Category: Analysis
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Why the politics of cancellation never works
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Robert Danisch, Professor, Department of Communication Arts, University of Waterloo Cancellation, elimination, subtraction, removal, invalidation — these synonyms describe a core, pervasive principle in our current political moment. A common fantasy from those on all positions of the ideological spectrum is the belief that if one…
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Violent acts in houses of worship are rare but deadly – here’s what the data shows
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By James Densley, Professor of Criminal Justice, Metropolitan State University A church program lies on the ground near the family reunification area after the shooting in Grand Blanc, Mich., on Sept. 28, 2025. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images On Sept. 28, 2025, at least four people…
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Flood-prone Houston faces hard choices for handling too much water
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Ivis García, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University A roadside assistance vehicle is swamped by floodwaters on a Houston highway in 2024. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Eight years after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston in 2017, flooding hundreds of thousands of homes,…
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Conventional anti-corruption tools often fail to address root causes – but loss of US leadership could still spell trouble for efforts abroad
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Diana Chigas, Professor of the Practice in International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Tufts University President Donald Trump signs a series of executive orders on Feb. 10, 2025, including an order relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images For nearly half a century,…
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Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Alex Wermer-Colan, Academic and Research Director, Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio, Temple University Libraries, Temple University A display at the Hoboken Public Library in Hoboken, N.J., features books that have been targeted or banned in other states. Ana Fernandez/AFP via Getty Images Over the past…
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From ‘Frankenstein’ to ‘Dracula,’ exploring the dark world of death and the undead offers a reminder of our mortality
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Molly Ryder Granatino, Teaching Assistant Professor, English department, University of Tennessee Students consider their own mortality in a literature course on death and dying. iStock/Getty Images Plus Spooky decorations of ghosts and skeletons will soon be returning to people’s doorsteps ahead of Halloween – but…
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Many US states are rethinking how students use cellphones − but digital tech still has a place in the classroom
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Kui Xie, Dean of College of Education and Human Development, University of Missouri-Columbia States including Michigan and Colorado are restricting the ways students can use digital devices in school. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Across the United States, more schools are implementing policies restricting cellphones…
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Poor sleep may make your brain age faster – new study
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Abigail Dove, Postdoctoral Researcher, Neuroepidemiology, Karolinska Institutet Ekaterina Karpacheva/Shutterstock.com We spend nearly a third of our lives asleep, yet sleep is anything but wasted time. Far from being passive downtime, it is an active and essential process that helps restore the body and protect the brain.…
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Caffeine pouches deliver a fast hit – and hidden risks
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University Caffeine pouches contain micro-ground caffeine and flavourings, which dissolve in saliva and release caffeine molecules directly into the bloodstream. Natalia Bohren/Shutterstock A new caffeine craze is brewing on social media – no kettle required. Caffeine pouches promise…
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Plants are incredibly sensitive – what we learned about their response system could help protect humans
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Miguel de Lucas, Associate Professor in Biosciences, Durham University mitritatei96/Shutterstock At first glance, plants may seem passive – but beneath their stillness lies a world of complexity and constant activity. Plants are highly sensitive to their surroundings, continuously monitoring environmental signals to adapt and survive. Think…