Brittney Griner’s sentence is in line with Russia’s strict drug penalties – but how long she serves will be decided outside the courtroom

William E. Butler, Penn State

US basketball star was handed a nine-year sentence after being found in possession of cannabis oil. By Western standards, that may seem severe, but it is in line with Russian jurisprudence.

What is neoliberalism?

Anthony Kammas, University of Southern California

The word ‘neoliberal’ gets thrown around a lot, often with differing and even contradictory meanings. Here, a political economist explains the origins and evolution of this complex concept.

Proving war crimes isn’t simple – a forensics expert explains what’s involved with documenting human rights violations during conflicts, from Afghanistan to Ukraine

Stefan Schmitt, Florida International University

Other recent conflicts that resulted in war crimes allegations help explain how complex it will be to gather evidence of war crimes in Ukraine – and provide answers for families of victims of the war.

Taiwan: Beijing reacts to Pelosi’s visit with live-fire exercises prompting fears of escalation

Todd Hall, University of Oxford

Beijing’s response to the visit by the US speaker has a lot do with internal Chinese politics.

Social media provides flood of images of death and carnage from Ukraine war – and contributes to weaker journalism standards

Beena Sarwar, Emerson College

Many images from the Ukraine war are compelling and distressing depictions of the human costs of war.

Why it’s important to think about social media use as a form of dissociation, rather than addiction

Amanda Baughan, University of Washington

Dissociation can be a healthy part of cognitive functioning, provided it doesn’t get in the way of your goals.

The UN just declared a universal human right to a healthy, sustainable environment – here’s where resolutions like this can lead

Joel E. Correia, University of Florida

It’s more than moral posturing. Resolutions like this have a history of laying the foundation for effective treaties and national laws.

Why are nuclear weapons so hard to get rid of? Because they’re tied up in nuclear countries’ sense of right and wrong

Thomas E. Doyle, II, Texas State University

Policymakers often think of their decisions about nuclear weapons as moral, a nuclear ethicist explains – which is key to understanding their motives.

After Trump, Christian nationalist ideas are going mainstream – despite a history of violence

Samuel Perry, Baylor University

Distrust of government blended with strains of Christian fundamentalism can produce a violent form of Christian nationalism, a scholar explains.

Parenting styles vary across the US

Cliff McKinney, Mississippi State University

In some regions of the country, mothers and fathers have different approaches than their counterparts in other regions.

500K American men get vasectomies every year – a specialist explains the easy and reversible procedure

Ranjith Ramasamy, University of Miami

As more younger, single men ask for one following the Supreme Court abortion decision, a urologist explains what to expect with a vasectomy.

Beyoncé has helped usher in a renaissance for African artists

US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s visit aims to reset relations with South Africa

Penguins adapt their voices to sound like their companions - new study