The Conversation

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

Written by Selena E. Ortiz, Associate professor of Health Policy and Administration and Demography, Penn State

Pittsburgh is facing a shortage of affordable housing − especially for extremely low-income residents.dosecreative/iStock Collection via Getty Images

Pittsburgh is widely regarded as a relatively affordable place to live. Overall, housing and living costs remain below national averages for midsize cities in the United States.

Along with low...

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

Written by Caroline Wagner, Professor of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

In a span of a few years, China has outstripped the U.S. in scientific publications, spending and patents.AP Photo/Andy Wong

China’s rapid rise in science has hit a milestone. The country’s investment in research and development has reached parity with – and by purchasing power measures has surpassed – that of the United...

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

Written by Beth Gazley, Professor of Nonprofit Management and Policy, Indiana University

FBI Director Kash Patel, right, and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speak about the Southern Poverty Law Center's indictment in April 2026.Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted on April 21, 2026, on federal fraud charges. The Justice Department alleges that the civil rights group known as the SPLC...

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

Written by Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Fire crews responded to dozens of wildfires burning in Georgia and northern Florida on April 23, 2026.Georgia Department of Natural Resources via AP

Large parts of the southeastern U.S. are in the midst of an exceptional drought, and it is fueling dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia.

One of those wildfires, in southeastern Georgia’s...

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

Written by Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Fire crews responded to dozens of wildfires burning in Georgia and northern Florida on April 23, 2026.Georgia Department of Natural Resources via AP

Large parts of the southeastern U.S. are in the midst of an exceptional drought, and it is fueling dozens of wildfires in Florida and Georgia.

One of those wildfires, in southeastern Georgia’s...

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

Written by Wayne Unger, Associate Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University

The U.S. Supreme Court is being criticized for decisions that are made quickly and outside of public view.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The recent publication of confidential Supreme Court memoranda by The New York Times has brought to light a pivotal moment in the court’s history. “The birth of the Supreme Court’s shadow...

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

Written by Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University

These kids are doing a lot more than just playing in the dirt.SolStock/E+ via Getty Images

I used to teach high school science in Oklahoma, and one day I brought in a stalk from a cotton plant with bolls of cotton still attached. Students asked me why I glued cotton balls to a stick.

My students and I lived in a rural town surrounded by pastures of...

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

Written by Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, Clinical Professor of Literacy Studies, Drexel University

Brain breaks improve the neural connections your brain is making between new information and prior knowledge.Mihaela Rosu/iStock/Getty Images Plus

If you have a child in school right now, you may have heard them talk about needing a “brain break” while doing homework or studying for a test. Maybe they shake their bodies out, do some...

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

Written by Peter McGraw, Professor of Marketing and Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder

Single women, in particular, often feel overlooked in church.Lawren/Moment via Getty Images

When a couple marry in a church, synagogue or mosque, the ceremony does more than sanctify a union. Often, it binds two families to an institution.

For centuries, marriage and child-rearing have been among the main ways adults are integrated into...

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

Written by Shawn Datchuk, Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Iowa

Approximately 34% of U.S. fourth grade students without disabilities and 72% of students with disabilities scored below basic reading levels in 2024. Anna Maslennikova/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Recently, I worked with a group of elementary teachers in Iowa to select new reading textbooks and software. They wanted new materials to improve their...