is an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis, authored by academics and edited by journalists for the general public. Ona mission “to promote truthful information and strengthen journalism by unlocking the rich diversity of academic research for audiences across America,” The Conversationpublishes short articlesby academics on timely topics related to their research. Boulder provides funding as a member of The Conversation U.S.Learn more about the partnership and how and why to write for The Conversation.

A white-shouldered bumblebee visits the flowers of a goldenbanner.

Examining plant-pollinator interactions in a Rocky Mountain subalpine

Sept. 11, 2024

expert Julian Resasco visited the same Rocky Mountain subalpine meadow weekly for a decade of summers—here's what he learned. Read on The Conversation.

Wild horses

Domesticating horses had a huge impact on society—new science rewrites where, when it happened

Sept. 3, 2024

New analyses of bones, teeth, genetics and artifacts suggest it’s time to revise a long-standing hypothesis for how humans domesticated horses. Read from expert William Taylor on The Conversation.

a stream

Urban wildfires disrupt streams and their tiny inhabitants—a warning of bigger problems

Aug. 26, 2024

After wildfires in California and Colorado cities, levels of harmful metals in the water jumped. Nature sent up a red flag. Read from expert Lauren Magliozzi on The Conversation.

person shopping on a smartphone

Bipartisan data-privacy law could backfire on small businesses

Aug. 13, 2024

Privacy comes at a price. The American Privacy Rights Act could undermine small entrepreneurs who rely on targeted digital advertising. Read from expert John Lynch and colleague Jean-Pierre Dubé on The Conversation.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign rally in West Allis, Wisconsin

Kamala Harris’ biracial identityis a strength or weakness, depending on whom you ask

Aug. 6, 2024

While many voters embrace Kamala Harris’ candidacy and the fact that she is a multiracial woman without any biological children, some Republicans are using her identity as fodder for attacks. Read from expert Jennifer Ho on The Conversation.

A research assistant at the the German National Metrology Institute studies an atomic clock

Unequal access to quantum education may limit progress in this emerging field

July 24, 2024

Universities are beginning to investigate quantum information science education to develop a workforce ready for the technology, and now is the time to improve access. Read from experts Bethany Wilcox and Josephine Meyer on The Conversation.

iron ore deposits in Australia

Australia’s largest iron ore deposits 1 billion years younger than previously thought

July 24, 2024

How did Australia end up with so much iron ore? What researchers discovered in Western Australia redefines how we think about iron deposits—and provides clues on how we might find more. Read from expert Liam Courtney-Davies on The Conversation.

Students prepare for their bar and bat mitzvahs at a camp for Jewish children of color

Jewish world much more diverse than ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ suggests

June 13, 2024

Most ideas about Jewish culture in the United States come from Ashkenazi traditions, but there’s a vast landscape of Jewish cultures around the world—and represented in the U.S. Read from expert Samira Mehta on The Conversation.

pages of a book shaped into a heart

Inside the rise and fall of one of the world’s most powerful writing groups

June 6, 2024

In its bankruptcy filing, the Romance Writers of America blamed “disputes concerning diversity, equity and inclusion” for its membership declining by an astounding 80%. Read from expert Christine Larson on The Conversation.

John Trumbull's painting of the Declaration of Independence with emoticons on every person's face

Why the future of democracy could depend on your group chats

June 3, 2024

Americans associate with each other more online than off these days. How people interact in digital communities could have a big impact on democracy. Read from expert Nathan Schneider on The Conversation.

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