The Conversation

Trusting societies are overall happier – a happiness expert explains why

Written by Benjamin Radcliff, Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame

Trust in other people and in public institutions is one key predictor of happiness.Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Human beings are social animals. This means, almost as a matter of logical necessity, that humans’ quality of life is largely decided by the quality of their societies.

Trust is one key factor that helps shape societies...

Why Ukraine's undersized military is resisting supposedly superior Russian forces

Written by Liam Collins, Founding Director, Modern War Institute, United States Military Academy West Point

A Ukrainian soldier is seen at a Ukrainian front line in Donbass, Ukraine, on April 11, 2022. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many observers looked at Russia’s overwhelming combat power and thought Russia would achieve a quick victory.

Because Russia has a US$62...

Top athletes have special advantages entering college, like children of alumni

Written by Rick Eckstein, Professor of Sociology, Villanova University

Top college sports prospects get special advantages in their application and admission processes.Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images

In recent years, colleges have paid more attention to complaints that their admissions decisions give unfair advantages to children of their alumni. Lawmakers in Congress and state...

5 justices, all confirmed by senators representing a minority of voters, appear willing to overturn Roe v. Wade

Written by Kevin J. McMahon, Professor of Political Science & Director of the Graduate Program in Public Policy, Trinity College

An unscalable fence around the U.S. Supreme Court, on May 7, 2022, set up in response to protests against the possible overruling of Roe v. Wade. Jose Luis Magana / AFP/Getty Images

If the leaked Supreme Court decision on abortion is to be believed, five justices have voted during private deliberations to overturn Roe v. Wade. Notably, those five...

What is fentanyl and why is it behind the deadly surge in US drug overdoses? A medical toxicologist explains

Written by Kavita Babu, Professor of Emergency Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School

Only a small amount of fentanyl is enough to be lethal.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Buying drugs on the street is a game of Russian roulette. From Xanax to cocaine, drugs or counterfeit pills purchased in nonmedical settings may contain life-threatening amounts of fentanyl.

Physicians like me have seen a rise in unintentional fentanyl use from people...

Russia is being made a pariah state – just like it and the Soviet Union were for most of the last 105 years

Written by Alastair Kocho-Williams, Professor of History, Clarkson University

Smoke rises on April 15, 2022, above 400 new graves in the town of Severodonetsk, Ukraine. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The U.S. and its European allies recently said they planned to take a new approach in their relations with Russia: They would isolate and contain the country in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine. Doing...

Religious beliefs give strength to the anti-abortion movement – but not all religions agree

Written by Steven K. Green, Professor of Law, Director of the Center for Religion, Law & Democracy, Willamette University

Anti-abortion protesters holding a cross demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court Building in December 2021, in Washington.AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The leaked draft of Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which has sent shock waves across the United States, indicates that a majority of...

6 months after the climate summit, where to find progress on climate change in a more dangerous and divided world

Written by Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School, Tufts University

Germany, heavily reliant on natural gas from Russia, has seen a fast expansion in solar power since Russia attacked Ukraine.AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Six months ago, negotiators at the United Nations’ Glasgow climate summit celebrated a series of new commitments to lower global greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of...

Starbucks' caffeinated anti-union efforts may leave a bitter taste – but are they legal?

Written by John Logan, Professor and Director of Labor and Employment Studies, San Francisco State University

A long-brewing dispute?Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Good news greeted Starbucks workers on May 3, 2022, in the shape of a promise of new pay increases. But there was a catch: Employees at unionized stores – or those planning to unionize – shouldn’t expect to see a dime of this hike.

As far as efforts to discourage workers from...

Countries with lower-than-expected vaccination rates show unusually negative attitudes to vaccines on Twitter

Written by Jungmi Jun, Associate Professor of Information and Communications, University of South Carolina

Social media sites like Twitter have been a major source of both true and false information regarding COVID-19 vaccines.MicroStockHub/iStock via Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

In countries with lower-than-expected COVID-19 vaccination rates, mentions of side effects and negative emotions d...