Basic Chemistry
The Chemistry behind Bourbon
How does bourbon, “America’s spirit,” get its distinctive taste and color?
Stories by The Conversation US
Physiology
Your Body Odor Could Be Used to Track Your Movements or Health
Human scent signatures could one day be collected at places like crime scenes and COVID testing sites
Privacy
Online Ads Can Infect Your Device with Spyware
An investigative report reveals that new spyware can slip in unseen through online ads—and there is currently no defense against it
Health Care
How to Address ‘Medical Gaslighting’
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...
Diet
‘Budget Ozempic’ Weight-Loss Trend Raises Safety Concerns
The new social media trend “budget Ozempic” promotes laxatives and stool softeners for weight loss, but these drugs are dangerous if misused
Computing
Physicists Explain How Heat Kills Machines and Electronics
Extreme heat can slow and even damage electronics ranging from computers to cars
Intelligence
Reading for Pleasure Helps Kids’ Brain Development
The simple and fun act of reading for pleasure in early childhood produces better cognition, mental health and educational attainment in adolescence
Education
Social Media Algorithms Warp How People Learn from Each Other
Social media companies’ drive to keep you on their platforms clashes with how people evolved to learn from each other
Natural Disasters
How Archaeological Methods Are Helping Identify Victims of the Hawaii Wildfires
Identifying wildfire victims through DNA is difficult, but archaeological methods can help
Climate Change
There Are No U.S. ‘Climate Havens’ from Heat and Disaster Risk
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...
Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT and Other Language AIs Are Nothing without Humans
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
Animals
The Fast, Furious and Brutally Short Life of an African Male Lion
From the moment a male lion is born, it faces a gauntlet of challenges, ranging from snakebite to infanticide
Oceans
A Heroic Effort Aims to Save Florida’s Coral Reefs from Record Heat
As waters off Florida hit abnormally hot temperatures, volunteer divers are rescuing corals to ride out the heat wave in giant tanks on land
Mental Health
The Youth Mental Health Crisis Worsens amid a Shortage of Professional Help Providers
In October 2021 a national emergency in child mental health was declared. Since then the crisis has only gotten worse...
Automobiles
Car Thieves Can Hack into Today’s Computerized Vehicles
To steal cars that rely on remotes and computer networks, thieves are trading their pry bars for laptops and wireless devices
Basic Chemistry
Why Hair Turns Curly and Frizzy in the Summer, according to Chemistry
A chemist breaks down how hair follicles respond to summer heat and humidity
Neuroscience
New Neurotechnology Is Blurring the Lines around Mental Privacy—But Are New Human Rights the Answer?
Ethical and social implications of brain science and neural engineering raise many questions
Climate Change
Maui’s Deadly Wildfires Are a Reminder of Growing Risks
Human exposure to wildfires in the U.S. more than doubled in the past two decades. A climate scientist looks at who is at risk and why
Space Exploration
Most Americans Support NASA—But Don’t Think It Should Prioritize Sending People To Space
Scholars look to understand how Americans view space activities
Mathematics
The Mysterious Origins of ‘X’ in Algebra
The letter X is key to modern algebra. But no one knows why
