Policy
China Bans Foreign Waste--but What Will Happen to the World's Recycling?
The impact of this will be far-reaching because China is the dominant market for recycled plastic
Stories by The Conversation UK
Computing
DNA Techniques Could Transform Facial Recognition Technology
Early tests of the “vide-omics” principle have already demonstrated its potential
Policy
World Hunger Is Increasing, Thanks to Wars and Climate Change
Despite efforts to end food shortages, a recent U.N. report shows that, after years of decline, hunger is on the rise again
Weather
Why (Ex-)Hurricane Ophelia Took a Wrong Turn toward Ireland and Britain—and Carried All That Dust
What set it apart from other Atlantic hurricanes was its direct route to Europe
The Sciences
The Maths of Life and Death: Our Secret Weapon in the Fight against Disease
Mathematics is increasingly integral to biology as more detailed experiments in recent years have led to a huge influx in biological data
Computing
New Cybersecurity Executive Order Highlights Need for Deterrence, Protection of Key Industries
Given the range of possible threats and the pace at which they may appear, it is impossible to protect everything, everywhere, all the time
Fitness
Interactive Body Map: Physical Inactivity and the Risks to Your Health
This interactive body map brings together scientific evidence on the links between lack of physical activity and disease
Computing
“Spear-Phishing” Roiled the Presidential Campaign—Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Every one of October’s widely reported hacks was achieved using a surprisingly simple e-mail deception technique called “spear-phishing”
Public Health
The Conversation: Understanding Flint's Remaining Water Crisis Risks
Researchers use data analysis tools similar to Facebook and Amazon’s to find areas still in danger and predict the locations of lead pipes buried underground or hidden in residents’ homes...
Engineering
Meet LiDAR: The Amazing Laser Technology That's Helping Archaeologists Discover Lost Cities
Space lasers developed in the 1970s are being put to a brand-new use
Public Health
How Do We Know the Zika Virus Will Cost the World $3.5 Billion?
An economist examines how we put a price tag on Zika and other health catastrophes
Engineering
The Conversation: Why Robots Need to Be Able to Say "No"
A robot that follows commands without question could put humans in danger
Health
How Dangerous Is the Sodium Cyanide at the Tianjin Explosion Site?
This chemical has a particularly unpleasant reputation, but if officials act fast, they should be able to limit its impact
Space & Physics
Life's Building-Block Chemicals Found on Comet by Lander
Instruments on the Rosetta spacecraft’s Philae lander discovered nitrogen and amino acids, key ingredients for life, on comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Health
We Transformed Living Pig Cells into Tiny Lasers
Using fluorescent dye, researchers figured out how to turn cells into lasers—with applications for cell tagging and tracking as well as medical diagnoses and therapies
Biology
New Fossil Reveals Velociraptor Sported Feathers
Real velociraptors hardly resembled the huge scaly lizards shown in Jurassic World
Space & Physics
New Close-Ups of Pluto and Charon Present Puzzle for Scientists
Lack of impact craters suggests the dwarf planet may be geologically active
Environment
World's Forests Have Fragmented into Tiny Patches
Smaller, isolated chunks of forests can't sustain as much wildlife as one big connected region
Mind & Brain
The Purpose of Our Eyes' Strange Wiring Is Unveiled
The reverse-wiring of the eyeball has long been a mystery, but new research shows a remarkable structural purpose: increasing and sharpening our color vision
Space & Physics
Mars's Massive Erupting Clouds Still Puzzle Scientists
Hypotheses to explain the clouds include aurorae, dust from a volcanic eruption and water or CO2 ice particles
