Stories by The Conversation US

Those fascinated with true crime podcasts may be more vulnerable to conspiratorial beliefs

Researchers have documented that social media can harm teens

While spicy food can cause pain, it isn’t linked to higher mortality rates

The darkness of the night sky offers a profound insight on the nature of the cosmos

Virtual power plants are aggregations of electricity producers, consumers and storers that power grid managers can call on to balance electricity demand and supply

A hydrogeologist explains the shifting balance between fresh and salt water at the coast as sea levels rise

How do people make peace with the image reflected back at them in a video conference?

ChatGPT and similar AI programs give propagandists and intelligence agents a powerful new tool for interfering in politics. The clock is ticking on learning to spot this disinformation before the 2024 election

Trust is built on social norms and basic predictability. AI is typically not designed with either

How does bourbon, “America’s spirit,” get its distinctive taste and color?

Human scent signatures could one day be collected at places like crime scenes and COVID testing sites 

An investigative report reveals that new spyware can slip in unseen through online ads—and there is currently no defense against it

When doctors tell a patient “It’s all in your head,” that’s medical gaslighting. Here’s how to address an issue that disproportionately impacts the health of women, LGBTQ individuals and the elderly

The new social media trend “budget Ozempic” promotes laxatives and stool softeners for weight loss, but these drugs are dangerous if misused

Extreme heat can slow and even damage electronics ranging from computers to cars

The simple and fun act of reading for pleasure in early childhood produces better cognition, mental health and educational attainment in adolescence

Social media companies’ drive to keep you on their platforms clashes with how people evolved to learn from each other

Identifying wildfire victims through DNA is difficult, but archaeological methods can help

Even supposed “climate havens” in the U.S. face a riskier future, and infrastructure often isn’t built to handle climate change. But there are steps cities can take to prepare

Language model AIs seem smart because of how they string words together, but in reality, they can’t do anything without many people guiding them every step of the way

From the moment a male lion is born, it faces a gauntlet of challenges, ranging from snakebite to infanticide

As waters off Florida hit abnormally hot temperatures, volunteer divers are rescuing corals to ride out the heat wave in giant tanks on land

In October 2021 a national emergency in child mental health was declared. Since then the crisis has only gotten worse

To steal cars that rely on remotes and computer networks, thieves are trading their pry bars for laptops and wireless devices