The Conversation

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‘Big Bang of Numbers’ – The Conversation’s book club explores with author Manil Suri how math alone could create the universe

/ 6 minutes of reading

In this interview, Manil Suri discusses his unique perspective on mathematics and his goals in writing his latest book. “There’s just so much joy to be had out of mathematics,” Suri says. “So this book is written for people who want to really engage with mathematics on the level of ideas rather than get into computations and calculations.” Continue Reading ‘Big Bang of Numbers’ – The Conversation’s book club explores with author Manil Suri how math alone could create the universe

Lewis Wickes Hine, ‘A little spinner in a Georgia Cotton Mill, 1909.’ Gelatin silver print, 5 x 7 in.

The US has a child labor problem – recalling an embarrassing past that Americans may think they’ve left behind

/ 6 minutes of reading

At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Special Collections we’ve recently completed a major digitization and rehousing project of our collection of over 5,400 photographs made by Lewis Wickes Hine in the early 20th century. Continue Reading The US has a child labor problem – recalling an embarrassing past that Americans may think they’ve left behind

Two navy ships cross eachother

US, Chinese warships’ near miss in Taiwan Strait hints at ongoing troubled diplomatic waters, despite chatter about talks

/ 5 minutes of reading

Meredith Oyen, associate professor of history and Asian studies, an expert on China-U.S. relations, helps explain the context of the recent encounters on the Taiwan Strait and how they fit within growing tensions between the two countries on the South China Seas. Continue Reading US, Chinese warships’ near miss in Taiwan Strait hints at ongoing troubled diplomatic waters, despite chatter about talks

A Star Trek spacecraft seen orbiting above the Earth.

Lessons from ‘Star Trek: Picard’ – a cybersecurity expert explains how a sci-fi series illuminates today’s threats

/ 6 minutes of reading

Society’s understanding of technology and cybersecurity often is based on simple stereotypes and sensational portrayals in the entertainment media. But sometimes Hollywood gets it right by depicting reality in ways that both entertain and educate. Richard Forno, a former cybersecurity industry practitioner and current cybersecurity researcher, believes the final season of “Star Trek: Picard” is the latest example of entertainment media providing useful lessons about cybersecurity and the nature of the modern world. Continue Reading Lessons from ‘Star Trek: Picard’ – a cybersecurity expert explains how a sci-fi series illuminates today’s threats

A Black mother holds a Black child.

Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the U.S.

/ 5 minutes of reading

“Our research team sought to understand how stress from structural violence affects the body, specifically the immune system,” explain Loren Henderson, associate professor of public policy, and Ruby Mendell, associate professor in sociology, African American studies, urban and regional planning, and Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “We talked to 68 low-income single Black mothers living on the South Side of Chicago about how they deal with gun violence in their communities and how it affects their health.” Continue Reading Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the U.S.

People hand over plastic bottles to be refilled with water

Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet

/ 5 minutes of reading

in recent years, Muslim communities around the world have used the period to rally around themes of social awareness. And this includes understanding the perils of wastefulness and embracing the link between Ramadan and environmental consciousness. As a historian of Islam, Noor Zaidi, assistant professor of history, sees the “greening” of Ramadan as entirely in keeping with the traditions of the faith, and in particular the observance of Ramadan. Continue Reading Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet

 

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