The Conversation

Black families pay more to keep their houses warm than average American families

Written by George C. Homsy, Director of Environmental Studies, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy, Binghamton University, State University of New York

It's not always enough to put on another sweater.Grace Cary/Moment via Getty Images

Rising energy costs consume a bigger and bigger chunk of family budgets in the United States. Our research has found that for many African American families, those costs take an extra big bite out of their incomes. This bite, the percentage of a household’s...

Black student unions are under pressure – here’s what they do and how they help Black students find community

Written by Antar A. Tichavakunda, Associate Professor of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara

Members of the Black Student Union at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa., march in a protest in April 2015. Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Black student unions have been a vital part of many Black college students’ lives for more than 60 years. But since 2024, Black student unions have lost their institutional...

Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging – a geriatrician explains how they can start planning

Written by Kahli Zietlow, Physician and Clinical Associate Professor of Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, University of Michigan

It's important for older adults to plan for their care as they age.Maskot/Maskot via Getty Images

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in February 2025. Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s and depended on Arakawa as his full-time caregiver.

Disturbingly, postmortem data suggests that...

I treat menopause and its symptoms, and hormone replacement therapy can help – here’s the science behind the FDA’s decision to remove warnings

Written by Genevieve Hofmann, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Women's Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Reanalyses of earlier research have shown that hormone therapy is safe and effective for many women going through menopause.monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

For more than 20 years, hormone therapy for menopause has carried a warning label from the Food and Drug Administration describing the medication’s risk of serious harms...

Don’t stress out about overeating during the holidays – a dietitian explains how a day of indulgence won’t harm your overall health

Written by Bryn Beeder, Visiting Instructor in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, Miami University

For many, holidays are synonymous with quality time and long-standing traditions. Typically laden with delicious foods, it’s not uncommon to eat more during the holidays than you usually would.

You likely know that feeling of being too stuffed – the point when you’re pleasantly satisfied one moment and uncomfortably full the...

Retailers are quietly changing their return policies – here’s why you should be on the lookout this Black Friday

Written by Lauren Beitelspacher, Professor of Marketing, Babson College

’Tis the season for giving – and that means ’tis the season for shopping. Maybe you’ll splurge on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal, thinking, “I’ll just return it if they don’t like it.” But before you click “buy,” it’s worth knowing that many retailers have quietly tightened...

Student cheating dominates talk of generative AI in higher ed, but universities and tech companies face ethical issues too

Written by Jeffrey C. Dixon, Professor of Sociology, College of the Holy Cross

A wider look at ethical questions around generative AI brings in much more than academic integrity. Huaxia Zhou via Getty Images

Debates about generative artificial intelligence on college campuses have largely centered on student cheating. But focusing on cheating overlooks a larger set of ethical concerns that higher education institutions face,...

Most colleges score low on helping students of all faiths – or none – develop a sense of belonging. Faculty can help change that

Written by Matthew J. Mayhew, Professor of Higher Education, The Ohio State University

Students don't need to be protected from others' views, but they can benefit from support to keep those conversations respectful.PIKSEL/iStock via Getty Images Plus

What helps students from all walks of life have a good college experience?

Beyond all the concrete things schools can offer – academics, research opportunities, sports, dining...

Why people trust influencers more than brands – and what that means for the future of marketing

Written by Kelley Cours Anderson, Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Charleston

Not long ago, the idea of getting paid to share your morning routine online would have sounded absurd. Yet today, influencers are big business: The global market is expected to surpass US$32 billion by the end of 2025.

Rooted in celebrity culture but driven by digital platforms, the influencer economy represents a powerful force in both commerce...

Renewable energy is cheaper and healthier – so why isn’t it replacing fossil fuels faster?

Written by Jay Gulledge, Visiting Professor of Practice in Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame; University of Tennessee

A technician walks through a solar farm in Goma, Congo, in 2025.AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa

You might not know it from the headlines, but there is some good news about the global fight against climate change.

A decade ago, the cheapest way to meet growing demand for electricity was to build more coal or natural gas power plants. Not anymore. Solar and...