The hidden costs of Mexico's 'green gold'

State laws threaten to erode academic freedom in U.S. higher education

Isaac Kamola, Trinity College

A wave of mostly partisan laws have sought to curtail what university faculty can say and teach.

France’s headscarf ban in the 2024 Summer Olympics reflects a narrow view of national identity, writes a scholar of European studies

Armin Langer, University of Florida

Laïcité, which historically upheld individual freedom, denies minority rights today, as seen in the ban on French athletes wearing hijabs at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Descartes and the deep state: what 17th-century philosophy reveals about Trump and QAnon

Taylor Matthews, University of Southampton

Ideas used by conspiracy theorists hark back to those of 17th-century philosophers such as René Descartes.

Colon cancer rates are rising in young Americans, but insurance barriers are making screening harder

Andrea Shin, University of California, Los Angeles

Colon cancer is curable when caught early, but some insurers are either refusing to cover or significantly delaying approval for colonoscopies.

UK and US elections: 2 very different systems united by a common political language

Garret Martin, American University School of International Service

UK political leaders have just a few short weeks − and limited campaign funds − to woo voters.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel are becoming increasingly isolated internationally – they need to listen to their friends

Julie M Norman, UCL

The brutality of Israel’s assault on Gaza and the failure to secure the release of the October 7 hostages have left the Israeli prime minister with few friends domestically or internationally.

A lesson on dissent from a Vietnam War protester who joined the US military – and then faced execution after his protest didn’t stop

Rodney Coates, Miami University

At least one positive came out of the racial protests during the Vietnam War era – the emergence of Black studies programs on college campuses.

Hurricanes don’t stop at the coast – these mountain towns know how severe inland flood damage can be, and they’re preparing

Craig E. Colten, Louisiana State University

In the mountains, heavy downpours can be devastating, especially when storms hit back to back. Yet, hurricane season’s inland flood risk is often overlooked until it’s too late.

I’m an astrophysicist mapping the universe with data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory − clear, sharp photos help me study energetic black holes

Giuseppina Fabbiano, Smithsonian Institution

2024 marks 25 years since NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory started detecting X-rays from energetic astronomical events.

2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled and fascinated since the Middle Ages

What QAnon supporters, butthole sunners and New Age spiritualists have in common

More military veterans and active duty service members are dying by suicide than in battle – understanding why can help with prevention