The Conversation is an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis, authored by academics and edited by journalists for the general public. On a mission “to promote truthful information and strengthen journalism by unlocking the rich diversity of academic research for audiences across America,” they publish short articles by academics on timely topics related to their research. The articles showcased below are authored by Binghamton faculty, published by The Conversation and distributed via The Associated Press wire service and made available to hundreds of news outlets across the globe. Learn more about writing for The Conversation by emailing ryarosh@binghamton.edu.
What was the very first plant in the world?
Monday, March 16, 2026 8:22 AM
Plants changed the atmosphere, built soil and created ecosystems that allowed animals like us to thrive. But first they had to make their way from the water to the land.
Read MoreGifts from top 50 US philanthropists jumped to $22.4B in 2025 − Mike Bloomberg, Bill Gates and the estate of Paul Allen lead a list of the biggest givers
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 10:12 AM
Three philanthropy scholars size up the latest data on gifts from the country’s biggest philanthropists.
Read MoreSocial media can draw attention to atrocities – a key factor in reducing risk of recurrence
Monday, March 9, 2026 8:55 AM
Scholars studied hashtag campaigns in Canada and Syria.
Read MoreAtrocities take place in democratic nations as well as autocratic ones – our database has logged them all
Monday, February 16, 2026 8:48 AM
Forty years of data suggests atrocities are on the rise globally.
Read MoreA more complete Latin American history, including centuries of US influence, helps students understand the complexities surrounding Nicolás Maduro’s arrest
Monday, January 26, 2026 8:44 AM
High school students in the US often learn about Latin America through the lens of the US, as a main character that exerts power.
Read MoreAn ultrathin coating for electronics looked like a miracle insulator − but a hidden leak fooled researchers for over a decade
Monday, January 19, 2026 8:34 AM
A new study investigated the source of a leak in a ‘miracle measurement’ from 2010 – and engineers found a potential solution.
Read MoreAI’s errors may be impossible to eliminate – what that means for its use in health care
Thursday, December 11, 2025 8:37 AM
Many health symptoms can be caused by multiple illnesses – if AI can’t tell the difference between them, it won’t be able to operate accurately without human oversight.
Read MoreDrones, physics and rats: Studies show how the people of Rapa Nui made and moved the giant statues – and what caused the island’s deforestation
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 2:01 PM
The mysteries of Easter Island, subjects of speculation for centuries, yield to scientific inquiry.
Read MoreMore than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?
Monday, November 24, 2025 8:32 AM
As AI floods the internet with text, it could mean human voices will matter more – not less.
Read MoreBlack families pay more to keep their houses warm than average American families
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 8:17 AM
More than 12 million US households keep their homes either too cold or too hot, sacrificing comfort because they can’t afford to pay their energy bills.
Read MoreIf evolution is real, then why isn’t it happening now? An anthropologist explains that humans actually are still evolving
Monday, November 17, 2025 8:16 AM
We are indeed still evolving, though it can be hard to tell because it happens over generations and often involves things you can’t see, such as what foods different people are able to digest.
Read MoreSurrealism is better known for its strangeness than the radical politics and revolutionary ambitions of its creators
Thursday, October 23, 2025 8:26 AM
For the original surrealists, dreaming was not a matter of idle fantasy but a tool for political and social transformation.
Read MoreCoal plants emitted more pollution during the last government shutdown, while regulators were furloughed
Thursday, October 23, 2025 8:24 AM
As soon as the 2018-2019 shutdown began, coal-fired power plants started emitting more particulate matter pollution. And when the inspections resumed, the levels dropped back to normal.
Read MoreWhy free speech rights got left out of the Constitution – and added in later via the First Amendment
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 8:19 AM
The First Amendment – and the freedom of speech it guarantees – is considered a fundamental element of American freedom and identity. But it wasn’t even part of the original Constitution.
Read MoreHow to conduct post-atrocity research – key insights from practitioners in the field
Monday, October 6, 2025 8:19 AM
Six scholars with experience in 15 countries provide lessons on best practices for documenting atrocities and elevating the voices of victims and survivors.
Read MoreUkraine is starting to think about memorials – a tricky task during an ongoing war
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 8:30 AM
Human society has marked collective dead for millennia. Such monuments have changed with the evolving nature of conflict, something Ukraine is now weighing.
Read MorePersonal power v. socialized power: What Machiavelli and St. Francis can tell us about modern CEOs
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 8:32 AM
The kind of power that motivates a leader shapes their behavior, two management scholars write.
Read MoreWhat is rust? A materials scientist explains metal’s crusty enemy
Monday, August 11, 2025 8:34 AM
Water and oxygen can make metals oxidize and rust, but researchers have found many ways to prevent this damage.
Read MoreExamining mushrooms under microscopes can help engineers design stronger materials
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 8:33 AM
Some mushrooms are sturdier than others, but it isn’t necessarily because of their chemistry – it’s how the filaments that make them up are arranged.
Read MoreHow do atoms form? A physicist explains where the atoms that make up everything around come from
Monday, June 23, 2025 8:37 AM
Almost everything on Earth is made up of atoms, but where do these fundamental building blocks come from?
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