The Conversation

From Black Death to COVID-19, pandemics have always pushed people to honor death and celebrate life

Written by Nükhet Varlik, Associate Professor of History, Rutgers University - Newark

Death waits for no man – and pandemics drive the point home.Pieter Brueghel the Elder: 'The Triumph of Death', CC BY

After last year’s Halloween was very much plagued by doubt and worry thanks to a global pandemic with no clear end in sight, Halloween 2021 may feel especially exciting for those ready to celebrate it. Thanks to ongoing...

Supreme Court rulings always include the perspective of a white male, but often exclude viewpoints of Black and Latina justices

Written by David Orentlicher, Professor of Law and Co-Director, Health Law Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court on December 3, 2018, in Washington.Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images

In recent decades, much progress has been made in diversifying the Supreme Court. While only white males served as justices for more than 175 years, the court now includes three female justices, one Black and one Latina justice.

Despite the...

4 key issues to watch as world leaders prepare for the Glasgow climate summit

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

A mural near the site of COP26, the 26th Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Glasgow sits proudly on the banks of the river Clyde, once the heart of Scotland’s industrial glory and now a launchpad for its green energy transition. It’s a fitting host for the United...

Type of ultraviolet light most effective at killing coronavirus is also the safest to use around people

Written by Karl Linden, Professor of Environmental Engineering and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, University of Colorado Boulder

UV light at most wavelengths can kill COVID–19. andriano_cz/iStock via Getty Images

Scientists have long known that ultraviolet light can kill pathogens on surfaces and in air and water. UV robots are used to disinfect empty hospital rooms, buses and trains; UV bulbs in HVAC systems eliminate pathogens in building air; and UV lamps kill bugs...

4 key issues to watch as world leaders gather for the Glasgow climate summit

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

A mural near the site of COP26, the 26th Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Glasgow sits proudly on the banks of the river Clyde, once the heart of Scotland’s industrial glory and now a launchpad for its green energy transition. It’s a fitting host for the United...

Kids with obesity need acceptance from family and friends, not just better diet tips, to succeed at managing their weight

Written by Amanda Harrist, Professor in Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University

Obesity intervention programs tend to focus on healthy food and physical activity. But is that enough? kali9/E+ Collection via Getty Images

Hundreds of programs over the past four decades – from the removal of junk food from school vending machines to Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign – have tried to get...

A new way to organize cancer mutations could lead to better treatment matches for patients

Written by Jacqulyne Robichaux, Assistant Professor of Thoracic & Head and Neck Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.vladwel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

There are many types of cancer treatments. But which ones work best varies from patient to patient. Currently, doctors determine which treatment to try for a patient based on where in their DNA, or genetic code, the error that caused the cancer is...

What causes ADHD and can it be cured?

Written by Gregory Fabiano, Professor of Psychology, Florida International University

On average, two students in every U.S. classroom have ADHD. damircudic/E+ via Getty Images

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.

What causes ADHD and can it be cured? – Geneva B., age 17, Philippines

Attention-deficit...

How ethnic and religious divides in Afghanistan are contributing to violence against minorities

Written by Abdulkader Sinno, Associate Professor of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies, Indiana University

A powerful explosion Oct. 8, 2021, in a mosque in northern Afghanistan left several deadAP Photo/Abdullah Sahil

Close to a hundred Afghan Shiite Muslims were killed in attacks on mosques in October 2021. One such attack took place on Oct. 15, when a group of suicide bombers detonated explosives at a mosque in Kandahar. Just over a week before that,...

Why do colleges use legacy admissions? 5 questions answered

Written by Nadirah Farah Foley, Postdoctoral Associate, New York University

More than half of the top 250 U.S. colleges and universities offer legacy admissions. Paul Marotta / Getty Images

Legacy admissions – a practice in which colleges give special consideration to children of alumni when deciding who to admit – have been making headlines. Colleges are increasingly being called on to rethink the merits of...