Category: Academic Reportage
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Israel’s attack on Syria: Protecting the Druze minority or a regional power play?
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Spyros A. Sofos, Assistant Professor in Global Humanities, Simon Fraser University A new round of violence recently erupted in southern Syria, where clashes between local Druze militias and Sunni fighters have left hundreds dead. In response, Israel launched airstrikes in and around the province of Sweida…
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‘Pay us what you owe us:’ What the WNBA’s collective bargaining talks reveal about negotiation psychology
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ryan Clutterbuck, Assistant Professor in Sport Management, Brock University WNBA all-star players, led by Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the Minnesota Lynx’s Naphessa Collier, recently made headlines by wearing “Pay Us What You Owe Us” T-shirts during the pregame warm-up. The T-shirts, which are now available…
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Car tires are polluting the environment and killing salmon. A global plastics treaty could help
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Timothy Rodgers, Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia In the 1990s, scientists restoring streams around Seattle, Wash., noticed that returning coho salmon were dying after rainstorms. The effects were immediate: the fish swam in circles, gasping at the surface, then died in a…
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Modi’s visit to Ghana signals India’s broader Africa strategy. A researcher explains
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Veda Vaidyanathan, Associate, Harvard University Asia Center, Harvard Kennedy School Ghana has historically been an anchor of Indian enterprise and diplomacy on the African continent. New Delhi and Accra formalised ties in 1957. At the time, their partnership was grounded in shared anti-colonial ideals and…
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8 policies that would help fight poverty in South Africa’s economic hub Gauteng
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Adrino Mazenda, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor Economic Management Sciences, University of Pretoria Poverty goes beyond income. It often arises when health, education and opportunities fall short of meeting people’s needs. Individuals are classified as impoverished when they face deprivation in one-third or more of the indicators…
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Canada could use thermal infrastructure to turn wasted heat emissions into energy
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James (Jim) S. Cotton, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University Buildings are the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. In many cities, including Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, buildings are the single highest source of emissions. The recently launched Infrastructure for Good barometer, released…
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To better detect chemical weapons, materials scientists are exploring new technologies
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By Olamilekan Joseph Ibukun, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis German troops make their way through a cloud of smoke or gas during a gas training drill, circa 1916. Henry Guttmann/Hulton Archive via Getty Images Chemical warfare is one of the most devastating…
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Water recycling is paramount for space stations and long-duration missions − an environmental engineer explains how the ISS does it
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By Berrin Tansel, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University The water recovery system on the ISS is state of the art. Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP, File When you’re on a camping trip, you might have to pack your own food and maybe…
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Too many em dashes? Weird words like ‘delves’? Spotting text written by ChatGPT is still more art than science
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Roger J. Kreuz, Associate Dean and Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis Language experts fare no better than everyday people. Aitor Diago/Moment via Getty Images People are now routinely using chatbots to write computer code, summarize articles and books, or solicit advice. But these chatbots…
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Gene Hackman had a will, but the public may never find out who inherits his $80M fortune
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Naomi Cahn, Professor of Law, University of Virginia Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, pose for a photo in 1986 in Los Angeles. Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images Gene Hackman was found dead inside his New Mexico home on Feb. 26, 2025,…