Engaging in Contemporary Conversations

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.

Judge James Boasberg’s order stops short of holding any government officials in contempt, but leaves open the possibility for these sanctions.

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.

The length of Booker’s speech grabbed headlines, but the senator’s media strategy helped sustain attention afterward while disrupting Trump’s public spotlight.

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.

Burn it all down? For some Americans who feel they’ve lost social status, that’s exactly what they want DOGE to do.

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.

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.

Aligning AIs with people’s goals and values is tricky. A new technique quantifies how far off human and machine are from each other.

A psychologist explains how group identity, polarizing issues and social media are driving people apart – and suggests some remedies.

An allergic reaction happens when your immune system overreacts to something that should be harmless. Whether that happens can be thanks to your genes, your environment or a combination.

President Donald Trump’s second term and the Supreme Court’s conservative activism have lit a fire in Republicans, who are targeting same-sex marriage as part of a broader attack on LGBTQ+ rights.

The 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act gives ICE broad power, including the right to arrest many noncitizens. The extent of this power is now being tested.

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.

The Constitution does not grant Congress authority to set voter-eligibility requirements in federal elections.

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

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.

Researchers reexamining fossils identified telltale marks made by human ancestors cutting meat from bones. The discovery pushes back the date hominins started living in Europe by 200,000 years.

During scrolling, the brain processes visuals quickly not critically, making it easy to miss details that reveal a fake. As technology advances, slow down, look closer and think critically.

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.

The high court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego García, to the United States.

Cachexia, or wasting syndrome, causes around 80% of patients with advanced cancer to withdraw from life.

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.

Billionaire CEO Jared Isaacman has worked closely with SpaceX. He expressed an interest in sending missions to both the Moon and Mars if confirmed.

An executive order critiques the idea that race is a human invention. But that’s exactly what modern science supports.

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.

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.

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.

Can both sides legitimately say they won a Supreme Court victory?

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.

The law is the balance point between limiting hate speech and misinformation and keeping censorship in check. Here’s what could happen if Congress kicks it out from under the internet.

Rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours, as a climate scientist explains.

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.

Ancient practices hold important lessons for farmers facing drying lands, but they were often more complex than modern societies realize. Glacier loss adds to the challenge today.

Computing pioneer Alan Turing suggested training machines with rewards and punishments. Two computer scientists put the idea into practice in the 1980s and set the stage for the likes of ChatGPT.

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.

The Trump administration’s job cuts and advisory board changes at the agency won’t change those rules, as a former EPA science adviser explains.

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.

Americans are spending more of their time alone. Contrary to national fears of a loneliness crisis, many of them find solitude essential for their well-being.

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.

A more nuanced understanding of hormone therapy now suggests that its benefits for heart health depend on how soon after menopause onset it is prescribed.

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.

Trump’s nominee for the top CDC role would join the agency at a time of great turmoil and uncertainty for medical research.

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

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

A health insurance alliance proved to lower costs for individuals and employers.

Because vitamin D plays a crucial role in many aspects of health and growth, inadequate levels can put children at risk of developing chronic disease early on.

The court’s decision on whether Medicaid patients can choose their own health care provider could have consequences far beyond South Carolina.

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 federal government spent $100 billion on these benefits, which are still sometimes called food stamps, in 2024.

Public safety shutoffs are becoming routine in fire-prone areas. But when the grid goes down, so do digital transactions.

The US experiences violent earthquakes, but the damage and death toll is much lower than in many countries because of the work of federal seismologists and engineers.

Two-thirds of the Panama Canal watershed’s freshwater goes to operate the locks. The country plans to build another reservoir to funnel in more water, but hundreds of homes stand in the way.

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

The pope’s embrace of literature and history is a sharp contrast to some of his predecessors, a medievalist explains.

Tribal governance takes a long view based in Native peoples’ deep history with these lands.

It often brings an instant boost in mood − along with a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

Only 1 in 5 Fortune 500 companies made strong racial justice commitments in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Those companies were more likely to have DEI staff.

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.

A scholar of Buddhism explains authentic ways to engage deeply with the tradition, ranging from short meditation retreats to full ordination as a monastic.

It’s not just about having money problems − it’s how you feel about those problems that matters most for your mental health.

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.

Employees often gravitate toward co-workers their own age, but relationships with colleagues at other stages of life have personal and professional benefits.

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.

‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ blends Buddhist impermanence, Shinto philosophy and samurai ethics into a lesson on courage and suffering.

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

The more Americans isolate themselves from people in the other political party, the more stereotypes take over. In turn, that pushes people to isolate even more.

It may seem natural to use phrases like ‘ambitious’ or ‘think outside the box’ in job descriptions. Here’s when and why recruiters should rethink their approach.

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.

More student-athletes are opting to play sports for private clubs rather than their varsity high school teams. To retain more athletes, schools should focus less on competition.

More student-athletes are opting to play sports for private clubs rather than their varsity high school teams. To retain more athletes, schools should focus less on competition.

Graphic artist Victoria Lomasko’s journey highlights how censorship has intensified in Russia.

Graphic artist Victoria Lomasko’s journey highlights how censorship has intensified in Russia.

Participants in a study were willing to spend just as much time and money on an AI-generated story as one they were told was written by a human.

It’s all about what they want you to do.

The layoffs further complicate staffing shortages at the Office for Civil Rights, which plays a vital role in promoting a fair education for public school students.

A better understanding of why parents of children with special needs choose homeschooling can provide insights to help improve public schools.

The president’s apparent strategy is attempting to eliminate the agency on his own authority, while asking Congress to finish the job, an education expert writes.