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Latest attack threatening President Trump reflects rising political violence in US

Latest attack threatening President Trump reflects rising political violence in US

The moral dimension of political polarization in the US, where each side views the other as immoral, helps fuel attacks like the one against Trump at...

yesterday 0

The Conversation

James Piazza

What to know about sex trafficking as Pittsburgh hosts the NFL draft

What to know about sex trafficking as Pittsburgh hosts the NFL draft

The NFL draft will bring increased demand and risks for trafficking. Here’s what Pittsburgh needs to know, from warning signs to local prevention...

friday 1

The Conversation

Mary Burke

Justice Department’s effort to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans could face widespread judicial pushback

Justice Department’s effort to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans could face widespread judicial pushback

Denaturalization risks becoming a tool of political control, creating a permanent vulnerability for more than 20 million naturalized Americans.

friday 1

The Conversation

Cassandra Burke Robertson

China surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout

China surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout

Scientific innovation has been driving US economic growth for decades. Losing that edge means losing access to the technologies and brainpower that...

friday 1

The Conversation

Caroline Wagner

‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing – here’s why

‘Affordable’ Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough affordable housing – here’s why

For a quarter of its residents, Pittsburgh isn’t an affordable place to live. A contested housing policy is at the center of efforts to change that.

friday 2

The Conversation

Selena e. ortiz

You probably wouldn’t notice if an AI chatbot slipped ads into its responses

You probably wouldn’t notice if an AI chatbot slipped ads into its responses

People who interacted with different AI chatbots in a study didn’t realize the bots were including veiled advertising in their replies

friday 2

The Conversation

Brian jay tang

What is black garlic? How heat and humidity turn a pungent ingredient mild and slightly sweet

What is black garlic? How heat and humidity turn a pungent ingredient mild and slightly sweet

A food chemist explains how black garlic is made, and how its health benefits are promising but still under-researched.

friday 2

The Conversation

Mavra javed

Boom in cremation hides surprising truths about what Americans really want when they die

Boom in cremation hides surprising truths about what Americans really want when they die

A new study suggests that the decades-long march toward cremation may not last forever – particularly if Gen Z’s preferences pan out.

friday 1

The Conversation

Tanya D. Marsh

Meloni and Trump’s cooling relationship marks the failure of an EU‑MAGA middle ground

Meloni and Trump’s cooling relationship marks the failure of an EU‑MAGA middle ground

Italy’s right-wing leader was once seen as Trump’s main ally in Western Europe – but not so anymore.

friday 2

The Conversation

Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager

‘Just war’ has guided Catholic thinking on conflict for centuries – including criticism of Iran war

‘Just war’ has guided Catholic thinking on conflict for centuries – including criticism of Iran war

Just war theory, developed over centuries, focuses on six criteria for assessing whether a conflict is justified.

friday 3

The Conversation

Valerie Morkevicius

What the Declaration of Independence does – and doesn’t – say about God

What the Declaration of Independence does – and doesn’t – say about God

Debates about religion’s role in America often circle back to the country’s founding documents.

friday 2

The Conversation

Thomas Tweed

Trump administration’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center breaks with norms – and may lack evidence of criminal wrongdoing

Trump administration’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center breaks with norms – and may lack evidence of criminal wrongdoing

It’s unusual for federal authorities to take this kind of action when federal funding is not involved. And the SPLC does not accept government grants.

friday 1

The Conversation

Beth Gazley

Heavy rain on snow is testing aging dams across Michigan and Wisconsin – this is the future in a warming world

Heavy rain on snow is testing aging dams across Michigan and Wisconsin – this is the future in a warming world

Days of intense rain and snowmelt overwhelmed old dams and breached roads, forcing evacuations. Nearly half the counties in Michigan – often seen as...

23.04.2026 1

The Conversation

Richard B. Rood

Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ brings hasty decisions with long‑lasting implications, outside of its usual careful deliberation

Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ brings hasty decisions with long‑lasting implications, outside of its usual careful deliberation

What is the Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ and why is it important?

23.04.2026 1

The Conversation

Wayne Unger

Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the reason

Why the Southeast is burning – extreme drought is only part of the reason

The southeastern US has been in drought for months. With the wind and unusually low humidity, it’s facing perfect conditions for spreading fires.

23.04.2026 1

The Conversation

Zachary Handlos

New reading textbooks, same problem: Why children’s reading scores in the US aren’t rising

New reading textbooks, same problem: Why children’s reading scores in the US aren’t rising

There are many literacy textbooks available but no clear way to determine which ones are the best – and most likely to turn kids into better readers.

23.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Shawn Datchuk

The new brain break app for Philadelphia students raises questions about more screen time

The new brain break app for Philadelphia students raises questions about more screen time

The Philadelphia School District is rolling out a Flyers-branded app that’s supposed to get kids moving by following an avatar on a screen.

23.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Mary jean tecce decarlo

Many churches, synagogues and mosques are built around families – and they’re struggling to respond to rising singles

Many churches, synagogues and mosques are built around families – and they’re struggling to respond to rising singles

The increasing percentage of Americans who are not married or in a long-term partnership is testing employers, marketers and religious institutions.

23.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Peter Mcgraw

School gardens help students learn science and connect with agriculture – but making them happen isn’t easy

School gardens help students learn science and connect with agriculture – but making them happen isn’t easy

In an urbanized and globalized world, most kids aren’t directly connected to agriculture. School gardens can help them learn where their food comes...

23.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Shelley Mitchell

What we lose when artificial intelligence does our shopping

What we lose when artificial intelligence does our shopping

Retailers are racing to hand your shopping over to AI. Consumers are right to be wary – and not just about privacy.

23.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Mark Bartholomew

Extreme rain on snow is testing aging dams across Michigan and Wisconsin – this is the future in a warming world

Extreme rain on snow is testing aging dams across Michigan and Wisconsin – this is the future in a warming world

Days of intense rain and snowmelt overwhelmed old dams and breached roads, forcing evacuations. Nearly half the counties in Michigan – often seen as...

22.04.2026 1

The Conversation

Richard B. Rood

If Justice Alito resigns before the midterms, a Trump nominee to the Supreme Court is likely to sail through confirmation

If Justice Alito resigns before the midterms, a Trump nominee to the Supreme Court is likely to sail through confirmation

If a Supreme Court justice retires before the November midterms, this is how Trump and Senate Republicans can successfully confirm a successor.

22.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Paul M. Collins Jr.

Sorry, Tampa Bay, mixed‑use districts don’t reverse the dismal economics of sports venues

Sorry, Tampa Bay, mixed‑use districts don’t reverse the dismal economics of sports venues

Tampa residents, take note: The Battery has delivered for the Atlanta Braves, but not for Georgia taxpayers.

22.04.2026 5

The Conversation

J.c. bradbury

Sorry, Tampa, mixed‑use districts don’t reverse the dismal economics of sports venues

Sorry, Tampa, mixed‑use districts don’t reverse the dismal economics of sports venues

Tampa residents, take note: The Battery has delivered for the Atlanta Braves, but not for Georgia taxpayers.

22.04.2026 7

The Conversation

J.c. bradbury

Chernobyl at 40: Secret Stasi files reveal extent of Soviet misinformation campaign over nuclear disaster

Chernobyl at 40: Secret Stasi files reveal extent of Soviet misinformation campaign over nuclear disaster

Once classified files from East Germany reveal the extent of Soviet actions to hide the true extent of catastrophe.

22.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Lauren cassidy

HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research

HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research

The gain isn’t huge, but it’s a notable improvement – similar to what people experience when they start exercising more.

22.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Nicholas pellegrino

Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades

Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades

As rotavirus spreads this season, doctors worry that falling vaccination rates may endanger kids.

22.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Annette Regan

Is Trump heading to a Pyrrhic victory in Iran?

Is Trump heading to a Pyrrhic victory in Iran?

Pyrrhus was said to have remarked that one more victory would leave his kingdom ‘utterly ruined.’ Some see echoes in US interventions in the...

22.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Andrew Latham, Opinion Contributor

What a Muslim folk trickster can teach us about the danger of holding a single worldview

What a Muslim folk trickster can teach us about the danger of holding a single worldview

The folk tales of Nasreddin Hoja, which likely originated in 13th-century Turkey, carry many lessons for us today.

22.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Perin Gürel

It’s a sing‑off! Myth‑busting about birds and sex when it comes to defending the nest

It’s a sing‑off! Myth‑busting about birds and sex when it comes to defending the nest

Males aren’t the only angry birds defending their territory. A clever test finds which songbirds step up to fight off intruders and the role...

22.04.2026 4

The Conversation

Benjamin freeman

Why Trump can’t just decree changes to voting by mail – a former federal judge explains how the president’s executive order is ‘a solution looking for a problem’

Why Trump can’t just decree changes to voting by mail – a former federal judge explains how the president’s executive order is ‘a solution looking for a problem’

The US Constitution gives states control of elections. An executive order by President Trump aims to take away that control. A former federal judge...

22.04.2026 5

The Conversation

John E. Jones Iii

How personal finance advice is getting political, thanks to ‘finfluencers’

How personal finance advice is getting political, thanks to ‘finfluencers’

Money management guidance used to be uncontroversial and staid. It’s become something completely different on social media.

22.04.2026 4

The Conversation

Maximilian Brichta

High school yearbooks focus on the fun students had, obscuring the pain people also experienced

High school yearbooks focus on the fun students had, obscuring the pain people also experienced

A review of nearly 100 years of high school yearbooks from Salinas High School in California showcases a nostalgic, not always accurate, version of...

22.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Michael a messner

Why the US military is stuck using $1 million missiles against Iran’s $20,000 drones

Why the US military is stuck using $1 million missiles against Iran’s $20,000 drones

Bureaucratic hurdles mean the US military typically has to wait a decade between the time it sees a new threat and the employment of a new system to...

21.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Aaron brynildson

Research at Chernobyl and Fukushima shows how radioactive materials move in the environment

Research at Chernobyl and Fukushima shows how radioactive materials move in the environment

Radiation risk can be measured, understood and controlled in ways that keep people safe, including from contaminated foods.

21.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Eduardo b. farfán

Hurricanes devastated Florida’s East Coast – then seagrass made an unexpected comeback

Hurricanes devastated Florida’s East Coast – then seagrass made an unexpected comeback

After years of collapse, seagrass in Florida’s Mosquito Lagoon rebounded unexpectedly following 2022 hurricanes, offering new insight into ecosystem...

21.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Stephanie insalaco-wyner

Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it

Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it

The placebo effect is more than just mental – it’s a biological system that can measurably improve a patient’s symptoms. But someone else needs...

21.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Phil Starks

NATO’s internal cohesion is being threatened (again) – but in pushing for support on Iran, Trump may risk eroding US influence on the alliance

NATO’s internal cohesion is being threatened (again) – but in pushing for support on Iran, Trump may risk eroding US influence on the alliance

NATO members have been divided before. But the war in Iran could prove particularly troublesome for an alliance founded at the beginning of the Cold...

21.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Michael A. Allen

Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

Two engineers explain how data center design, construction and operation can help the facilities support their communities.

21.04.2026 4

The Conversation

Gregor henze

Despite all the likes, literallys and dropped g’s, English isn’t decaying before our eyes

Despite all the likes, literallys and dropped g’s, English isn’t decaying before our eyes

Throughout the history of the language, what has been considered ‘bad’ speech often becomes ‘proper.’ You just have to give it time.

21.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Valerie M. Fridland

US government ramps up mass surveillance with help of AI tech, data brokers – and your apps and devices

US government ramps up mass surveillance with help of AI tech, data brokers – and your apps and devices

To augment information about you that it collects directly, the US Government is buying less-regulated information harvested by cameras, cellphones...

21.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Anne Toomey Mckenna

Umbilical cord blood may hold clues for a child’s risk of developing Type 1 diabetes

Umbilical cord blood may hold clues for a child’s risk of developing Type 1 diabetes

Genetics may only partially determine a newborn’s risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Screening umbilical cord blood could lead to earlier...

21.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Angelica P. Ahrens

Signs of economic instability emerge in Oakland County, one of Michigan’s wealthiest

Signs of economic instability emerge in Oakland County, one of Michigan’s wealthiest

A sociologist’s analysis of a Michigan county reveals pockets of economic instability as rising housing costs continue to pressure residents.

21.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Grigoris Argeros

Attending multiple places of worship is the norm for many Americans

Attending multiple places of worship is the norm for many Americans

Surveys about religion often ask a single question about how often people go to services. That means researchers miss an important piece of the...

21.04.2026 7

The Conversation

Katie e. corcoran

Agricultural work is dangerous – but good communication can save lives in Colorado

Agricultural work is dangerous – but good communication can save lives in Colorado

Agricultural workers are six times more likely to die on the job than the average American worker.

21.04.2026 4

The Conversation

Morgan valley

Don’t just plant trees, plant forests to restore biodiversity for the future

Don’t just plant trees, plant forests to restore biodiversity for the future

The tree mix matters. Near Chesapeake Bay, scientists have been experimenting with mini-forests for over a decade. The surprising results show how...

20.04.2026 4

The Conversation

John Parker

We designed the turf for soccer’s biggest World Cup ever – here’s how we created the same playing experience across 3 countries

We designed the turf for soccer’s biggest World Cup ever – here’s how we created the same playing experience across 3 countries

The new playing fields are rolling out in stadiums from Mexico to Canada. Creating the perfect pitch in very different climates requires the right...

20.04.2026 5

The Conversation

John n. trey rogers

Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows

Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows

Women are at highest risk of being hurt or killed after separating from a potentially violent partner, but interventions such as taking away the...

20.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Kathryn spearman

When oil prices spike, where does the money go?

When oil prices spike, where does the money go?

Who gets all that cash, and what do they do with it?

20.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Matthew e. oliver

ICE’s heavy‑handed immigration enforcement was tried once before – by Arizona’s notorious sheriff Joe Arpaio in the early 2000s

ICE’s heavy‑handed immigration enforcement was tried once before – by Arizona’s notorious sheriff Joe Arpaio in the early 2000s

The Trump administration’s immigration detention policies appear to be, in part, inspired by the heavy-handed tactics of the former Arizona sheriff.

20.04.2026 2

The Conversation

Jonathan van Harmelen