Pecans went from ignored trees to holiday staple – the history of America’s only native major nut crop
By Shelley Mitchell Oklahoma State University Pecans have a storied history in the United States. Today, American trees produce hundreds…
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The Conversation: Pumpkins’ journey from ancient food staple to spicy fall obsession spans thousands of years
Shelley Mitchell Oklahoma State University October in much of the U.S. brings cooler weather, vibrant fall colors and, of course,…
The Conversation: What the 1st Amendment doesn’t protect when professors speak out on politics
By Neal H. Hutchens, and Jeffrey C. Sun The Conversation American colleges and universities are increasingly firing or punishing professors…
The Conversation: Trust science — Why study claiming vaccines cause chronic illness is severely flawed
By Jeffrey Morris University of Pennsylvania At a Senate hearing on Sept. 9, 2025, on the corruption of science, witnesses…
Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ still speaks to a nation vacillating between hope and despair
By Louis P. Masur The Conversation I was 18 when Bruce Springsteen’s third album, “Born to Run,” was released 50…
The Conversation: Ticks carry decades of history in each troublesome bite
By Sean Lawrence West Virginia University When you think about ticks, you might picture nightmarish little parasites, stalking you on…
‘Grit,’ perseverance can take a toll on brain health, particularly when facing social stresses like racism
By Darlingtina Esiaka University of Kentucky For many people, grit – the perseverance and passion for long-term goals – is…
Sunday Read: The Conversation: America the secular? What a changing religious landscape means for US politics
By David Campbell and Geoffrey Layman The Conversation After climbing for decades, the percentage of Americans with no religion has…
Sunday Read: Butterflies declined by more than 22% over last 20 years; how you can help save them
By Eliza Brames The Conversation If the joy of seeing butterflies seems increasingly rare these days, it isn’t your imagination….
The Conversation: Service dogs can reduce the severity of PTSD for veterans — new research
By Sarah Leighton and Kerri Rodriguez University of Arizona Service dogs can alleviate some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for…
The Conversation: Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ almost didn’t air — and why it endures
(Editor’s note: As families gather around their favorite Christmas stories this season, here’s a story behind one beloved classics that…
The Conversation: Anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety – emotions that feel bad can be useful
By Heather Lench Texas A&M University Remember the sadness that came with the last time you failed miserably at something?…
Why winter makes us more vulnerable to colds – public health nurse explains the science behind the season
Libby Richards Purdue University You’ve probably heard “Don’t go outside in the winter with your hair wet or without a…
Sunday read: The Conversation — why you should talk to people you disagree with about politics
By Rachel Wahl University of Virginia If you talked to friends or family about politics over Thanksgiving, you might not…
The Conversation: How first Pilgrims, Puritans differed in views on religion, respect for Native Americans
By Michael Carrafiello Professor of History, Miami University Every November, numerous articles recount the arrival of 17th-century English Pilgrims and…
Sunday read: Can you change your personality? Research says yes, by tweaking what you think, do
By Shannon Sauer-Zavala University of Kentucky Have you ever taken a personality test? If you’re like me, you’ve consulted BuzzFeed…
Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school — here’s what you can do about it
By Libby Richards Purdue University Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than…
The Conversation: Barcode is 50 years old, still going strong; revolutionized global commerce
By Jordan Frith Clemson University The first modern barcode was scanned 50 years ago this summer – on a 10-pack…
Opinion/Analysis: From The Conversation — knowing when to call it quits
By Kevin J. McMahon and Michael Paris The Conversation After President Joe Biden’s disastrous performance at the June 27 debate, many…
The Conversation: Lightning season is here; fast facts, how to stay safe, from meteorologist
Baseball fans clear the stands as lightning strikes near the Colorado Rockies’ stadium in 2019. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images By Chris…
Sunday read: Saying a final goodbye to Willie Mays, baseball’s ‘Say hey kid’
Willie Mays playing stickball in Harlem in 1954. Bettmann/Getty Images By Lincoln Mitchell Columbia University In 1959, when Soviet Premier…
Sunday read: It’s Father’s Day, so let’s celebrate by understanding ‘Dad Jokes,’ a great tradition
By Ian Brodie and Moira Marsh The Conversation “Dad, I’m hungry.” “Hi, hungry. I’m Dad.” If you haven’t been asleep…
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