The Conversation - The red-state dispute over divorce

What Article 23 means for the future of Hong Kong and its once vibrant pro-democracy movement

Michael C. Davis, O.P. Jindal Global University

In the space of two decades, Hong Kong’s liberal constitutional order has been transformed into a security regime that grants citizens few civil liberties

‘He just vanished’ − missing activists highlight Tajikistan’s disturbing use of enforced disappearances

Steve Swerdlow, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The Central Asian nation has long figured among the ‘worst of the worst’ in regards to political and human rights. A new report shines light on cases of activists being seized and then going missing.

For centuries, owls were considered to bring bad luck in many cultures as well as in the US, but the outpouring of grief in New York over Flaco shows how times have changed

Arjun Guneratne, Macalester College

Owls, once seen as harbingers of death, are now celebrated in popular literature and culture in North America and Britain.

Purim’s original queen: How studying the Book of Esther as fan fiction can teach us about the roots of an unruly Jewish festival

Esther Brownsmith, University of Dayton

Whether thousands of years ago or right now, fans have always created new stories based on familiar characters, weaving their own experiences into the tale.

James Clavell’s ‘Shōgun’ is reimagined for a new generation of TV viewers

Constantine Nomikos Vaporis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Compared to its 1980 predecessor, the new FX series presents a more authentic portrayal of early modern Japan.

New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late

Soeren Mattke, University of Southern California; Ying Liu, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Medicare covers an annual well-check visit that could potentially identify cognitive issues, but only about half of beneficiaries take advantage of them.

How safe are your solar eclipse glasses? Cheap fakes from online marketplaces pose a threat, supply-chain experts say

Yao "Henry" Jin, Miami University; Simone Peinkofer, Michigan State University

Don’t skimp on your eye safety.

Legislative inaction and dissatisfaction with one-party control lead to more issues going directly to voters in ballot initiatives, with 60% of them in six states

Thom Reilly, Arizona State University

Voters frustrated by statehouse politics are bypassing elected representatives and enacting laws using direct democracy to preserve abortion rights, raise the minimum wage and rein in state spending.

California is wrestling with electricity prices – here’s how to design a system that covers the cost of fixing the grid while keeping prices fair

Yihsu Chen, University of California, Santa Cruz; Andrew L. Liu, Purdue University

California is considering a controversial proposal for utilities to charge customers for electricity based partly on household income. Two scholars explain how this approach could benefit everyone.

Climate quitting: the people leaving their fossil fuel jobs because of climate change

Gemma Ware, The Conversation

Grace Augustine talks about her interviews with people who’ve chosen to leave their jobs over climate change concerns on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Are you one of the millions about to have cataract surgery? Here’s what ophthalmologists say you need to know

Nixon declared Americans deserved to know ‘whether their president is a crook’ – Trump says the opposite

Trump judgments: What’s an appeal bond? What happens if he can’t get a $454 million loan?