Engaging in Contemporary Conversations

Turns out, presidents − just like the rest of us − sometimes say embarrassing things. Or mean things. Or clueless things. Certainly things they regret.

The landmark study, which enrolled more than 160,000 participants and has informed public health guidelines for women over 50, is still making tremendous contributions to women’s health.

Donald Trump isn’t the first US president to try to negotiate a peace deal. But he appears to be doing it differently than others.

46 states have enacted a law that aims to reduce sexual offenders’ ability to re-offend, but the results have been mixed.

President Trump’s sudden cuts to hard-won federal grants are disrupting research and forcing scientists to face difficult choices.

A lot of sophisticated digital plumbing goes into delivering that streaming video to your phone, computer or TV.

The precursors of today’s public media programs consisted of professors giving lectures about history and finance.

Dating back centuries, a legal principle declares certain natural resources must be protected by the government for present and future generations to benefit from.

Frequent moves and long deployments can lead to trouble at home.

Relying on GDP, inflation or unemployment is an inadequate way to monitor the health of the economy.

There are elements of these ancient, distant George Lucas stories that might seem like science fiction but are, in fact, science reality.

Student visa holders face high levels of vetting and monitoring. Escalating those protocols will redirect students to other countries and weaken US global leadership, a scholar argues.

Student visa holders face high levels of vetting and monitoring. Escalating those protocols will redirect students to other countries and weaken US global leadership, a scholar argues.

A global study seeks insights into what helps people feel happy, healthy and satisfied – and what holds them back.

New research uses firefly flashing patterns to identify species and what they’re communicating.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond on April 30, 2025.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond on April 30, 2025.

Kennedy is one of about 50,000 Americans who have spasmodic dysphonia.

Tobacco companies say that heated tobacco products have fewer health risks than cigarettes, but there is little clear data to support that claim.

A scholar who became a gun owner later in life found there is more to firearms than criminal violence, injury and death, and more to gun culture than democracy-destroying right-wing politics.

Zoos aren’t woke, but they aren’t politically neutral, either.

Former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland transformed what was once a stuffy, high society fundraiser into a global media bonanza.

Philadelphia’s sanctuary policy remains in place, for now, as Trump vows to terminate federal grants to sanctuary cities.

A new executive order would create new guidelines on school discipline, suggesting the current ones are ‘discriminatory.’

An immigration historian says removal orders targeting student activists echo America’s long past of jailing and expelling immigrants because of their race, what they say or believe – or all three.

Snark subreddits act as a regulatory guardrail in an industry that has gone largely unchecked.

Today’s radar technology can detect the minute movements when your heart beats or you take a breath. Machine learning turns those signals into vital signs readings.

Today’s radar technology can detect the minute movements when your heart beats or you take a breath. Machine learning turns those signals into vital signs readings.

AIs are notoriously opaque, even to the people who build them, which makes it hard to know why they fail. A new tool aims to reveal their inner workings at the moment they went off the rails.

Engineers use giant fans in the Wall of Wind test facility to study the destructive ways these powerful winds can interact with tall buildings.

Fast-rising temperatures can change how plants and animals behave and disrupt the delicate timing of pollination.

Labor costs – especially for unskilled roles – are climbing fast.

‘Looping’ and ‘reframing’ are two techniques that can help build understanding in stressful disagreements.

Members of the White Rose movement, who defied Nazi tyranny, were imprisoned, and many were executed.

By listening to a frog call, adult bats can tell which prey are palatable and which are poisonous. Young bats must acquire this ability over time.

A decade of studying whistleblowers reveals the indispensable role played by supporters.

Rates of the bacterial infection have gone up by 500% since last year, with babies and young children most at risk.

Reading and writing poetry, which is anchored in patterns of words, images, sounds and forms, is particularly well suited for people with autism.

A scholar who studies Spider-Man examines why the statement ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ resonates with viewers and inspires virtuous actions.

Ararat, a settlement dreamed up in the 1800s, was meant to offer a refuge to Jews. But after an ornate ceremony, plans never got off the ground.

Queer Christians often hear a message that they’ll be accepted in conservative churches so long as they deny part of themselves.

Vets use acupuncture to treat health problems in animals large and small, particularly to manage pain and reduce inflammation. A veterinary scientist explains some of its uses.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor, which turns 15 this year, connects habitats across the state for panthers, bears, sparrows and other species.

A gender studies expert explains why the Trump administration’s claim that everyone is male or female defies science and ignores the complexity of human sexuality.

In his second term, President Donald Trump asserted new control over the press − as Hungary’s strongman leader Viktor Orbán had urged him to do.

Harmful dioxins in Agent Orange, used to strip forests of their leaves, still linger in soil. Restoration work has been slow, and upheaval at USAID may slow it more.

Pope Francis appointed a significant number of cardinals from the Global South. Among the 135 cardinals currently eligible to vote in the papal conclave, 82 are non-European.

More than a century of evidence suggests that bureaucrats, at their best, stand for expertise, fairness and public service.

Its actions are in keeping with Project 2025, which questions whether any public-sector unions should exist.

Since 1971, the US has led the world in funding cancer research and developing new treatments that have driven down death rates. This may soon no longer be the case.

It’s extremely difficult to see how forces in a pile of sand are distributed between individual grains – a new experimental approach fixes that.

Taking a bath may not be your favorite thing to do, but it will help keep you clean and healthy.

Fewer people in Detroit are experiencing homelessness – but more kids are. Of those kids, a growing number have no safe place to sleep inside.

Fewer people in Detroit are experiencing homelessness – but more kids are. Of those kids, a growing number have no safe place to sleep inside.

Fewer people in Detroit are experiencing homelessness – but more kids are. Of those kids, a growing number have no safe place to sleep inside.

India has said it would suspend crucial treaty governing river flows in disputed Kashmir. Pakistan has said any disruption to water supply would be ‘an act of war.’

An object’s color appears differently under different lighting and against different backgrounds − for different viewers. But that doesn’t mean colors are subjective.

An object’s color appears differently under different lighting and against different backgrounds − for different viewers. But that doesn’t mean colors are subjective.

An astronomer breaks down 3 key components that allow researchers to make groundbreaking discoveries – and decide when results aren’t significant.

The growth of alt-right activist groups and the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic are two factors that help explain Florida’s politics.

A prolonged drought in the San Luis Valley has contributed to kidney issues in agricultural workers.

Trump often casts himself as a man of the people. But his statue garden feeds into a ‘great man’ approach to history at the expense of local and state history.

In moderation, watching educational TV shows, movies and apps can boost language development among young children. 2 experts explain.

Battery management systems now blend physics and machine learning, delivering real‑time insights to boost safety, efficiency and lifespan even under heavy use.

The meaning of ‘happiness’ was in flux in Shakespeare’s England, and his plays capture many senses of the word.

The meaning of ‘happiness’ was in flux in Shakespeare’s England, and his plays capture many senses of the word.

President Donald Trump has said that free speech matters to him. But his record during his second presidential term doesn’t show that commitment.

Visual content, including manipulated images, is a staple of propaganda and political messaging. AI analysis shows that a surge of these memes can precede the outbreak of wide-scale violence.

Visual content, including manipulated images, is a staple of propaganda and political messaging. AI analysis shows that a surge of these memes can precede the outbreak of wide-scale violence.

Some patients with a terminal illness seem to be able to ‘hold on’ until after an anticipated holiday or event. This might be less about staying positive and more about being supported in your goals.

Some patients with a terminal illness seem to be able to ‘hold on’ until after an anticipated holiday or event. This might be less about staying positive and more about being supported in your goals.

Some people are more inclined toward gratitude than others, but there are specific ways that everyone can cultivate more of it.

Donor-imposed restrictions keep colleges and universities from freely determining how and when to spend a large share of their endowment funds.

US schools are going all in on phonics, but research shows that approach won’t work for every child. A blended literacy strategy can get more students reading.

Alaska produces a lot of crude oil, but many of the state’s utilities, businesses and homes run on natural gas, which is in dwindling supply near population centers.

A landscape historian explains how a Victorian tradition became a tool for social change in 19th- and 20th-century Philadelphia.

Is China winning over Western youth through its cinema, video games and TikTok.

The World Bank has long sought to replace it’s annual index that fell to scandal in 2021. But a new replacement repeats some of the flaws.

Some Department of Justice attorneys have recently been fired or have resigned, refusing to follow directives from the Trump administration that they felt violated the law, legal ethics or both.

Under the guise of efficiency and fraud prevention, the federal government is breaking down data silos to collect and aggregate information on virtually everyone in the US.

Under the guise of efficiency and fraud prevention, the federal government is breaking down data silos to collect and aggregate information on virtually everyone in the US.

The problem is that costs – especially the costs to faculty – often go ignored.

America’s marine protected areas help fish populations thrive. Trump’s plan to open them to industrial fishing may ultimately harm the fishing industry itself.

America’s marine protected areas help fish populations thrive. Trump’s plan to open them to industrial fishing may ultimately harm the fishing industry itself.

Uncertainty from Washington along with staff and budget cuts have created turmoil for the US Forest Service’s fire management efforts.

The democratic process of scientific study, public debate and comment helps regulators arrive at a rule that balances the needs and interests of workers, companies and the public.

These aren’t abstract problems. They’re happening right now, in real communities, to real people.

Habeas corpus – a Latin phrase meaning ‘you shall have the body’ – protects any person, whether citizen or not, from being illegally confined. It’s a crucial element of US law.

Effective Republican organizing and intraparty divisions among Democrats solidified GOP political dominance until the 1930s.

The Trump administration wants to abolish FEMA and hand disaster recovery over to states. But local officials are best positioned to help local people in a crisis.

A study of US state legislators found that posting misinformation online was a winning strategy for boosting a politician’s visibility – but not for Democrats.

A study of US state legislators found that posting misinformation online was a winning strategy for boosting a politician’s visibility – but not for Democrats.

A new exhibition at Colorado State University highlights 100 years of women’s work.

When used as an abbreviation, DEI’s role in tackling racism and bias becomes susceptible to political manipulation and dismantling.

Pope Francis was not one to shy away from controversial issues, whether inside or outside the church.

The Trump administration says it can deport noncitizen students that create foreign security threats. The Supreme Court might ultimately decide the limits of these residents’ free speech.

Some restrictions prevent loosening of existing environmental standards for clean air and water. Other rules can be changed – though only through a challenging and multistep democratic process.

Human beings don’t have a thick coat of fur like many other mammals do. Scientists think it has to do with something else that comes out of skin: sweat.

Most institutions of higher education have more freedom to spend from their endowments than they may realize.

An analysis of surveys about people’s level of climate concern suggests it isn’t just education alone that shapes views – it’s experiencing rising temperatures that makes the difference.

Holding a conclave to elect a pope is a tradition that goes back centuries.

Pope Francis had expressed the desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a fifth-century church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The exoplanet K2-18b could harbor a massive ocean, but scientists will need to study the planet more to see if it’s really likely to host life.

‘It’s one big show of contempt for the court,’ says a former federal judge about the Trump administration’s handling of two cases related to its deportation of noncitizens to an El Salvador prison.

Because the US government has rarely offered full-throated support for the arts, there’s a long tradition of innovation, adaptation and collective action among American artists.

Mayors from the Democratic Party aren’t making cities any more – or less – dangerous than mayors from the Republican Party.

Although millions of US parents approve, decades of research shows that spanking is harmful.

Although millions of US parents approve, decades of research shows that spanking is harmful.

If an engineer makes an improper assumption while designing something, sometimes the consequences are fatal. An engineering professor explains how to reduce risk.

In the battle to slow climate change, local and state governments, as well as citizens, have taken to the courts. Their results have varied, but the cases keep coming.

Some Americans hear claims of anti-Christian bias as a signal of white solidarity, according to a 2024 study.

Monetary policy can be wielded as a tool to boost an economy around election time, which explains why politicians want to have a say on it.

As you experience or encounter new things, your brain must encode this information via the right neural networks at the right time.

On Patriots’ Day, far-right groups may use historical events and patriotic symbols to claim they are engaging in a ‘modern-day fight for freedom.’

International students are part of communities nationwide. Declines in their enrollment could mean economic trouble for cities and towns across the country.

People on the autism spectrum are often overlooked in hiring because of how they come across in interviews. But with the right understanding and fixes to the process, employers can make smarter choices.

Large language model AIs can ingest long documents and answer questions about them, but a key question is how well they ‘understand’ individual sentences in the documents.

At first glance it might seem contradictory that restricting some speech can preserve free speech, but research shows that online content moderation protects the marketplace of ideas.

At first glance it might seem contradictory that restricting some speech can preserve free speech, but research shows that online content moderation protects the marketplace of ideas.

About 40% of total US energy consumption is used by household and industrial appliances, such as heating and cooling systems, refrigerators and lighting.

Not too long ago, therapists created a wall between themselves and their patients. Have we gone too far in the other direction?

Researchers found that when salespeople perceived their leaders as ethical, they felt more committed to the organization.

Not all plastic is the same. Old yogurt cups and milk jugs, for example, don’t play well together when being turned into new materials. However, there are solutions.

Public records requested under the Freedom of Information Act have helped shape health policy and keep the government accountable – but recent staff cuts may make this impossible.

Even when companies do not face legal liability, public pressure can help force a reckoning with complicity in genocide, slavery and other atrocities.

Effective conservation of old-growth ecosystems will work best if it considers their varied ecology.

BIOCAP tiles reimagine seawalls as dynamic, ecologically active systems that have the potential to enhance coastal resilience.

After being exploited for decades by France, Haiti ended up forking over huge sums of money to its former colonizer. Now, the Caribbean nation’s calls for restitution are becoming harder to ignore.

Scientists have conflicting theories on why the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. New measurements from a massive collaboration complicate these ideas.

A study of about 1 million girls in Indonesia suggests government programs can be effective in reducing the number of child brides.

While Iowa is a big food producer, many people in the state need help getting enough to eat.

Changes to the landscape and pollution have harmed this vital ecosystem known as the ‘river of grass.’

As the US imposes more tariffs, a global backlash is brewing – from subtle trade barriers to strategic countermeasures targeting red-state industries.

Avian influenza infections in the US have been rising over the past year, but there’s no evidence so far that people can infect each other with this strain of the virus.

After a group of employers refused to provide their employees access to free HIV prevention treatment, the Supreme Court may decide whether insurers are required to fully cover preventive care.

When volcanoes like Alaska’s Mount Spurr erupt, the ash can damage people’s lungs, smother crops and kill animals, and the harm can continue to spread long afterward.

An education scholar explains how some teachers and school counselors are quietly resisting what they see as political incursion into the classroom.

Touring has become one of the few reliable income streams for working musicians. But a new study finds that the benefits from opening for major artists are often fleeting.

Water-rich meteorites contain key ingredients for life, yet they barely appear in meteorite collections. Recent research using shooting stars may explain why.

Market swings may be rattling retirement accounts, but panic isn’t the answer. Here’s what to know about how 401(k) accounts work – and when to worry.

Steps taken to reform Social Security during the Biden and Trump administrations have only made the prospects for a funding crisis more serious.

The decades-long struggle to find a permanent place to dispose of nuclear waste will continue, probably for many years to come.

To really compare different electricity sources, you also have to look at the roles they play in keeping the lights on and their drawbacks.

To really compare different electricity sources, you also have to look at the roles they play in keeping the lights on and their drawbacks.

The Epidemic Intelligence Service has been a crucial tool in fighting diseases at home and abroad. Its impact would be impossible to replace.

Pennsylvania hospitals report an average 14% vacancy rate for registered nurses. In rural areas it is much higher.

Cute characters are often vulnerable, innocent and lovable – and therein lies their power.

Corporate decisions made in boardrooms and through initiatives with nonprofits have created an important kind of private climate governance.

Donald Trump says he is a big fan of oil and gas. His actions may not be of great interest to the industry. And the results may not be what he says he wants.

Throughout history, Christians have often believed Pontius Pilate was reluctant to condemn Jesus. History suggests otherwise, a scholar explains.

Educators must obey the law, meaning schools cannot impede a criminal investigation. But students and teachers have rights, too.

‘Problematic’ pornography use has been linked to an array of health and relational issues – and more young people than ever are being exposed at early ages.

Singles often pay more than their coupled counterparts, and not just on taxes. As solo living rises, so does pressure on the rest of the world to catch up.

AI can process data from wearable devices to better monitor your health and detect problems sooner. The trick is teaching AI algorithms how to cut through the noise.

Researchers found that when Black Christians mentioned their faith at work, they feared they would be discriminated against because of both their race and their religion.

This hospitality course bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world skills.

Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.

Abbreviations like ‘brb’ and ‘plz’ may seem benign. But new research shows they can make senders appear less sincere – and even undermine budding romances.

New research shows that Americans’ personal wealth is not enough to compensate for factors that affect how long people live, such as health behaviors, education or social support.

Teaching young children is one of the most stressful occupations.

Teaching young children is one of the most stressful occupations.

Lesson plans incorporating shark fossil teeth help prepare kids to live and work in an AI world.

Research suggests that how often people check social media − and how emotionally engaged they are with it − can influence sleep even more than how much time they spend online.

Nearly every major American social media platform is ruled by a single founder with near-total control, thanks to a relatively new corporate share structure.

People’s perceptions of risk shape where businesses choose to locate, new research suggests. Interestingly, conservatives and liberals view risk very differently.

At a time when California’s farm operators are struggling to hire enough people, providing better benefits could attract more workers who are citizens or have legal immigration status.

At a time when California’s farm operators are struggling to hire enough people, providing better benefits could attract more workers who are citizens or have legal immigration status.

German philosopher Paul Tillich’s writings about affirming oneself in the face of anxiety, repression and meaninglessness ring as true today as in the 1950s.

The dread that AI evokes seems a distraction from the more disquieting scrutiny of humanity’s own dark nature.

The word ‘deficit’ may sound alarming, but America’s trade gap is a sign of its financial and economic dominance.

Unhoused people are more likely to die in hospitals or on the streets.

Increasingly, these types of tranquilizers are turning up in fentanyl, oxycodone and other illegal opioids.

Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, accounting for tens of thousands of cancer deaths per year.

There’s an impulse by universities and media to inaccurately document hip-hop’s history. The genre is, in part, a response to that imprecision, a professor of hip-hop writes.

‘Pañcatantra,’ a striking collection of animal fables in which birds, lions and others speak and reason as humans do, guides leaders through 3 ethical positions.

Geopolitical threats from China and the United States abound. That could be a tough pill to swallow for Taiwan − and American consumers.

The president has followed in the footsteps of Louis XIV of France and the czars of Russia, who operated national theaters as extensions of monarchical power.

There’s no single, simple way to assess whether bugs feel pain, but research is giving scientists a better understanding of their abilities.

Foreign investment thrives on stability. Trump’s tariffs − and the current climate of uncertainty − could drive capital away.

US college leaders would do well to reflect on the courage of their counterparts in 1980s El Salvador who opposed injustice despite grave personal risk.

Many gang members have tattoos to demonstrate their allegiance. But many people with no gang ties will get inked with similar imagery, which can lead law enforcement astray.

Medicare Advantage − the private option that costs taxpayers extra and requires prior approval − is the default for some state agencies and corporations.

Most recent debates center on how much attention should be given to the history of the nation’s accomplishments over its darker chapters.

The Bible contains some explicit genocidal narratives, and over time, some religious Zionists have wielded these stories to advocate for the destruction of the Palestinians.

For the more than 3 million Americans on probation or parole, rules and regulations often serve as hidden traps to reincarceration.

Churchgoers who think their religious leaders don’t believe humans are driving climate change are less likely to discuss it with fellow congregants or take action to mitigate the effects.

The history of Christian support for a Jewish state far predates the religious right.

The LA wildfires may have faded from the headlines, but for thousands of children, recovery is only just beginning.

A common assumption holds that nonreligious Americans vote for liberal candidates. The reality isn’t so simple.

The Catholic Church opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia, but it also doesn’t support treatments that prolong suffering in the face of unavoidable death.

Many Americans see baseball as a sport for men and softball as a sport for women. It wasn’t always this way in the US – and it isn’t that way in the rest of the world.

The state, once ranked near the bottom of education standings, dramatically improved student literacy rates while using little money.

Lewd customers, backstabbing co-workers and managers making unrealistic demands can take a toll.

Students explore nuclear facilities in virtual reality and learn about the ethical dimensions of nuclear technology in a University of Michigan course.

Mae Reeves was the creative and business force behind Mae’s Millinery, a pioneering boutique near the corner of 60th and Market streets in Philadelphia.

The conservative think tank’s efforts to dismantle the Education Department go back more than 40 years, a scholar writes.

A reliance on foreign students for academic research has allowed the US to ignore flaws in its domestic tech worker pipeline, a scholar argues.

The consequences of shutting down the Institute of Museum and Library Services would be particularly dire for smaller museums and rural museums.

Without being able to get into the heads of animals, it’s hard to say for sure. But instances of pig painters, whale crooners and bird sculptors certainly make it seem plausible.

Critical thinking involves specific skills for assessing evidence, but background knowledge about the subject is also essential.