The Conversation - Assassinations risk wider conflict

Inside the dark world of dognapping

Ben Stickle, Middle Tennessee State University; Brenda Vose, University of North Florida

Many jurisdictions treat pet theft like property theft, assigning dogs dollar values and failing to account for their emotional importance.

Massive protests erupt again over disputed Venezuelan elections – but they look different this time

Rebecca Hanson, University of Florida; Verónica Zubillaga, Simón Bolívar University

President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory, but regional leaders and outside observers have cried foul.

Students gain confidence in US democracy by participating in elections and campaigns for their homework

Mark C. Hand, University of Texas at Arlington

A political scientist describes a class he’s designed to help counter cynicism and distrust.

Who will win in Arizona in November? It’s a toss-up − like it has been for years

David R. Berman, Arizona State University

While Arizona voters have selected a Republican in nearly every presidential election from 1952 through 2016, a changing population and hot-button issues have given Democrats recent wins there, too.

Wildfires can create their own weather, further spreading the flames − an atmospheric scientist explains how

Kyle Hilburn, Colorado State University

Fire-produced thunderstorms and tornado-like fire whirls are more common than anyone realized, as high-resolution satellite images and data now show.

A new ‘guest star’ will appear in the sky in 2024 − a space scientist explains how nova events work and where to look

Vahe Peroomian, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Your favorite TV show isn’t the only place where guest stars might appear. Keep an eye on the sky for the second half of 2024 and you might be able to witness a rare astronomical event.

Iceland’s recent volcanic eruptions driven by pooling magma are set to last centuries into the future

James Day, University of California, San Diego

The eruptions that began in 2021 in Iceland could last for centuries, which is bad news for Icelanders but good news for scientists seeking to understand how the inner Earth works.

Robocars promise to improve traffic even when most of the cars around them are driven by people, study finds

Weizi Li, University of Tennessee

Long before all vehicles become self-driving, AI could drastically improve traffic conditions. Traffic jams could become a thing of the past when even as few as 5% of cars are driven by robots.

Menopause increases your risk of STIs due to how aging changes your body

Thomas L. Cherpes, The Ohio State University

Older adults are at risk for contracting STDs – not only because of stigma and infrequent condom use, but also because of physical changes due to aging.

Quantum information theorists are shedding light on entanglement, one of the spooky mysteries of quantum mechanics

Childless women − cat ladies or not − have long played key roles in the Catholic Church

What is love? A philosopher explains it’s not a choice or a feeling − it’s a practice