The Conversation

Digital sound archives can bring extinct birds (briefly) back to life

Written by Hannah Hunter, PhD Candidate in Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Ontario

Colorized version of a 1935 photo of a male ivory-billed woodpecker, now believed to be extinct. Photographed by Arthur A. Allen.Forestry Images/Wikipedia, CC BY

When people think of extinct animals, they may picture taxidermy, skeletons, 19th-century illustrations or perhaps grainy black-and-white photographs. Until very recently, these were our...

How a Black writer in 19th-century America used humor to combat white supremacy

Written by Rodney Taylor, Postdoctoral Fellow in African American Studies, University of South Carolina

Charles Chesnutt was one of the first widely read Black fiction writers in the U.S.RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Any writer has to struggle with the dilemma of staying true to their vision or giving editors and readers what they want. A number of factors might influence the latter: the market, trends and sensibilities.

But in the...

How long does protective immunity against COVID-19 last after infection or vaccination? Two immunologists explain

Written by Prakash Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina

Researchers are working to develop vaccines that provide long-term immune protection from COVID-19. Marko Geber/Digital Vision via Getty Images

As the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 took hold across the globe in late 2021, it became readily apparent that the pandemic had entered a new phase. Having experienced a previous COVID-19 infection or being...

What are false flag attacks – and did Russia stage any to claim justification for invading Ukraine?

Written by Scott Radnitz, Associate Professor of International Studies, University of Washington

A military vehicle destroyed on Feb. 18, 2022, by an explosion in Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian separatists.Nikolai Trishin\TASS via Getty Images

The Russian assault on Ukraine, which began in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022, was launched after weeks of Russian disinformation that included false claims about Ukrainian...

Military experts react to Ukraine invasion, assess potential for widespread aggression and risks to US

Written by Carla Martinez Machain, Professor of Political Science, Kansas State University

Smoke rising near the town of Hostomel and the Antonov Airport, in northwest Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 24. Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfolds, scholars across the U.S. – and the world – are looking at the ramifications for regular people and for the international community.

The Conversation...

Ukraine conflict brings cybersecurity risks to US homes, businesses

Written by Richard Forno, Principal Lecturer, Cybersecurity and Assistant Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Regular Americans could find themselves targets of Russian cyberwarfare.Roberto Westbrook via Getty Images

All cybersecurity is local, regardless of the world situation. That means it’s personal, too – in Americans’ homes, computers and online accounts. As violence spreads thousands of miles away from the U.S., my strong...

A historian corrects misunderstandings about Ukrainian and Russian history

Written by Ronald Suny, Professor of History and Political Science, University of Michigan

Donetsk residents celebrate recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics by Russia on Feb. 21, 2022. Alexander RyuAlexander Ryumin\TASS via Getty Images

The first casualty of war, says historian Ronald Suny, is not just the truth. Often, he says, “it is what is left out.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin...

America’s cost of 'defending freedom' in Ukraine: Higher food and gas prices and an increased risk of recession

Written by William Hauk, Associate Professor of Economics, University of South Carolina

A woman in Ukraine appears to pray as she waits for a train out of Kyiv.AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Americans may be tempted to view the war in Ukraine as an unfortunate, but far away, crisis. As an economist, I know the world is too connected for the U.S. to go unaffected.

On Feb. 22, 2022, President Joe Biden warned Americans that a Russian...

How the presence of pets builds trust among people

Written by Megan K Mueller, Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction, Tufts University

Pet ownership can often enhance feelings of trust among strangers. FOTOGRAFIA INC./Collections E+ via Getty Images

Companion animals are a core part of family life in the United States, with 90 million American households having at least one pet. Many of us view pets as beloved family members who provide nonjudgmental emotional support and...

Plastic pollution is a global problem – here's how to design an effective treaty to curb it

Written by Sarah J. Morath, Associate Professor of Legal Writing, Wake Forest University

Plastic trash floating on the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 21, 2020Munir Uz Zaman/AFP via Getty Images

Plastic pollution is accumulating worldwide, on land and in the oceans. According to one widely cited estimate, by 2025, 100 million to 250 million metric tons of plastic waste could enter the ocean each year. Another study...