The Conversation

The US never considered Ukraine a vital interest, until Putin's ambitions changed that

Written by Alexander Motyl, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University - Newark

Buildings in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv that were destroyed by Russian bombardments.Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

President Joe Biden and NATO allies in Europe are trying to help Ukraine fight off Russian aggression – but not so much that Russia will retaliate militarily against them.

These leaders’ deliberations and...

As Ukraine war deepens great-power divisions, a revitalized non-aligned movement could emerge

Written by John Ciorciari, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Michigan

Which side are you on? Well, actually ...Milos Miskov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought strong Western condemnation and sanctions, but many nations around the world have chosen not to join this united front.

Dozens of governments outside Europe and North America have been reluctant to censure Russia, and...

Opposition to abortion doesn't stop some Americans from supporting friends and family who seek one

Written by Tricia C. Bruce, Sociologist, University of Notre Dame

Maxine, a pseudonym for a 58-year-old woman, is among a sizable proportion of Americans who are morally opposed to abortion.

Republican, Christian and a grandmother, Maxine “can’t believe that anybody could honestly say that life doesn’t begin at conception. … That’s the black and whiteness of it, for me: Either...

How Muslim Americans meet their charitable obligations: 3 findings from new research

Written by Shariq Siddiqui, Assistant Professor & Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, IUPUI

Muslims regard acts of charity as mandatory.John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an obligatory act of giving and among several distinct forms of Islamic charity. The Quran and hadiths, the words and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, prescribe what kind of charitable causes are eligible to...

People of color have been missing in the disability rights movement – looking through history may help explain why

Written by Jennifer Erkulwater, Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond

Building a more inclusive future means understanding why certain groups were absent in history.kyotokushige/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Jennifer Erkulwater is a professor of political science at the University of Richmond. Her scholarship focuses on the politics of poverty, Social Security and disability rights. Below are highlights from an...

Protecting biodiversity – and making it accessible – has paid off for Costa Rica

Written by Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa, Postdoctoral Scholar in Biology, Stanford University

Tourists cross a hanging bridge in the treetops of Costa Rica's Monteverde cloud forest.Matthew Williams-Ellis/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

After two years of pandemic lockdowns and border closures, global travel appears to be rebounding in much of the world in 2022. Wilderness is a big tourist attraction – but do countries that...

Space Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on Earth

Written by Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Assistant Professor of Space and International Relations, Air University

In the next decade, both a U.S.-led group and a collaboration between Russia and China aim to set up bases on the Moon.Theasis/iStock via Getty Images

Even during times of conflict on the ground, space has historically been an arena of collaboration among nations. But trends in the past decade suggest that the nature of cooperation in space is...

Can you truly own anything in the metaverse? A law professor explains how blockchains and NFTs don't protect virtual property

Written by João Marinotti, Associate Professor of Law, Indiana University

In 2021, an investment firm bought 2,000 acres of real estate for about US$4 million. Normally this would not make headlines, but in this case the land was virtual. It existed only in a metaverse platform called The Sandbox. By buying 792 non-fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, the firm then owned the equivalent of 1,200 city blocks.

But...

Achoo! 5 essential reads for pollen season

Written by Jennifer Weeks, Senior Environment + Energy Editor, The Conversation

Common hazel dispersing pollen in early spring. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

As spring expands across North America, trees, shrubs and flowers are releasing pollen. This fine, powdery substance is produced by the male structures of cone-bearing and flowering plants. When it’s carried to the plants’ female structures...

Clarence Thomas and his wife's text messages highlight missing ethics rules at the Supreme Court

Written by Kevin Leske, Professor of Law, University of Dayton

Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife, conservative activist Virginia Thomas, at an October 2021 event.Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Time and time again, the nation’s highest court has come under fire for failing to manage potentially unethical behavior by its justices.

In the past, the Supreme Court of the United...