Europe and the United States are facing a significant and potentially historic rupture in their international relations. NATO, which has been a pillar of global security since 1949, may collapse by 2025 due to fundamental differences in outlook between the Republican Party in the US and Europe’s security concerns. This collapse would likely be triggered …
One of the greatest challenges for a superpower is determining its capabilities and limitations. As a global hegemon, it’s easy to believe that you can micromanage wars, orchestrate diplomatic relations, and control perception. The American approach to Ukraine showcases this tendency. While the U.S. has provided diplomatic support and modern weaponry, there’s been a restraint …
In the spring of 2018, an unexpected Facebook-friend request landed in my notifications. It was from someone claiming to be my father, but there was something off about it. The profile featured my dad’s photos, but the name was misspelled. Not thinking much of it, I reported the account and moved on with my life. …
In 1856, a chemist named William Henry Perkin accidentally stumbled upon a commercially viable synthetic dye while looking for a malaria drug. This discovery revolutionized the way humans colored their clothes and food. Synthetic dyes provided a convenient and inexpensive alternative to natural pigments extracted from plants. They could keep canned peas fresh and vibrant, …
In 2018, the Norwegian government’s announcement to increase fathers’ parental leave by five weeks was met with excitement from many Norwegians. However, not everyone was thrilled, including Nina Mikkelson, a mother whose child was still nursing. The increase in fathers’ share of parental leave meant less leave available to mothers. Mikkelson voiced her frustrations in …
Sociologist Sonia Salari of the University of Utah regularly asks her family studies class a thought-provoking question: “Who here is closest to their maternal grandmother?” The majority of hands shoot up. She then follows up with questions about grandfathers and paternal grandparents, and the number of hands dwindles. This survey segues perfectly into Salari’s lesson …
In light of the recent controversy surrounding abortion laws, Republicans have proposed a compromise that is reminiscent of European countries’ approach to abortion, which permits it only in the first trimester and limits it thereafter, with certain exceptions. North Carolina became the first state to pass such a law over the governor’s veto, allowing abortion …
The likelihood of a new cold war between China and the United States is increasing due to tensions mounting in line with Beijing’s growing power and ambition and Russia’s relationship with the West souring due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. However, a cold war between the US and a Sino-Russian bloc could be more dangerous …