Holy voter suppression, Batgirl! What comics reveal about gender and democracy

Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University

Comic book depictions of superheroines as politicians illustrate how sexism weakens democracy and why comics history is relevant to contemporary politics.

Targeting Trump for prosecution - 4 essential reads on how the Jan. 6 investigation laid the groundwork for the special counsel

Naomi Schalit, The Conversation

Before there was Jack Smith, there was the House January 6 committee. Its work and findings may provide a hint about what new charges Smith might lodge against former President Donald Trump.

Rastafarians gathering for the 131st birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie are still grappling with his reported death in 1966

Charles A. Price, Temple University

The first Rastafarian communities emerged around 1931 in eastern Jamaica. Today, there are over 700,000 Rastafarian communities located on almost every continent.

How does the new over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill, work to prevent pregnancy? 5 questions answered

Sarah Lynch, Binghamton University, State University of New York

The new over-the-counter pill is highly effective at preventing pregnancy but must be taken at the same time daily, which can be a limitation for some people.

Global diabetes cases on pace to soar to 1.3 billion people in the next 3 decades, new study finds

Lauryn Stafford, University of Washington; Liane Ong, University of Washington

Diabetes rates across the world have been rising steadily since the early 1990s, when this data was first estimated. That trend is only going up.

First contact with aliens could end in colonization and genocide if we don’t learn from history

David Delgado Shorter, University of California, Los Angeles; Kim TallBear, University of Alberta; William Lempert, Bowdoin College

Three Indigenous studies scholars draw from colonial histories and explain why listening for alien life can have ethical ramifications.

Eliminating bias in AI may be impossible – a computer scientist explains how to tame it instead

Emilio Ferrara, University of Southern California

Creating bias-free AI systems is easier said than done. A computer scientist explains how controlling bias could lead to fairer AI.

Just in time for back-to-school shopping: How retailers can alter customer behavior to encourage more sustainable returns

Christopher Faires, Iowa State University; Robert Overstreet, Iowa State University

Returns cost companies billions of dollars in lost sales. They also generate emissions and packaging waste. Two logistics experts offer some tips from psychology for more sustainable returns.

Women’s World Cup will highlight how far other countries have closed the gap with US – but that isn’t the only yardstick to measure growth of global game

Adam Beissel, Miami University; Andrew Grainger, Western Sydney University; Julie E. Brice, California State University, Fullerton ; Verity Postlethwaite, Loughborough University

The US national team is the favorite going into the tournament in New Zealand and Australia. But growth in the global game has seen others catch up.

Hip-hop and health – why so many rap artists die young

A.D. Carson, University of Virginia

As hip-hop turns 50, an unfortunate reality is that so many of its pioneering artists never live to see much more than 50 years themselves, a professor of hip-hop writes.

Solving water challenges is complex – learn how law, health, climate and Indigenous rights all intersect in developing solutions

Andrea K. Gerlak, University of Arizona; Burke Griggs, Washburn University; Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University; Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

A webinar hosted by The Conversation brings together experts in law, health, policy and Indigenous affairs to explain some of the most pressing problems related to water in the US.

Why people tend to believe UFOs are extraterrestrial

America faces a power disconnection crisis amid rising heat: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave

As a summer heat wave pummels the US, an expert warns about the dangers of humidity – particularly for toddlers, young athletes and older adults