The Conversation U.S.

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Last Notes

2026-03-23 14:00:21 UTC

People trust AI to tell them how to write even when they wouldn't trust the internet to tell them what’s right, according to a linguistics professor.
One reason: large language models are trained on formal texts that make them sound smart.
https://theconversation.com/how-ai-english-and-human-english-differ-and-how-to-decide-when-to-use-artificial-language-277455
https://theconversation.com/how-ai-english-and-human-english-differ-and-how-to-decide-when-to-use-artificial-language-277455

2026-03-23 10:30:20 UTC

With all the focus on rare earth minerals, a much more common but equally important mineral is often ignored: Copper is vital to all electric equipment, and there’s not enough being mined.
https://theconversation.com/global-copper-demand-outstrips-supply-threatening-electrification-and-industrial-growth-276843

2026-03-23 08:00:21 UTC

“Project Hail Mary”, the movie adaptation to the 2021 novel about a science teacher attempting to save the Earth, explores unique forms of life in space. Here are five articles on searching for aliens that look nothing like life on Earth:
https://theconversation.com/project-hail-mary-explores-unique-forms-of-life-in-space-5-essential-reads-on-searching-for-aliens-that-look-nothing-like-life-on-earth-278757
https://theconversation.com/project-hail-mary-explores-unique-forms-of-life-in-space-5-essential-reads-on-searching-for-aliens-that-look-nothing-like-life-on-earth-278757

2026-03-23 06:00:20 UTC

Who are Iran’s new leaders? An international relations scholar looks at six the US placed a bounty on – two of whom are already dead:
https://theconversation.com/who-are-irans-new-leaders-a-look-at-6-the-us-placed-a-bounty-on-2-of-whom-are-already-dead-278509

2026-03-23 04:00:20 UTC

A frog hops toward a speaker playing a particular call. A human clicks on that same call. An expert in animal communication suggests we share something fundamental with other animals when it comes to what sounds we find beautiful.
https://theconversation.com/you-probably-agree-with-the-animals-on-which-bird-calls-frog-noises-and-cricket-chirps-are-most-attractive-new-research-276958

2026-03-20 14:00:40 UTC

Most home medical devices run on backup batteries that last only 3 to 8 hours.
Yet people in over half of U.S. counties experienced at least one power outage lasting more than 8 hours between 2018 and 2021, according to scholars who study which groups need the most help in cases of emergency.
https://theconversation.com/power-outages-can-threaten-the-lives-of-medical-device-users-knowing-who-is-most-at-risk-will-help-cities-respond-276501
https://theconversation.com/power-outages-can-threaten-the-lives-of-medical-device-users-knowing-who-is-most-at-risk-will-help-cities-respond-276501

2026-03-20 10:30:39 UTC

72% of youth detained in one juvenile detention facility in Pennsylvania had received crisis mental health services before entering the facility. Over 60% were involved with the child welfare system.
A social worker looks at the costs of this system.
https://theconversation.com/pittsburgh-spends-millions-on-juvenile-detention-research-points-to-cheaper-more-effective-alternatives-275043

2026-03-20 08:00:40 UTC

Students using AI for mental health support have received harmful suggestions like cutting off all human contact. Classroom use is happening far more quickly than research into when AI is actually helpful:
https://theconversation.com/more-and-more-teachers-and-students-are-using-ai-even-though-it-might-do-more-harm-than-good-275650

2026-03-20 06:00:40 UTC

A Penn State training program helps teachers learn how to tackle tough, divisive issues with their students, instead of avoiding them.
https://theconversation.com/iran-war-and-other-tough-topics-give-k-12-teachers-chance-to-teach-students-how-not-what-to-think-278067

2026-03-20 04:00:39 UTC

We’ve been told men and women perform so differently as athletes that they have to compete separately.
This research says… not always.
In wheelchair basketball, performance tracks more with ability and training than sex — and in many cases, men and women perform the same.
https://theconversation.com/my-research-on-wheelchair-basketball-challenges-one-of-the-biggest-assumptions-about-sex-differences-in-sports-261624

2026-03-20 02:00:40 UTC

Trump says his top goal is stopping Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon — but key parts of its program may still be out of reach.
Iran reportedly has nearly 970 pounds of highly enriched uranium stored in underground tunnels too deep for bunker-buster bombs to reach.
Military capture would be "very perilous," according to a former national security official.
https://theconversation.com/irans-nuclear-materials-and-equipment-remain-a-danger-in-an-active-war-zone-278008

2026-03-19 22:00:40 UTC

You know how your phone finishes your sentences?
“I love…” → “you,” “coffee,” or a full email sign-off.
Now AI tools do it everywhere. And because they predict the most common phrasing, more writing is starting to sound the same.
https://theconversation.com/with-ai-finishing-your-sentences-what-will-happen-to-your-unique-voice-on-the-page-276036

2026-03-19 18:00:40 UTC

Hallucinogenic chocolate bars labeled as harmless mushroom blends are showing up in Colorado gas stations.
They contain illegal psychoactive drugs that have sent people to the hospital.
Here’s how these products evade detection and what consumers should know ⬇️🍄
https://theconversation.com/magic-mushroom-infused-products-appear-in-colorado-gas-stations-what-public-health-officials-want-consumers-to-know-274935
https://theconversation.com/magic-mushroom-infused-products-appear-in-colorado-gas-stations-what-public-health-officials-want-consumers-to-know-274935

2026-03-19 16:00:40 UTC

🌎Positive Environmental News 🌍
Scientists have created a plant-based, biodegradable packaging film that can rival plastic at keeping food fresh. It uses materials from food waste and plants 🌱
https://theconversation.com/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262

2026-03-19 14:26:30 UTC

More than 2,000 years ago, the philosopher Laozi was all too familiar with the pitfalls of comparing yourself to other people’s accomplishments.
Americans’ frenzy over college admissions may be a relatively modern affliction, but striving for status is timeless and universal, explains a psychology professor who used to be a college counselor.
https://theconversation.com/what-an-ancient-chinese-philosopher-can-teach-us-about-americans-obsession-with-college-rankings-277059
https://theconversation.com/what-an-ancient-chinese-philosopher-can-teach-us-about-americans-obsession-with-college-rankings-277059

2026-03-19 14:25:34 UTC

CT scans often show more than expected—artery buildup, muscle loss, bone issues.
But if that wasn’t the reason the scan was ordered, this diagnostic data is usually ignored.
The solution: opportunistic screening: using one scan to spot multiple health risks, explains a cardiothoracic radiologist.
https://theconversation.com/millions-of-ct-scans-are-done-every-year-most-leave-important-data-behind-264736
https://theconversation.com/millions-of-ct-scans-are-done-every-year-most-leave-important-data-behind-264736

2026-03-19 14:20:54 UTC

Psychiatric rehabilitation flips traditional mental health treatment on its head. Instead of waiting for symptoms to improve, it asks: What do you want to do? What's in your way?
This approach improves quality of life, according to psychologists who study how to support people with mental illness.
https://theconversation.com/whats-the-equivalent-of-a-wheelchair-for-a-person-with-schizophrenia-how-psychiatric-rehabilitation-brings-community-into-care-274724
https://theconversation.com/whats-the-equivalent-of-a-wheelchair-for-a-person-with-schizophrenia-how-psychiatric-rehabilitation-brings-community-into-care-274724

2026-03-19 14:00:41 UTC

For many adults, anxiety may be the only visible symptom. When it fades, underlying ADHD becomes clear. A practicing psychiatrist explains how to untangle these two widespread mental health disorders.
https://theconversation.com/anxiety-and-adhd-can-overlap-heres-how-to-untangle-these-widespread-mental-health-disorders-271124

2026-03-19 10:30:54 UTC

Silent meditation retreats have grown more popular in recent years in the US, but they are not a new phenomenon.
They have their roots in Burma, with a key role being played by Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who started training for government bureaucrats.
https://theconversation.com/the-long-history-of-silent-meditation-retreats-and-the-individuals-who-helped-shape-them-272034

2026-03-19 08:00:55 UTC

A growing online subculture is raising big questions about intimacy in the age of algorithms.
What it tells us about connection and isolation in a world of endless sexual content and constant stimulation:
https://theconversation.com/what-gooning-reveals-about-intimacy-in-a-world-cordoned-off-by-screens-273185

2026-03-19 06:00:54 UTC

A pet-friendly homeless shelter pilot successfully reduced the rate of homelessness among the people it helped in California. Here’s what they did:
https://theconversation.com/a-pet-friendly-homeless-shelter-pilot-reduced-the-rate-of-homelessness-among-the-people-it-helped-in-california-276255

2026-03-19 04:00:58 UTC

2026-03-19 02:00:55 UTC

Plants changed the atmosphere, built soil and created ecosystems that allowed animals like us to thrive. But first they had to make their way from the water to the land, explains a geoscientist.
https://theconversation.com/what-was-the-very-first-plant-in-the-world-271828

2026-03-18 22:00:54 UTC

Students need to understand the difference between their own thinking and what generative AI can do for them, according to a writing professor whose struggles have led to some practical advice for teachers.
https://theconversation.com/a-writing-professors-new-task-in-the-age-of-ai-teaching-students-when-to-struggle-276590

2026-03-18 18:02:59 UTC

U.S. allies are losing trust in the U.S. security umbrella, and some (like Canada, Saudi Arabia and South Korea) are now considering building their own nuclear weapons.
https://theconversation.com/going-nuclear-why-a-growing-number-of-washingtons-allies-are-eyeing-an-alternative-to-us-umbrella-275389
https://assets.newsie.social/media_attachments/files/116/251/490/948/800/972/original/7f83c1dbc6c7aca4.jpg

2026-03-18 18:00:55 UTC

A search for a long-mythologized fossil hotspot led a team of researchers deep into the Sahara Desert.
What began as a hunt for a lost site in Niger turned into the discovery of a new species of Spinosaurus with a striking, scimitar-shaped crest.
https://theconversation.com/paleontologists-uncover-a-new-spinosaurus-species-by-following-a-clue-from-a-decades-old-book-into-the-sahara-desert-274182

2026-03-18 16:00:56 UTC

Brad Reese, grandson of the Hershey founder, recently published an open letter criticizing the company for reformulating some Reese’s products with cheaper ingredients—part of what he says is a broader trend across the food industry.
A food science professor—and a longtime fan of Reese’s—explains what's really going on:
https://theconversation.com/controversy-over-reeses-ingredients-reveals-standard-food-industry-practices-most-consumers-never-notice-276808
https://theconversation.com/controversy-over-reeses-ingredients-reveals-standard-food-industry-practices-most-consumers-never-notice-276808

2026-03-18 14:00:55 UTC

Rescue workers and residents searching through rubble after bombings face severe health risks from airborne particles. Many who responded to 9/11 developed chronic respiratory problems that persisted for years afterward. Multiply that problem by thousands in Iran today.
https://theconversation.com/in-war-torn-iran-air-pollution-from-burning-oil-depots-and-bombed-buildings-unleashes-invisible-health-threats-278407
https://theconversation.com/in-war-torn-iran-air-pollution-from-burning-oil-depots-and-bombed-buildings-unleashes-invisible-health-threats-278407

2026-03-18 12:45:54 UTC

2026-03-18 04:01:00 UTC

It’s hard for reporters to see what’s happening up close in the Iran war.
https://theconversation.com/pete-hegseth-is-working-hard-to-make-sure-the-public-hears-only-good-news-about-iran-war-278295
#news #journalism #IranWar
https://theconversation.com/pete-hegseth-is-working-hard-to-make-sure-the-public-hears-only-good-news-about-iran-war-278295

2026-03-17 22:00:08 UTC

This week in 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket.
It was a 42-second flight that sparked a century of spaceflight, from the Apollo 11 moon landing to today’s private rocket boom.
https://theconversation.com/the-first-modern-rocket-launched-100-years-ago-beginning-a-century-of-both-innovations-and-challenges-for-spaceflight-269061

2026-03-17 18:00:09 UTC

Space flight has transformed dramatically in the 100 years since the rocket era began in a snowy Massachusetts field.
https://theconversation.com/the-first-modern-rocket-launched-100-years-ago-beginning-a-century-of-both-innovations-and-challenges-for-spaceflight-269061

2026-03-17 16:06:02 UTC

We’re not sure exactly what St. Patrick had in mind for how people would celebrate his life, but we don’t think it was green beer ☘️
https://theconversation.com/the-truth-about-st-patricks-day-111396

2026-03-17 16:00:09 UTC

Biologist Paul Ehrlich, who died March 13, will be remembered as a scientist whose books about population and threats to the environment shaped the idea of limited growth in the modern era. The predictions in his bestselling book, “The Population Bomb”, didn’t all come true, but they helped bring science into the public discussion.
https://theconversation.com/paul-ehrlich-often-called-alarmist-for-dire-warnings-about-human-harms-to-the-earth-believed-scientists-had-a-responsibility-to-speak-out-178492

2026-03-17 15:03:28 UTC

On St. Patrick’s Day this year, let’s pause to remember another of Ireland’s patron saints, the nurturing, compassionate St. Brigid - who did practical sorts of miracles.
https://theconversation.com/st-brigid-the-compassionate-sensible-female-patron-saint-of-ireland-gets-a-lot-less-recognition-than-st-patrick-176659

2026-03-17 14:02:41 UTC

Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️
As one of the patron saints of Ireland, he is said to have prayed away all snakes from Ireland. But spoiler alert – the real St. Patrick wasn't Irish and never saw a single snake.
https://theconversation.com/10-things-to-know-about-the-real-st-patrick-92253

2026-03-17 14:00:09 UTC

Military strikes in Iran are sending toxic debris into the air, including heavy metals from munitions to chemicals in smoke from burning oil depots. A chemical engineer explains the invisible health threats for millions:
https://theconversation.com/in-war-torn-iran-air-pollution-from-burning-oil-depots-and-bombed-buildings-unleashes-invisible-health-threats-278407

2026-03-16 16:00:54 UTC

When GPS lies at sea: How electronic warfare is threatening ships and their crews
https://theconversation.com/when-gps-lies-at-sea-how-electronic-warfare-is-threatening-ships-and-their-crews-278181

2026-03-16 14:00:52 UTC

Iran war and other tough topics give K‑12 teachers chance to teach students how, not what, to think
https://theconversation.com/iran-war-and-other-tough-topics-give-k-12-teachers-chance-to-teach-students-how-not-what-to-think-278067

2026-03-16 10:30:50 UTC

If you’ve ever struggled with helping aging parents or grandparents figure out how to use their new phones, you’re not alone.
There’s a name for this now: “technology caregiving”, and the need for it is increasing.
Our story in WaPo: https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fhealth%2F2026%2F03%2F08%2Fai-technology-caregiving%2F%3Fpwapi_token%3DeyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzcyOTQ2MDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzc0MzI0Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3NzI5NDYwMDAsImp0aSI6ImVjYjU0ZmYxLTA0OGQtNDk5OC1iZTA2LWRkMmRkNTg4M2ZlMCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9oZWFsdGgvMjAyNi8wMy8wOC9haS10ZWNobm9sb2d5LWNhcmVnaXZpbmcvIn0.T-wJf71XPhOAhslfjnRKn0NzH0KgNDY3nHJvz2f3jVM&data=05%7C02%7Cdebchatt%40groute.uic.edu%7C48d5a2dab65944196aa408de7df5d449%7Ce202cd477a564baa99e3e3b71a7c77dd%7C0%7C0%7C639086692034528173%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A0NElPPvMti39FxMKuv8MSvgdkZ%2BUWxp2TnycsOl%2FvU%3D&reserved=0
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fhealth%2F2026%2F03%2F08%2Fai-technology-caregiving%2F%3Fpwapi_token%3DeyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzcyOTQ2MDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzc0MzI0Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3NzI5NDYwMDAsImp0aSI6ImVjYjU0ZmYxLTA0OGQtNDk5OC1iZTA2LWRkMmRkNTg4M2ZlMCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9oZWFsdGgvMjAyNi8wMy8wOC9haS10ZWNobm9sb2d5LWNhcmVnaXZpbmcvIn0.T-wJf71XPhOAhslfjnRKn0NzH0KgNDY3nHJvz2f3jVM&data=05%7C02%7Cdebchatt%40groute.uic.edu%7C48d5a2dab65944196aa408de7df5d449%7Ce202cd477a564baa99e3e3b71a7c77dd%7C0%7C0%7C639086692034528173%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A0NElPPvMti39FxMKuv8MSvgdkZ%2BUWxp2TnycsOl%2FvU%3D&reserved=0

2026-03-16 08:00:53 UTC

Some Christians say the expanding war with Iran is part of a divine plan foretold in the Bible.
The rhetoric reflects the long influence of Christian Zionism — a belief that events in Israel and the Middle East can signal the approach of Jesus’ Second Coming.
https://theconversation.com/as-iran-war-expands-some-conservative-christians-interpret-the-conflict-through-biblical-prophecies-277488

2026-03-16 06:00:51 UTC

Despite its name, “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” isn’t just about death.
The famous Tibetan Buddhist text is really about the “bardos” — life’s in-between states — and how moments of uncertainty can become opportunities for transformation.
https://theconversation.com/the-tibetan-book-of-the-dead-is-actually-not-just-about-death-247174

2026-03-16 04:02:56 UTC

Pittsburgh's Irish population had already reached 19% by 1790, decades before the Great Famine drove a massive wave of immigration to the US.
The city's steel mills, labor movements and political leadership were shaped by Irish workers and their descendants. #StPatricksDay
https://theconversation.com/how-the-emerald-isle-shaped-the-steel-city-pittsburghs-rich-irish-history-278027
https://theconversation.com/how-the-emerald-isle-shaped-the-steel-city-pittsburghs-rich-irish-history-278027

2026-03-16 04:01:53 UTC

2026-03-16 04:00:56 UTC

2026-03-16 02:00:50 UTC

Young Latinos’ activism for immigrant rights over the past few months has put a spotlight on their importance for the future of the Catholic Church.
https://theconversation.com/young-latinos-and-their-commitment-to-social-justice-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-catholic-church-277158

2026-03-15 22:00:51 UTC

In addition to watching out for missile and drone attacks, mariners in conflict zones like the Persian Gulf need to be on guard for GPS spoofing and other cyberattacks. The stakes are high and mariners are ill-prepared, explains a cybersecurity researcher.
https://theconversation.com/when-gps-lies-at-sea-how-electronic-warfare-is-threatening-ships-and-their-crews-278181

2026-03-15 18:00:51 UTC

Nearly 1/3 of missing children in the US are Black, yet they receive fewer Amber Alerts and less media attention than white children. Pennsylvania and other states are now proposing "Ebony Alerts" to address this disparity. A law professor who studies victimization and inequalities in the criminal legal system explains:
https://theconversation.com/nearly-1-in-3-missing-children-in-the-us-are-black-driving-pennsylvania-and-other-states-to-propose-ebony-alerts-to-ensure-equal-protection-and-public-safety-275388

2026-03-15 16:00:51 UTC

Under President Trump’s 2025 order to “unleash America’s offshore critical minerals”, the US government is licensing mining in international waters, outside of US jurisdiction.
https://theconversation.com/in-its-hunt-for-critical-minerals-the-us-is-misconstruing-what-is-and-is-not-americas-278185

2026-03-15 14:00:51 UTC

37 million metric tons of food waste end up in U.S. landfills each year.
Sending that waste to wastewater treatment plants instead would eliminate climate emissions, and generate renewable energy and fertilizers.
And most modern sewage plants wouldn’t need any modifications to do it.
https://theconversation.com/how-sewage-treatment-plants-could-handle-food-waste-sparing-landfills-and-the-climate-275529
https://theconversation.com/how-sewage-treatment-plants-could-handle-food-waste-sparing-landfills-and-the-climate-275529

2026-03-15 10:30:50 UTC

While the U.S. government investigates over 2,000 “unidentified anomalous phenomena” cases, American universities have largely stayed away from the research. A scholar who has studied UAP explains why stigma, not skepticism, is keeping academic institutions on the sidelines.
https://theconversation.com/while-the-us-government-is-investigating-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-academic-researchers-studying-them-face-stigma-277722

2026-03-15 08:00:51 UTC

When the U.S. fights in the Middle East, Muslim and Arab students in American schools often become targets. A scholar who studies these students’ experiences in public schools examines the pattern of discrimination that has followed global conflicts since 9/11.
https://theconversation.com/when-us-fights-in-the-middle-east-american-muslim-students-often-face-discrimination-277676

2026-03-15 06:00:51 UTC

The Wizard of Oz is drawing crowds to Las Vegas's Sphere with AI-enhanced imagery, signaling a new market for studios to reimagine classic films.
AI might also replace actors, film editors, animators and screenwriters in the movie industry.
But it is also a tool that will create new opportunities for creative work.

2026-03-15 04:00:55 UTC

A philosophy professor taught Aristotle's virtue ethics while conducting her own master class in deception. She shares how small lies and omissions nearly destroyed her relationship—and what she learned about truthfulness.
https://theconversation.com/i-was-teaching-virtue-and-knowledge-while-lying-on-the-side-270668

2026-03-15 02:00:51 UTC

Rev. Jesse Jackson was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he actually had progressive supranuclear palsy, a much rarer neurodegenerative disease. Neuroscientists have now identified a potential biomarker that could help doctors distinguish between the two conditions.
https://theconversation.com/jesse-jacksons-misdiagnosis-of-parkinsons-is-common-new-genetic-discovery-could-lead-to-treatment-for-this-deadly-disease-276944

2026-03-13 20:38:01 UTC

ICE bought an $87 million warehouse in Pennsylvania to convert into an immigration detention center.
And once the federal government owns the land, state and local officials have little power to stop it.
https://theconversation.com/ice-buys-87m-warehouse-in-pennsylvania-can-local-officials-block-a-detention-facility-276562

2026-03-13 19:31:01 UTC

A new DHS memo says refugees who’ve lived in the U.S. for a year “may be arrested and detained” if they haven’t yet received a green card.
An immigration scholar warns the reinterpretation of the law could put up to 100,000 legal refugees at risk for indefinite detention.
https://theconversation.com/legal-refugees-now-face-long-detention-after-dhs-reinterprets-law-on-applying-for-a-green-card-after-a-year-277054

2026-03-13 17:31:04 UTC

Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
Now it’s been circulating for more than a year, with cases reported in 30 states in 2026.
Pandemic researchers say the resurgence is a warning sign — and a big reminder to #GetVaccinated.
https://theconversation.com/we-study-pandemics-and-the-resurgence-of-measles-is-a-grim-sign-of-whats-coming-275059

2026-03-13 16:00:44 UTC

New apps, updates and AI tools always promise to make tech easier.
But for many older adults, constant changes make devices harder to use, shifting the burden onto family members who provide “technology caregiving.”
https://theconversation.com/constant-technology-changes-throw-seniors-a-curve-and-add-to-caregivers-load-274814

2026-03-13 15:02:35 UTC

The Kurds – scattered across Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria – have a long and tragic history of reaching agreements with those countries for autonomy, only to have their rights removed.
As the US considers supporting Kurds in Iran, Kurds in Syria have reached new agreements with the government there.
https://theconversation.com/kurdish-rights-in-syria-could-disappear-without-international-support-just-as-they-did-in-iraq-276840
#Histodons [@histodons](https://a.gup.pe/u/histodons )

2026-03-13 14:11:56 UTC

- reply

This is a soundbite from a recent webinar we hosted, titled "What Americans can learn from other nonviolent civil activism movements"
The full recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUO2eEF3N8&t=12s

2026-03-13 14:11:44 UTC

Is the U.S. still a democracy? Some analysts see warning signs that autocracy is already here.
Oliver Kaplan is the author of the book “Resisting War: How Communities Protect Themselves”, and spoke about the topic at our recent webinar on what Americans can learn from nonviolent civil resistance movements around the world.
#USPolitics #democracy
https://assets.newsie.social/media_attachments/files/116/222/267/449/955/913/original/75c7d277575370bf.mp4

2026-03-13 14:02:52 UTC

Patriot missiles aren’t the only way to stop missiles and drones.
Militaries also use guns, anti-drone drones and lasers.
https://theconversation.com/not-just-patriot-interceptors-a-defense-expert-explains-the-various-weapons-us-and-allies-use-to-defend-against-missiles-and-drones-278047

2026-03-13 12:39:01 UTC

Colorado created a tax credit to help families with children and reduce child poverty.
But federal benefit cuts are putting the program at risk.
https://theconversation.com/federal-benefits-cuts-are-looming-heres-how-colorado-is-trying-to-protect-families-with-children-275199

2026-03-13 10:10:01 UTC

A little-known Department of Agriculture program has supported 533,000+ affordable rental homes in rural America.
But it’s being phased out — and as loans expire, many of those homes are turning into market-rate housing.
https://theconversation.com/a-successful-usda-program-that-has-supported-more-than-533000-affordable-rental-homes-in-rural-america-is-getting-phased-out-273637

2026-03-13 08:10:00 UTC

Kurdish rights in Syria may depend on one thing: international support.
A historian warns that without it, today’s agreements could unravel, just like a similar deal for Kurds in Iraq did in the 1970s.
https://theconversation.com/kurdish-rights-in-syria-could-disappear-without-international-support-just-as-they-did-in-iraq-276840

2026-03-13 06:16:01 UTC

Did you cry while watching “Hamnet”?
The film is hitting audiences hard, and challenging the old idea that grief (especially male grief) should stay hidden 💔
https://theconversation.com/hamnet-is-making-audiences-break-down-in-tears-and-upending-beliefs-about-male-grief-277474

2026-03-13 03:59:07 UTC

Military action in Iran costs an estimated $1 billion a day.
As the conflict continues, the Trump administration will need Congress to approve new spending. That gives lawmakers their most powerful tool to check the president's warmaking authority, if they choose to use it.
https://theconversation.com/congress-still-has-ways-to-throttle-back-trumps-war-with-iran-and-to-ask-questions-277813

2026-03-13 02:37:00 UTC

Iran is ruled by a Supreme Leader, a president, a parliament, Guardian Council, an Assembly of Experts and an Expediency Discernment Council.
Confused? We were too, so our World editor and our Religion editor found someone to explain the unique government structure:
https://theconversation.com/irans-ruling-structure-explained-277913

2026-03-13 02:00:48 UTC

Tequila = party.
Whiskey = masculine.
Wine = sophisticated.
New research shows simply thinking about different alcoholic drinks can trigger distinct mindsets, even without taking a sip.
https://theconversation.com/just-thinking-about-tequila-whiskey-or-wine-shifts-your-mindset-new-research-277160

2026-03-12 22:00:48 UTC

AI vision systems mistake a hairless cat for an elephant because they rely on texture and pixel patterns, while humans recognize objects by shape and context.
This gap poses real risks in self-driving cars and medical imaging.
https://theconversation.com/ai-doesnt-see-the-way-that-you-do-and-that-could-be-a-problem-when-it-categorizes-objects-and-scenes-271481

2026-03-12 18:00:49 UTC

The next generation of obesity treatments may combine appetite-suppressing GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy with therapies that increase energy expenditure. This two-sided approach targeting both calorie intake and calorie burning could lead to more lasting weight loss.
https://theconversation.com/fat-cells-burn-energy-to-make-heat-making-them-the-next-frontier-of-weight-loss-therapies-277596

2026-03-12 16:00:49 UTC

Indie coffee shops were supposed to be an antidote to Starbucks and other cookie-cutter chains.
But researchers found that independent cafes across North America have adopted nearly identical aesthetics.
https://theconversation.com/indie-coffee-shops-are-meant-to-counter-corporate-behemoths-like-starbucks-so-why-do-they-all-look-the-same-275746

2026-03-12 15:02:17 UTC

“Give us our husbands back!”
In 1943 Berlin, Christian women gathered on Rosenstrasse to protest the detention of their Jewish husbands by the Nazis.
Days later, the men were released. It’s a rare moment when public protest forced the regime to back down.
https://theconversation.com/women-of-the-rosenstrasse-protest-challenged-the-nazi-regime-for-their-detained-jewish-husbands-freedom-and-won-277154
#Histodons [@histodons](https://a.gup.pe/u/histodons )

2026-03-12 14:02:36 UTC

RFK Jr.’s political power may lie in how he talks about science.
A linguist explains how his rhetoric reframes doubt as common sense, turning skepticism into a political identity (from our sister edition in France):
https://theconversation.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-a-master-in-the-political-craft-of-doubt-a-linguists-take-276454

2026-03-12 14:00:17 UTC

Bird populations are declining more rapidly, particularly in regions dominated by intensive farming.
It’s not just that there are fewer birds each year. In some places, each year brings larger losses than the one before, explains an ecologist.
https://theconversation.com/bird-losses-are-accelerating-across-north-america-particularly-in-farming-regions-where-agriculture-is-most-intensive-276740

2026-03-12 12:39:01 UTC

Iran’s new supreme leader is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US–Israeli airstrikes. Analysts say his rise could strengthen the influence of Iran’s powerful security establishment.
Quick bio from our sister edition in Australia:
https://theconversation.com/who-is-mojtaba-khamenei-irans-new-supreme-leader-and-would-he-bring-change-or-more-brutal-suppression-277483

2026-03-12 10:30:20 UTC

Developmental psychologists and learning scientists are using generative AI to help Latino families in Santa Ana and Michigan create early learning materials for their children.
https://theconversation.com/generative-ai-can-play-a-role-uplifting-family-and-community-in-early-childhood-education-272237

2026-03-12 10:10:02 UTC

Modern tech runs on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and rare earths. Now companies are eyeing the deep ocean as the next mining frontier.
(But many of these places contain ecosystems we still know very little about.)
https://theconversation.com/mining-the-ocean-floor-5-deep-sea-sources-of-critical-minerals-essential-to-technology-and-the-fragile-marine-life-at-risk-275804

2026-03-12 08:18:00 UTC

Winning the war in Iraq didn’t fix Iraq. More than 20 years after the U.S. invasion, the country sits firmly in Iran’s sphere of influence.
A security scholar says this new war with Iran risks repeating the same mistake: military success without a plan for what comes next.
https://theconversation.com/iraq-wars-aftermath-was-a-disaster-for-the-us-the-iran-war-is-headed-in-the-same-direction-277585
#USPolitics #Politics #IranWar

2026-03-12 08:00:17 UTC

The Trump administration is leaning away from the dramatic 2025 funding cuts, and more toward standard tactics to try to limit funding, explains a scholar of higher education.
https://theconversation.com/universities-survived-trumps-2025-funding-freeze-but-the-money-still-isnt-flowing-to-researchers-277716

2026-03-12 06:10:00 UTC

Romance novels, including the booming “romantasy” genre, now make up nearly 25% of U.S. book sales.
And the heroines aren’t just helpless princesses – the books increasingly center women’s agency, worldly success and sexual power.
https://theconversation.com/from-bodice-rippers-to-romantasy-romance-novels-are-dominating-the-book-market-and-rewriting-womens-sexual-power-273765

2026-03-12 06:00:17 UTC

There has never been a singular Christian perspective on how religion, power and politics ought to relate to each other – not even in medieval “Christendom,” which many Christian Nationalists idealize as a time before separation of Church and State.
https://theconversation.com/notions-of-christendom-often-miss-the-mark-medieval-europes-ideas-about-faith-and-power-were-not-so-simple-275285

2026-03-12 04:00:17 UTC

AI helps the U.S. military identify targets in Iran, but a former Navy intelligence officer warns that automation bias and organizational factors matter more than the technology itself in using it effectively and avoiding civilian casualties.
https://theconversation.com/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831

2026-03-12 03:59:00 UTC

A new study shows that higher doses of buprenorphine keep people in opioid use disorder on treatment significantly longer, helping them kick opioid addiction.
Patients on 17-24 milligrams averaged 190 days in care versus 90 days for those on lower doses.
https://theconversation.com/higher-buprenorphine-doses-help-patients-stay-in-opioid-use-disorder-treatment-new-study-finds-274804
#health

2026-03-12 02:37:00 UTC

Florida once led the nation on government transparency.
Now it charges average citizens over $1,600 in copy fees to access public records and fulfills only 34% of requests.
The trend reflects a nationwide erosion of open government.
https://theconversation.com/this-sunshine-week-florida-reflects-an-alarming-national-trend-of-blocking-the-publics-access-to-information-274108
#USPolitics

2026-03-12 02:04:49 UTC

The Iran war could disrupt more than gas prices. Crude oil is also the raw material for thousands of products that we depend on, including plastics, fertilizers, clothing fibers, medicines and electronics. #Inflation
https://theconversation.com/oil-isnt-just-fuel-iran-conflict-could-disrupt-markets-for-everything-from-plastics-to-fertilizers-277946
https://theconversation.com/oil-isnt-just-fuel-iran-conflict-could-disrupt-markets-for-everything-from-plastics-to-fertilizers-277946

2026-03-12 00:33:00 UTC

Cloud outages have disrupted air travel, email, hospital services, and day-to-day website use around the world.
Part of the problem: Much of the internet now runs on just a few major providers. So, when one has problems, thousands of organizations can be affected at once.
https://theconversation.com/why-cloud-service-outages-ripple-across-the-internet-and-the-economy-272241

2026-03-11 22:38:01 UTC

As glaciers retreat, vast new lakes are forming.
And they can burst without warning.
More than 15 million people live in areas at risk.
https://theconversation.com/alaskas-glacial-lakes-are-expanding-increasing-the-risk-of-destructive-outburst-floods-275799

2026-03-11 20:38:01 UTC

What happens next in the #IranWar?
A Middle East watcher says the conflict’s future hinges on 4 big questions – about U.S. goals, Gulf alliances, Iran’s leadership and public opinion across the region.
https://theconversation.com/iran-war-4-big-questions-that-help-clarify-the-future-of-the-middle-east-277473

2026-03-11 19:31:04 UTC

📰 Job opening: Politics & Society Editor
We’re hiring an experienced editor to work with scholars to explain politics, government and democracy to the public, and provide context to go beyond the headlines
📝3+ years editing experience
📍 Remote, anywhere in the U.S.
https://theconversation.com/us/jobs
#journalismjobs #hiring
https://assets.newsie.social/media_attachments/files/116/212/201/030/752/976/original/8125007a56b81ebb.jpeg

2026-03-11 17:31:09 UTC

“Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.”
150 years ago this week, Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call, changing communication forever ☎️📱
https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-the-first-telephone-call-nine-words-that-changed-the-world-277694
#Histodons [@histodons](https://a.gup.pe/u/histodons )

2026-03-11 14:02:17 UTC

Media entrepreneur and billionaire Mike Bloomberg gave the most to charity last year, followed by Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and the late Paul Allen.
Jeff Bezos’s parents are also in the Top 50 list compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy (his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott would be at the top if she had provided data).
https://theconversation.com/gifts-from-top-50-us-philanthropists-jumped-to-22-4b-in-2025-mike-bloomberg-bill-gates-and-the-estate-of-paul-allen-lead-a-list-of-the-biggest-givers-276825
https://assets.newsie.social/media_attachments/files/116/210/908/241/579/706/original/4c5ccc1c74eb4a34.png

2026-03-11 12:39:01 UTC

The stars rise about 4 minutes earlier each night.
That tiny shift helps explain why Orion disappears for months while the Big Dipper is always there.
https://theconversation.com/why-are-some-stars-always-visible-while-others-come-and-go-with-the-seasons-274096

2026-03-11 10:10:01 UTC

Oil prices are rising as war with Iran disrupts global supply.
But the U.S. economy is far less vulnerable to oil shocks than it was decades ago, thanks to domestic production and lower oil dependence.
https://theconversation.com/us-is-less-prone-to-oil-price-shocks-than-in-past-decades-277709

2026-03-11 07:51:00 UTC

The US–Iran war of 2026 is rooted in 47 years of deep mistrust.
Decades of hostile rhetoric, failed diplomacy and strategic miscalculation pushed both sides toward conflict.
https://theconversation.com/47-years-of-deep-mistrust-and-misperception-paved-the-way-to-war-between-iran-and-the-us-and-complicate-any-negotiations-277789
#Histodons [@histodons](https://a.gup.pe/u/histodons )

2026-03-11 06:10:00 UTC

Where does gold in the universe come from?
Astrophysicists traced one source to a neutron-star collision triggered by a merger between galaxies – a cosmic chain reaction 8.5 billion years ago, observed just now.
https://theconversation.com/astrophysicists-trace-the-origin-of-valuable-metals-in-space-from-colliding-stars-to-merging-galaxies-272328

2026-03-11 03:59:00 UTC

All U.S. wars until now have begun with a powerful story about why the fight matters.
Trump’s war against Iran doesn’t have one — and Americans overwhelmingly oppose it.
https://theconversation.com/trumps-war-against-iran-is-uniquely-unpopular-among-us-military-actions-of-the-past-century-277586
#USPolitics #IranWar

2026-03-11 02:37:00 UTC

Iran has turned to "shadow tankers" (aging, uninsured vessels, registered in countries with no regulatory enforcement) to move oil through one of the world's most critical shipping routes.
https://theconversation.com/why-shadow-tankers-are-the-only-ships-still-moving-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-277785

2025-09-20 16:00:12 UTC

Tradwife culture is not just aiming to restore “traditional” gender roles, according to researchers of extremism. It is also a force in formulating a new model of womanhood: one that incorporates strong religious identity, a specific feminine aesthetic, and far-right ideas.
https://theconversation.com/sourdough-and-submission-in-the-name-of-god-how-tradwife-content-fuses-femininity-with-anti-feminist-ideas-263096