The Conversation

Biden wants to crack down on bank mergers – here's why that could help consumers and the economy

Written by Jeremy Kress, Assistant Professor of Business Law, University of Michigan

Biden directed regulators to find ways to limit bank mergers. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

President Joe Biden signed a sweeping executive order on July 9, 2021, that aims to increase competition throughout the U.S. economy. In one of the order’s most significant provisions, he directed federal regulators to strengthen oversight of bank mergers.

As...

Domestic violence 911 calls increased during lockdown, but official police reports and arrests declined

Written by Jillian B. Carr, Assistant Professor of Economics, Purdue University

Shelter-in-place measures have made it more difficult for victims of domestic violence to escape from their abusers.Elizabeth Livermore/Moment via Getty Images

COVID-19 stay-at-home orders surely saved many lives, but a growing number of studies document that lockdowns led to more reports of domestic violence.

Even as 911 calls for police help...

Taliban 'has not changed,' say women facing subjugation in areas of Afghanistan under its extremist rule

Written by Homa Hoodfar, Professor of Anthropology, Emerita, Concordia University

Afghan citizens at a March 2021 rally in Kabul to support peace talks between the Taliban and the government. Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Taliban insurgents continue their deadly war to seize control of Afghanistan after the departure of United States and NATO forces. As they close in on major cities that were once...

Swimming gives your brain a boost – but scientists don't know yet why it's better than other aerobic activities

Written by Seena Mathew, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Swimming offers a host of beneficial effects on the brain.Stanislaw Pytel/Stone via Getty Images

It’s no secret that aerobic exercise can help stave off some of the ravages of aging. But a growing body of research suggests that swimming might provide a unique boost to brain health.

Regular swimming has been shown to improve memory, cognitive...

Why Canadian dads are more involved in raising their kids than American fathers

Written by Kevin Shafer, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Canadian Studies, Brigham Young University

A third of American fathers work 50 or more hours a week, compared with less than 10% of Canadian fathers. Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Thirty-five years ago, Canadian and American dads were doing a similar amount of child rearing, relative to mothers. Surveys from the mid 1980s showed that Canadian men spent 38% of the time...

Snow can disappear straight into the atmosphere in hot, dry weather

Written by Steven R. Fassnacht, Professor of Snow Hydrology, Colorado State University

In high alpine terrain, sun and dry air can turn snow straight into water vapor. Jeffrey Pang/WikimediaCommons, CC BY

Creeks, rivers and lakes that are fed by melting snow across the U.S. West are already running low as of mid-July 2021, much to the worry of farmers, biologists and snow hydrologists like me. This is not surprising in California,...

New school planned by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine seeks to teach blend of skills to prepare students for real-world jobs

Written by Edmund Adjapong, Assistant Professor of STEM Education, Seton Hall University

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine's new school will focus on teaching students about science and the music industry.David Livingston/Getty Images

Music producers Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine have announced plans to open a Los Angeles high school that will focus on, among other things, inspiring students to become entrepreneurs. The public school, which will be...

What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule? A health law scholar explains

Written by Margaret Riley, Professor of Law, Public Health Sciences, and Public Policy, University of Virginia

HIPAA allows you to control disclosure of certain types of personal health information.Heath Korvola/DigitalVision via Getty Images

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s Privacy Rule is a federal law prohibiting health care providers, businesses and the people working with them – including administrative staff,...

4 Haitian novels that beautifully blend history, memory and reality

Written by Marlene Daut, Professor of African Diaspora Studies, University of Virginia

Following the July 7, 2021 assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse and after one Haitian official requested that the U.N. and U.S. send troops to help stabilize the nation, many Haitian activists and artists recoiled at the prospect of yet another outside intervention.

The Haitian-American novelist Edwidge Danticat is one artist...

Worried about traveling with unvaccinated kids? 6 questions answered on how to manage the risks

Written by William C. Miller, Senior Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University

The requirement to wear masks in airports lowers the risk of air travel.ArtMarie/E+ via Getty Images

Across the U.S., COVID-19 cases are rising again, primarily in unvaccinated populations. Most of these cases are due to the highly infectious delta variant of SARS-Cov-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Many children are among those who...