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Navalny dies in prison − but his blueprint for anti-Putin activism will live on

Regina Smyth, Indiana University

Alexei Navalny, a persistent thorn in the side of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died on Feb. 16, 2024, in prison, authorities said.

FAFSA website meltdown: How to avoid additional frustration with financial aid applications

Dawn Medley, Drexel University

A college administrator offers insights into the rocky rollout of the Department of Education’s supposedly ‘simplified’ financial aid form.

Why does a leap year have 366 days?

Bhagya Subrayan, Purdue University

Humans have synced their calendars to the sun and moon for centuries, but every so often, these systems need a little correction.

State-owned energy companies are among the world’s most polluting – putting a price on carbon could help

Anna Grosman, Loughborough University; Aldo Musacchio, Brandeis University; Gerhard Schnyder, Loughborough University

Governments that publicly commit to carbon pricing are compelled to get their own house in order.

Why are US politicians so old? And why do they want to stay in office?

Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia

Many years beyond the average American retirement age, politicians vie for power and influence. Their constituents tend to prefer they step back and pass the torch to younger people.

Did Abraham Lincoln’s bromance alter the course of American history?

Charles B. Strozier, City University of New York

Would Abraham Lincoln ever have become president if he didn’t stumble into a dry goods store in Springfield, Illinois, and strike up a friendship with its owner, Joshua Speed?

All American presidents have lied – the question is why and when

Michael Blake, University of Washington

A political philosopher argues that while all American presidents may lie, those who appear to lie for the public good are often celebrated.

Must the president be a moral leader?

Michael Blake, University of Washington

Presidents Day celebrates the American president – not only as a political leader, but as a moral leader. But can a president be a person of strong moral character, as well as a strong leader?

John Brown was a violent crusader, but he blazed a moral path that the cautious Lincoln followed to end slavery

Adam Seagrave, Arizona State University

President Lincoln was a statesman. John Brown was a radical. That’s the traditional view of how each one fought slavery, but it fails to capture the full measure of their devotion.

Presidential greatness is rarely fixed in stone – changing attitudes on racial injustice and leadership qualities lead to dramatic shifts

George R. Goethals, University of Richmond

Historians change their views of presidents over time, often because of the country’s changing views on race and moral leadership.

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Katrina Aman, The Conversation

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Gold, silver and lithium mining on federal land doesn’t bring in any royalties to the US Treasury – because of an 1872 law

‘It is hijacking my brain’ – a team of experts found ways to help young people addicted to social media to cut the craving

Children are expensive – not just for parents, but the environment – so how many is too many?