The Conversation U.S. - News written by researchers and scientists to help you understand

More than a dozen white smokeless tobacco pouches scattered on a reflective black surface next to an open round container in indoor lighting.

More than a dozen white smokeless tobacco pouches scattered on a reflective black surface next to an open round container in indoor lighting.

How the pro-nicotine ‘wellness’ movement rebranded an addictive drug

Hasmeena Kathuria, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A man speaks at a podium.

A man speaks at a podium.

Lula’s UN address points to two starkly different visions of Brazilian nationalism ahead of crucial election

Andre Pagliarini, Louisiana State University

When presidents ban journalists from the White House, the First Amendment is not the only constitutional right at stake

Wayne Unger, Quinnipiac University

A woman in a black dress standing on a street corner, waiting for something.

A woman in a black dress standing on a street corner, waiting for something.

Three Ts will dominate Trump-Xi summit – trade, Taiwan and tech

Rana Mitter, Harvard Kennedy School

Two men in suits stans side byu side

Two men in suits stans side byu side

It’s OK if managers step in to help their sales staff – but not too much

Daniel E. Chavez, University of Tennessee

A couple considers buying fruit at a grocery store, with bananas in the background, while a smiling manager offers help.

A couple considers buying fruit at a grocery store, with bananas in the background, while a smiling manager offers help.

The SAT has changed since it debuted 100 years ago – but questions remain about its relevance

Beth Kania-Gosche, Missouri University of Science and Technology

A multiple choice exam shows the words SAT written into different bubbles, near a pencil.

A multiple choice exam shows the words SAT written into different bubbles, near a pencil.

EPA says repealing power plant emissions rules will save billions – but its estimate leaves out health and climate costs

Akshaya Jha, Carnegie Mellon University

A cooling tower looms above a house and grove of trees.

A cooling tower looms above a house and grove of trees.

Other presidents have let white-collar criminals dodge financial penalties – but not like Trump

Caren Morrison, Georgia State University

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

A blck map of the U.S. shattered into pieces.

A blck map of the U.S. shattered into pieces.

No cheery time for election pollsters in run-up to US midterms

W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication

Lightning strikes near a soccer match, viewed from a safe angle, on Aug. 16, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Lightning strikes near a soccer match, viewed from a safe angle, on Aug. 16, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Game delays for lightning may be annoying, but they save lives – a sports meteorologist explains the risk

Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A man carrying several items walks through cement passage with water in it under a bridge

A man carrying several items walks through cement passage with water in it under a bridge

As cities prepare for 2026’s super El Niño, some crucial blind spots can’t be ignored

Bethany Tietjen, Tufts University

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Blurred vehicle ights on a major road in urban area at night

Blurred vehicle ights on a major road in urban area at night

What Philly can – and can’t – do to reduce the number of people killed in car crashes

D. Alex Quistberg, Drexel University

Parent holding child's head against chest with hand threaded through hair.

Parent holding child's head against chest with hand threaded through hair.

When your child asks if they’ll be harmed like the people on the news, what do you say? Psychologists provide tips on how to talk about identity

Anahi Collado, University of Colorado Boulder and Colleen Cummings, Georgetown University

woman wearing ear protection works with drill press

woman wearing ear protection works with drill press

Noise pollution is a serious but often forgotten public health problem

Laura Coco, San Diego State University

How employers can make good decisions about remote work

Sebastian Fixson, Babson College

A few people work in a dimly lit and largely empty office.

A few people work in a dimly lit and largely empty office.

The higher your body fat %, the less accurate your smartwatch is at measuring calories

Jason Kostrna, Florida International University

two men putting smartwatches on a man wearing mask sitting on a bike

two men putting smartwatches on a man wearing mask sitting on a bike

Annie Dillard brought poetry into prose, pioneering a mystical form of creative nonfiction that critics both admired and misunderstood

Amy Cannon, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Black and white image of Annie Dillard sitting in a chair in 1983

Black and white image of Annie Dillard sitting in a chair in 1983

How red went from the color of revolution to the color of Republicans in US politics

Andrew Latham, Macalester College

A map of states colored red or blue.

A map of states colored red or blue.

How Warren Buffett’s enormous charitable gifts reflect the ‘inner scorecard’ that has guided him up to the billionaire’s retirement

John M. Longo, Rutgers University - Newark

Warren Buffett, thronged by members of the media

Warren Buffett, thronged by members of the media

How ‘To Catch a Predator’ indulged America’s appetite for humiliation and punishment

Daniel LaChance, Emory University and Paul Kaplan, San Diego State University

A silhouette of a young man with his hands on his hips against a blue backdrop.

A silhouette of a young man with his hands on his hips against a blue backdrop.

At-home drug disposal products can play an important role in keeping rural Coloradans safe

Sunny Linnebur, University of Colorado Anschutz

A high-angle, close-up shows a woman holding an open jar with pills in it above a plastic container of pill containers.

A high-angle, close-up shows a woman holding an open jar with pills in it above a plastic container of pill containers.

Does my kid have COVID-19 or just a cold? A pediatric nurse explains how to tell – and why it matters

Ann Sheehan, Michigan State University

Three elementary-aged children working at a table in school, the one in the middle is blowing her nose

Three elementary-aged children working at a table in school, the one in the middle is blowing her nose

Latest videos

Bright yellow taxis packed closely together, appearing to be stuck in traffic.

Bright yellow taxis packed closely together, appearing to be stuck in traffic.

Why taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer’s

Dengue fever on the rise in the US

A health worker wearing white protective gear that covers from head to toe and a yellow mask fumigates for mosquitoes inside a home with a green wall.

A health worker wearing white protective gear that covers from head to toe and a yellow mask fumigates for mosquitoes inside a home with a green wall.

How do ice cubes cool a drink?

Four tall cocktail glasses with colorful drinks. In order from right: green, red, orange, and purple. Classes also contain mint leaves, ice, lemons and limes.

Four tall cocktail glasses with colorful drinks. In order from right: green, red, orange, and purple. Classes also contain mint leaves, ice, lemons and limes.

How heat in Tibet fuels storms in California

Brown Tibetan Plateau is on the left and the gray Himalyas mountains are in the middle. Photo is taken from space.

Brown Tibetan Plateau is on the left and the gray Himalyas mountains are in the middle. Photo is taken from space.

How important is SCOTUS vote-by-mail decision?

U.S. Supreme Court building with an oversized ballot box outlined in red and labeled "VOTE."

U.S. Supreme Court building with an oversized ballot box outlined in red and labeled "VOTE."

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U.S.-Iran war

A lighted sign shows diesel fuel costs $6.39 a gallon.

A lighted sign shows diesel fuel costs $6.39 a gallon.

Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon

Morgan Bazilian, Colorado School of Mines and Jamie Webster, Colorado School of Mines

Houthi advance boosts Iran’s leverage over the US and Saudi Arabia – but may cost rebel group its legitimacy back in Yemen

Mahad D. Darar, Colorado State University

Armed men patrol in an open-top vehicle.

Armed men patrol in an open-top vehicle.

Rapid Houthi advances in Yemen pose massive strategic risks for Saudi Arabia in the Gulf

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University

Men in military fatigues with weapons.

Men in military fatigues with weapons.

A new Houthi front and expanded Iranian attacks risk sinking Gulf nations’ choke-point workaround and widening shipping risks

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University

Men in army fatigues stand with large guns.

Men in army fatigues stand with large guns.

Amid grinding war, protesting Ukrainians still want their voices and values heard at home

Sarah Wilson Sokhey, University of Colorado Boulder; Gerard Toal, Virginia Tech, and John O’Loughlin, University of Colorado Boulder

A protester holds up a sign saying 'We support Fedorov.'

A protester holds up a sign saying 'We support Fedorov.'

Read more of coverage of the U.S.-Iran war

Extreme weather and natural disasters

A photos shows the flooded river.

A photos shows the flooded river.

How heat on the Tibetan Plateau fuels powerful storms in California, half a world away

Yongkang Xue, University of California, Los Angeles

2026’s El Niño is shaping up to be a doozy – it’s already affecting global shipping, fish behavior and heat

Steven Paton, Smithsonian Institution

A aerial view of a ship on the Panama Canal

A aerial view of a ship on the Panama Canal

Pennsylvania’s aging levees are under pressure from scarce funding and severe weather

Kaleigh Yost, Penn State

View of bridge over water with skyscrapers in background

View of bridge over water with skyscrapers in background

A second hurricane just sideswiped Hawaii – why the islands’ usual force field seems to be down in 2026

Nicholas Grondin, University of Tampa

A satellite view of the hurricane and Hawaii

A satellite view of the hurricane and Hawaii

Pyrograzing turns ordinary livestock into fire prevention heroes, so why isn’t it used on public lands more often?

Briana Swette, Boise State University and Kelly Hopping, Boise State University

A firefighter holds a tired young goat, its head leaning against his shoulder.

A firefighter holds a tired young goat, its head leaning against his shoulder.

Read more articles related to extreme weather

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International

A man looks at the remains in the aftermath of flash floods. Cement structures that were once multi-story homes and businesses are covered in mud.

A man looks at the remains in the aftermath of flash floods. Cement structures that were once multi-story homes and businesses are covered in mud.

Nepal isn’t the only disaster-struck country waiting for money from the global climate Loss and Damage Fund

Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Tufts University

The US sells more to Brazil than it buys – but Trump is slapping steep tariffs on its exports anyway

Filipe Mendonça, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) and Henrique Menezes, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB)

Shipping containers, cargo cranes and port facilities make for a colorful vista with the sea and mountains in the background.

Shipping containers, cargo cranes and port facilities make for a colorful vista with the sea and mountains in the background.

Putin’s United Russia will win – but vote tally, turnout and level of coercion will tell the real story of Russia’s wartime elections

Regina Smyth, Indiana University

People walk past a large billboard with '18,19,20' written on it.

People walk past a large billboard with '18,19,20' written on it.

Pardoned by Trump and escaping charges at home, ex-Honduran leader’s case shows a nation’s struggle for sovereignty

Laura Blume, University of Nevada, Reno

A man waves to a crow of supporters.

A man waves to a crow of supporters.

How South Korea is tackling its super-aging problem – and what other aging nations can learn from its experience

Jeongmin Park, Penn State and Alexis R. Santos, Penn State

a young South Korean woman helps an elderly South Korean woman into a car

a young South Korean woman helps an elderly South Korean woman into a car

Read more world news

New research in health and science

Person looking down with eyes closed, scratching at a rash on the back of their neck

Person looking down with eyes closed, scratching at a rash on the back of their neck

Why an overactive immune system attacks the bodies of people with lupus but still leaves them vulnerable to infection

Andrew Monteith, University of Tennessee

Why does your brain mix up memories? A new study examines how memories are misplaced in your brain’s filing cabinets

Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Three generations of women look at a photo album together while behind them a wall features dozens of framed photos.

Three generations of women look at a photo album together while behind them a wall features dozens of framed photos.

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope will use gravity as a magnifying glass to find distant planets

Thomas Fauchez, American University

A photo showing thousands of galaxies in a night sky.

A photo showing thousands of galaxies in a night sky.

Physicists zoom into the birth of cosmic rainstorms with new CERN study

Jesse Liu, New York University

An illustration of cosmic rays striking Earth's atmosphere and creating showers of particles.

An illustration of cosmic rays striking Earth's atmosphere and creating showers of particles.

Shingles can cause severe chronic pain – new research on how exosomes alter neurons offers pathways to treatment

Andrew Bubak, University of Colorado Anschutz

Microscopy image of a blob composed of concentric circles, the innermost a vivid red

Microscopy image of a blob composed of concentric circles, the innermost a vivid red

Read more new science research

Artificial intelligence

A female robot with four arms, in the image of the Hindu goddess Kali, stands against a dark blue background, surrounded by colorful digital graphics and glowing geometric shapes.

A female robot with four arms, in the image of the Hindu goddess Kali, stands against a dark blue background, surrounded by colorful digital graphics and glowing geometric shapes.

Why AI resembles a charismatic religious leader

Morgan Shipley, Michigan State University

How to know if you can trust an AI’s answer to your question

Leo S. Lo, University of Virginia

a computer screen showing a name with letters of different colors and a search field

a computer screen showing a name with letters of different colors and a search field

No, AI systems don’t have a drive to survive – a developmental psychologist explains why it only looks that way

Peter J. Marshall, Temple University

two men face eachother inside a cramped space full of lighted buttons and with an oval window

two men face eachother inside a cramped space full of lighted buttons and with an oval window

AI is supercharging money scams – here’s what you can do to protect yourself

Pawan Jain, University of Michigan Flint

An older man looks at a paper statement, with a confused expression, in front of his laptop.

An older man looks at a paper statement, with a confused expression, in front of his laptop.

AI is helping ease competition for scarce space on the airwaves

Aylin Yener, The Ohio State University

numerous disk-shaped objects attached to a metal tower at various angles

numerous disk-shaped objects attached to a metal tower at various angles

Read more stories on artificial intelligence

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A graphic image shows a brain with various colorful thought bubbles and symbols drawn across it.

Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age

Karen Stollznow, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England

Why the closing prayers of Judaism’s holiest holiday focus on repairing relationships with each other

Reuven Kimelman, Brandeis University

Rows of people, seen from behind, face forward and hold up programs during a religious service.

Rows of people, seen from behind, face forward and hold up programs during a religious service.

What Wendell Berry meant to Christian farmers going green

Sydney Giacalone, University of Virginia

Someone wearing jeans and a green jacket cups soil in their hands.

Someone wearing jeans and a green jacket cups soil in their hands.

Your robotic vacuum is a witness: What home robots mean for evidence, privacy and the law

Henry F. Fradella, Arizona State University; George Grispos, Arizona State University, and Jihun Joun, Arizona State University

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a floor-level view of a room with a cat's face in the foreground

The story of Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro is the story of how Italian immigrants became American

Clare Whitton, University of Oxford

A group of men wearing green, white and red hats play brass instruments while marching in a parade.

A group of men wearing green, white and red hats play brass instruments while marching in a parade.

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