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The apocalypse that wasn’t: AI was everywhere in 2024’s elections, but deepfakes and misinformation were only part of the picture

Bruce Schneier, Harvard Kennedy School and Nathan Sanders, Harvard University

A group of men in army fatigues stand around holding guns.

What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham? And how did the Islamist group evolve into a key player in Syria’s civil war?

Sara Harmouch, American University

Pardon who? Hunter Biden case renews ethical debate over use and limits of peculiar presidential power

Scott Davidson, West Virginia University

Two men in bomber jackets stand outside a building.

Music can change how you feel about the past

Yiren Ren, Georgia Institute of Technology

Black and white portrait of person listening to music with eyes closed, headphones on, chin resting on cradle of hands

Do Mom and Dad really know what’s best? A psychologist explains why kids see their parents as bossier than they are

Annie Pezalla, Macalester College

Shot of a young girl looking upset while being scolded by her mother at home.

US attorney general’s professionalism can protect Americans’ privacy, former federal judge explains

John E. Jones III, Dickinson College

A stone building with an American flag flying outside and a sign reading 'Department of Justice.'

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Dozens of cyclists and pedestrians are killed each year in Philly − an injury epidemiologist explains how to better protect bike lanes, slow drivers down and reduce collisions

D. Alex Quistberg, Drexel University

Cyclists commuting on Philadelphia streets in front of city bus

Tip pressure might work in the moment, but customers are less likely to return

Sara Hanson, University of Richmond and Nathan B. Warren, BI Norwegian Business School

A woman uses digital tablet to pay and tip a barista in Santa Monica, California.

Tiff Massey’s ‘7 Mile & Livernois’ exhibition isn’t just about a neighborhood – it’s a tribute to Black Detroit

Samantha Noël, Wayne State University

A Black woman wearing a long black coat, glasses and red lipstick leans against a Cadillac

Fossilized footprints reveal 2 extinct hominin species living side by side 1.5 million years ago

Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Smithsonian Institution; Kevin Hatala, Chatham University, and Purity Kiura, National Museums of Kenya

several people seated on rock ground looking down and carefully uncovering fossil footprints

dark smoke billows from dense urban area with blue skies above and the sea in the distance

Why Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire now − and what it means for Israel, Lebanon, Biden and Trump

Asher Kaufman, University of Notre Dame

Pile of prettily wrapped gifts, adorned with shiny bows.

Why sending a belated gift is not as bad as you probably think − and late is better than never

Rebecca Walker Reczek, The Ohio State University; Cory Haltman, The Ohio State University, and Grant Donnelly, The Ohio State University

Cycling can make seniors healthier and more independent − here’s how to design bikes and networks that meet their needs

Anne Lusk, Boston University

A man and woman ride past townhouses on a two-seat, three-wheeled cycle

Light exercise can yield significant cognitive benefits, new research shows

Jonathan G. Hakun, Penn State

Four women in workout clothes take a walk in the park.

Is using AI tools innovation or exploitation? 3 ways to think about the ethics

Leo S. Lo, University of New Mexico

A photo of a man's chest and arms, dressed in a button-down shirt, sitting in front of a laptop, with graphics of a chart overlaid on the photo.

An upward spiral – how small acts of kindness and connection really can change the world, according to psychology research

Liza M. Hinchey, Wayne State University

shadows of one person reaching a hand to another

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Hundreds of protestors walk on a street.

Trump’s next HUD secretary would have a lot to do to address the history of racist housing policy – and Trump’s own comments and history suggest that’s unlikely

Colin Gordon, University of Iowa

On Bodhi Day, Buddhists commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s enlightenment by lighting lamps to combat darkness

Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee

A seated and a standing Buddha statue in a garden with many trees.

To control your spending this holiday season, stick with cash

Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University

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Gen Z heads home: How to navigate the evolving parent-child relationship as kids become adults

Amy Root, West Virginia University

older woman hugs younger woman in kitchen

How the gladiators inspired evangelicals’ sense of persecution

Cavan W. Concannon, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

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Trump transition

A man wearing a navy blue suit is seen from behind looking at a large crowd of people who hold red and blue signs that say 'Trump will fix it' and 'Dream big, again!'

‘Insurrection,’ ‘equity’ and more − these are the words that trigger Trump supporters

Alex Hinton, Rutgers University - Newark

As Trump touts plans for immigrant roundup, militias are standing back, but standing by

Amy Cooter, Middlebury

Armed men in camouflage walk through dry grass.

Presidents often claim mandates − especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive

Julia R. Azari, Marquette University

A man in a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie, standing in front of many American flags and pointing away from him.

What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education?

Kevin Welner, University of Colorado Boulder

A building with the words 'U.S. Department of Education' that bedeck the facade.

3 reasons why a Trump White House might not be a disaster for Ukraine − in fact, it might tighten the screws on Russia

Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida

Two men, one in a blue suit the other in a sweater stand next to a table.

Extreme weather

A swirl forms off the coast with a long tail of water vapor pouring into it in this satellite image.

When an atmospheric river meets a bomb cyclone, it’s like a fire hose flailing out of control along the West Coast

Chad Hecht, University of California, San Diego

Americans face an insurability crisis as climate change worsens disasters – a look at how insurance companies set rates and coverage

Andrew J. Hoffman, University of Michigan

A house built on stilts is still damaged from high winds.

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

Xinyu Huang, University of South Carolina

Cars parked outdoors at an apartment complex, submerged up to their bumpers

3 innovative ways to help countries hit by climate disasters, beyond a loss and damage fund

Erin Coughlan de Perez, Tufts University

People climb a ladder to cross a large bridge that has been partially destroyed. Other people stand a top the bridge.

Time to freak out? How the existential terror of hurricanes can fuel climate change denial

Jamie Goldenberg, University of South Florida; Emily P. Courtney, University of South Florida, and Joshua Hart, Union College

People carrying coffee drinks walk by a sign scrawled on plywood-covered windows reading "Go home Milton!"

International

Two men, one Chinese and the other European, watch a speaker intently

China’s influence grows at COP29 climate talks as US leadership fades

Lucia Green-Weiskel, Trinity College

Denmark’s uprooting of settled residents from ‘ghettos’ forms part of aggressive plan to assimilate nonwhite inhabitants

Selma Hedlund, Boston University

What Ukraine can now do with longer-range US missiles − and how that could affect the course of the war

Benjamin Jensen, American University School of International Service

Two men, one in a suit, the other in a polo-neck shirt, sit on ornate chairs.

Why Canada’s decision to lift a ban on cod fishing in Newfoundland after 32 years is so controversial – podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation

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

Angguntari Ceria Sari, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan and Idil Syawfi, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan

One man in a traditional Indonesian hat sits on a chair opposite a man in a suit.

New research in health and science

Artistic portrayal of a large group of people standing in the shape of the U.S. map.

208 million Americans are classified as obese or overweight, according to new study synthesizing 132 data sources

Marie Ng, University of Washington

Tiny laboratories that fit in your hand can rapidly identify pathogens using electricity

Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas, Rochester Institute of Technology

Rectangular piece of glass with red and blue lines and wells in its center

Opioid-free surgery treats pain at every physical and emotional level

Heather Margonari, University of Pittsburgh; Jacques E. Chelly, University of Pittsburgh, and Shiv K. Goel, University of Pittsburgh

Patient wearing face mask and surgical cap, eyes closed, connected to tubes

Meat has a distinct taste, texture and aroma − a biochemist explains how plant-based alternatives mimic the real thing

Julie Pollock, University of Richmond

Is it possible to dig all the way through the Earth to the other side?

Andrew Gase, Boise State University

Workers in protective suits and hard hats mount pipe on a drilling rig.

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Various people put their hands together in a circle.

Americans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values

Lawrence Torcello, Rochester Institute of Technology

Doctor’s bills often come with sticker shock for patients − but health insurance could be reinvented to provide costs upfront

Michal Horný, UMass Amherst

Illustration of frowning person sitting in chair with broken leg and a pile of bills spilling over their lap to the ground

Companies are still committing to net-zero emissions, even if it’s a bumpy road – here’s what the data show

L. Beril Toktay, Georgia Institute of Technology; Abhinav Shubham, Georgia Institute of Technology; Donghyun (Daniel) Choi, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Manpreet S. Hora, Georgia Institute of Technology

Solar panels cover the rooftop of office towers. Cars are parked below.

Trump’s agenda will face hurdles in Congress, despite the Republican ‘trifecta’ of winning the House, Senate and White House

Charlie Hunt, Boise State University

A dark sky with a large white building that has a spire on it, behind a traffic light.

3 strategies to help Americans bridge the deepening partisan divide

Alex Hinton, Rutgers University - Newark

A graphic shows people in blue walking and holding signs on top of an American flag, facing people who are red and also walking holding signs on another part of the flag.

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Find out more about us

The apocalypse that wasn’t: AI was everywhere in 2024’s elections, but deepfakes and misinformation were only part of the picture

What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham? And how did the Islamist group evolve into a key player in Syria’s civil war?

Pardon who? Hunter Biden case renews ethical debate over use and limits of peculiar presidential power

Music can change how you feel about the past

Do Mom and Dad really know what’s best? A psychologist explains why kids see their parents as bossier than they are

US attorney general’s professionalism can protect Americans’ privacy, former federal judge explains

Thank you for making our work possible, and free for all to read

Dozens of cyclists and pedestrians are killed each year in Philly − an injury epidemiologist explains how to better protect bike lanes, slow drivers down and reduce collisions

Tip pressure might work in the moment, but customers are less likely to return

Tiff Massey’s ‘7 Mile & Livernois’ exhibition isn’t just about a neighborhood – it’s a tribute to Black Detroit

Fossilized footprints reveal 2 extinct hominin species living side by side 1.5 million years ago

Why Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire now − and what it means for Israel, Lebanon, Biden and Trump

Why sending a belated gift is not as bad as you probably think − and late is better than never

Cycling can make seniors healthier and more independent − here’s how to design bikes and networks that meet their needs

Light exercise can yield significant cognitive benefits, new research shows

Is using AI tools innovation or exploitation? 3 ways to think about the ethics

An upward spiral – how small acts of kindness and connection really can change the world, according to psychology research

Get context to understand the next four years, in your inbox

Trump’s next HUD secretary would have a lot to do to address the history of racist housing policy – and Trump’s own comments and history suggest that’s unlikely

On Bodhi Day, Buddhists commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s enlightenment by lighting lamps to combat darkness

To control your spending this holiday season, stick with cash

Gen Z heads home: How to navigate the evolving parent-child relationship as kids become adults

How the gladiators inspired evangelicals’ sense of persecution

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Trump transition

‘Insurrection,’ ‘equity’ and more − these are the words that trigger Trump supporters

As Trump touts plans for immigrant roundup, militias are standing back, but standing by

Presidents often claim mandates − especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive

What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education?

3 reasons why a Trump White House might not be a disaster for Ukraine − in fact, it might tighten the screws on Russia

Extreme weather

When an atmospheric river meets a bomb cyclone, it’s like a fire hose flailing out of control along the West Coast

Americans face an insurability crisis as climate change worsens disasters – a look at how insurance companies set rates and coverage

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

3 innovative ways to help countries hit by climate disasters, beyond a loss and damage fund

Time to freak out? How the existential terror of hurricanes can fuel climate change denial

International

China’s influence grows at COP29 climate talks as US leadership fades

Denmark’s uprooting of settled residents from ‘ghettos’ forms part of aggressive plan to assimilate nonwhite inhabitants

What Ukraine can now do with longer-range US missiles − and how that could affect the course of the war

Why Canada’s decision to lift a ban on cod fishing in Newfoundland after 32 years is so controversial – podcast

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

New research in health and science

208 million Americans are classified as obese or overweight, according to new study synthesizing 132 data sources

Tiny laboratories that fit in your hand can rapidly identify pathogens using electricity

Opioid-free surgery treats pain at every physical and emotional level

Meat has a distinct taste, texture and aroma − a biochemist explains how plant-based alternatives mimic the real thing

Is it possible to dig all the way through the Earth to the other side?

You might also like…

Americans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values

Doctor’s bills often come with sticker shock for patients − but health insurance could be reinvented to provide costs upfront

Companies are still committing to net-zero emissions, even if it’s a bumpy road – here’s what the data show

Trump’s agenda will face hurdles in Congress, despite the Republican ‘trifecta’ of winning the House, Senate and White House

3 strategies to help Americans bridge the deepening partisan divide

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‘Insurrection,’ ‘equity’ and more − these are the words that trigger Trump supporters

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The Conversation democratizes knowledge by helping academic experts to write for the public. Free to read. Free to republish. No ads or paywalls.