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,” The Conversation publishes short articles by academics on timely topics related to their research. CU 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.

 

Twitter headquarters

Mass migration from Twitter likely to be an uphill battle—just ask Tumblr

Nov. 5, 2022

The communities that call Twitter home might decide to pack their bags. If they do, they are unlikely to be able to completely reconstitute themselves elsewhere. CU expert Casey Fiesler shares on The Conversation.

Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, the gold standard

A game of numbers: Why Ukraine is eager for more air defense resources

Oct. 19, 2022

What will it take for Ukraine to defend against the ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and explosive drones raining down on the country? The question is not so much what as how many. CU expert Iain Boyd explains on The Conversation.

Simchat Torah celebrations in Netanya, Israel, in 2013

Simchat Torah: A Jewish holiday of reading, renewal and resilience

Oct. 14, 2022

Simchat Torah is about more than beginning to read the Torah all over again. It’s about the need to reexamine what we think we know, over and over again. CU expert Sam Boyd shares on The Conversation.

Members of the British royal family follow behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey

Despite emphasis on tradition, many British royal ceremonies aren’t so old

Sept. 21, 2022

Westminster Abbey has witnessed nearly a millennium of British history—but many rituals, like those at royal funerals, are by no means ancient. How has the ornate church and its significance to the monarchy changed over centuries? CU historian Paul Hammer shares on The Conversation.

Volunteers distributed bottled water after Jackson, Mississippi’s water treatment plant failed

Intense heat waves, flooding are battering America’s aging infrastructure

Sept. 7, 2022

A heat wave that pushed California’s power grid to the limit and the water system failure in Mississippi are just two examples of how a growing maintenance backlog and increasing climate change are creating a golden age of infrastructure failure. CU expert Paul Chinowsky shares on The Conversation.

construction workers pouring concrete

Tiny algae could help fix concrete industry’s dirty little climate secret

Sept. 7, 2022

Concrete is strong, durable, affordable and accessible. But the global concrete industry is responsible for more than 8% of greenhouse gas emissions—more than three times the emissions associated with aviation—and demand is rising. CU expert Wil Srubar shares on The Conversation: four innovative ways to clean up this notoriously hard to decarbonize industry.

NASA spacecraft

Artemis 1 mission sets the stage for routine space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit

Aug. 29, 2022

NASA is going back to the Moon (sans crew). The mission will mark a key step in bringing humans back to Earth’s dusty sidekick after a half-century hiatus. CU expert Jack Burns discusses what to expect on The Conversation.

Father and young son adjust the thermostat in their home

Does turning the air conditioning off when you’re not home actually save energy?

Aug. 22, 2022

New energy modeling software provides insight into whether letting your air conditioner relax while you’re gone all day will save you energy—and money. Three CU Boulder engineers share on The Conversation.

stock image of a concert

What’s dynamic pricing? An operations management scholar explains

Aug. 11, 2022

Whether you’re booking a plane ticket at the last minute or looking to go to a lackluster football game, you might encounter dynamic pricing, or adjusting prices in response to demand. CU expert Ovunc Yilmaz shares on The Conversation.

artist's illustration of the brain

Illuminating the brain one neuron and synapse at a time—5 essential reads

Aug. 4, 2022

From figuring out where memories are stored to how sensory information translates to behavior, new technologies are helping neuroscientists better understand how the brain works. Hear from several experts, including CU’s John Crimaldi, on The Conversation.

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