The Conversation

Scientists at work: Forecasting the Atlantic hurricane season

Written by Phil Klotzbach, Research Scientist, Colorado State University

Hurricane Matthew approaching the east coast of Florida on Oct. 6, 2016.Author provided

June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through the end of November. It’s a busy time for us at the Tropical Meteorology Project in Colorado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science, where we are...

America's worsening global reputation could put billions in US exports at risk

Written by Daniel Korschun, Associate Professor of Marketing, Drexel University

Surveys suggest Trump's election is hurting America's reputation. AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu

U.S. News and World Report recently published its annual “Best Countries” ranking, based on how thousands of people around the world perceive other nations. Switzerland topped the 80-country ranking, followed by Canada and the United Kingdom.

One...

Building resilience early in life can help children cope with trauma

Written by Shanta R. Dube, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Georgia State University

Resilient adults often start out as resilient kids. Shutterstock

Editor’s note: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This article is the second in a series exploring how research into adverse childhood experiences – or ACEs – is helping researchers, therapists, parents, educators and the medical community better understand the...

What veterans' poems can teach us about healing on Memorial Day

Written by James Dubinsky, Associate Professor of English, Virginia Tech

A visitor pauses at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.AP Photo/J. David Ake, File

Memorial Day, a national holiday to honor the 1.17 million men and women who have died to create and maintain the freedoms outlined in our Constitution, is not the only Memorial Day.

The holiday emerged from the Civil War as a celebration almost exclusively...

If Israeli lawmakers demote the Arabic language, then what?

Written by Camelia Suleiman, Assistant Professor, Arabic Studies, Linguistics, Michigan State University

In May, the Israeli legislative body, known as the Knesset, passed the nation-state bill in its first round, which redefines how Israel is to be a Jewish and democratic state. The bill will serve as something of a constitution, since Israel does not have one. It will also formalize the state’s relationship to its Palestinian-Arab minority.

If...

Military-funded prosthetic technologies benefit more than just veterans

Written by Mark Geil, Professor of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University

A high-tech prosthesis for a child draws on decades of research.Mark Geil, CC BY-ND

In 1905, an Ohio farmer survived a railroad accident that cost him both of his legs. Two years later, he founded the Ohio Willow Wood company, using the namesake timber to hand-carve prosthetic limbs. The company grew, surviving the Great Depression and a fire that...

Why it was once unthinkable for the president to be seen with the pope

Written by David Mislin, Assistant Professor, Intellectual Heritage Program, Temple University

President Trump stands beside Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. An unidentified priest looks on.Evan Vucci/AP

The much-anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and Pope Francis – the third stop on the first overseas trip of Trump’s presidency – proved successful. Reports from the Vatican note that after “...

How Google Street View became fertile ground for artists

Written by Allison L. Rowland, Assistant Professor of Performance and Communication Arts, St. Lawrence University

A scene in the Bronx curated from Google Street View.Nick Lehr/The Conversation via Google, CC BY-SA

On May 25, Google Street View celebrates its 10th birthday. A feature of Google Maps, it lets users explore cities and towns around the world – and even peer inside businesses and government institutions (including the White House). Games have...

The Islamic State group has weaponized children

Written by Mia Bloom, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University

In claiming responsibility for the attack in Manchester at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, the Islamic State group has sunk to a new low.

We have seen terrorists target venues where young people congregate before – shopping malls, discos and schools. If IS was indeed involved, they have now deliberately targeted young children, tweens and...

How social ties make us resilient to trauma

Written by Daniel P. Aldrich, Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director, Security and Resilience Program, Northeastern University

Manchester, England, May 23, 2017, the day after the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert that left 22 people dead. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

The May 22 suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester, England has claimed at least 22 lives. Once again we find ourselves mourning the loss of innocents and wondering how our societies can find...