Will NIMBYs sink new clean energy projects? The evidence says no – if developers listen to local concerns

Sanya Carley, Indiana University; David Konisky, Indiana University

Most Americans support clean energy in principle, but what will they do when wind turbines or high-voltage transmission lines come to town?

What is the Islamic New Year? A scholar of religion explains

Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University

The Islamic New Year marks the first day of Muharram, a sacred month of prayer and annual reflection.

Credit ratings are punishing poorer countries for investing more in health care during the pandemic

Ramya Vijaya, Stockton University

Low-income countries that sought to spend more on health care during the pandemic have been hit with ratings downgrades, while others avoided borrowing entirely.

Millions of kids get suspended or expelled each year – but it doesn’t address the root of the behavior

Alysse Loomis, University of Utah

Abuse, neglect or witnessing violence at home can lead kids to misbehave. Some schools are doing away with expulsions to focus on childhood trauma instead.

4 ways college students can make the most of their college library

Carrie M. Macfarlane, Middlebury

Headed off to college? A librarian shares four tips for college students ready to hit the books.

To end war in Afghanistan, Taliban demand Afghan president’s removal

Madhav Joshi, University of Notre Dame; David Cortright, University of Notre Dame

Academic research in conflict zones suggests Ghani’s resignation could actually be Afghanistan’s best chance at peace – but not under the conditions the Taliban is demanding.

US history shows spending on infrastructure doesn’t always end well

Richard White, Stanford University

The lasting problems of infrastructure aren’t of need or construction, but of overbuilding, delayed costs and the challenges of thinking ahead.

Melting Mongolian ice reveals fragile artifacts that provide clues about how past people lived

William Taylor, University of Colorado Boulder

From the high Yukon to the mountains of Central Asia, melting ice exposes fragile ancient artifacts that tell the story of the past – and provide hints about how to respond to a changing climate.

Apple can scan your photos for child abuse and still protect your privacy – if the company keeps its promises

Mayank Varia, Boston University

Apple will scan all photos uploaded to the cloud for child sexual abuse without actually looking at the photos. Privacy experts are concerned by the lack of public accountability.

What is Pegasus? A cybersecurity expert explains how the spyware invades phones and what it does when it gets in

Bhanukiran Gurijala, West Virginia University

A tool made for tracking criminals and terrorists has potentially been used against politicians, dissidents and journalists. Here’s how the spyware works.

Robots are coming for the lawyers – which may be bad for tomorrow’s attorneys but great for anyone in need of cheap legal assistance

Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon; Charlotte Alexander, Georgia State University

Lawyers were thought to be mostly immune from the coming AI revolution, but two legal experts explain why jobs that rely on human ingenuity can still be affected.

Profound changes are underway in Earth’s oceans and ice – a lead author of IPCC climate report explains what the warnings mean

Robert Kopp, Rutgers University

Some of the climate changes will be irreversible for millennia. But some can be slowed and even stopped if countries quickly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, including from burning fossil fuels.

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