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The Conversation

Intoxication nation: a double shot of US history

  • Written by Kyle G. Volk, Professor of History, University of Montana
imageHaving a beer in Raceland, La.Russell Lee for Farm Security Administration/WPAimage

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

Title of course:

“Intoxication Nation: Alcohol in American History”

What prompted the idea for the course?

I wanted to get students excited...

Read more: Intoxication nation: a double shot of US history

Will your phone one day let you smell as well as see and hear what’s on the other end of a call?

  • Written by Jian Liu, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee
imagePhones that transmit odors seem like a great idea, but careful what you wish for!Teo Mahatmana/iStock via Getty Imagesimage

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.


Is it possible to make a phone through which we can smell, like we can...

Read more: Will your phone one day let you smell as well as see and hear what’s on the other end of a call?

What are halal mortgages?

  • Written by Shariq Siddiqui, Assistant Professor & Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Indiana University
imageIslamic finance allows Muslim families to purchase homes on interest-free mortgages.faidzzainal/E+ collections via Getty images

The growth of “halal mortgages” over the past 20 years has expanded financial access to homeownership for many Muslims. Halal mortgages provide interest-free loans in keeping with Islamic beliefs.

These...

Read more: What are halal mortgages?

How researchers measure wildfire smoke exposure doesn’t capture long-term health effects − and hides racial disparities

  • Written by Joan Casey, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington
imageFine particulate matter from wildfires can cause long-term health harms.Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Kids born in 2020 worldwide will experience twice the number of wildfires during their lifetimes compared with those born in 1960. In California and other western states, frequent wildfires have become as much a part of summer and fall as popsicles...

Read more: How researchers measure wildfire smoke exposure doesn’t capture long-term health effects − and...

Plants get a GMO glow-up: Genetically modified varieties are coming out of the lab and into homes and gardens

  • Written by James W. Satterlee, Postdoctoral Fellow in Plant Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
imageNot every rose has its thorn, thanks to gene editing.James Satterlee, CC BY-SA

As any avid gardener will tell you, plants with sharp thorns and prickles can leave you looking like you’ve had a run-in with an angry cat. Wouldn’t it be nice to rid plants of their prickles entirely but keep the tasty fruits and beautiful flowers?

I’m...

Read more: Plants get a GMO glow-up: Genetically modified varieties are coming out of the lab and into homes...

Vatican News: How to Stay Informed on the Global Religious Landscape

  • Written by News Pronto

 

Some of the best tools to keep track of religious news around the world include religious newsletters, blogs, podcasts, social media and mainstream media. Let us explain in more detail!

Whether you are a religious person or simply fascinated by religion, staying informed on the global religious landscape is essential. Unfortunately, unlike politics and other global topics, there are not many sources for religious coverage. So, how do you stay up to date?

Top 4 Tools to Stay Informed on Global Religious Activities

Religious Newsletters and Blogs

Regardless of the topic, newsletters and blogs remain one of the best ways to get religious news from around the world. Religion enthusiasts can benefit from these two tools because they not only provide timely news but are also accessible through regular mobile devices.

In addition, their coverage is very in-depth compared to other sources (which can be a little broad). Some newsletters also include analysis, which allows one to view the information from different perspectives, promoting better understanding.

Religious Podcasts

Religious podcasts have always been around, and their reach has become even greater, with more and more people getting access to the internet. Most people prefer listening to these podcasts over reading because they offer so much convenience. You can listen to them while doing something else – like driving to work, jogging, walking your dog or mowing the lawn. In addition, podcasters can invite religious experts, facilitating a more detailed analysis of the religious news in question.

Social Media Platforms

Another way to get religious news in the comfort of your home is through social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Some news outlets use these platforms to share headlines and encourage readers to click a provided link to access the full article. Social media has become a potent tool for real-time updates because most people spend most of their free time on these platforms.

Mainstream Media

Last but not least, you can stay informed by following mainstream media platforms with religious sections. The most common ones include Al Jazeera (Religion), BBC News (Religion and Ethics) and CNN (Religion). Each of these outlets also provides consumers context and analysis, enabling them to better understand the news and overall religious landscape.

Conclusion

It may seem challenging to stay up to date on religious matters – but it can be very simple. The key is to choose at least two consistent and trusted sources (from the ones above) and never miss a single release. That should be enough to keep you updated!

Students ride the rails in this course to learn about sustainability and tourism

  • Written by Mark Alan Rhodes II, Assistant Professor of Geography, Michigan Technological University
imageTrains offer a unique glimpse at the American landscape. Laser1987/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Title of course

Amtrak Tourism: Trains, Cities and Sustainability

What prompted the idea for the course?

As a geographer, I wanted to offer a summer study abroad program on sustainability. However, it wouldn’t make sense to design a sustainability...

Read more: Students ride the rails in this course to learn about sustainability and tourism

Creative life after death − or yes, you can control spinoffs from beyond the grave

  • Written by Naomi Cahn, Professor of Law, University of Virginia

Michael Crichton, the creator of “ER” and author of “Jurassic Park,” died in 2008. So why is his estate suing Warner Bros. now?

It turns out that when Crichton agreed to develop the “ER” series, he kept the right to approve – or not approve – of any sequels. That right didn’t die with him.

Now...

Read more: Creative life after death − or yes, you can control spinoffs from beyond the grave

Sunflowers make small moves to maximize their Sun exposure − physicists can model them to predict how they grow

  • Written by Chantal Nguyen, Postdoctoral Associate at the BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder
imageSunflowers use tiny movements to follow the Sun's path throughout the day.AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Most of us aren’t spending our days watching our houseplants grow. We see their signs of life only occasionally – a new leaf unfurled, a stem leaning toward the window.

But in the summer of 1863, Charles Darwin lay ill in bed, with nothing...

Read more: Sunflowers make small moves to maximize their Sun exposure − physicists can model them to predict...

Voters’ ‘moral flexibility’ helps them defend politicians’ misinformation − if they believe the inaccurate info speaks to a larger truth

  • Written by Minjae Kim, Assistant Professor of Management, Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
imageFor many people, it's easy to defend misinformation if they think it serves a larger truth.moodboard/Connect Images via Getty Images

Many voters are willing to accept misinformation from political leaders – even when they know it’s factually inaccurate. According to our research, voters often recognize when their parties’ claims...

Read more: Voters’ ‘moral flexibility’ helps them defend politicians’ misinformation − if they believe the...

More Articles ...

  1. Wild ginseng is declining, but small-scale ‘diggers’ aren’t the main threat to this native plant − and they can help save it
  2. Colorado voters weigh a ban on hunting mountain lions as attitudes toward wild predators shift
  3. Endometriosis pain leads to missed school and work in two-thirds of women with the condition, new study finds
  4. Photographer Louis Carlos Bernal memorialized the barrios at the US-Mexican border
  5. Fujimori’s death won’t end pursuit of justice for Peruvian victims – or stop the strongman’s supporters from revering his legacy
  6. Kamala Harris effectively baited Donald Trump during the debate, drawing out his insecure white masculinity
  7. Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris shows how big a role music is playing in the 2024 election
  8. Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. United States would have given Nixon immunity for Watergate crimes — but 50 years ago he needed a presidential pardon to avoid prison
  9. A Nazi magazine regularly published manipulated photos and misinformation, long before the age of AI
  10. Philly residents with opioid addiction get medication from the ‘bupe bus’ − creating a path for treatment
  11. Biobots arise from the cells of dead organisms − pushing the boundaries of life, death and medicine
  12. Responding to work emails after hours contributes to burnout, hostility
  13. Free school meals are on the rise in the US − but that could change depending on who wins the 2024 presidential election
  14. East is East, West is West − and Turkey is looking to forge its own BRICS path between the two
  15. Making fuels from plastics in Newaygo, Michigan, would be controversial – here’s why
  16. Kamala Harris’ message to women on ‘freedom’ helps explain why Black and white Christians are deeply divided over support for Donald Trump
  17. Trump’s tax cuts led to a $20B reduction in charitable giving within a year
  18. Fewer college students indicate they are nonbinary amid backlash
  19. With China seeking AI dominance, Taiwan’s efforts to slow neighbor’s access to advanced chips needs support from the West
  20. Coastal cities’ growing hurricane vulnerability is fed by both climate change and unbridled population growth
  21. Funny reviews help engage consumers, fueling impulse buys − to a point, study shows
  22. ‘Difficult’ children are only slightly more likely to have insecure attachments with parents
  23. Starting with a handshake, presidential debate between Harris and Trump then turns fierce, and pointed
  24. Official US poverty rate declined in 2023, but more people faced economic hardship
  25. Whales are recovering from near extinction, but industrial fishing around Antarctica competes for their sole food source
  26. I’ve visited the same Rocky Mountain subalpine meadow weekly for a decade of summers looking at plant-pollinator interactions – here’s what I learned
  27. Is weight loss as simple as calories in, calories out? In the end, it’s your gut microbes and leftovers that make your calories count
  28. How we discovered that people who are colorblind are less likely to be picky eaters
  29. A college course that’s a history of the future
  30. Medieval theology has an old take on a new problem − AI responsibility
  31. Elon Musk’s feud with Brazilian judge is much more than a personal spat − it’s about national sovereignty, freedom of speech and the rule of law
  32. Bobbleheads, Magic 8 Balls, chairs and other artifacts in the Smithsonian reveal the historical significance of presidential debates
  33. Politicians often warn of American decline – and voters often buy it
  34. How Democrats are making a mistake in rural America – by not showing up
  35. Found dead in the snow − how microbes can help pinpoint time of death for forensic investigations in frigid conditions
  36. Neutral news sources could exploit today’s polarized mediascape to boost revenue − here’s why they may choose not to
  37. How Russia employs ‘hard soft power’ to influence overseas media and sow dissent and fear among foreign populations
  38. FDA’s new regulations underscore the complexity around screening for women with dense breasts
  39. Under both Trump and Biden-Harris, US oil and gas production surged to record highs, despite very different energy goals
  40. Is it time to retire the ‘Arab-Israeli conflict’? Hostilities now extend beyond those boundaries
  41. Breast density and mammograms: New FDA rule will ensure all women have more information after cancer screenings
  42. Can schools stop students from praying?
  43. Putting a spiritual spin on my love affair with vinyl
  44. The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew – a former astronaut details what that means for NASA, Boeing and the astronauts still up in space
  45. Tiny, compact galaxies are masters of disguise in the distant universe − searching for the secrets behind the Little Red Dots
  46. Georgia high school shooting shows how hard it can be to take action even after police see warning signs
  47. Space travel comes with risk − and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will push the envelope further than any private mission has before
  48. Crossing state lines to get an abortion is a new legal minefield, with courts to decide if there’s a right to travel
  49. Trump campaign violated rules in Arlington National Cemetery visit, cemetery legal expert explains
  50. As eastern equine encephalitis spreads, a neurologist explains how to stay safe during this latest outbreak of the ‘triple E’ virus