The Conversation U.S. - News written by experts to help you understand

Edition:

Edition:

Donate Get newsletter

Become an author Sign up as a reader

Academic rigor, journalistic flair

A large white, pillared building set against a dark sky.

A large white, pillared building set against a dark sky.

‘Above the law’ in some cases: Supreme Court gives Trump − and future presidents − a special exception that will delay his prosecution

Claire B. Wofford, College of Charleston

Hurricane Beryl’s rapid intensification to Cat 5 is alarming: Here’s why more tropical storms are exploding in strength

Brian Tang, University at Albany, State University of New York

A satellite image of Hurricane Beryl approaching the Windward Islands.

A satellite image of Hurricane Beryl approaching the Windward Islands.

Cultural differences impede trade for most countries — but not China

Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth

Two container ships -- one, dark blue, in the foreground, and another, light blue, in the distance -- are seen amid port infrastructure.

Two container ships -- one, dark blue, in the foreground, and another, light blue, in the distance -- are seen amid port infrastructure.

The Catholic Church is using the upcoming Paris Olympics to engage young people − but several popes have already promoted sports as a way to teach Christian values

A. Jaime Morales Jr., University of Connecticut

Five white rings in the space between two golden pillars set against a deep blue background.

Five white rings in the space between two golden pillars set against a deep blue background.

Historic Supreme Court term

People hold signs reading 'House keys, not handcuffs' and 'Housing solves homelessness'

Supreme Court rules cities can ban homeless people from sleeping outdoors – Sotomayor dissent summarizes opinion as ‘stay awake or be arrested’

Clare Pastore, University of Southern California

What’s next after Supreme Court curbs regulatory power: More focus on laws’ wording, less on their goals

Robin Kundis Craig, University of Kansas

Gloved hands sort through a tray of Atlantic herring

Gloved hands sort through a tray of Atlantic herring

Supreme Court kicks cases about tech companies’ First Amendment rights back to lower courts − but appears poised to block states from hampering online content moderation

Lynn Greenky, Syracuse University

A line drawing of a smartphone with social media icons on it.

A line drawing of a smartphone with social media icons on it.

Supreme Court makes prosecution of Trump on obstruction charge more difficult, with ruling to narrowly define law used against him and Jan. 6 rioters

Riley T. Keenan, University of Richmond

A large white building and protesters on a balcony.

A large white building and protesters on a balcony.

Supreme Court rules that Trump had partial immunity as president, but not for unofficial acts − 4 essential reads

Jeff Inglis, The Conversation; Naomi Schalit, The Conversation, and Amy Lieberman, The Conversation

A man speaks in front of a row of American flags.

A man speaks in front of a row of American flags.

Add evidence-based news in your inbox, for free

Subscribe to our newsletters

From diagnosing brain disorders to cognitive enhancement, 100 years of EEG have transformed neuroscience

Erika Nyhus, Bowdoin College

Illustration of brain with EEG epilepsy reading superimposed across it

Illustration of brain with EEG epilepsy reading superimposed across it

Colorado is home to the longest-running gay rodeo in the world

Rebecca Scofield, University of Idaho and Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University

A man wearing a colorful outfit holds an icepack to his eye

A man wearing a colorful outfit holds an icepack to his eye

Black economic boycotts of the civil rights era still offer lessons on how to achieve a just society

Kevin A. Young, UMass Amherst

A group of Black people are walking to work to protest racial segregation.

A group of Black people are walking to work to protest racial segregation.

Knowing when to call it quits takes courage and confidence - 3 case studies

Kevin J. McMahon, Trinity College and Michael Paris, College of Staten Island, CUNY

A man is reading a newspaper headline that says LBJ won't run in very large letters.

A man is reading a newspaper headline that says LBJ won't run in very large letters.

Man with his baby in a carrier, talking to volunteers collecting signatures for a petition.

Charities are allowed to do some lobbying, but many do none at all

Heather MacIndoe, UMass Boston and Mirae Kim, George Mason University

To insure or self-insure? The question homeowners must answer amid impact of climate change

Rick Gorvett, Bryant University

A person holds their hands over a dollhouse, as if shielding it from rain.

A person holds their hands over a dollhouse, as if shielding it from rain.

US’s terrorist listing of European far-right group signals fears of rising threat − both abroad and at home

Jason M. Blazakis, Middlebury

A man is seen from behind wearing a black jacket that reads "Nordic Resistance Movement."

A man is seen from behind wearing a black jacket that reads "Nordic Resistance Movement."

How camping bans − like the one the Supreme Court just upheld − can fit into ‘hostile design’: Strategies to push out homeless people

Robert Rosenberger, Georgia Institute of Technology

Around one or two dozen people lie on the ground in emergency blankets, some holding signs, outside a building with tall white pillars.

Around one or two dozen people lie on the ground in emergency blankets, some holding signs, outside a building with tall white pillars.

Disability community has long wrestled with ‘helpful’ technologies – lessons for everyone in dealing with AI

Elaine Short, Tufts University

a robot hand holds a paint brush tracing a heart on a piece of paper

a robot hand holds a paint brush tracing a heart on a piece of paper

Thank you to all of our readers who helped make our summer fundraising campaign a success

Readers make our work possible

Read all our latest articles

More from The Conversation

8 fun questions about The Conversation

Fritz Holznagel, Quizmaster

Graphic saying "The Conversation Quiz" over a photo of The Conversation's staff gathered in a stairwell

Graphic saying "The Conversation Quiz" over a photo of The Conversation's staff gathered in a stairwell

Our most interesting articles about science, health, the environment and technology

Graphic with science-related icons and the text 'Science Editors' Picks' in the center.

Graphic with science-related icons and the text 'Science Editors' Picks' in the center.

A new book to help you understand how work is changing in the 21st Century

Johns Hopkins University Press

A graphic with a book cover and skyscraper reads "New book: The Conversation on Work. Preorder today"

A graphic with a book cover and skyscraper reads "New book: The Conversation on Work. Preorder today"

What you need to know to guide your donations

Graphic featuring heart and hand symbols. The text reads 'Giving Today'.

Graphic featuring heart and hand symbols. The text reads 'Giving Today'.

All our newsletters

Extreme weather

A man cools his face with water from a fountain while a boy splashes in the water behind him.

Extreme heat waves aren’t ‘just summer’: How climate change is heating up the weather, and what we can do about it

Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell and Jeffrey Basara, UMass Lowell

Climate change is increasing stress on thousands of aging dams across the US

Hiba Baroud, Vanderbilt University

Water pours through a dam and flows around one side of the structure.

Water pours through a dam and flows around one side of the structure.

2024’s violent tornado season has been one of the most active on record − a meteorologist explains the weather behind the outbreaks

William Gallus, Iowa State University

A woman pulls a religious statue out from among debris. A splintered home and scattered clothing are around her.

A woman pulls a religious statue out from among debris. A splintered home and scattered clothing are around her.

6 tips for staying safe in extreme summer heat if you’re a runner, cyclist or anyone else spending time outdoors

Susan Yeargin, University of South Carolina

A man runs past the WWII Memorial on a hot day in Washington, D.C., with the Lincoln Memorial in the background

A man runs past the WWII Memorial on a hot day in Washington, D.C., with the Lincoln Memorial in the background

Lightning season is here: Fast facts and how to stay safe, from a meteorologist

Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The stadium scoreboard is still lit up, but fans are headed away from the seating areas as a lighting bold strikes nearby

The stadium scoreboard is still lit up, but fans are headed away from the seating areas as a lighting bold strikes nearby

Read more on extreme weather

Are you an academic expert who wants to share your knowledge?

Pitch an article

Elections around the world

Marine Le Pen smirking and holding her thumb up in the air.

French far-right in sight of majority for first time after first round of voting – here’s what happens now

Rainbow Murray, Queen Mary University of London

Diplomacy, sanctions and soft power have failed to deter Iran’s anti-West agenda − could a new Iranian president change that?

Nakissa Jahanbani, Penn State and Daniel P. Colletti, United States Military Academy West Point

A large crowd of Iranian supporters of Masoud Pezeshkian gather in Tehran; in the foreground, a young woman shouts her endorsement while holding up a campaign sign.

A large crowd of Iranian supporters of Masoud Pezeshkian gather in Tehran; in the foreground, a young woman shouts her endorsement while holding up a campaign sign.

UK and US elections: 2 very different systems united by a common political language

Garret Martin, American University School of International Service

A man in a white shirt drinks a cup of tea surrounded by other people.

A man in a white shirt drinks a cup of tea surrounded by other people.

Politics is still both local and personal – but only for independents, not for Democrats or Republicans

Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz, University of Maryland and Joshua J. Dyck, UMass Lowell

A person looks to one side while crossing a city street.

A person looks to one side while crossing a city street.

Indian election was awash in deepfakes – but AI was a net positive for democracy

Vandinika Shukla, Harvard Kennedy School and Bruce Schneier, Harvard Kennedy School

a computer screen shows a man with white hair and beard in front of oragne, green and white flags with a series of bright dots outlining his mouth, nose and eyes

a computer screen shows a man with white hair and beard in front of oragne, green and white flags with a series of bright dots outlining his mouth, nose and eyes

Read more global election coverage

New research in health and science

A small metal capsule carried by three parachutes lands in a body of water.

The science behind splashdown − an aerospace engineer explains how NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth

Marcos Fernandez Tous, University of North Dakota

FDA authorized the sale of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes – a health policy expert explains how the benefits may outweigh the risks

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, UMass Amherst

A variety of e-cigarette products lying flat on a white surface.

A variety of e-cigarette products lying flat on a white surface.

Lead water pipes created a health disaster in Flint, but replacing them with cheaper plastic − as some cities are doing − carries hidden costs

Rajpreet Grewal, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Laodong Guo, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Melissa Scanlan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

A stack of blue plastic water pipes under a blue sky

A stack of blue plastic water pipes under a blue sky

Genetic testing cannot reveal the gender of your baby − two genetic counselors explain the complexities of sex and gender

Maggie Ruderman, Boston University and Kimberly Zayhowski, Boston University

Illustration of one pink and one blue DNA helices intertwining, with pink X's and blue Y's floating around the background

Illustration of one pink and one blue DNA helices intertwining, with pink X's and blue Y's floating around the background

The world’s fourth mass coral bleaching is underway, but well-connected reefs may have a better chance to recover

Annalisa Bracco, Georgia Institute of Technology

Spiky brown corals release white particles into the dark surrounding water

Spiky brown corals release white particles into the dark surrounding water

Read more new science research

You might also like…

A young girl cries as she reaches through bars for food, as other people clamor around her with bowls.

Gazans’ extreme hunger could leave its mark on subsequent generations

Hasan Khatib, University of Wisconsin-Madison

‘Authentic’ ayahuasca rituals sought by tourists often ignore Indigenous practices and spiritual grounding

Pardis Mahdavi, University of La Verne

Two bare-chested men sit on the floor, while two others wearing traditional dress wave a plant near them.

Two bare-chested men sit on the floor, while two others wearing traditional dress wave a plant near them.

ChatGPT and the movie ‘Her’ are just the latest example of the ‘sci-fi feedback loop’

Rizwan Virk, Arizona State University

A massive holograph of a pink-skinned, blue-haired young woman points at a small man who gazes up at her.

A massive holograph of a pink-skinned, blue-haired young woman points at a small man who gazes up at her.

Who designed the FGC-9? Unmasking the man behind the world’s most popular 3D-printed gun – podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation

Disassembled components of the FGC-9 shadow gun.

Disassembled components of the FGC-9 shadow gun.

Federal funding for major science agencies is at a 25-year low

Chris Impey, University of Arizona

The U.S. Capitol, shown against dark clouds.

The U.S. Capitol, shown against dark clouds.

Most read this week

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Our partners and funders

View all partners

The Conversation democratizes knowledge by helping academic experts to write for the public. Free to read. Free to republish. No ads or paywalls.

Find out more about us