The Conversation

From censorship to curiosity: Pope Francis’ appreciation for the power of history and books

Written by Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Professor of Medieval History, University of Rhode Island

Pope Francis delivers the Angelus noon prayer in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Nov. 10, 2024.AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

In January 2025, while doing research at the Vatican archives, I heard Pope Francis’ Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square. The pope reflected on the ceasefire that had just gone into effect in Gaza, highlighting...

Cuts to science research funding cut American lives short − federal support is essential for medical breakthroughs

Written by Deborah Fuller, Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Divesting from the next generation of researchers means cutting the lifeblood of science and medicine.J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Nearly every modern medical treatment can be traced to research funded by the National Institutes of Health: from over-the-counter and prescription medications that treat high cholesterol and pain to...

Chronic kidney disease often goes undiagnosed, but early detection can prevent severe outcomes

Written by Eleanor Rivera, Assistant Professor of Population Health Nursing Science, University of Illinois Chicago

Testing for kidney function can help identify chronic kidney disease early enough to intervene.PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

For a disease afflicting 35.5 million people in the U.S., chronic kidney disease flies under the radar. Only half the people who have it are formally diagnosed.

The consequences of advanced chronic...

As federal environmental priorities shift, sovereign Native American nations have their own plans

Written by Alyssa Kreikemeier, Assistant Professor of History, University of Idaho

Billy Frank Jr., left, a Nisqually tribal elder, was arrested dozens of times while trying to assert his native fishing rights during the 'Fish Wars' of the 1960s and 1970s. In this 2014 photo, he stands with Ed Johnstone of the Quinault tribe.AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Long before the large-scale Earth Day protests on April 22, 1970 – often...

Want to stay healthier and fulfilled later in life? Try volunteering

Written by Cal J. Halvorsen, Associate Professor of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis

New volunteers get trained in Lexington, Ky., to help out at CASA of Lexington in April 2023.AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

As gerontologists – social scientists who study aging populations – we envision a future in which older people leave a doctor’s visit with a prescription to go volunteer for something.

Does that sound far-fetched?...

We analyzed racial justice statements from the 500 largest US companies and found that DEI officials really did have an influence

Written by Donald T. Tomaskovic-Devey, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Employment Equity, UMass Amherst

In 2020, American businesses responded to an unprecedented wave of racial justice protests with an equally unprecedented surge in corporate commitments. Even as President Donald Trump was calling protesters “terrorists,” companies in industries across the U.S. pledged donations, launched diversity initiatives and issued statements in...

First year of Georgia’s ‘foreign agent’ law shows how autocracies are replicating Russian model − and speeding up the time frame

Written by Anastasiya Zavyalova, Associate Professor of Strategic Management, Rice University

Demonstrators protest the foreign influence law in front of the Georgian Parliament building on May 28, 2024.Nicolo Vincenzo Malvestuto/Getty Images

Autocracy is on the move worldwide and becoming more resilient.

One of the driving forces behind this phenomenon is something scholars call “authoritarian learning,” a process by which...

Myanmar’s civil war: How shifting US-Russia ties could tip balance and hand China a greater role

Written by Tharaphi Than, Associate Professor of World Cultures and Languages, Northern Illinois University

Myanmar's civil war involves a range of different ethnic groups fighting the military.Thierry Falise/LightRocket via Getty Images

While the United States talked military assistance and minerals with Ukraine, Russia did the same with one of its few remaining allies: Myanmar.

On March 4, 2025, the commander in chief and leader of Myanmar, Min Aung...

What ‘The White Lotus’ gets wrong about the meaning and goals of common Buddhist practices

Written by Brooke Schedneck, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Rhodes College

Thai men can be ordained from a few days to the rest of their lives.Pakin Songmor/Moment via Getty Images

The new season of “The White Lotus” is set on a luxury resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui. This comedy-drama series, which critiques wealthy tourists, focuses one plotline on foreigners who arrive in Thailand with an interest...

Women are reclaiming their place in baseball

Written by Callie Maddox, Associate Professor of Sport Leadership and Management, Miami University

For most baseball fans, hope springs eternal on Opening Day.

Many of those fans – more than you might think – are women.

A 2024 survey found that women made up 39% of those who attended or watched Major League Baseball games, and franchises have taken notice. The Philadelphia Phillies offer behind-the-scenes tours and clinics for their...