But in mid-February 2021, the energy state ran short of energy.

An intense winter weather outbreak, informally dubbed Winter Storm Uri by the Weather Channel, swept across the...

How video evidence is presented in court can hold sway in cases like the beating death of Tyre Nichols

Written by Sandra Ristovska, Assistant Professor in Media Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

Video footage of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols may be key to any criminal trial.City of Memphis via AP

Body camera and surveillance footage depicting the Jan. 7, 2023, fatal beating of Tyre Nichols was key in raising national awareness and prompting protests for police reform. It may now play a crucial part in any prosecution of those accused...

Why is a love poem full of sex in the Bible? Readers have been struggling with the Song of Songs for 2,000 years

Written by Jonathan Kaplan, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism, The University of Texas at Austin

Figuring out what to do with the 'Song of Songs' has preoccupied people reading the Bible for centuries.'Song of Songs' illustrated by Florence Kingsford/Southern Methodist University/Wikimedia Commons

Many Americans have heard the expression “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” – in fact, a quick Google search turns...

Cancer evolution is mathematical – how random processes and epigenetics can explain why tumor cells shape-shift, metastasize and resist treatments

Written by Andrew Feinberg, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Stochasticity is everywhere -- and finding the order in disorder can unlock new ways to understand biology.Erlon Silva - TRI Digital/Moment via Getty Images

Cancer is often seen as a disease that arises from genetic mutations causing cells to divide uncontrollably and invade other parts of the body. But the spread of cells away from their origins...

Patrick Mahomes injury: An ankle surgeon explains what a high ankle sprain is and how it might affect Mahomes in the Super Bowl

Written by MaCalus V. Hogan, Professor and Chair of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sprained his right ankle in a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21, 2023.AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Leading up to the 2023 Super Bowl, one of the biggest points of discussion has been the right ankle of Patrick Mahomes. During a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21,...