The Conversation

Wildfires reshape forests and change the behavior of animals that live there

Written by Taylor Ganz, PhD Candidate in Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington

Shrubs and grasses growing in this post-fire forest offer abundant food for deer.Sarah Bassing, CC BY-ND

In the arid American West, wildfires now define summer. Recent years have seen some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. Climate change, the loss of Indigenous burning practices and a century of fire suppression are increasing the risk of...

How college in prison is leading professors to rethink how they teach

Written by Mneesha Gellman, Associate Professor of Political Science, Emerson College

Programs that offer college in prison are becoming more prevalent.Scott Shymko via Getty Images

When it comes to education in prison, policy and research often focus on how it benefits society or improves the life circumstances of those who are serving time.

But as I point out in my new edited volume, “Education Behind the Wall: Why and How We...

Why the GOP’s battle for the soul of ‘character conservatives’ in these midterms may center on Utah and its Latter-day Saint voters

Written by Luke Perry, Professor of Political Science, Utica University

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, right, and his challenger Evan McMullin before their debate Oct. 17, 2022.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee is seeking reelection in Utah – a typically uneventful undertaking for an incumbent Republican in a state that hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1977. But he faces a unique challenger: Evan McMullin.

Th...

Colonoscopy is still the most recommended screening for colorectal cancer, despite conflicting headlines and flawed interpretations of a new study

Written by Franklin G. Berger, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death. But by finding polyps early on, colonoscopies can detect and prevent the cancer.Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

A recently published study in a high-profile medical journal appeared to call into question the efficacy of colonoscopy, a proven and widely...

HBO's 'House of the Dragon' was inspired by a real medieval dynastic struggle over a female ruler

Written by David Routt, Adjunct Professor of History, University of Richmond

In Westeros, Rhaenyra finds herself in a power struggle akin to that of the real-life Empress Matilda, who lived from 1102 to 1167.HBO

In three decades of teaching medieval European history, I’ve noticed my students are especially curious about the intersection of the stories told in class and the depictions of the Middle Ages they see in...

AI is changing scientists' understanding of language learning – and raising questions about an innate grammar

Written by Morten H. Christiansen, Professor of Psychology, Cornell University

Is living in a language-rich world enough to teach a child grammatical language?kate_sept2004/E+ via Getty Images

Unlike the carefully scripted dialogue found in most books and movies, the language of everyday interaction tends to be messy and incomplete, full of false starts, interruptions and people talking over each other. From casual...

'Nobody said anything because they feared being benched' – how abuse is baked into American sports

Written by Rick Eckstein, Professor of Sociology, Villanova University

Too many coaches seem to believe that physical and emotional abuse creates better athletes.imbarney22/E+ via Getty Images

As someone who has been researching, writing and teaching about women’s and girls sports for the past 15 years, I wasn’t surprised by the recent revelations of sexual and verbal abuse by National Women’s Soccer...

Experts grade Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube on readiness to handle midterm election misinformation

Written by Dam Hee Kim, Assistant Professor of Communication, University of Arizona

The process of conducting elections has become a focal point for misinformation.AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

The 2016 U.S. election was a wake-up call about the dangers of political misinformation on social media. With two more election cycles rife with misinformation under their belts, social media companies have experience identifying and countering...

How Bob Dylan used the ancient practice of 'imitatio' to craft some of the most original songs of his time

Written by Raphael Falco, Professor of English, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Dylan’s complex creative process is unique among contemporary singer-songwriters.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Over the course of six decades, Bob Dylan steadily brought together popular music and poetic excellence. Yet the guardians of literary culture have only rarely accepted Dylan’s legitimacy.

His 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature...

Anxiety detection and treatment in early childhood can lower risk for long-term mental health issues – an expert panel now recommends screening starting at age 8

Written by Elana Bernstein, Assistant Professor of School Psychology, University of Dayton

People who experience anxiety in childhood are more likely to deal with it in adulthood too.fizkes/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention, issued a final recommendation on Oct. 11, 2022, published in the journal JAMA, stating that all children and...