The Conversation - Defamation deal protects news media

Allergy season is getting more intense with climate change – we’re creating better pollen forecasts to help

Yingxiao Zhang, University of Michigan; Allison L. Steiner, University of Michigan

Rising temperatures mean longer, earlier pollen seasons, but a bigger problem is what more carbon dioxide will do to the amount of pollen being released.

AI-generated spam may soon be flooding your inbox – and it will be personalized to be especially persuasive

John Licato, University of South Florida

Artificial intelligence is escalating the battle between spam senders and spam blockers. Recent advances could mean more convincing pitches to get you to click, buy and give up personal information.

Russia’s legal interpretation of ‘espionage’ has broadened since the Soviet era – as the case of Evan Gershkovich shows

William E. Butler, Penn State

A scholar of Russia’s legal code explains the case against the Wall Street Journal reporter accused of espionage.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas moves to reverse the legacy of his predecessor, Thurgood Marshall

Daniel Kiel, University of Memphis

Throughout Thomas’ tenure on the court, he has pushed the Supreme Court to replace Marshall’s vision with one more amenable to the powerful than the powerless.

Defamation was at the heart of Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox News – proving libel in a court would have been no small feat

Nicole Kraft, The Ohio State University

It’s far easier to throw around accusations of damage to one’s reputation than it is to actually prove it in court. A journalism scholar explains the criteria that must be met.

Sudan created a paramilitary force to destroy government threats – but it became a major threat itself

Tsega Etefa, Colgate University

The Rapid Support Forces were created by former president Omar al Bashir to protect his regime from rebels - but they soon became a threat to both him and the future government.

White Tennessee lawmakers speak out for insurrection in honoring Confederate history

Daniel Feller, University of Tennessee

An official proclamation issued by two Tennessee lawmakers commemorates Confederate History Month, fails to mention slavery and instead honors what it calls a “heroic struggle for states’ rights.”

Hopelessness about the future is a key reason some Black young adults consider suicide, new study finds

Janelle R. Goodwill, University of Chicago

New research points to feelings of failure, hopelessness, loneliness and sadness as some of the potential reasons Black young people are considering or carrying out suicide at unprecedented rates.

As digital activists, teens of color turn to social media to fight for a more just world

Dominique Skye McDaniel, Kennesaw State University

For some teens on social media, TikTok and Twitter aren’t all about selfies or the latest craze in online “challenges.” Some teens are using social media to advocate for social justice.

How prosthetic penises in shows like HBO’s ‘Minx’ reinforce existing stereotypes and taboos

El Niño is coming, and ocean temps are already at record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals

The US is about to blow up a fake warship in the South China Sea – but naval rivalry with Beijing is very real and growing