Nostr notes by The Conversation U.S.

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

People have been catching and eating tuna for at least 44,000 ...

2026-10-14T06:12:23Z

People have been catching and eating tuna for at least 44,000 years, new research shows.

But we've gone from ancient fishing methods to catching millions of tons a year. And it’s hardly sustainable for tuna populations.

https://theconversation.com/hooked-on-tuna-people-have-been-harvesting-these-ocean-predators-for-44000-years-292428

More than 300 glaciers have vanished from the American West since ...

2026-10-14T06:00:21Z

More than 300 glaciers have vanished from the American West since the mid-20th century, and the survivors owe their existence to fortunate accidents of geography.
https://theconversation.com/300-glaciers-have-disappeared-from-the-american-west-since-the-mid-20th-century-the-survivors-have-a-few-things-in-common-294084

Even when there’s a will – like Dolly Parton had – ...

2026-10-14T04:00:21Z

Even when there’s a will – like Dolly Parton had – there’s a way for things to go awry.

A legal battle over the $450 million estate raises a larger question: Should family members or outside professionals manage a founder’s business after their death?
https://theconversation.com/turmoil-within-dolly-partons-estate-underscores-the-precariousness-of-family-businesses-after-founders-die-293745

The Nobel prize for ‘chirality’ in molecules sounds abstract ...

2026-10-14T02:00:21Z

The Nobel prize for ‘chirality’ in molecules sounds abstract and complicated, but if you’ve ever taken an ibuprofen, you’ve experienced how the ‘handedness’ of a molecule can make a difference.
https://theconversation.com/a-molecules-handedness-can-determine-whether-its-an-effective-drug-4-examples-of-pharmaceuticals-where-chirality-matters-293909

Democrats and Republicans disagree on plenty. But people from ...

2026-10-14T01:23:22Z

Democrats and Republicans disagree on plenty.

But people from both parties worry data centers will raise their electricity bills.

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

For nearly 400 years, we've been adding leap days to keep our ...

2026-10-13T22:00:35Z

For nearly 400 years, we've been adding leap days to keep our calendar aligned with Earth's orbit.

But there’s also a system of occasionally adding leap seconds to keep atomic time (and things that rely on it, like GPS) aligned with Earth's rotation. That could all change soon.
https://theconversation.com/leap-seconds-have-helped-keep-clocks-synchronized-with-earths-rotation-but-their-time-may-be-over-heres-why-291017

Don't let any viral video of armed federal officials at a ...

2026-10-13T21:34:37Z

Don't let any viral video of armed federal officials at a polling place scare you away from voting, says an election protection law scholar.

The voting process is built to withstand presidential pressure. As he puts it, the process “doesn’t depend on the president. It depends on us.”

https://theconversation.com/ive-been-studying-election-integrity-for-26-years-and-heres-why-i-expect-a-normal-election-this-november-instead-of-chaos-294094

Labeling medical test results as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ ...

2026-10-13T19:02:34Z

Labeling medical test results as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ helps clinicians make quick judgments when diagnosing patients.

But this binary approach is rarely the whole truth, and can even lead to fatal errors. A physician who studies and teaches med students how best to interpret diagnostic tests explains:
https://theconversation.com/i-teach-doctors-how-to-interpret-test-results-and-the-labels-normal-and-abnormal-often-hide-what-matters-most-291125

Thinking about raking up some leaves this weekend? Read this ...

2026-10-13T18:00:35Z

Thinking about raking up some leaves this weekend? Read this first.
https://theconversation.com/why-fall-yard-care-could-start-with-doing-less-but-not-nothing-293924

The same year that Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has ...

2026-10-13T16:00:36Z

The same year that Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has broken box office records, Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson – another person trying to make Greek drama relevant to today’s world – has been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Here’s what to know about her work:
https://theconversation.com/anne-carsons-nobel-winning-genre-defying-work-bridges-the-gap-between-ancient-greek-literature-and-modern-life-294020

SCOTUS will decide this fall whether Americans have a ...

2026-10-13T14:01:40Z

SCOTUS will decide this fall whether Americans have a constitutional right to own semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15.

The decadeslong fight over assault weapons isn't just about guns. It's also about identity, politics and what these weapons have come to symbolize in American culture.
https://theconversation.com/why-the-assault-weapons-debate-is-a-culture-debate-291639

In toss-up House and Senate races, both parties are competing for ...

2026-10-13T10:30:41Z

In toss-up House and Senate races, both parties are competing for independent voters who disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy and the Iran war. The challenge: appeal to the base without alienating the middle.
https://theconversation.com/meet-the-independent-voters-who-will-likely-decide-which-party-triumphs-in-the-2026-midterm-elections-292103

A custody battle over a newborn with a heart condition raised a ...

2026-10-13T08:00:35Z

A custody battle over a newborn with a heart condition raised a question courts have rarely faced: Can anyone be forced to end a pregnancy?
https://theconversation.com/when-abortion-and-surrogacy-law-collide-contracts-cant-answer-the-hardest-questions-291832

Only 37.5% of college students believe campus officials will take ...

2026-10-13T06:00:35Z

Only 37.5% of college students believe campus officials will take sexual assault reports seriously when physical force or an inability to consent is involved.
https://theconversation.com/handling-of-rape-allegations-at-cornell-shows-why-so-many-assaults-go-unreported-victims-dont-trust-the-institutions-that-are-supposed-to-help-them-293907

Diesel tops $6 a gallon in parts of the U.S., while gasoline ...

2026-10-13T04:00:38Z

Diesel tops $6 a gallon in parts of the U.S., while gasoline exceeds $9 in Alaska. Who sets oil prices? An energy historian traces pricing power from early oil brokers to Rockefeller to today’s futures exchanges.
https://theconversation.com/the-oil-market-that-sets-todays-gas-prices-was-invented-in-western-pennsylvania-292855

Jim Bakker (who died this week) created the template for ...

2026-10-13T02:00:36Z

Jim Bakker (who died this week) created the template for Christian television by modeling his show after Johnny Carson, booking everyone from Billy Graham to Little Richard.

Bakker's empire crumbled under the weight of a prosperity gospel message he couldn't sustain: a $13 million water park, multiple vacation homes and luxury cars funded by increasingly desperate fraud.

Only 37.5% of college students believe campus officials will take ...

2026-10-12T22:00:47Z

True: Some Trump administration officials have suggested sending ...

2026-10-12T18:00:47Z

True: Some Trump administration officials have suggested sending armed officers to polling places during the midterms.

Also true: Federal law prohibits federal troops or armed officers from being stationed at polling places during an election.
https://theconversation.com/what-the-law-says-about-armed-officers-at-polling-places-293150

From Vietnam to today, has it mattered if the U.S. keeps our ...

2026-10-12T16:36:46Z

From Vietnam to today, has it mattered if the U.S. keeps our foreign policy commitments?
https://theconversation.com/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-us-strategic-credibility-from-vietnam-to-iran-289065

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear two assault weapons cases ...

2026-10-12T16:00:48Z

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear two assault weapons cases is the latest in a multi-decade social dispute over restricting assault weapons that extends far beyond legal arguments.

A gun policy scholar explains:
https://theconversation.com/why-the-assault-weapons-debate-is-a-culture-debate-291639

SCOTUS will decide this fall whether Americans have a ...

2026-10-12T14:00:48Z

PSA: It’s time to get your flu shot! Our helpful, brief guide ...

2026-10-12T13:19:46Z

PSA: It’s time to get your flu shot!

Our helpful, brief guide to this year’s flu shots includes a new mRNA vaccine for adults 50 and older:

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

There’s no one way to look gay or straight. But AI models are ...

2026-10-12T10:30:47Z

There’s no one way to look gay or straight. But AI models are creating and reinforcing stereotypes about what people of different sexual orientations supposedly look like.
https://theconversation.com/make-this-face-look-gay-ai-models-alter-faces-to-give-people-stereotypical-gay-straight-or-criminal-features-291971

Two scholars brought an AI companion on a pilgrimage along an ...

2026-10-12T08:00:47Z

Two scholars brought an AI companion on a pilgrimage along an ancient trail in Japan. It translated signs, explained historical sites and even offered encouragement along the way.

What went wrong and what went right:
https://theconversation.com/ai-is-changing-pilgrims-journeys-but-sacred-journeys-have-always-adapted-to-new-technology-290216

With promises of a ceasefire with Iran, many argue that U.S. ...

2026-10-12T06:00:47Z

With promises of a ceasefire with Iran, many argue that U.S. ‘credibility’ is on the line. Historians look at what exactly is meant by “American credibility,” and why there’s so much groupthink about it?
https://theconversation.com/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-us-strategic-credibility-from-vietnam-to-iran-289065

College faculties have become more diverse since the 1970s, but ...

2026-10-12T04:01:22Z

College faculties have become more diverse since the 1970s, but college faculty of color still often find that they feel marginalized among their peers. A scholar of critical race theory explains:
https://theconversation.com/why-faculty-diversity-at-universities-still-lags-far-behind-the-changing-demographics-of-college-students-292336

El Niño created the perfect conditions to suppress Atlantic ...

2026-10-12T02:36:46Z

El Niño created the perfect conditions to suppress Atlantic hurricanes in 2026 — until Hurricane Isaias broke through, tying a record for the latest-forming first hurricane of a season. An atmospheric scientist explains
https://theconversation.com/how-hurricane-isaias-broke-through-to-become-the-first-atlantic-hurricane-in-an-eerily-quiet-2026-season-294028

Students from military families are often misunderstood in US ...

2026-10-12T02:00:47Z

Students from military families are often misunderstood in US public schools. A retired military officer and behavioral health expert explains what schools can do to help.
https://theconversation.com/students-from-military-families-are-often-misunderstood-in-us-public-schools-a-retired-military-officer-and-behavioral-health-expert-explains-what-schools-can-do-287552

Iraqi Kurds see opportunities – and risks – in the withdrawal ...

2026-10-11T22:00:48Z

Iraqi Kurds see opportunities – and risks – in the withdrawal of US troops once again.
https://theconversation.com/iraqi-kurds-sees-opportunities-and-risks-in-the-withdrawal-of-us-troops-293624

Your friendly reminder that now is a good time to get your flu ...

2026-10-11T19:34:49Z

Your friendly reminder that now is a good time to get your flu vaccine.

Flu season is getting an early start in some parts of the country, and it takes about two weeks for protection to kick in after vaccination.

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

As data centers multiply, their waste heat is literally going to ...

2026-10-11T18:00:50Z

As data centers multiply, their waste heat is literally going to waste.

But one experiment in Wisconsin is showing how that the ground can store that heat for months, then return it for use during the winter.
https://theconversation.com/data-centers-make-heat-all-year-long-heres-how-the-ground-can-hold-onto-it-until-winter-291527

The “Jane Doe” who filed a lawsuit against Cornell for sexual ...

2026-10-11T16:29:07Z

The “Jane Doe” who filed a lawsuit against Cornell for sexual assault has been criticized for her changing story.

Why do some sexual assault survivors do that? A psychologist explains how the brain responds to trauma, sometimes making it difficult for survivors to fully process what they've experienced.
https://theconversation.com/sexual-assault-survivors-stories-may-shift-over-time-a-psychologist-explains-why-it-doesnt-mean-theyre-lying-293766

Your smartwatch is not very accurate at tracking calories burned ...

2026-10-11T16:03:39Z

Your smartwatch is not very accurate at tracking calories burned during exercise, especially if you have a higher percentage of body fat.

For Christopher Columbus, conquest and Christianity went hand in ...

2026-10-11T14:12:54Z

For Christopher Columbus, conquest and Christianity went hand in hand.

This #ColumbusDay, a historian looks at Columbus’ own writings and how spreading Christianity was intertwined with conquest and colonization from the start.

https://theconversation.com/columbuss-own-writings-reveal-how-tightly-religion-and-conquest-were-intertwined-from-the-start-291332

Primary voters are much older, wealthier, less diverse than the ...

2026-10-11T10:30:51Z

Primary voters are much older, wealthier, less diverse than the general population, so how can primaries be fixed to actually represent the general public’s wishes?

https://theconversation.com/this-years-primary-elections-showcase-some-of-the-problems-with-us-electoral-system-292176

Your boss may matter more than whether you work remotely, hybrid ...

2026-10-10T19:45:49Z

Your boss may matter more than whether you work remotely, hybrid or in the office.

A study of nearly 165,000 U.S. workers found that good managers, fair pay and feeling appreciated were more important for job satisfaction than where or how people worked.

https://theconversation.com/why-your-boss-matters-more-than-remote-or-hybrid-work-when-it-comes-to-burnout-and-job-satisfaction-293319

Articles from The Conversation are valuable teaching tools. In a ...

2026-10-10T15:45:46Z

Articles from The Conversation are valuable teaching tools.

In a post summing up their article on their experience writing for us, 3 professors share how they use our articles to help students connect classroom learning with real-world issues and practice writing for the public:
https://theconversation.com/from-jargon-to-impact-teaching-undergraduates-the-art-of-public-communication-293752

Some pseudo-scientific theories just won’t die. ...

2026-10-10T12:34:48Z

Some pseudo-scientific theories just won’t die.
https://theconversation.com/why-people-keep-looking-for-noahs-ark-in-a-natural-rock-formation-in-turkey-a-scholar-of-early-christianity-explains-293310

Most Americans retire in their early 60s. Members of Congress ...

2026-10-10T00:09:52Z

Most Americans retire in their early 60s. Members of Congress don’t.

Power, purpose, identity and fear of what comes next can all make it difficult to walk away, according to a researcher who studies when business owners retire (and don’t).

https://theconversation.com/why-older-lawmakers-may-wait-too-long-to-step-aside-289688

Scientists can now use light to turn specific brain cells on and ...

2026-10-09T22:52:39Z

Scientists can now use light to turn specific brain cells on and off 🧠

Karl Deisseroth, who just won a Nobel Prize for helping pioneer the technique, explains how it’s helping researchers better understand everything from hunger and anxiety to memory and parenting.

#podcast

#AI didn’t start with computer engineers teaching machines a ...

2026-10-09T20:12:46Z

#AI didn’t start with computer engineers teaching machines a bunch of rules. Its foundations came from scientists studying how the human mind works.

This helps explain why AI can hallucinate, change its answer and struggle to simply “look up” a fact.

https://theconversation.com/ai-behaves-more-like-a-brain-than-a-database-cognitive-sciences-role-in-its-origin-story-helps-explain-why-287838

Nearly half of U.S. ambassador posts are vacant, including the ...

2026-10-09T16:20:47Z

Nearly half of U.S. ambassador posts are vacant, including the embassies in key countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia and Qatar.

At the same time, about 80% of Trump’s ambassador nominees have been political appointees rather than career diplomats – and they include posts previously reserved for experienced diplomats.

A former ambassador explains why that could weaken U.S. influence abroad:

https://theconversation.com/missing-ambassadors-inexperienced-appointees-is-washington-dropping-the-diplomatic-ball-293487

For #ColumbusDay: What can Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the ...

2026-10-09T11:45:44Z

For #ColumbusDay: What can Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas teach us about making first contact with alien life?

Quite a lot — especially about what not to do.
https://theconversation.com/first-contact-with-aliens-could-end-in-colonization-and-genocide-if-we-dont-learn-from-history-207793

If you’re using AI for research, librarians recommend 4 steps ...

2026-10-09T07:14:43Z

If you’re using AI for research, librarians recommend 4 steps to make sure you’re getting reliable information (including the reminder to check the original sources).
https://theconversation.com/ai-can-help-with-academic-research-but-doesnt-always-get-it-right-here-are-some-tips-to-check-the-information-you-receive-292865

‘IceCube’ is a massive detector buried deep in Antarctic ice ...

2026-10-09T01:15:44Z

‘IceCube’ is a massive detector buried deep in Antarctic ice helping scientists trace elusive “ghost particles” from space — work that just earned the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics.

Here’s what it took:

https://theconversation.com/icecube-is-built-on-decades-of-research-into-tiny-ghost-particles-but-it-was-the-first-to-find-neutrinos-coming-from-deep-space-293801

In 1981, armed “ballot security” patrols were deployed at ...

2026-10-08T23:12:44Z

In 1981, armed “ballot security” patrols were deployed at polling places in heavily Black and Latino areas of New Jersey, intimidating and turning away voters.

History to be aware of as we go into the midterms:
https://theconversation.com/armed-poll-watchers-new-jerseys-1981-racist-voter-intimidation-campaign-is-a-cautionary-tale-ahead-of-2026-midterms-293166

We’re calling bull on the idea “use it or lose it,” when it ...

2026-10-08T19:45:43Z

We’re calling bull on the idea “use it or lose it,” when it comes to muscles.

It turns out your cells keep a record of every workout you’ve done, and new research suggests those gains can stick around even after months off.

https://theconversation.com/your-cells-keep-a-record-of-every-workout-youve-ever-done-and-those-gains-persist-even-after-a-break-from-exercise-291243

State supreme court races in Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, ...

2026-10-08T15:14:41Z

State supreme court races in Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana and elsewhere could help determine the future of abortion access and transgender rights.

Here’s what’s at stake:

https://theconversation.com/these-state-supreme-court-races-could-decide-abortion-access-and-trans-rights-292881

Neuroscientists can now use light to control individual neurons ...

2026-10-08T11:24:43Z

Neuroscientists can now use light to control individual neurons millisecond by millisecond, a technique that just won the Nobel Prize and could soon restore vision, treat epilepsy and address mental health disorders.
https://theconversation.com/optogenetics-wins-the-nobel-one-neuroscience-breakthrough-in-a-line-of-technological-innovations-helping-scientists-map-and-control-the-brain-293619

Primary voters are much older, wealthier, less diverse than the ...

2026-10-08T08:15:42Z

More Gen Z’ers prefer taking photos on a disposable or analog ...

2026-09-20T23:34:58Z

More Gen Z’ers prefer taking photos on a disposable or analog camera instead of their ever-present smartphones.

They’re reviving film photography not out of nostalgia, but out of their desire to capture memories in a way that feels more personal and tangible.

https://theconversation.com/why-gen-z-is-falling-in-love-with-film-photography-282454

Artemis II has been plagued by similar issues to those faced by ...

2026-03-05T09:18:01Z

Artemis II has been plagued by similar issues to those faced by Artemis I, leading NASA to shake up its plan to return humans to the Moon. An aerospace expert explains:

https://theconversation.com/with-artemis-ii-facing-delays-nasa-announces-big-structural-changes-to-the-lunar-program-277169

Data poisoning can corrupt #AI systems, potentially leading to ...

2025-08-14T12:39:01Z

Data poisoning can corrupt #AI systems, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes like disrupting public transportation or enabling espionage.

Researchers are developing defenses using blockchain and federated learning.

https://theconversation.com/how-poisoned-data-can-trick-ai-and-how-to-stop-it-256423

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly data on ...

2025-08-09T10:10:00Z

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly data on inflation, employment, and wages—figures that shape business decisions. Experts say it's virtually impossible to "rig" the data, despite former President Trump’s accusation against the BLS commissioner who he fired. https://theconversation.com/bureau-of-labor-statistics-tells-the-us-whats-up-with-the-economy-trump-firing-its-top-official-may-undercut-trust-in-its-data-262673

Born enslaved, John Andrew Jackson spent his life fighting for ...

2025-04-22T03:59:11Z

Born enslaved, John Andrew Jackson spent his life fighting for freedom as a fugitive, abolitionist, lecturer and writer. Along the way, he met an aspiring writer.

Here’s a look at their remarkable friendship:
https://theconversation.com/the-black-fugitive-who-inspired-uncle-toms-cabin-and-the-end-of-us-slavery-234256

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