A planetary scientist explains a clever new technique to search for signs of life on icy moons such as Europa and Enceladus: borrowing a technique from ecology to analyze chemical distributions, without having to directly sample the hidden oceans beneath their icy surfaces.

The Trump administration is revoking proposed regulations for most PFAS, even as researchers uncover links between exposure and weakened immunity, cancer, and pregnancy complications.

Soccer was invented by 19th-century English boarding school teachers as a way to channel the energy of unruly wealthy students and keep them out of trouble. Kicking a ball across a field seemed like an effective way to maintain order. #WorldCup

Dreading the very idea of a colonoscopy? New guidelines approve of simpler testing options if you’re not at high for colorectal cancer. A public health researcher who has been studying cancer prevention for nearly 20 year explains the choices:

Privacy isn’t dead. Tech companies just made it really, really easy to trade away for convenience. They want you to feel that just tapping “accept” is easier and provides more value than unspecified future harm from sharing your data. theconversation.com/privacy-isnt...

US citizens exposed to Ebola are being sent to Kenya, instead of to the expensive, well-prepared quarantine facilities in the US. An epidemiologist explains what’s wrong with this approach (and with Uganda’s attempt to shut a border, too, after the virus has already taken hold).

Researchers say fear of arrests, deportations and retaliation is creating a “chilling effect” that’s keeping many students from protesting — even as young Americans sour on Trump. theconversation.com/chilling-eff... #polisky

In the early 1980s and 90s, #trans youth used online bulletin boards, email lists and Geocities pages to connect and express their true selves. #PrideMonth 🌈

There are no known cases of schizophrenia among people born with cortical blindness, across 70 years of population cases. Here’s what that tells us about the brain disorder via @uk.theconversation.com: theconversation.com/people-who-a...

You skipped Amazon. You supported an independent maker. Except… Amazon may have still packed, stored and delivered your order. A new analysis explains how Amazon’s logistics network has quietly become the invisible backbone for Etsy shops, Shopify brands and other “small business” purchases:

The explosion of the New Glenn rocket sets back Blue Origin’s plans – and also throws a monkey wrench into planning for the next Artemis launch. theconversation.com/blue-origin-...

It’s AI, not a person, blocking your credit card transaction at checkout. Banks now use algorithms to flag suspicious purchases in milliseconds, but millions of legitimate transactions still get wrongly rejected every year.

IF aliens have visited Earth, how did they survive a 100+ year road trip through freezing, radioactive space without running out of fuel or smashing into cosmic dust at a tenth the speed of light? 👽🚀 Read about the physics – just for fun: theconversation.com/could-aliens...

The 1994 #WorldCup helped pull soccer out of its “boring” era with rule changes that encouraged faster, more attacking play. As the tournament returns to the U.S. in 2026, fans can expect a much more exciting version of “the beautiful game.” theconversation.com/the-1994-wor...

Atlantic hurricane season starts Monday — but forecasters warn recent cuts to NOAA staffing and funding could strain the systems Americans rely on for accurate storm forecasts and evacuation warnings.

The 1994 #WorldCup helped pull soccer out of its “boring” era with rule changes that encouraged faster, more attacking play. As the tournament returns to the U.S. in 2026, fans can expect a much more exciting version of “the beautiful game.” theconversation.com/the-1994-wor...

Scientists are using natural selection inside computers: They generate lots of possible designs, keep the ones that work best and repeat the process over and over — similar to evolution in nature. theconversation.com/how-natural-...

AI models can simulate the answers thousands of people would provide to a survey, but the results aren't a reliable measure of what real people would actually say.

When blackouts hit, a lot of people ask: Why can’t nearby states just send extra electricity? The answer is unfortunately that the US power grid is way more disconnected (and way more fragile during extreme weather) than most people realize.

Older Americans are often told they should retire and “make room” for younger workers. But for many people, continuing to work isn’t about ambition, it’s about paying bills, keeping health insurance or simply staying connected to other people. A growing number of Americans over 50 now say they may

It’s really not ideal to rub your eyes often. Eye rubbing can actually damage your cornea over time. Tag an eye rubber in the comments ⬇️

America’s maternal mortality rate is closer to Bahrain and Egypt than countries like Norway or Australia. In Norway, 1 mother dies per 100,000 births. In the US, it’s 17. A review of Pennsylvania's data found that 99% of pregnancy-related deaths there are preventable.

A mass killing in the Philippines sparks rare scrutiny over counterinsurgency violence – but no wider reckoning. A scholar of political violence in the Philippines explains:

Decades before the United States, France outlawed slavery during the French Revolution – only to see it reimposed by Napoleon within a decade. A French historian explains:

A surgeon explains why getting a second opinion is important: mandatory second opinion programs changed diagnoses in about 7.5% of cases, and for cancer patients, a second opinion led to major treatment plan changes up to 42% of the time.

A time capsule of immigrant history is opened up for display at the Smithsonian. In 2005, 26 steamer trunks were found in the basement of a fraternal lodge in Stockton, California.

The federal Department of Education is investigating whether Smith College’s admissions of trans students violate Title IX. A legal scholar points out the clear wording in that 1972 law exempting the admissions decisions of private colleges and universities.

Taylor Swift's trademark filings are a new legal frontier in addressing AI deepfakes. A law professor explains:

Bat in the house? 🦇 A bat biologist walks through the steps for persuading a bat to leave your home, and what to do when a whole family decides to roost in your attic.

About 1 in 5 Americans say they've seen a ghost. A psychologist reveals 3 factors that might explain these paranormal experiences as the brain misinterpreting ordinary sensations.

Former FBI director James Comey’s seashell arrangement spelling out “86 47” has been framed by prosecutors as a threat against President Trump. But there’s CSI for words, too: and a “forensic linguist” looks at how ordinary people actually use the term ‘to 86’.

The Trump administration is offering Cuba $100 million in aid, but only if faith-based groups like the Catholic Church distribute it, not the government itself.

Good news on policing: Camden, New Jersey has seen its murder rate decline substantially – while also sharply reducing the number of people stopped by police and the number of complaints against officers for excessive force. theconversation.com/how-communit...

Inflation isn't found just in gas prices anymore. Housing, utilities and recreational spending costs are all climbing, according to the latest data, suggesting inflation may be deeper and longer lasting than expected.

A draft Trump administration policy would require most legal immigrants already living in the U.S. to leave the country and apply for a green card from abroad — potentially separating families for months or even years with no guarantee they’d be allowed back in.

A persistent government strategy to sow fear through punitive measures has corroded freedom of speech.

Turns out screaming “DEBATE ME!” at strangers is… not actually a great way to change minds. People are far more open to changing their views when conversations feel less like a cage match and more like two actual humans talking. theconversation.com/debate-me-do...

A decade after the last Ebola epidemic faded from headlines, many survivors are still living with its consequences. Widows, orphaned children, and thousands of survivors left blind or with permanent vision problems continue to struggle. theconversation.com/ebola-surviv... #healthsky 🩺

A successful story of police reform: Camden, New Jersey reduced homicides from 67 in 2012 to 12 in 2025, but the real story is how community pressure and data transparency made police reform actually stick. theconversation.com/how-communit...

New SNAP rules are meant to encourage healthier eating. But they could backfire if it instead pushes small grocery stores – often the only option in food deserts – to stop accepting SNAP altogether. Our story republished by Governing Magazine ⬇️

Some states are trying to classify abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol as “controlled substances” — making it harder to administer the drugs when needed for miscarriages and dangerous bleeding after childbirth.

When Saudi Arabia's founder took control of Mecca in 1926, his militia attacked an Egyptian caravan carrying the cloth that covers the gray cube at the center of the hajj pilgrimage, in a clash that marked a major shift in the Muslim world's center of power.

Athletes like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Jarren Duran are speaking openly about depression, anxiety and mental health struggles. These conversations can encourage fans to seek help too. But it brings out the haters, too. theconversation.com/as-more-athl...

California’s salmon fishery is back open after a three-year closure, and fresh local salmon is returning to menus and markets. But fish ecologists warn the same problems that caused the collapse haven’t been fully addressed. theconversation.com/californias-...

Atlantic hurricane season starts Monday, and preparedness experts say older adults living alone face added risks during major storms. 5 key steps to help your loved ones prepare:

Human therapists have a legal duty to warn authorities and potential targets when patients say they plan to harm someone. Shouldn’t we require the same from #AI chatbots? theconversation.com/should-ais-b...

The federal government plans to close the country’s top bee research lab just as U.S. beekeepers are facing record bee die-offs. Cuts are already making it harder to protect the pollinators that help grow many of the fruits, nuts and vegetables Americans eat.

A lot of the United States is dealing with drought at the same time extreme rainstorms are becoming more common. The two trends are connected: Warmer temperatures are causing heavier downpours, while also drying out the land faster between storms.

From agriculture in the San Luis Valley to ski resorts in Vail and Aspen, Latino workers help power nearly every major sector of Colorado’s economy. theconversation.com/from-the-san...

Disney’s Pocahontas isn’t the real Pocahontas, and doesn’t look like the only portrait made during her lifetime. That art reveals how English colonizers wanted Native Americans to adopt English culture and Christianity.