The Conversation

Is Ukrainian a language or a dialect? That depends on whom you ask and how the war ends

Written by Joshua Holzer, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Westminster College

Whether someone's speech is a language or a dialect is a matter of both linguistics and politics.illust-monster/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the number of people studying Ukrainian on Duolingo, a language learning website and mobile app, has increased by more than 500%.

Most of those who are taking up Ukrainian...

Russia faces first foreign default since 1918 – here's how it could complicate Putin's ability to wage war in Ukraine

Written by Michael A. Allen, Associate Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

Replacing ships like the Moskva will be pricey. The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet recently sank after suffering damage.Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Russia may be on the cusp of its first default on its foreign debt since the Bolsheviks ousted Czar Nicholas II a century ago.

On April 14, 2022, Moody’s Investors...

Is it possible to heal the damage we have already done to the Earth?

Written by Scott Denning, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University

The Earth viewed from the Apollo 8 lunar mission on Dec. 24, 1968. NASA

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

Is it possible to heal the damage we have already done to the Earth? – Anthony, age 13

Sometimes it may seem that...

What is that rash? Genetic fingerprints can help doctors diagnose and treat skin conditions more effectively

Written by Raymond J. Cho, Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco

Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can have rashes that are difficult to distinguish by eye.tylim/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Rashes can be thought of as a dysfunctional community of skin cells. Your skin harbors dozens of distinct cell types, including those that form blood vessels, nerves and the local immune system of the skin. For...

Elon Musk's bid spotlights Twitter's unique role in public discourse – and what changes might be in store

Written by Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

Twitter may not be a darling of Wall Street, but it occupies a unique place in the social media landscape.AP Photo/Richard Drew

Twitter has been in the news a lot lately, albeit for the wrong reasons. Its stock growth has languished and the platform itself has largely remained the same since its founding in 2006. On April 14, 2022, Elon Musk, the...

Why we can't 'boost' our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic for the long term

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

Although the COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives, they have been insufficient at preventing breakthrough infections.Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment via Getty Images

With yet another COVID-19 booster available for vulnerable populations in the U.S., many people find themselves wondering what the end game will be.

The mRNA vaccines currently used...

Jackie Robinson was a Republican until the GOP became the 'white man’s party'

Written by Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, IUPUI

Wearing his military uniform, Jackie Robinson signs a contract on Oct. 23, 1945 to becomes the first Black to play with a white professional baseball team. Bettmann/Getty Images

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, forever changing baseball and society.

Robinson was Black, and the integration of...

Legacy of Jim Crow still affects funding for public schools

Written by Derek W. Black, Professor of Law, University of South Carolina

School funding inequities persist along racial and economic lines. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Nearly 70 years ago – in its 1954 Brown v. Board decision – the Supreme Court framed racial segregation as the cause of educational inequality. It did not, however, challenge the lengths to which states went to ensure the...

How hypersonic missiles work and the unique threats they pose – an aerospace engineer explains

Written by Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder

Hypersonic missiles can change course to avoid detection and anti-missile defenses.U.S. Air Force graphic

Russia used a hypersonic missile against a Ukrainian arms depot in the western part of the country on March 18, 2022. That might sound scary, but the technology the Russians used is not particularly advanced. However, next-generation hypersonic...

I've studied stadium financing for over two decades – and the new Bills stadium is one of the worst deals for taxpayers I've ever seen

Written by Victor Matheson, Professor of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy Cross

Buffalo Bills owners Kim and Terry Pegula received a sweetheart deal from the state to finance their new stadium. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

After New York lawmakers blew past the deadline to approve the state budget, they finally came to an agreement on April 9, 2022, that included a US$850 million subsidy for a new stadium in Buffalo for the...