The Conversation

The US is worried about its critical minerals supply chains – essential for electric vehicles, wind power and the nation's defense

Written by Jordy Lee, Payne Institute Program Manager, Colorado School of Mines

Wind turbines and fighter jets both rely on imported critical minerals.U.S. Air Force; Dennis Schroeder/NREL

When U.S. companies build military weapons systems, electric vehicle batteries, satellites and wind turbines, they rely heavily on a few dozen “critical minerals” – many of which are mined and refined almost entirely by...

The 17th-century cloth merchant who discovered the vast realm of tiny microbes – an appreciation of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Written by Richard Gunderman, Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University

Leeuwenhoek refined the magnifying glass, creating the world's first microscope.Tetra Images via Getty Images

Imagine trying to cope with a pandemic like COVID-19 in a world where microscopic life was unknown. Prior to the 17th century, people were limited by what they could see with their own two eyes. But then a Dutch cloth merchant changed...

An interactive visual database for American Sign Language reveals how signs are organized in the mind

Written by Zed Sevcikova Sehyr, Language and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Scientist, San Diego State University

Rhyming means something different in ASL than it does in spoken languageZed Sevcikova Sehyr, CC BY-ND

“Desire” and “still” don’t rhyme in English, but they do rhyme in American Sign Language. Just as poets can evoke emotions and meaning by choosing words that echo one another in English, actress and Tony nominee Lauren...

Myanmar's brutal military was once a force for freedom – but it's been waging civil war for decades

Written by Tharaphi Than, Associate Professor, Department of World Cultures and Languages, Northern Illinois University

Every March 27, the Myanmar military celebrates its anniversary with a parade. The day of the 2021 parade, soldiers killed at least 90 pro-democracy protesters.Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang via Getty Images

With great fanfare – but few guests – Myanmar’s armed forces recently celebrated their 76th anniversary in the nation’s...

Today's global economy runs on standardized shipping containers, as the Ever Given fiasco illustrates

Written by Anna Nagurney, John F. Smith Memorial Professor of Operations Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Beachgoers near Cairo watch a massive container ship sail to the Red Sea.AP Photo/Amr Nabil

Take a look around you.

Perhaps you’re snacking on a banana, sipping some coffee or sitting in front of your computer and taking a break from work to read this article. Most likely, those goods – as well as your smartphone, refrigerator and...

The US needs a macrogrid to move electricity from areas that make it to areas that need it

Written by James D. McCalley, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's Pine Tree Wind Farm and Solar Power Plant in Tehachapi, Calif., 115 miles from LA.Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Many kinds of extreme events can disrupt electricity service, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, extreme heat, extreme cold and extended droughts. Major...

How social media turns online arguments between teens into real-world violence

Written by Caitlin Elsaesser, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Connecticut

Comments and livestreams can lead to physical fights, shootings and even death.Photo illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January exposed the power of social media to influence real-world behavior and incite violence. But many adolescents, who spend more time on...

A pandemic lesson: Older adults need to go back to their doctor and make preventive care a top priority

Written by Laurie Archbald-Pannone, Associate Professor of Medicine, Geriatrics, University of Virginia

Older patients should reconnect with their doctors for a wellness visit. Roberto Silvino/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Older people have borne a higher burden of illness and death from COVID-19, with people 65 and older experiencing higher rates of hospitalization and death. That’s only part of the sad story, however. In many instances, older...

Free college programs can enable more students to go to college, but it all depends on how the program is designed

Written by Laura Perna, Professor of Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania

Eligibility requirements for free college programs can hinder some students.izusek/E+ via Getty Images

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

The big idea

Free college programs are emerging across the United States as potential mechanisms to improve college enrollment and affordability. Our research examines how the...

1 in 3 college students face food insecurity – expanding SNAP benefits on campus will help stave off hunger

Written by Anastasia Snelling, Department Chair, Health Studies, American University

Stigma and lack of awareness prevent students from getting food assistance.Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

It’s harder to learn when you are suffering from hunger or searching for your next meal.

But while around 30 million K-12 students in public schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch, it is a different matter when...