The Conversation

The ethical dilemmas behind plans for involuntary treatment to target homelessness, mental illness and addiction

Written by Katherine Drabiak, Associate Professor of Health Law, Public Health Law and Medical Ethics, University of South Florida

Involuntary treatment for homeless people aims to help – but also raises ethical debates.Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Over the past year, cities across the United States have unveiled new policy plans to address homelessness amid rising concerns about health and crime – for homeless people themselves, as well as for surrounding...

Guinea worm: A nasty parasite is nearly eradicated, but the push for zero cases will require patience

Written by Kimberly Paul, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Clemson University

Guinea worms are long, white parasites that emerge from the legs of infected people through painful blisters.CDC/Wikimedia Commons

A painful, parasitic disease that once infected 3.5 million people per year is tantalizingly close to being eradicated.

On Jan. 24, 2023, The Carter Center, a nonprofit founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter,...

New Advanced Placement African American Studies course is a watered down version of itself

Written by Suneal Kolluri, Assistant Professor of Education, University of California, Riverside

Black students are underrepresented in Advanced Placement courses.Hill Street Studios / Getty Images

On February 1, 2023– the first day of Black History Month – the College Board released the framework for its new Advanced Placement African American Studies course.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has criticized the pilot...

5 facts about John Witherspoon, a slaveholder and the only university president to sign the Declaration of Independence

Written by Joseph Yannielli, Lecturer in History, Aston University

A statue of John Witherspoon overlooks a common area at Princeton University.Oliver Morris via Getty Images

Since 2001, a bronze statue of the Rev. John Witherspoon has loomed over a busy pedestrian plaza at Princeton University, where he served as president from 1768 to 1794. During his tenure at Princeton, Witherspoon made history by signing the...

How legalized sports betting has transformed the fan experience

Written by John Affleck, Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society, Penn State

DraftKings is one of a handful of sportsbooks that have been advertising during live sporting events.Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

A couple of days before Christmas, I went to see the NHL’s Nashville Predators play on their home ice against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

Amid all the silliness of a modern pro sports...

How the ancient Jewish 'new year for trees' became an Israeli celebration of nature

Written by Shay Rabineau, Associate Professor of Israel Studies, Binghamton University, State University of New York

The cultural significance of Tu BiShvat has taken on new meaning in modern Israel.Teddy Brauner/National Photo Collection, Government Press Office (Israel)

As a professor who researches Israel’s extensive network of hiking trails, I’ve spent many days and nights in the field, walking long-distance routes and sleeping under the stars....

ChatGPT is great – you're just using it wrong

Written by Jonathan May, Research Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Southern California

ChatGPT is better used for playacting than playing at finding facts.EvgeniyShkolenko/iStock via Getty Images

It doesn’t take much to get ChatGPT to make a factual mistake. My son is doing a report on U.S. presidents, so I figured I’d help him out by looking up a few biographies. I tried asking for a list of books about Abraham Lincoln...

A journey from work to home is about more than just getting there – the psychological benefits of commuting that remote work doesn't provide

Written by Matthew Piszczek, Assistant Professor of Management, Wayne State University

Commuting can create a ‘liminal space.’mikroman6/Moment via Getty Images

For most American workers who commute, the trip to and from the office takes nearly one full hour a day – 26 minutes each way on average, with 7.7% of workers spending two hours or more on the road.

Many people think of commuting as a chore and a waste of time....

Russia is violating the last remaining nuclear treaty with the US, according to Washington

Written by Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, Professor of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Russian nuclear missiles are paraded in Red Square in Moscow in 2020. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

After decades of progress on limiting the buildup of nuclear weapons, Russia’s war on Ukraine has prompted renewed nuclear tensions between Russia and the U.S.

The U.S. State Department told Congress on Jan. 31, 2023, that Russia is not complying...

Why the Fed raised interest rates by the smallest amount since it began its epic inflation fight

Written by William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance, Texas State University

Markets reacted positively to Fed Chair Powell's acknowledging “disinflation” is happening. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The Federal Reserve’s policy-setting committee lifted interest rates on Feb. 1, 2023, by a quarter of a percentage point to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%. The increase, the smallest since the Fed began an aggressive campaign...