Opinions
Winter Olympic boycott chatter shouldn't go any further
It may have been a slip of the tongue, or perhaps a bit of miscommunication in a new administration. That’s little consolation to hundreds of potential Olympians around the country. Just to hear chatter in the nation’s capital about a possible boycott of the Winter Olympics in China had to… Read
Biden's gamble: Will pulling troops from Afghanistan revive extremist threat?
At its start, America’s war in Afghanistan was about retribution for 9/11. Then it was about shoring up a weak government and its weak army so that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida could never again threaten the United States. Now it's about over. With bin Laden long since dead and the… Read
Write ill of the dead? Obits rarely cross that taboo
Capturing a life accurately and sympathetically is a challenge, more so if it is one that lasts nearly a century. So when a notable person like the Duke of Edinburgh dies, obituary writers face a quandary: What should be highlighted, softened or even ignored? News organizations were quick to remember… Read
Understanding the plan to release treated Fukushima water
Japan's decision to release more than one million tons of treated radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea has stirred fierce controversy. Here are some questions and answers about the plan, expected to take decades to complete. What is the processed water? Since the 2011 nuclear… Read
Netflix’s big bet on foreign content could upend global mediascape – and change how people see the world
As a kid growing up in Italy, I remember watching the American TV series “Happy Days,” which chronicled the 1950s-era Midwestern adventures of the Fonz, Richie Cunningham and other local teenagers. The show, combined with other American entertainment widely available in Italy in the 1970s and 1980s, shaped my perception… Read
Sports remain hostile territory for LGBTQ Americans
For all of the gains LGBTQ people have made over the past few decades, sports remain a highly visible reminder that homophobia and transphobia persist. In recent years, more professional athletes, from U.S. women’s soccer team player Tierna Davidson to Olympic gymnast Danell Leyva, have come out of the closet.… Read
New strategy: Politicians in crisis refuse calls to resign
The mere whiff of a scandal once unraveled political careers with stunning speed. Not anymore. Suddenly embroiled in a federal sex trafficking investigation, Rep Matt Gaetz of Florida has denied the allegations, rebuffed suggestions that he resign and sent fundraising appeals that portray him as a victim of a “smear… Read
How did humans evolve, and will we evolve more?
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. How did humans evolve, and will they evolve more? – Anya T., 13, Brookline, Massachusetts Everything that is alive today has evolved, including human beings.… Read
Viral thoughts: Why COVID-19 conspiracy theories persist
Daniel Roberts hadn’t had a vaccination since he was 6. No boosters, no tetanus shots. His parents taught him inoculations were dangerous, and when the coronavirus arrived, they called it a hoax. The vaccine, they said, was the real threat. So when the 29-year-old Tennessee man got his COVID-19 shot… Read
How social media turns online arguments between teens into real-world violence
The deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January exposed the power of social media to influence real-world behavior and incite violence. But many adolescents, who spend more time on social media than all other age groups, have known this for years. “On social media, when you argue, something so… Read
