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The Conversation US arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse—and recognition of the vital role that academic experts can play in the public arena.
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Articles By Year 2020 May Let It Be, Complicated Let It Be, Complicated May 4, 2020 Let It Be, Complicated Inside the Beatles' messy breakup, 50 years ago. Did Paul put the dagger in, or was it John? April A Hand-Washing Pioneer A Hand-Washing Pioneer April 27, 2020 A Hand-Washing Pioneer The story of Ignaz Semmelweis, the doctor who discovered the disease-fighting power of hand-washing in 1847. Long Con Long Con April 20, 2020 Long Con Why do people believe con artists? Part of it might come down to the fact that we want to believe in something that’s too good to be true. Mystery Machine Mystery Machine April 6, 2020 Mystery Machine The strange connection between Bobby Kennedy's death and the rise of Scooby-Doo, who represented a new kind of cartoon hero in his day. March The Human Xerox The Human Xerox March 30, 2020 The Human Xerox Why being copycats, something we do in settings big and small, might be key to being human. Hydrogenated Marketing Hydrogenated Marketing March 23, 2020 Hydrogenated Marketing How Crisco, which avoided naming its primary ingredient in ads, toppled lard more than a century ago—and made Americans believers in industrial food. Grab Your Rolls Grab Your Rolls March 16, 2020 Grab Your Rolls There's plenty of toilet paper in the U.S. So why are people hoarding it? And what makes toilet paper the hoarding object of choice? Lateral Move Lateral Move March 9, 2020 Lateral Move Five ways life would be better if it were always daylight saving time, rather than the clock changing up on us twice a year. Now You See It … Now You See It … March 1, 2020 Now You See It … A brief history of invisibility on screen, one of the most effective special effects ever created in film. February Thanks, Craig Thanks, Craig February 22, 2020 Thanks, Craig Hitting its 25th anniversary this month, Craigslist remains a reminder that a more democratic version of the internet can still thrive. Not All Heroes Wear Capes Not All Heroes Wear Capes February 16, 2020 Not All Heroes Wear Capes America’s postwar fling with romance comics—and the massive collection of those comics that was recently donated to the University of South Carolina. Cosmic Mistake Cosmic Mistake February 8, 2020 Cosmic Mistake Why your zodiac sign—that thing that supposedly defines your personality—is probably wrong. Sorry, Gemini. January Headbanger’s Ball Headbanger’s Ball January 31, 2020 Headbanger’s Ball How do woodpeckers avoid brain injury? It all comes down to their bones.