By Ryan Denson, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter; University of Silesia in Katowice
The ancient Greeks are generally thought of as a people at home on the sea. Yet their familiarity with the ocean didn’t stop them from fearing it. Danger and uncertainty always loomed over ancient voyages, and this is reflected in writing from the time.
One of the most famous works of ancient Greek literature is, after all, a poem about a man lost at sea for a decade. Homer’s Odyssey is famed for its many monsters, some of which…
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By Detlef Siegfried, Professor of Modern German and European History, University of Copenhagen
Ask Danes what makes Denmark Danish and you might hear about openness, tolerance and the freedom to live as you choose.
You can see it in the country’s history: Denmark was the first country in the world to legalise pornography. Alternative communities such as Christiania in Copenhagen are internationally famous for their counterculture and liberal attitudes. And Danish…
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By Michael Asiedu, Researcher, University of St.Gallen
When authoritarian rule ends, the leader may leave office, but the ruling family can remain politically consequential.
My research focuses on authoritarianism and judicial politics in Africa. In a recent study, I examined why efforts to hold ruling families accountable took different legal forms. I also sought to understand why those didn’t necessarily lead to changes in how countries were governed.
I compared experiences…
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By Chris Humphrey, Senior Research Associate Development and Public Finance, ODI Global
International development cooperation – external financial and technical support for economic and social improvements in lower-income countries – is shifting fast all around the world. Nowhere is this happening faster than in Africa.
Aid cuts, natural and war-related shocks, unstable geopolitics, rapidly growing young populations and high external debt levels mean African leaders have to find new development paths.
Central to this new agenda is easing dependence on external development finance. Africa has resources of its own – over US$1 trillion in pension assets across…
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By Scott Parrott, Professor of Media Effects, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina
With so few Americans serving in the military, many learn about veterans from stereotyped news coverage. A media scholar explains why that matters.
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By Lance Hannon, Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University
Racial profiling by police extends beyond Black-white comparisons. Recent studies of traffic stops in Philly show intraracial disparities within Black neighborhoods.
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By James Walsh, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Colorado Denver
Conditions for migrant workers in the 21st century are often as precarious as they were for immigrant laborers in the 19th century.
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By Jeffrey Hebert, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz
For veterans with brain injuries, noisy, overstimulating environments can lead to high stress and irritability, making them want to avoid such situations altogether.
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By Brenda A. Wilson, Professor of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.
Why do farts smell so bad? – Daisy, age 7, New York, New York
A healthy person farts about 14 to 20 times each day. All together, that’s…
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By Suzanne Peck, Lecturer of Art, Rochester Institute of Technology
Glass as a material is full of contradictions. Depending on the form and use, glass can be fragile or strong, opaque or transparent, rough or smooth. The studios my colleagues and I teach and learn in, as glass instructors, echo this abundance of physical opposites. These environments are simultaneously immersive, complex, seductive and demanding.
When the studio is in action, you might hear glass breaking, hot metal…
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