Nostr notes by The Conversation U.S.

Our look at Michigan public schools shows fewer than 10% of them ...

2026-10-28T22:45:19Z

Our look at Michigan public schools shows fewer than 10% of them have a trained librarian.

Across the country, school librarian positions are disappearing, even as students need help navigating the challenges of misinformation, social media and AI.

https://theconversation.com/school-librarians-are-vanishing-from-michigan-schools-just-when-they-are-needed-most-291339

Mosquitoes are spreading into new parts of the U.S., bringing the ...

2026-10-28T19:02:42Z

Mosquitoes are spreading into new parts of the U.S., bringing the risk of diseases like dengue and West Nile.

And your own backyard could be helping them spread, too.

https://theconversation.com/where-humans-build-mosquitoes-follow-bringing-dengue-west-nile-and-other-diseases-with-them-295000

Republicans are taking a big risk by aggressively pushing ...

2026-10-28T18:00:13Z

Republicans are taking a big risk by aggressively pushing distrust in elections.

Their effort to cast doubt on election integrity could backfire by discouraging their own voters from showing up at the polls.
https://theconversation.com/why-the-gops-voter-fraud-messaging-may-backfire-292106

Can Trump take control of federal elections? The Constitution ...

2026-10-28T16:24:16Z

Can Trump take control of federal elections? The Constitution says no.

Our Politics and Legal Affairs Editor, Naomi Schalit, sums up the knowledge of legal scholars who explain why states, not the president, have the power to run elections.

https://theconversation.com/what-legal-experts-say-about-the-trump-administrations-attempts-to-make-a-federal-case-out-of-state-elections-295212

Like many with opioid use disorder, Amber Titus lives with the ...

2026-10-28T16:23:03Z

Like many with opioid use disorder, Amber Titus lives with the difficulty of accessing methadone treatment. Three times a week, she drives 45 minutes each way with her 1-year-old son in his carseat to the nearest clinic to get the medication – and the clinic is open for limited hours.

Wealth inequality in the US is getting worse. From tax policy to ...

2026-10-28T16:00:14Z

Wealth inequality in the US is getting worse.

From tax policy to gas prices and tariffs, a mix of new factors are hurting the middle class and making the 0.1% pull get much richer than the 1%:
https://theconversation.com/us-inequality-is-getting-worse-in-ways-you-might-not-expect-294075

Y’all, even our accents are getting political. Research ...

2026-10-28T14:00:12Z

Y’all, even our accents are getting political.

Research suggests conservative Southerners are more likely to keep their Southern drawls, while liberal Southerners are losing theirs.
https://theconversation.com/are-partisan-politics-even-changing-up-our-accents-they-just-might-be-yall-294125

Women pursuing local office are motivated by solving specific ...

2026-10-28T10:30:11Z

Women pursuing local office are motivated by solving specific community problems like affordable housing and crime, while men tend to view local positions as stepping stones to higher office.
https://theconversation.com/why-the-political-ambition-gap-between-men-and-women-persists-even-at-the-local-level-292967

Just like many Americans, mosquitoes find new suburban ...

2026-10-28T08:14:10Z

Just like many Americans, mosquitoes find new suburban developments very appealing.
https://theconversation.com/where-humans-build-mosquitoes-follow-bringing-dengue-west-nile-and-other-diseases-with-them-295000

Japan's system for mourning loved ones is collapsing under ...

2026-10-28T08:00:12Z

Japan's system for mourning loved ones is collapsing under its own cost.

A cremation, burial and grave can consume nearly 60% of an average worker's annual salary, forcing families to rethink century-old funeral traditions.
https://theconversation.com/japans-expensive-funerals-and-declining-birth-rates-are-transforming-ancestral-traditions-292861

A new U.N. treaty aims to crack down on cybercrime. But could it ...

2026-10-28T06:00:11Z

A new U.N. treaty aims to crack down on cybercrime. But could it also make it easier for governments to spy on their own citizens?

Two political scientists who study human rights explain more:
https://theconversation.com/human-rights-could-improve-or-worsen-based-on-how-nations-use-the-un-treaty-against-cybercrime-269794

Lula's surprise victory in Brazil broke a string of ...

2026-10-28T02:24:34Z

Lula's surprise victory in Brazil broke a string of right-wing wins across Latin America.

A key part of the leftist’s presidential campaign included young, tech-savvy supporters who used WhatsApp and Instagram to reach millions of voters between rounds of voting.

https://theconversation.com/how-lula-turned-the-tables-on-the-right-in-brazil-and-the-us-with-his-comeback-presidential-victory-294810

Why data centers have put Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on the ...

2026-10-28T02:00:11Z

Why data centers have put Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on the same side of an issue ahead of the midterms.
https://theconversation.com/data-centers-are-inspiring-bipartisanship-for-now-293069

Why data centers have put Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on the ...

2026-10-27T22:00:46Z

Why data centers have put Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on the same side of an issue ahead of the midterms.
https://theconversation.com/data-centers-are-inspiring-bipartisanship-for-now-293069

After studying 79,246 college students and 51 separate aspects of ...

2026-10-27T18:00:47Z

After studying 79,246 college students and 51 separate aspects of their lives, researchers found that spending time face-to-face with friends and others is the strongest predictor of good mental health.
https://theconversation.com/spending-in-person-time-with-friends-is-the-biggest-predictor-of-whether-college-students-flourish-293908

Trump's "practical immunity" granted by Congress ...

2026-10-27T16:00:47Z

Trump's "practical immunity" granted by Congress inaction has freed the president from the requirements of law and the Constitution.
https://theconversation.com/congress-is-freeing-trump-of-the-limited-legal-requirements-left-on-him-by-the-supreme-court-293875

The most helpful way of engaging with health information ...

2026-10-27T14:00:48Z

The most helpful way of engaging with health information generated by an AI chatbot is from a position of informed skepticism. https://theconversation.com/ai-chatbots-can-be-a-valuable-health-resource-for-older-adults-if-they-embrace-informed-skepticism-283955

Solar panels cost $100 per watt in 1976. Today they cost 10¢. 50 ...

2026-10-27T10:30:46Z

Solar panels cost $100 per watt in 1976. Today they cost 10¢. 50 years ago, the physicist Amory Lovins had an influential vision for America's energy future that focussed attention on renewable energy – but he didn’t anticipate this.
https://theconversation.com/50-years-later-amory-lovins-soft-energy-path-meets-electrification-293920

A piano quartet premiered in the unlikely venue of a hospital. ...

2026-10-27T08:00:47Z

A piano quartet premiered in the unlikely venue of a hospital.

“One in Four, One in Eight,” is a musical piece about infertility and pregnancy loss, bringing together music, dance, art and science to explore experiences often hidden by stigma. Here’s the composer’s story.
https://theconversation.com/i-composed-music-about-infertility-and-pregnancy-loss-then-performed-it-in-a-pittsburgh-hospital-292857

Novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne spent decades as a recluse in Salem, ...

2026-10-27T06:00:46Z

Novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne spent decades as a recluse in Salem, Massachusetts, filling notebooks with bizarre fragments about possessed stoves, gnomes in gold-filled teeth, and children who mysteriously return as strangers. A Hawthorne scholar loosk through these windows into a creative mind.
https://theconversation.com/nathaniel-hawthornes-notebooks-reveal-the-strange-workings-of-his-imagination-294421

The blood clots affecting 28-year-old Philadelphia Eagles ...

2026-10-27T02:00:46Z

The blood clots affecting 28-year-old Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts could happen to anyone. Recognizing the warning signs and getting treatment quickly can save lives. A pulmonary vascular disease specialist explains some efforts to improve diagnosis:
https://theconversation.com/if-philadelphia-eagles-quarterback-jalen-hurts-can-get-dangerous-blood-clots-so-can-you-heres-how-some-states-are-trying-to-reduce-the-risk-294850

Remote work doesn’t disconnect co-workers. A management scholar ...

2026-10-27T01:01:06Z

Remote work doesn’t disconnect co-workers. A management scholar who studied one company in-depth from before the pandemic until 2024 says that conventional wisdom isn’t true.
https://theconversation.com/remote-work-made-these-colleagues-more-open-with-each-other-not-less-291728

NASA lost contact with Maven, its youngest Mars orbiter, at the ...

2026-10-27T00:59:44Z

NASA lost contact with Maven, its youngest Mars orbiter, at the end of 2025. With the rest of the satellites orbiting Mars more than two decades old, a planetary scientist explains the troubles this could cause for future exploration:
https://theconversation.com/nasas-mars-orbiter-fleet-is-getting-old-heres-how-that-could-affect-future-exploration-292555

One farmer’s take on standardized testing: “You don’t get a ...

2026-10-25T02:02:45Z

One farmer’s take on standardized testing: “You don’t get a pig to grow by measuring it more.”
https://theconversation.com/students-take-up-to-88-standardized-tests-before-high-school-but-more-testing-doesnt-improve-learning-294123

Ever rewatch a horror movie and spot something creepy you ...

2026-10-24T10:17:48Z

Ever rewatch a horror movie and spot something creepy you completely missed the first time?

Turns out, directors know exactly how to trick your brain into missing what's right in front of you. A cognitive psychologist explains how they pull it off:

https://theconversation.com/horror-films-exploit-how-human-vision-works-to-deliver-movies-best-scares-291955

Seven women vanished. All have been linked to the same ...

2026-10-24T04:56:45Z

Seven women vanished. All have been linked to the same Philadelphia home, where police now suspect a deceased man may have been a serial killer.

A forensic psychologist explains why a 1980s evaluation may have missed the warning signs:
https://theconversation.com/im-a-philly-forensic-psychologist-who-has-conducted-dozens-of-psychopathic-evaluations-heres-why-an-evaluation-of-r-c-horsch-in-the-80s-didnt-identify-him-as-a-possible-psychopath-294035

About 1 in 5 voters has asked AI chatbots about politics or ...

2026-10-24T01:02:45Z

About 1 in 5 voters has asked AI chatbots about politics or elections.

And besides the chance of getting hallucinated facts, there’s also a chance the answers may have been shaped by governments around the world.

https://theconversation.com/how-governments-worldwide-are-shaping-what-ai-can-say-about-politics-294097

India’s Gen Z protesters are taking on Prime Minister Narendra ...

2026-10-23T22:45:46Z

India’s Gen Z protesters are taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government – armed with humor, cockroach memes and demands for democracy.

The youth-led movement is now challenging alleged mass voter roll deletions and a government crackdown.

https://theconversation.com/indian-gen-z-cockroach-protesters-aim-to-upend-assumptions-about-democracy-and-populism-in-modis-india-294730

Cancer care teams can start planning for a patient’s life after ...

2026-10-23T19:02:51Z

Cancer care teams can start planning for a patient’s life after cancer even when it’s not on the patient’s mind – and it really helps them feel better and live longer.
https://theconversation.com/surviving-cancer-starts-at-diagnosis-and-continues-after-treatment-earlier-survivorship-care-can-help-patients-feel-better-and-live-longer-294431

Even the nation's founders questioned whether watching an ...

2026-10-23T18:00:26Z

Even the nation's founders questioned whether watching an execution taught the public anything useful.
https://theconversation.com/in-newly-independent-us-americans-debated-whether-public-executions-taught-a-lesson-or-just-showed-off-the-states-power-to-destroy-294211

Do public executions teach people about justice, or simply ...

2026-10-23T16:00:27Z

Do public executions teach people about justice, or simply showcase the government's power to kill? It’s a debate as old the United States.
https://theconversation.com/in-newly-independent-us-americans-debated-whether-public-executions-taught-a-lesson-or-just-showed-off-the-states-power-to-destroy-294211

A planned attack on a Hindu temple in Illinois was stopped before ...

2026-10-23T10:30:39Z

A planned attack on a Hindu temple in Illinois was stopped before anyone was hurt.

But it has raised concerns about growing hate toward Hindu and Indian Americans.

https://theconversation.com/what-the-failed-attack-on-an-illinois-temple-reveals-about-anti-hindu-hate-in-the-united-states-294688

Queer and trans audiences have long been drawn to horror films ...

2026-10-23T06:12:38Z

Queer and trans audiences have long been drawn to horror films that portray LGBTQ+ people as monstrous, finding in these troubling portrayals a mirror for their own complex experiences with identity and their bodies.

https://theconversation.com/horrors-monsters-find-new-meaning-with-queer-and-trans-audiences-how-teenage-sex-and-death-at-camp-miasma-dissects-identity-291766

The Trump Administration has not said if the US will sign this ...

2026-10-23T03:12:40Z

The Trump Administration has not said if the US will sign this new international treaty.

https://theconversation.com/human-rights-could-improve-or-worsen-based-on-how-nations-use-the-un-treaty-against-cybercrime-269794

The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, ...

2026-10-23T01:02:38Z

The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, eroded cliffs, leaving homes hanging precariously over the edges.
https://theconversation.com/el-nino-is-threatening-californias-fragile-coast-again-the-1982-83-el-nino-opened-eyes-to-the-serious-erosion-risks-293298

Can $5,000 buy your vote? Trump has promised every American a ...

2026-10-22T22:16:43Z

Can $5,000 buy your vote?

Trump has promised every American a check if Republicans keep control of Congress.

But research from elections around the world suggests promises of cash rarely changes voters’ minds.

https://theconversation.com/offering-cash-for-votes-is-quite-common-but-heres-why-it-doesnt-work-293259

An AI chatbot submitted a fake tip about an unsolved murder to ...

2026-10-22T19:03:08Z

An AI chatbot submitted a fake tip about an unsolved murder to Philadelphia police. No human told it to.

It happened during a routine test, and the AI company didn't discover it until months later.

A closer look at the risks of AI agents acting on their own:
https://theconversation.com/an-ai-models-false-tip-to-philadelphia-police-reveals-how-digital-agents-can-do-as-theyre-told-and-still-cause-trouble-294228

Many people are worried about mayhem at the polls on Election ...

2026-10-22T18:02:55Z

Many people are worried about mayhem at the polls on Election Day.

The U.S. officially has a 64th national park: Chiricahua in ...

2026-10-22T17:15:44Z

The U.S. officially has a 64th national park: Chiricahua in Arizona.

What actually changes when a national monument becomes a national park? More than you might think.

https://theconversation.com/chiricahua-is-the-nations-newest-national-park-what-does-that-mean-293785

A massive federal spending law to combat climate change passed in ...

2026-10-22T16:01:31Z

A massive federal spending law to combat climate change passed in 2022 without a single Republican vote in the U.S. House or the Senate. But the billions of dollars it authorized benefited Republicans who opposed it as well as the Democrats who championed it.
https://theconversation.com/federal-spending-on-climate-change-before-2024-election-boosted-incumbents-of-both-parties-293791

Students take up to 88 standardized tests before high school. ...

2026-10-22T14:01:16Z

Students take up to 88 standardized tests before high school. With school ratings on the line, teachers face pressure to prepare students.
https://theconversation.com/students-take-up-to-88-standardized-tests-before-high-school-but-more-testing-doesnt-improve-learning-294123

The US and Canadian energy systems and markets are so intertwined ...

2026-10-22T10:30:41Z

The US and Canadian energy systems and markets are so intertwined that tariffs on electricity, oil and gas would devastate both economies, a management scholar explains.
https://theconversation.com/why-and-how-us-and-canadian-energy-markets-are-so-deeply-intertwined-292090

From domesticated foxes to tuskless elephants, humans have ...

2026-10-22T08:00:43Z

From domesticated foxes to tuskless elephants, humans have directly and indirectly influenced the evolution of a wide range of animals. A biologist explains why there won’t be a chicken uprising anytime soon.
https://theconversation.com/why-havent-farm-animals-evolved-against-humans-a-biologist-explains-why-there-wont-be-a-chicken-uprising-anytime-soon-291839

Access to federal funds in the US is highly dependent on the ...

2026-10-22T06:00:42Z

Access to federal funds in the US is highly dependent on the political influence of individual legislators. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is both criticized and praised for her success in this system.
https://theconversation.com/maine-sen-collins-success-bringing-home-federal-funds-is-a-perfect-example-of-the-thin-line-between-political-favoritism-and-effective-representation-294132

A “kill switch” to shut down dangerous AI systems seems like ...

2026-10-22T04:00:40Z

A “kill switch” to shut down dangerous AI systems seems like a sensible precaution, but the metaphor hides how the models work – and how they get out of control in the first place.
https://theconversation.com/why-calling-for-a-kill-switch-is-the-wrong-way-to-think-about-reining-in-ai-293329

Armenian culture marks major events such as birth and death with ...

2026-10-22T02:00:39Z

Armenian culture marks major events such as birth and death with a special period of 40 days, called ‘karasunk,’ as people transition from one state to another.
https://theconversation.com/40-days-to-arrive-40-days-to-leave-how-armenian-culture-honors-lifes-most-important-moments-288870

Colorado voters will vote this year on whether to make penalties ...

2026-10-21T22:00:39Z

Colorado voters will vote this year on whether to make penalties for the use of illicit fentanyl even harsher.

The last attempt to do that in 2022 did not reduce overdose deaths, or get more people into treatment.
https://theconversation.com/fentanyl-is-fueling-overdose-deaths-in-colorado-what-voters-need-to-know-about-proposition-132s-attempt-to-stiffen-penalties-292870

🎂🎉 Happy Birthday to us! 🎂🎉 12 years ago today, The ...

2026-10-21T18:17:30Z

🎂🎉 Happy Birthday to us! 🎂🎉

12 years ago today, The Conversation U.S. launched with a team of 9 housed in a basement at Boston University.

We had 2,360 pageviews on our website that day – about the number we have every 20 minutes today, as we are the most-read nonprofit news site in the nation.

A Virginia mother was placed on the child abuse registry after ...

2026-10-21T18:00:39Z

A Virginia mother was placed on the child abuse registry after letting her 5-year-old collect goose feathers on his own, not long after the state had amended its neglect law to permit childhood independence. A family lawyer explores how overly broad child neglect laws can fail families.
https://theconversation.com/a-pregnant-mom-let-her-5-year-old-stay-outside-to-collect-goose-feathers-and-was-placed-on-the-child-abuse-and-neglect-registry-293189

Voters have many weighty issues on their minds this year, but ...

2026-10-21T16:00:40Z

Voters have many weighty issues on their minds this year, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worried about climate change. Climate communication scholars explain how candidates are (quietly) talking about the environment:
https://theconversation.com/how-candidates-are-quietly-talking-about-climate-change-3-election-strategies-youll-see-across-the-us-293687

Many popular nicotine vapes are now banned in Pennsylvania. A ...

2026-10-21T14:00:41Z

Many popular nicotine vapes are now banned in Pennsylvania. A health law professor explains how the new law works and what to expect as enforcement begins.
https://theconversation.com/many-vapes-and-e-cigarettes-are-now-banned-in-pennsylvania-heres-what-philly-consumers-and-businesses-need-to-know-294103

Palestinian citizens make up about 1 in 6 eligible voters in ...

2026-10-21T10:30:39Z

Palestinian citizens make up about 1 in 6 eligible voters in Israel and could help decide next week’s election.

They face a painful choice: Vote to protect their rights in a political system they feel excludes them, or boycott an election that could shape their future.
https://theconversation.com/palestinian-citizens-face-a-painful-choice-in-israels-election-to-vote-or-not-294000

We're really good at finding reasons to buy new things, even ...

2026-10-21T08:00:39Z

We're really good at finding reasons to buy new things, even when our old stuff works perfectly fine.
https://theconversation.com/a-scuff-on-your-bag-a-dent-in-your-mug-and-suddenly-it-feels-like-time-for-a-new-one-293689

There are 1 million species threatened with extinction. But which ...

2026-10-21T06:00:39Z

There are 1 million species threatened with extinction. But which ones should we save first? At a U.N. summit this week, world leaders are debating who should pay and who gets a say.
https://theconversation.com/who-should-have-a-say-in-which-species-are-saved-the-california-condor-offers-lessons-for-a-global-biodiversity-treaty-294659

Are ultraprocessed foods as evil as their reputation suggests? A ...

2026-10-20T22:00:59Z

Are ultraprocessed foods as evil as their reputation suggests? A researcher who studies social movements explores the panic over them and looks at the science.
https://theconversation.com/the-science-and-politics-behind-the-panic-over-ultraprocessed-foods-292661

Treating pregnant women’s depression with a short course of ...

2026-10-20T18:01:00Z

Treating pregnant women’s depression with a short course of talk therapy doesn’t just improve their health – it can also shape how their babies’ brains develop before birth.
https://theconversation.com/treating-depression-during-pregnancy-may-benefit-babys-brain-development-new-research-291260

Pennsylvania’s aging prisons weren’t built for today’s ...

2026-10-20T16:01:00Z

Pennsylvania’s aging prisons weren’t built for today’s extreme weather – leaving women and seniors especially at risk of illness and death. An epidemiologist who studies the health of incarcerated people explains:
https://theconversation.com/pennsylvanias-aging-prisons-werent-built-for-todays-extreme-weather-leaving-women-and-seniors-especially-at-risk-of-illness-and-death-293079

Sexual violence concepts launched in the manosphere are spilling ...

2026-10-20T14:00:59Z

Sexual violence concepts launched in the manosphere are spilling into the real world.
https://theconversation.com/sexual-violence-concepts-launched-online-are-spilling-into-the-real-world-harming-women-and-young-men-and-overwhelming-counselors-287049

You don’t hear much about them, but state “secretaries of ...

2026-10-20T10:30:58Z

You don’t hear much about them, but state “secretaries of state” are at the center of growing conflict over how election authority should be divided between states and the federal government. There are 26 little-publicized elections for the job this November.
https://theconversation.com/why-the-26-secretary-of-state-races-this-november-matter-more-than-they-did-before-trumps-drive-to-assert-federal-authority-over-elections-293751

For centuries, bird migration was a mystery. A tech revolution is ...

2026-10-20T08:00:59Z

For centuries, bird migration was a mystery. A tech revolution is changing that, and could help save these amazing creatures
https://theconversation.com/for-centuries-bird-migration-was-a-mystery-a-tech-revolution-is-changing-that-and-could-help-save-these-amazing-creatures-294345

An Oregon school shooting comes weeks before midterms, when young ...

2026-10-20T06:00:59Z

An Oregon school shooting comes weeks before midterms, when young voters could break turnout records.

A generational fear of mass shootings doesn’t mean shared views on guns.
https://theconversation.com/young-voters-fear-mass-shootings-like-the-one-in-oregon-but-that-fear-divides-them-on-gun-control-294620

Yuo can sitll raed tihs, rghit? 🧠 Your brain is surprisingly ...

2026-10-20T02:37:42Z

Yuo can sitll raed tihs, rghit? 🧠

Your brain is surprisingly good at making sense of scrambled words.

Ukraine's military relies on Starlink's satellite system ...

2026-10-20T02:00:58Z

Ukraine's military relies on Starlink's satellite system to counter Russian attacks, but this week the service was temporarily restricted without warning, disrupting critical defense operations during a period of intense vulnerability.
https://theconversation.com/starlink-slowdown-underscores-ukraines-reliance-on-the-us-in-the-battle-for-the-skies-294446

Got the dreaded “Someone in class has lice” message? 😳 ...

2026-10-19T16:00:12Z

Got the dreaded “Someone in class has lice” message? 😳

Lice aren't dangerous, and having them doesn't mean your child is dirty. And yes, your child can still go to school while being treated.

A pediatrician explains what actually works to get rid of them.
https://theconversation.com/im-a-pediatrician-and-a-mom-heres-how-to-treat-lice-without-stigma-291279

If Democrats win control of the Senate in November, Republicans ...

2026-10-19T14:00:13Z

If Democrats win control of the Senate in November, Republicans could rush to confirm another Trump Supreme Court nominee before the new Congress takes office in January.
https://theconversation.com/republicans-can-confirm-a-supreme-court-justice-if-democrats-take-the-senate-but-at-what-cost-293778

The Supreme Court decide whether religious preschools can accept ...

2026-10-19T10:30:12Z

The Supreme Court decide whether religious preschools can accept public funding while refusing to follow nondiscrimination rules protecting LGBTQ+ families and staff.
https://theconversation.com/religious-preschools-want-public-funding-but-exemptions-from-nondiscrimination-rules-the-supreme-court-will-decide-if-thats-constitutional-281965

The FDA has found hidden prescription drugs in some of those ...

2026-10-19T08:00:12Z

The FDA has found hidden prescription drugs in some of those cheap “sexual enhancement” products sold at gas stations, including the active ingredient in Viagra.

A reminder that “natural” on the label does not mean pure or safe.
https://theconversation.com/that-brightly-packaged-sexual-enhancement-pill-at-the-gas-station-might-be-laced-with-dangerous-drugs-293413

Francis Halzen's Nobel Prize in physics recognizes how ...

2026-10-19T06:00:18Z

Francis Halzen's Nobel Prize in physics recognizes how Antarctica has become crucial to understanding the universe, from detecting high-energy neutrinos to hunting meteorites from Mars and the Moon.
https://theconversation.com/physics-nobel-highlights-antarcticas-role-in-exploring-the-cosmos-293906

Diesel prices are soaring, and Americans are paying for it at the ...

2026-10-19T02:27:04Z

Diesel prices are soaring, and Americans are paying for it at the grocery store.

With the midterms weeks away, Republicans are pushing to ban U.S. diesel exports. The move could offer Americans temporary relief while making a global fuel crisis worse.
https://theconversation.com/is-the-world-pricing-the-risk-of-a-us-diesel-export-ban-293242

Philadelphia voters have a lot at stake this November. But many ...

2026-10-18T19:02:15Z

Philadelphia voters have a lot at stake this November. But many are asking a troubling question: Will my vote even count?
https://theconversation.com/philly-voters-care-about-local-issues-but-election-integrity-fears-make-them-wonder-if-their-vote-matters-291019

What do “Black Panther,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and ...

2026-10-18T14:12:15Z

What do “Black Panther,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Monkey Man” have in common?

They all draw from the ancient South Asian epic “Ramayana,” which is getting another new film adaptation this November.

https://theconversation.com/from-a-little-princess-to-black-panther-how-hollywood-films-have-reimagined-the-south-asian-epic-ramayana-291232

Many people believe in science, God AND ghosts. ...

2026-10-18T10:30:16Z

Many people believe in science, God AND ghosts.
https://theconversation.com/americans-who-go-to-church-and-trust-science-are-also-more-likely-to-believe-in-ghosts-and-curses-new-research-shows-291833

From fake legal citations to costly business errors, AI is ...

2026-10-17T19:02:15Z

From fake legal citations to costly business errors, AI is getting professionals into trouble.

And blaming the chatbot doesn’t get them (and their companies) off the hook.

https://theconversation.com/companies-may-be-held-liable-when-ai-harms-their-clients-and-customers-282234

Politicians behaving shamelessly is nothing new. Nearly 2,400 ...

2026-10-17T16:12:15Z

Politicians behaving shamelessly is nothing new. Nearly 2,400 years ago, Plato warned about leaders who fail to recognize their own limits.

His ancient wisdom offers a lesson for us all ⬇️
https://theconversation.com/todays-irreverent-politics-ignore-ancient-wisdom-the-need-to-know-your-limits-288318

Grocery prices are stressing us out. So why do we pass up ...

2026-10-17T10:30:15Z

Grocery prices are stressing us out.

So why do we pass up perfectly good food just because it looks funny? 🥕

Companies like Misfits Market and Hungry Harvest are trying to change that by rescuing and reselling “ugly” produce at a discount.

And research shows that marketing the food as ‘upcycled’ can make people more likely to buy.

https://theconversation.com/americans-are-stressed-about-grocery-prices-so-why-do-they-toss-or-overlook-so-much-misfit-food-293526

Some addiction treatment centers exploit vulnerable patients for ...

2026-10-17T03:11:15Z

Some addiction treatment centers exploit vulnerable patients for insurance money, cycling them through rehab again and again.

A new study reveals the troubling consequences of this fraud:
https://theconversation.com/more-rehab-centers-should-mean-fewer-overdoses-in-one-california-region-we-found-the-opposite-285569

Unrestricted donations to colleges and universities have dwindled ...

2026-10-16T23:17:25Z

Unrestricted donations to colleges and universities have dwindled to below 7% of all gifts, but they're what schools need most to respond to federal funding cuts and changing priorities.

https://theconversation.com/what-colleges-and-universities-need-from-donors-to-thrive-283427

In 1979, people with cystic fibrosis typically died as teenagers. ...

2026-10-16T19:12:17Z

In 1979, people with cystic fibrosis typically died as teenagers. Today, a child born with the disease can expect to live into their 60s.

That progress took decades of government-funded research. Now, proposed federal research cuts put future breakthroughs at risk.

https://theconversation.com/cystic-fibrosis-patients-got-their-miracle-drug-thanks-to-federal-research-funding-new-trump-administration-rules-may-cut-future-miracles-short-293934

Is teaching more like coaching, parenting or nursing? Researchers ...

2026-10-16T17:45:17Z

Is teaching more like coaching, parenting or nursing?

Researchers asked more than 3,000 people across different countries. Their answers differed, but one thing was clear:

People see caring relationships as central to what teachers do.

https://theconversation.com/do-you-think-teachers-are-similar-to-coaches-pastors-or-something-else-it-depends-on-where-you-live-294029

Trusting science doesn't necessarily mean rejecting the ...

2026-10-16T15:45:19Z

Trusting science doesn't necessarily mean rejecting the supernatural.

A new study finds that Americans who believe in God but prioritize science and reason over religious teachings are more likely to believe in ghosts, curses and other forms of magic.

https://theconversation.com/americans-who-go-to-church-and-trust-science-are-also-more-likely-to-believe-in-ghosts-and-curses-new-research-shows-291833

#ElectionDay 1871 was one of the most violent in #Philadelphia ...

2026-10-16T14:19:15Z

#ElectionDay 1871 was one of the most violent in #Philadelphia history.

Armed mobs terrorized Black voters, polling places were forcibly closed and five Black men were killed, including prominent civil rights leader Octavius Catto.

https://theconversation.com/murder-of-black-suffrage-leader-octavius-catto-reveals-why-election-day-1871-was-one-of-the-most-violent-in-philadelphia-history-292879

Today’s young voters grew up with school shootings and fear ...

2026-10-16T10:30:15Z

Today’s young voters grew up with school shootings and fear them, but they disagree on what to do to stop them.
https://theconversation.com/young-voters-fear-mass-shootings-but-are-divided-on-gun-control-272235

When AI works flawlessly for months, the employees overseeing it ...

2026-10-16T06:50:17Z

When AI works flawlessly for months, the employees overseeing it may lose the skills needed to step in when something goes wrong, according to a researcher who studies human-AI relationships ⬇️

https://theconversation.com/as-ai-takes-on-more-tasks-what-happens-when-people-have-to-jump-in-to-clean-up-after-it-292340

Ketamine was approved by the FDA in 1970, but its use as a ...

2026-10-16T03:12:15Z

Ketamine was approved by the FDA in 1970, but its use as a recreational drug took off in the 1980s club scene. Now, medical prescriptions for depression and PTSD have made the drug far more accessible to those seeking it illegally.

https://theconversation.com/ketamines-role-in-alleged-cornell-rape-highlights-flood-of-psychoactive-drugs-on-campus-293512

Yemen’s Houthis are stepping up attacks on Saudi Arabia. But ...

2026-10-16T01:02:15Z

Yemen’s Houthis are stepping up attacks on Saudi Arabia. But they say they’re fighting to defend their own country, not doing Iran’s bidding.
https://theconversation.com/yemens-houthis-are-bringing-their-war-to-saudi-arabia-and-reframing-the-narrative-of-being-an-iranian-proxy-294208

Karl Deisseroth tried a gene from pond algae in rat neurons ...

2026-10-15T22:16:32Z

Karl Deisseroth tried a gene from pond algae in rat neurons because it was the least likely to work.

That ended up being the breakthrough that won him the Nobel Prize for developing optogenetics.

https://theconversation.com/using-light-to-control-brain-cells-neuroscientist-karl-deisseroth-explains-how-he-made-his-nobel-winning-discovery-293926

A stark divide in federal disaster aid under Trump: 85% of ...

2026-10-15T19:02:20Z

A stark divide in federal disaster aid under Trump: 85% of requests from states that voted for him were approved, compared with just 50% from Democratic-voting states.
https://theconversation.com/how-trumps-disaster-aid-delays-and-fema-cuts-could-galvanize-the-movable-middle-in-the-2026-elections-294236

The Social Security cost-of-living increase is based on what ...

2026-10-15T16:14:20Z

The Social Security cost-of-living increase is based on what working Americans spend, not retirees, who often face much higher health care costs.
https://theconversation.com/social-security-benefits-are-rising-again-but-probably-not-enough-to-offset-healthcare-costs-293688

Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis has put a spotlight on a ...

2026-10-15T13:40:20Z

Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis has put a spotlight on a troubling health trend:

More non-smokers, women, and younger people are being diagnosed with lung cancer than ever before.
https://theconversation.com/pope-leo-xivs-lung-cancer-highlights-growing-number-of-nonsmokers-diagnosed-with-the-disease-and-younger-people-too-294348

California isn't used to tropical storms, but 2026 has been ...

2026-10-15T02:56:20Z

California isn't used to tropical storms, but 2026 has been different.

Heavy rain, coastal flooding and damaging waves have battered Southern California, and here's why El Niño is making it more likely to happen again:
https://theconversation.com/california-is-taking-a-beating-from-an-unusually-destructive-2026-hurricane-season-294207

Cigarettes damage your lungs with toxic smoke. Vapes avoid ...

2026-10-15T01:02:23Z

Cigarettes damage your lungs with toxic smoke.

Vapes avoid burning tobacco but still expose you to potentially harmful aerosols.

Zyn pouches skip the inhalation but can deliver as much nicotine as cigarettes — or more.

An addiction medicine physician compares nicotine products:
https://theconversation.com/nicotine-pouches-vaping-or-cigarettes-which-nicotine-product-is-actually-the-least-harmful-290604

Americans are united in opposition to data centers in their ...

2026-10-14T22:16:20Z

Americans are united in opposition to data centers in their communities.

Opposition to data centers is widespread, and it’s bringing people together even when they disagree on politics and the reality of climate change.

https://theconversation.com/across-the-us-people-dont-want-data-centers-coming-to-their-communities-291630

Last year’s “moderately severe” flu season killed at least ...

2026-10-14T19:02:23Z

Last year’s “moderately severe” flu season killed at least 24,000 people (and as many as 81,000) and sent over 390,000 people to the hospital.

https://theconversation.com/flu-season-is-near-heres-a-guide-to-available-vaccines-293480

New genomic tools let scientists dig into the family trees of ...

2026-10-14T16:04:02Z

New genomic tools let scientists dig into the family trees of crops like rice, corn and adzuki beans to learn more about how they transitioned from wild plants to domesticated crops.

An evolutionary biologist explains:
https://theconversation.com/ancient-people-relied-on-genetic-variation-already-present-in-wild-plants-to-domesticate-crops-like-rice-and-corn-273751

Hurricanes big and small can produce a lot of rain. What matters ...

2026-10-14T16:00:23Z

Hurricanes big and small can produce a lot of rain. What matters most is how fast they’re moving.
https://theconversation.com/how-much-rain-can-a-hurricane-make-and-does-the-storm-size-matter-293997

When one company controls CNN, CBS News, HBO and major film ...

2026-10-14T14:01:13Z

When one company controls CNN, CBS News, HBO and major film studios, citizens lose the diversity of voices democracy requires.

https://theconversation.com/why-the-paramount-warner-merger-is-a-problem-for-democracy-293798

More than 119 million Brazilians voted in the Oct. 4 election, ...

2026-10-14T14:00:22Z

More than 119 million Brazilians voted in the Oct. 4 election, including about 21,000 Florida residents
https://theconversation.com/more-than-119-million-brazilians-voted-in-the-oct-4-election-including-about-21-000-florida-residents-293494

While European artists often brought their fantasies and ...

2026-10-14T10:30:27Z

While European artists often brought their fantasies and stereotypes to portraits of Indigenous people, Joshua Reynolds’ 1776 “Portrait of Omai” portrays a commoner from Tahiti as a nobleman.

https://theconversation.com/americans-can-now-see-a-famous-portrait-of-the-pacific-islander-who-captivated-18th-century-england-for-the-first-time-292055

Florida engineers are putting whole mobile homes in a unique ...

2026-10-14T10:30:20Z

Florida engineers are putting whole mobile homes in a unique testing facility called the ‘Wall of Wind’ to develop models that are both affordable and disaster-resistant.
https://theconversation.com/we-blasted-mobile-homes-with-hurricane-force-winds-to-test-how-they-fail-and-found-clues-for-making-affordable-housing-safer-292074

From 2000 to 2011, Israeli forces killed at least 3,024 ...

2026-10-14T08:00:21Z

From 2000 to 2011, Israeli forces killed at least 3,024 Palestinians not engaged in combat in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. Only 12 soldiers were indicted, and not a single conviction for murder resulted.
https://theconversation.com/pardoning-of-israeli-soldier-evokes-a-long-history-of-clemency-for-those-who-kill-palestinians-293623