Opinions
The psychological benefits of commuting that remote work doesn't provide
For most American workers who commute, the trip to and from the office takes nearly one full hour a day – 26 minutes each way on average, with 7.7% of workers spending two hours or more on the road. Many people think of commuting as a chore and a waste… Read
Seeing is believing? Global scramble to tackle deepfakes
Chatbots spouting falsehoods, face-swapping apps crafting porn videos and cloned voices defrauding companies of millions -- the scramble is on to rein in AI deepfakes that have become a misinformation super spreader. Artificial intelligence is redefining the proverb "seeing is believing," with a deluge of images created out of thin… Read
Politics, cash, fame: What motivates climate change deniers
Right-wing ideologues funded by fossil fuels, fame-seeking narcissists and doubt mongers monetizing their content are pushing climate disinformation that undermines the fight against global warming, researchers say. Experts interviewed by AFP outlined six key things that motivate people to deny climate change or seek to delay action. Oil money Studies… Read
The EV transition isn't just about cars – the broader goal should be access to clean mobility for everyone
The race to decarbonize passenger cars and light-duty trucks in the U.S. is accelerating. Battery electric vehicles accounted for almost 6% of all new vehicle sales in 2022, up from close to 3% in 2021, and demand is outstripping supply, even as manufacturers roll out new models and designs. The… Read
Why are there prisons? An expert explains the history of using 'correctional' facilities
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. Why are there prisons? – Andrew H., age 8 When people are found guilty of committing a crime, a judge will decide how they should… Read
Pain of police killings ripples outward to traumatize Black people and communities across U.S.
As the video goes public of Black police officers in Memphis beating Tyre Nichols to death, it is a stark reminder of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. That set up the largest protests in U.S. history and a national reckoning with racism. But beyond any protests, every police killing… Read
Russia's Paris participation gives IOC moral, political and legal headache
The issue of Russian and Belarusian participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics has provoked polarised debate in the last week and raised questions about whether it might blight the Games. Russia and its ally Belarus, which allowed its territory to be used as a launchpad when Moscow invaded Ukraine last… Read
Black police officers aren't colorblind – they're infected by same anti-Black bias as U.S. society in general
Once again, Americans are left reeling from the horror of video footage showing police brutalizing an unarmed Black man who later died. Some details in the latest case of extreme police violence were gut-wrenchingly familiar: a police traffic stop of a Black male motorist turned violent. But, for many of… Read
Ukraine has a mixed record of treating its citizens fairly
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the dominant Western media narrative has been clear – Russia is the “global villain,” and Ukraine a model country victimized by an unjust war. But while the war may be unjust, Ukraine had its share of problems before the conflict with Russia intensified… Read
Leaders are meant to keep state secrets. Just not at home.
Democrats responded with aggrieved fury when former President Donald Trump was found in possession of classified documents that should have been turned over to the government when he left office. Then disclosures that President Joe Biden also mishandled secret papers set loose a Republican "well, what about” roar. Now, with… Read
