The Conversation

How does raw water compare to tap water? A microbiologist explains why the risks outweigh the benefits

Written by Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University

Water that comes straight from natural sources, dubbed “raw water,” is gaining popularity. Raw water advocates reject public water supplies, including tap water, because they don’t enjoy the taste or believe it’s unsafe and depleted of vital minerals.

On the surface, raw water might seem alluring – the natural...

Why government can’t make America ‘healthier’ by micromanaging groceries purchased with SNAP benefits

Written by Benjamin Chrisinger, Assistant Professor of Community Health, Tufts University

More than 41 million Americans use SNAP benefits to buy groceries.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s pick for director of the Health and Human Services Department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced a bold plan. He wants to “Make America Healthy Again.”

Kennedy’s strategy has gotten a lot of attention for...

Why Trump’s tariffs can’t solve America’s fentanyl crisis

Written by Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University

Americans consume more illicit drugs per capita than anyone else in the world; about 6% of the U.S. population uses them regularly.

One such drug, fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine – is the leading reason U.S. overdose deaths have surged in recent years. While the rate of fentanyl...

Assad’s fall opens window for Syrian refugees to head home − but for many, it won’t be an easy decision

Written by Kelsey Norman, Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

For more than a decade, Syrians have been the world’s largest refugee population.

More than 6 million Syrians have fled the country since 2011, when an uprising against the regime of Bashar Assad transformed into a 13-year civil war. Most ended up in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, while a sizable...

‘Sorry, I didn’t get that’: AI misunderstands some people’s words more than others

Written by Roberto Rey Agudo, Research Assistant Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, Dartmouth College

Speech recognition systems are less accurate for women and Black people, among other demographics.Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock via Getty Images

The idea of a humanlike artificial intelligence assistant that you can speak with has been alive in many people’s imaginations since the release of “Her,” Spike Jonze’s 2013 film about...

Norovirus, aka the winter vomiting bug, is on the rise – an infectious disease expert explains the best ways to stay safe

Written by William Schaffner, Professor of preventive medicine, health policy, infectious diseses, Vanderbilt University

Norovirus is accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea and explosive vomiting.Alla Bielikova/Moment via Getty Images

The highly contagious norovirus – popularly known as “stomach flu” or the “winter vomiting bug” – is now surging through the U.S.. The number of outbreaks is up significantly over previous years,...

Understanding paranormal beliefs and conspiracy theories isn’t just about misinformation – this course unpacks the history

Written by Jeb Card, Associate Teaching Professor of Anthropology, Miami University

The 'black mailbox' along Highway 375 near Rachel, Nev., a traditional spot for UFO hunters to meet and search the skies near Area 51.AP Photo/John Locher

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

“Investigating the Paranormal”

What prompted the...

College course teaches Philly students to appreciate beer − whether they’re tailgating or fine dining

Written by Paul O'Neill, Assistant Clinical Professor of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University

The Philadelphia region is home to over 90 craft breweries.sutiporn somnam/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

The Fundamentals of Beer

What prompted the idea for the course?

After 25 years of working in professional...

Can Trump just order new names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico? A geographer explains who decides what goes on the map

Written by Innisfree McKinnon, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Known as Mount McKinley until 2015, Denali's current name reflects what Native Alaskans call the mountain. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Denali, the tallest peak in the country, has resulted in lots of discussion. While for some, such...

Trump inherits the Guantánamo prison, complete with 4 ‘forever prisoners’

Written by Lisa Hajjar, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara

A control tower overlooks the Camp VI detention facility, at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.AP Photo/Alex Brandon

President Joe Biden’s record of handling the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is decidedly mixed. He succeeded in reducing the detainee population he inherited by more than half, but he compounded...