The Conversation

Better but not stellar: Pollsters faced familiar complaints, difficulties in assessing Trump-Harris race

Written by W. Joseph Campbell, Professor Emeritus of Communication, American University School of Communication

CNN's Magic Wall map with U.S. presidential results is seen on a mobile phone on Nov. 7, 2024. Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

An oracle erred badly. The most impressive results were turned in by a little-known company in Brazil. A nagging problem reemerged, and some media critics turned profane in their assessments.

So it went for...

Campus diversity is becoming difficult to measure as students keep their race and ethnicity hidden on college applications

Written by Karly Sarita Ford, Associate Professor of Education and Sociology, Penn State

More students are listing 'race unknown' on their college applications. Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision via Getty Images

When the Supreme Court struck down race-based admissions at American colleges and universities just over a year ago, many predicted U.S. campuses would become much less diverse. But in part due to students who decide not to disclose...

Saltwater flooding is a serious fire threat for EVs and other devices with lithium-ion batteries

Written by Xinyu Huang, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina

Flooded cars in Clearwater, Fla., after the arrival of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton inflicted billions of dollars in damage across the Southeast in September and October 2024, pushing buildings off their foundations and undercutting roads and bridges. It also caused dozens...

Knee problems tend to flare up as you age – an orthopedic specialist explains available treatment options

Written by Angie Brown, Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Quinnipiac University

Knee problems can hinder mobility and erode your quality of life.Witthaya Prasongsin/Moment via Getty Images

Knee injuries are common in athletes, accounting for 41% of all athletic injuries. But knee injuries aren’t limited to competitive athletes. In our everyday lives, an accident or a quick movement in the wrong direction can injure the...

As the Taurid meteor shower passes by Earth, pseudoscience rains down – and obscures a potential real threat from space

Written by Mark Boslough, Research Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico

This image of a Taurid fireball was taken in 2014 by NASA's All Sky Fireball Network in Tullahoma, Tenn.NASA

With the Taurid meteor shower now hitting the night skies worldwide, look for what could be a celestial treat – you might see shooting stars, and maybe even fireballs, the biggest and brightest meteors.

As the full moon begins to wane...

Get chronic UTIs? Future treatments may add more bacteria to your bladder to beat back harmful microbes

Written by Sarguru Subash, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University

Certain strains of _E. coli_ can outcompete disease-causing microbes for resources.NIAID/Flickr, CC BY-SA

Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world suffer from urinary tract infections every year. Some groups are especially prone to chronic UTIs, including women, older adults and some veterans.

These infections are typically treated with...

Indonesia president’s diplomatic dash takes in China and US − but a Trump presidency may see the aspiring regional powerhouse tilt more toward Beijing

Written by Angguntari Ceria Sari, Lecturer in International Relations, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan

President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto meets his U.S. counterpart. But is the distance between the two countries set to widen?by Alex Wong/Getty Images

It’s been a whirlwind week for Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto. On Nov. 9, he was breaking bread with Chinese leader Xi Jinping; three days later he was sitting down with President Joe...

Untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff threaten the Florida manatee’s main food source, contributing to malnutrition

Written by Aarin-Conrad Allen, Ph.D. Candidate in Marine Sciences, Florida International University

Researchers believe a decline in seagrass is leaving manatees malnourished.Dave Fleetham/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The gentle, slow-moving Florida manatee has no natural predators.

And yet, these charismatic mammals face numerous threats.

Manatees are struck by vessels in busy waterways across the state, and a majo...

Campuses are ground zero in debates about antisemitism − but that’s been true for 100 years

Written by Jonathan Krasner, Associate Professor of Jewish Education Research, Brandeis University

Members of Mu Beta Chi, a Jewish fraternity, at the University of Minnesota in 1936. Upper Midwest Jewish Archives, University of Minnesota, CC BY-ND

When Eliza arrived on her West Coast college campus in the fall of 2020, building community was difficult due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Yet over time she forged a network of friends, anchored...

Republican lawmakers will reshape tax policy in 2025 — a tax expert explains what to expect

Written by Jim Franklin, Director of Academic Programs, Western Governors University School of Business

Although coverage of the 2024 election was dominated by the economy, taxes didn’t get much attention in the run-up to the vote. That’s a bit of a surprise, since 2025 will be a major year for America’s tax system – in fact, the fate of the most significant tax reform in three decades hangs in the balance.

That would be the...