In dozens of states, an increasing number of legislative seats are going completely uncontested by one of the two major parties. Without real competition, elections risk going from exercises in popular sovereignty to a mere administrative formality, explains a political scientist.

Whether the American Dream is defined by economic mobility or personal freedom, many Americans feel it’s become harder to reach. A social scientist talked to scores of people about what the American Dream means to them today. buff.ly/vvthK5B

Wildlife trafficking nets between $7 billion and $23 billion yearly. Emerging technology is transforming how authorities detect and stop illegal wildlife trade, from advanced X-ray scanners to AI-powered chatbots that help agents identify the species of animal parts. buff.ly/uDySBhD

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Republican-led states have pursued a two-pronged strategy to restrict abortion access: defunding abortion providers like Planned Parenthood and attacking the safety of mifepristone, a drug used in more than half of all abortions.

Serious leisure pursuits, like mastering yoga or building D&D characters over years, have can help counter Americans’ shrinking social networks, a recreational therapy professor says.

There’s a lot to learn from the #WinterOlympics, including physics, math, engineering and psychology, if the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat isn’t enough for you. Watch the games a little smarter with 6 science reads (thread) ⬇️

The U.S. is facing its largest #measles outbreak since 2000. South Carolina alone has reported 876 cases, with rare and dangerous complications emerging in children. We pulled together 5 of our most helpful articles (thread) ⬇️ #health #news

Do we morally owe #taxes? The case against paying taxes is stronger than you might think, but the best reason to pay may be humility: it’s the surest way to treat fellow citizens fairly. Philosophers from Socrates to Locke debate it: buff.ly/em3ZNVQ

Tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets aren’t gentle crowd-control tools. Physicians say they can cause permanent injuries, and often do. buff.ly/bENqXXY

Calling something “domestic terrorism” isn’t just a label, it’s a legal judgment that, before the Trump Administration, required the government to first weigh the evidence and intent behind an incident. buff.ly/6hJniaZ

After going down a rabbit hole re: U.S. TikTok's new privacy policy, I couldn't stop thinking about how even if some of the alarm was based on misleading information, it's not surprising that everyone assumes the worst. Anyway, I wrote about this: theconversation.com/fears-about-...

Winter Olympians often compete in freezing temperatures. Physiology and advances in materials science help keep them warm. @caraocobock.bsky.social, director of the Human Energetics Lab @notredame.bsky.social, explains in @us.theconversation.com. theconversation.com/winter-olymp...

EVs now represent more than 10% of new car sales in 39 countries, including Vietnam at 38% and Indonesia at 15%. In the U.S., that figure is less than 10%. buff.ly/H5ETTBQ

Know-your-rights trainings are spreading fast as ICE steps up enforcement. But knowing the law doesn’t guarantee it’s respected, explains CSU Pueblo sociologist Heidi Reynolds-Stenson, who studies social movements and protest policing. ⬇️

Physics in action: Figure skaters pull their arms inward to spin faster, speedskaters lean dramatically without falling, and ski jumpers' tight suits control drags. buff.ly/XJUu4w6 #WinterOlympics

Early warnings. Safety in numbers. Cameras everywhere. Anti-ICE protests in the U.S. mirror the nonviolent survival strategies civilians use in war zones around the world. buff.ly/URyd0CC

The #WinterOlympics start today and warming winters are making the Games harder to hold. Less natural snow means heavier reliance on snowmaking, and ultimately it all means limits to how long the Winter Olympics can keep going as we know them. buff.ly/VBSUAZz #climatesky

The IRS already knows what you need to pay in taxes – so why doesn’t it just tell you instead of putting you through a costly and tax-consuming reporting process? Answer: Because Congress is catering to tax prep companies. buff.ly/8koKPYG #taxes

Detroit spent $863 million on Little Caesars Arena. New research finds it hasn’t significantly boosted hotels or short-term rentals nearby Concerts help nearby AirBNBs, but sports games, not so much. theconversation.com/has-little-c...

These new weight-loss drugs really work. The tricky part is keeping the weight off.

On the ice: a fearsome NHL enforcer and Olympic silver medalist. Off the ice: a quiet man forced to hide his #Indigenous identity. As #WinterOlympics start this weekend, hockey pioneer Clarence “Taffy” Abel deserves to be remembered 🏒

Many races during the #WinterOlympics will run on machine-made snow as warming winters bring rain and slush. Artificial snow is faster, icier – and consequently, more dangerous. buff.ly/j3pyFY3

In 2023, a sci-fi magazine shut down submissions after being flooded with AI-written stories. That problem is now everywhere — AI-generated text overwhelming courts, journals, newsrooms, and HR departments.

Orangutans and chimps may use plants to treat wounds—fresh fieldwork in Uganda is shedding light on these clever behaviours. 🐒🌿 theconversation.com/new-discover... #HealthAndMedicine

What if heart failure isn’t just a heart problem? Researchers are finding the immune system may play a key role.

For centuries, some Buddhist texts treated menstruation and childbirth as spiritual “pollution.” Today, women in Chinese Buddhism are reinterpreting those beliefs and centering motherhood, health and agency instead of shame.

‘Less lethal’ crowd-control weapons still cause harm – 2 physicians explain what they are and their health effects

“It is a test of whether the Constitution as we know it will survive.” In Minnesota, ICE and Border Patrol operations are raising alarms about violations of multiple constitutional rights. Take it from historians: buff.ly/ubSMRzk

Can AI tell the difference between unnecessary care and essential treatment? Millions of Americans covered by Medicare are about to find out

The US government’s new dietary guidelines have sparked debate, but according to a scientist who worked on them, the clearest science is simple: cutting back on highly processed foods and sugary drinks can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease. buff.ly/CrVw1UQ #health

The Supreme Court is considering a case challenging Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — and it’s expected to overturn it, a change that legal historians say would make it easier to dilute Black voting power and roll back decades of political gains. buff.ly/RZRPeWs #polisky

The world produces 25.2 billion gallons of contaminated brine water daily from wastewater treatment. Most gets dumped in the ocean or stored in evaporation ponds. A chemical engineer explains how reclaiming that water could be a game-changer for drought-stricken regions.

Finland’s poetic masterpiece, the Kalevala, has roots in two cultures and two countries. First published in 1835, the epic spans nearly 23,000 lines. Now, nearly 200 years later, those “luckless lands of the North” have become an increasingly tense border zone.

Can AI tell the difference between unnecessary care and essential treatment? Millions of Americans covered by Medicare are about to find out buff.ly/FG4RoNZ

Trump wears many hats in the drama over the Kennedy Center, explains an arts management professor. None of them give him direct authority over the center’s buildings or operations. However, those hats give him multiple points of leverage: buff.ly/ogMPhCL

Philly theaters unite to stage 3 plays by Pulitzer-winning Black playwright James Ijames

The newly-popular German practice of "lüften" – or "house burping" – doesn’t work as well in the US, where home owners rely more on heating and cooling systems and less on windows. An HVAC engineer explains the trade-offs for older homes struggling with dampness.

Congress increased ICE's funding from $8 billion in 2024 to $28 billion in 2025, making it the nation's most highly funded law enforcement agency. Yet the Senate has held just one public hearing on ICE since then. buff.ly/4tjognS

Women known as the “Military Mapping Maidens” produced tens of thousands of topographic maps during World War II, while men fought overseas. Yet their work remained largely uncredited until recently, explains a specialist in geographic information systems.

Nature rarely builds solid. Bird bones, seashells and honeycombs use clever, porous designs to stay strong without the extra weight. Now, #3Dprinting is letting engineers copy those natural blueprints — “printing air” into products that are lighter, safer and more efficient. ⬇️ #science 🧪

Fact-checks can’t stop political deepfakes from circulating — but teaching about deepfakes before people see them shows promise in helping viewers spot the fakes when they show up. buff.ly/Moy28dw

“It is a test of whether the Constitution as we know it will survive.” In Minnesota, ICE and Border Patrol operations are raising alarms about violations of multiple constitutional rights. Take it from historians: buff.ly/ubSMRzk

South Carolina's '82 voting map concentrated almost all Black voters in the 7th district, making it impossible for a Black candidate to get elected. This type of racial gerrymandering went on for decades until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. SCOTUS is expected to overturn that rule buff.ly/RZRPeWs

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show comes as the NFL seeks to expand in Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American markets. buff.ly/kgProIP #SuperBowlLX

Letting AI write your Valentine’s message may save you time, but it’ll likely make you feel guilty. Writing it yourself, even imperfectly, feels better 💌 buff.ly/h3HkNhJ

Aerial lidar mapping can reveal hidden archaeological sites beneath forest canopies, but the technology has also enabled researchers to scan Indigenous lands and extract artifacts without consent of the #Indigenous population.

The clash between federal immigration agents and local officials in Minneapolis shows how federalism works in practice — not by stopping federal power, but by forcing it to face resistance, scrutiny and accountability. buff.ly/1j8YyTV #polisky #Minneapolis

The Muppet Show is back. A new anniversary special airs tonight (9 PM Eastern), marking 50 years since Jim Henson’s felt-and-foam creations reshaped TV comedy 🎂 buff.ly/tbX6MNW buff.ly/afxVvdX

Afghan refugees who worked with U.S. forces for two decades are now stranded in Pakistan as the Trump administration suspends refugee resettlement. Some had sold their belongings and were days away from boarding approved flights when the cancellations came through theconversation.com/afghan-migra...

The US government’s new dietary guidelines have sparked debate, but according to a scientist who worked on them, the clearest science is simple: cutting back on highly processed foods and sugary drinks can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease. buff.ly/CrVw1UQ #health