Countering Russian disinformation the Baltic nations' way

Editor's note

Americans are beginning to accept that Russian disinformation campaigns are actively seeking to disrupt our society, including social media, news organizations and businesses. Other countries have been fighting similar battles for decades. Security scholar Terry Thompson at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, explains what the U.S. might learn from the experience of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month – but how many people are actually enslaved worldwide? Estimates of modern slavery vary widely, whether they try to capture trafficking in the U.S., across the globe or just in certain industries. The University of Richmond’s Monti Datta tries to pin down the right number.

And, when it comes to selecting which students to admit, elite universities have an overabundance of qualified applicants from which to choose. But do they choose in a fair manner? History shows they heavily favor students who are well off. College admissions scholar Natasha Warikoo suggests a more equitable way would be to take humans out of the equation and admit students by drawing their names out of an “electronic hat.”

Jeff Inglis

Science + Technology Editor

Economy + Business

The science of the deal: A negotiation expert explains how Trump and the Democrats could both end the shutdown with a win

Parker Ellen, Northeastern University

Trump, Schumer and Pelosi have fallen into a classic negotiation trap that often prevents deals from getting made, which has led to the shutdown stalemate.

Federal workers begin to feel pain of shutdown as 800,000 lose their paychecks

Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University

Because many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, the loss of even one can be a big financial blow for a family.

Politics + Society

Venezuelans reject Maduro presidency — but most would oppose foreign military operation to oust him

David Smilde, Tulane University

Maduro, who was sworn in for his second term on Jan. 10, has rigged elections, jailed rivals and plunged Venezuela into crisis. But Trump's proposed 'military option' to remove him remains unpopular.

Families are choosing between their health and staying together

Paul J. Fleming, University of Michigan; William D. Lopez, University of Michigan

Interviews with immigrants health service providers in metro Detroit reveal a climate of fear that may affect the health of families.

The Conversation is growing - and we need your help to fund new initiatives like Spanish-language translations and multimedia content

Health + Medicine

How to increase your chances of sticking with your resolutions

Camilla Nonterah, University of Richmond

Behavior change is very hard. Try as we might to keep those New Year's resolutions, many have given up by this time. Here are some ways to keep going and stay on track, from a counseling psychologist.

Let them eat more fat? Researcher argues that a balance of types of fat is the key

Heidi Silver, Vanderbilt University

When did eating become so confusing? In the 1960s, studies began to show a link between heart disease and dietary fat, and fat was demonized. As it turns out, fat is nuanced and may not be so bad.

Science + Technology

Science gets shut down right along with the federal government

Angela K. Wilson, Michigan State University

Setting aside personal hardships for workers who don't see a paycheck during the shutdown, the research enterprise itself loses out, too. And unlike back pay, this lost time can never be made up.

Renewed space rivalry between nations ignores a tradition of cooperation

Scott Shackelford, Indiana University

In the space beyond Earth's atmosphere, countries are focusing on nationalist pursuits and ignoring the consequences for the rest of humanity. How can we keep the peace and build a sustainable future?

Education
More solutions needed for campus hunger Suzanna Martinez, University of California, San Francisco A new federal report on food insecurity on college campuses does a good job of laying out the scope of the problem but falls short when it comes to solutions.

Ethics + Religion

3 ways to be smart on social media

A. Trevor Sutton, Concordia Seminary

Don't swear off social media. Use it to your advantage.

Remembering American saint Elizabeth Seton’s legacy and how it continues to inspire work with immigrants

Catherine O'Donnell, Arizona State University

Elizabeth Seton was canonized in 1975 as a saint. Charities founded by her continue her work with poor immigrants.

Arts + Culture

The forgotten legacy of gay photographer George Platt Lynes

Rebecca Fasman, Indiana University

Lynes was a highly sought-after commercial and fashion photographer in the 1930s and 1940s. But he had to keep his most important body of work hidden away.

What’s behind our appetite for self-destruction?

Mark Canada, Indiana University; Christina Downey, Indiana University

Edgar Allen Poe, Sigmund Freud and cognitive scientists have all wrestled with the human tendency to behave in ways that are irrational and self-defeating.

Environment + Energy

Mapping the world’s ‘blue carbon’ hot spots in coastal mangrove forests

Robert Twilley, Louisiana State University ; Andre Rovai, Louisiana State University

Mangrove forests along the world's tropical and subtropical coasts store enormous quantities of 'blue' carbon – especially in river delta zones, where soil builds up quickly.

With the right guiding principles, carbon taxes can work

Gilbert E. Metcalf, Tufts University

There are ways to reduce the risk of protests like France's yellow vests movement.