The Conversation

Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation U.S. Here are a few of our recently published stories:

When I was a kid, I was a super fan of the Buffalo Bills. I grew up in a small town in North Dakota, far from the football-obsessed culture of Buffalo, New York, but still rooted for the team even as they got trounced in four consecutive Super Bowls. It made me feel part of a community of like-minded believers in the impossible.

Research shows that’s one of the perks of fandom, along with making friends and boosting happiness. As I’ve grown older, I also noticed some more negative aspects of being a super fan, such as misbehavior and even rioting after a loss – or a win.

Aaron Mansfield, an expert in sport consumer behavior who actually grew up in Buffalo as a passionate Bills fan, also wondered about the psychology of fandom but realized there was very little research on how it affects physical health. So he did his own.

His main finding: “Playing sports is healthy. But watching them? Not so much.” In one of last week’s most popular stories, Mansfield explores the challenges related to health in sports, especially among the most committed fans.

Bryan Keogh

Managing Editor

Readers' picks

Wings, booze and heartbreak – what my research says about the hidden costs of sports fandom

Aaron Mansfield, Merrimack College

Being a sports fan has been shown to cultivate a sense of belonging. But what about all that sitting, snacking and drinking? And what does that mean for younger, health-conscious fans?

The Supreme Court is headed toward a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power

Graham G. Dodds, Concordia University

Recent rulings indicate that the high court is leaning toward expanding the type of presidential power that is more emblematic of dictatorship than democracy.

History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda

Douglas M. Charles, Penn State

FBI director Kash Patel says he is making the bureau more accountable. Critics charge him with purging it of anyone not perceived as loyal to President Trump.

Conflict at the drugstore: When pharmacists’ and patients’ values collide

Elizabeth Chiarello, Washington University in St. Louis

Controversies often arise over pharmacists refusing to dispense medication, from Plan B to unproven COVID-19 treatments. Each one raises questions about professional rights and responsibilities.

Jane Fonda, other stars, revive the Committee for the First Amendment – a group that emerged when the anti-communist panic came for Hollywood

Kathy M. Newman, Carnegie Mellon University

Even after the original group fizzled, many of its members were able to keep making films with progressive messages.

Editors' picks

Can you really be addicted to food? Researchers are uncovering convincing similarities to drug addiction

Claire Wilcox, University of New Mexico

A consensus is emerging among scientists that certain foods are addictive for some people. But questions remain about which foods, which people and why.

How does your immune system stay balanced? A Nobel Prize-winning answer

Aimee Pugh Bernard, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Regulatory T cells help your immune system distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘nonself’ – and can open doors to better treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease and transplant rejection.

Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution

Morgan Marietta, University of Tennessee

With partisan advantage, clashing perceptions of reality and revolutionary readings of the Constitution all in play, the Supreme Court’s cases this year reach far into American politics and culture.

Federal shutdown deals blow to already hobbled cybersecurity agency

Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The triple whammy of deep staff cuts, shutdown furloughs and the expiration of an information-sharing law leaves national cybersecurity in a perilous state.

James Comey’s indictment is a trademark tactic of authoritarians

Cassandra Burke Robertson, Case Western Reserve University

The former FBI director’s indictment breaks a principle that has protected American democracy for 50 years.

News Quiz 🧠

  • The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

    Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

    Test your knowledge with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. Questions this week on Nobel Prize-winners, the Supreme Court and wings.