Trump loses appeal, but travel ban fight isn’t over yet
The court's reasoning suggests deep skepticism of Trump's position and spotlights the main issues for the further appeals that will surely follow.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Travel Ban
How a travel ban could worsen doctor shortages in US hospitals and threaten primary care
About one in four physicians in graduate medical education is from another country. Here's how a travel ban could harm them, and our health care system.
Syrian refugees ‘detrimental’ to Americans? The numbers tell a different story
Ban or no ban, finding a Syrian refugee in the U.S. isn't easy.
Analysis and Comment
African-American GIs of WWII: Fighting for democracy abroad and at home
When war broke out, black Americans fought in segregated units to serve their country. The breath of freedom they experienced in Europe flamed the fight for equality when they returned home.
Does it matter if Trump doesn’t like economists?
President Trump downgraded the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers from its perch on the Cabinet. Should we care?
Why Tinder is so ‘evilly satisfying’
Data from swiping apps like Tinder are giving researchers a window into how dating and relationships could be changing.
Why Trump needs the civil servants he wants to fire: Lessons from abroad
The Trump administration may do well to make a friend of the federal bureaucracy it's so intent on gutting, according to an expert who studies the role of civil servants in government.
Songs of worship: Why we sing to the Lord
Sacred music joins people in a collective expression - whether of joy, sorrow or protest.
What do gorilla suits and blowfish fallacies have to do with climate change?
Laser-like focus on a tiny, unimportant detail can mean you miss the gorilla in the room – a tactic climate change deniers use to cast doubt on the science.
Are the Grammys really about good music?
After winning his Grammy in 1996, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder said, 'I don't think this means anything.' Was he right?
The US$100 trillion case for open borders
Opening borders is the easiest way to tackle global poverty and it would make already wealthy countries richer, too.
The stress of sitting in traffic can lead to more crime
Traffic wastes time, creates pollution and costs money. But can it also affect us psychologically? A new study suggests that unexpected traffic can increase the incidence of domestic violence.
Berkeley, Milo Yiannopoulos and the lessons of free speech
UC Berkeley had a duty to protect the free speech of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and those protesting his appearance. But what are the limits of free speech when it comes to campus safety?
US relationship with Mexico more bitter than sweet under Trump
Since World War II, the US and Mexico have successfully worked together on issues like trade and migration. If Trump refuses to treat Mexico as a partner, how bitter will the breakup be?
Can Facebook be sued for live-streaming suicides?
After witnessing a streamed suicide, users could sue for emotional harm. But it's tricky to prove – and even trickier to hold Facebook accountable.
When birds go roaming: The mystery of avian irruptions
During bird irruptions, hundreds or thousands of a single species show up outside their normal territory. Most of what we know about irruptions comes from data collected by citizen scientists.
Allison Davis: Forgotten black scholar studied – and faced – structural racism in 1940s America
His landmark contributions to anthropology have faded from memory, despite real-world policy impact during the mid-20th century.
What is the true meaning of mercy?
A scholar explains how mercy could be a simple act of opening oneself to those with opposing views.
How Democrats can help Trump make the ACA’s replacement ‘terrific’
A 2010 law that requires the executive branch to set goals and an obscure Senate rule may be the Democrats' best chance to influence GOP plans to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Can a dying patient be a healthy person?
Just because a person is dying does not mean that he or she is in a state of panic. Here's an example of how one woman, through a well-lived life, remained at peace as she faced death.
Joe Camel in a bottle: Alcohol companies fail to follow their own ad rules during the 2017 Super Bowl
Alcohol companies used controversial marketing practices in their Super Bowl commercials – including using animals and themes that are appealing to youth.
Who is Betsy DeVos?
Confirmed in a historic tie-breaking vote by Vice President Pence, Betsy DeVos will be the next secretary of education. Here's what you need to know about her past legislative actions and proposals.
What Facebook Live means for journalism
Facebook Live – and other live-video streaming services – change how we bear witness to events, and challenge how we think about visual information.
How Obama’s presidential campaign changed how Americans view black candidates
Black politicians throughout US history have struggled to overcome deep, negative stereotypes held against them by white Americans. Obama succeeded at the highest level. Here's how.
Exploiting black labor after the abolition of slavery
In the 12 years following the abolition of slavery, former slaves made meaningful political, social and economic gains. This moment was short-lived.
Will Trump’s ‘color-blind’ pro-business policies help black entrepreneurs too?
Despite an entrepreneurial heritage, black self-employment rates are about half that of whites. Could a rising economy lift their boats too?
The story of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, America’s first black pop star
In the 19th century, critics and audiences thought blacks were incapable of singing as well as their white, European counterparts. Greenfield forced them to reconcile their ears with their racism.
Uncovering the roots of racist ideas in America
Ignorant and hateful people are not behind the production of racist ideas, as Americans are taught so often during Black History Month.
The most important thing you’re not discussing with your doctor
Patients are an important part of improving health care quality; doctors can't make good decisions for patients by themselves. Here are some things you can do to help take care of yourself.
Detroit’s recovery: The glass is half-full at most
Does an anomaly in the Earth’s magnetic field portend a coming pole reversal?
What Trump misses about regulations: They produce benefits as well as costs
Why do conservatives want the government to defund the arts?
Dads are more involved in parenting, yes, but moms still put in more work
Many kids still don’t report concussion symptoms. How can we change that?
Ringling Bros. Circus shutdown is a distraction from the real issue: Eating animals
How ‘voter fraud’ crusades undermine voting rights
Research and News
The Conversation US launches Ethics and Religion desk
Faith, religious institutions and spirituality are all part and parcel of American life. But they are often misunderstood. Our new section casts light on these topics from scholars across the U.S.
Immigration ban
History shows Trump will face legal challenges to detaining immigrants
A short history of legal challenges to immigrant detention practices in the U.S. may shed light on what's to come for the new administration.
Immigration and crime: What does the research say?
The best legal arguments against Trump’s immigration ban
Trump’s immigration order is bad foreign policy
I’m a US doctor just back from Sudan, where hospitality from Muslims greeted me everywhere
Trump’s immigration ban: Will it undercut American soft power?
What’s gone wrong in the seven countries Trump included in his ban? Essential reads
Even before sanctuary cities, here’s how black Americans protected fugitive slaves
Donald Trump’s ban will have lasting and damaging impacts on the world’s refugees
Fighting cancer
How man’s best friend is helping cancer treatment
Dogs are great companions, and they also are proving to be great research subjects for cancer. Here's how our canine friends are pointing to possible treatments in human cancer.
Immunotherapy: Training the body to fight cancer
Understanding genetic differences between breast cancer tumors is key to better treatment
Finding the causes of cancer is the first step to prevention
Melanoma: Taming a migratory menace
Stories are better than lectures at teaching us about health
Why we need to keep an eye on whether a blood infection in cattle is linked to breast cancer in humans
We have a vaccine for six cancers; why are less than half of kids getting it?
Misinformation
You are the new gatekeeper of the news
Before you share another article on Facebook, consider your responsibility to make sure what you post is true.
2017 isn’t ‘1984’ – it’s stranger than Orwell imagined
Trump isn’t lying, he’s bullshitting – and it’s far more dangerous
The challenge facing libraries in an era of fake news
Experts’ roundtable: The future of journalism in Trump’s America
Why do we fall for fake news?
Unbelievable news? Read it again and you might think it’s true
US-Mexico relations
Why US should treat Mexico as a vital partner, not a punching bag
A former ambassador to Mexico explains how Trump's rhetoric is sparking a backlash that could endanger U.S. economic and national security.
Who will pay for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ wall?
President Trump signed an executive order to get construction started and ask Congress to pay up front, but good luck getting Mexico to foot the bill.
Black History Month
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Should scientists engage in activism?
In the wake of the Flint water crisis and with a new notably anti-science president, U.S. scientists are reevaluating how to navigate the tension between speaking out and a fear of losing research funding.
Are you really anonymous online? Your friends on Twitter may give you away
You might think you're anonymous when you're browsing the web. But a new study shows that browsing history can often be tied to your real-world identity.
Music training speeds up brain development in children
Several brain regions engage in an amazing symphony to produce music. What then are the benefits of music training on a child?
Why time seems to fly – or trickle – by
Time is fixed, but people experience hours, months and days in very different ways. One researcher has spent decades exploring this universal phenomenon.
How timekeeping software helps companies nickel and dime their workers
If you think the hours you work are all converted directly into dollars, think again. There are a lot of ways employers can manipulate your time – some of which are legal, others highly questionable.
As Trump mulls another ‘reset’ with Russia, he should consider perils of Big Oil diplomacy
As Trump explores warmer ties to Russia, he'd be wise to brush up on the history of past resets and the role the oil industry played in each one. The results weren’t good.
Far beyond crime-ridden depravity, darknets are key strongholds of freedom of expression online
The darknet, like the open internet, is not immune from illegal activity. But many darknet users are there in search of 'hacker ethics' values such as privacy and free speech.
Why so many people regain weight after dieting
Weight loss often leads to declines in our resting metabolic rate – how many calories we burn at rest – which makes it hard to keep the weight off. So why does weight loss make resting metabolism go down?
Circadian rhythms and the microbiome: Disrupting daily routine of gut microbes can be bad news for whole body
New research suggests our gut microbes have their own circadian rhythms that in turn influence our organ functions. Is this an explanation for how disrupting our daily patterns can cause health problems?
How can we predict the hottest year on record when weather forecasts are so uncertain?
For the third consecutive year, it's the hottest year ever. A climate scientist explains how these predictions are made and why they're completely different from forecasting the weather.
Rural America matters to all Americans
Are you part of the 86 percent of Americans who do not live in rural America? Here's why Trump's choice to lead the USDA matters to you.
Staying politically neutral is more dangerous for companies than you think
Companies historically have avoided taking stands on contentious issues, but new research suggests consumers punish businesses that don't stand up for their core values.
Evidence from states shows why Trump’s brand of Carrier-style dealmaking won’t work
States have been using tax breaks and other incentives like the kind Trump dangled before Carrier for years. There's little evidence they work, and in fact they may lead to widening inequality.
Getting a scientific message across means taking human nature into account
Quirks of human psychology can pose problems for science communicators trying to cover controversial topics. Recognizing what cognitive science knows about how we deal with new information could help.
Most Read past week
- Does an anomaly in the Earth’s magnetic field portend a coming pole reversal?
- Immigration and crime: What does the research say?
- What can a 1.7-million-year-old hominid fossil teach us about cancer?
- How man’s best friend is helping cancer treatment
- Staying politically neutral is more dangerous for companies than you think
Pitch an idea
Got a news tip or article idea for The Conversation?
Our Audience
The Conversation has a monthly audience of 3.7 million users, and reach of 35 million through Creative Commons republication.
Want to Write?
Write an article and join a growing community of more than 46,000 academics and researchers from 1,930 institutions.
Make a Donation
The Conversation relies on university, foundation and reader support. If you would like to help us have even better conversations, then you may like to make a one-off or on-going donation.