Public HealthJuly 22, 2022
What Are the Risks of COVID and Treatments Available to President Biden?
An infectious disease doctor explains what Biden’s medical team will be doing to treat the president’s case of COVID
Stories by The Conversation US
Curated by professional editors, The Conversation offers informed commentary and debate on the issues affecting our world.
Climate ChangeJuly 19, 2022
How Hot Is Too Hot for the Human Body?
A study of healthy volunteers found that the combination of heat and humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize
Climate ChangeJuly 7, 2022
Alaska Is on Pace for Another Historic Fire Season
Thousands of lightning strikes and a warming climate have contributed to the fires burning around the state
WeatherJuly 6, 2022
What Is a Heat Dome?
An atmospheric scientist explains how large, persistent bends in the jet stream can bake a region for days
NeuroscienceJune 10, 2022
Why You Can’t Remember Being Born: A Look at ‘Infantile Amnesia’
Infants can form memories, just not the kind that recalls specific experiences
WeatherJune 3, 2022
The ‘Wall of Wind’ Can Blow Away Buildings at Category 5 Hurricane Strength
The test facility is helping engineers design safer homes—but it’s not powerful enough to mimic the stronger hurricanes fueled by climate change
WeatherMay 26, 2022
As 2022 Hurricane Season Looms, a Current That Fuels Monster Storms Is Very Warm
The Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico has fueled major storms such as Hurricane Katrina
Public HealthMay 25, 2022
What We Know about Mass School Shootings—and Shooters—in the U.S.
Criminologists explain what the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., and other deadly assaults have in common
EpidemiologyMay 20, 2022
What Is Monkeypox, the Virus Infecting People in the U.S. and Europe?
A microbiologist explains what is known about this smallpox cousin
Public HealthMay 18, 2022
How Accurate Are Rapid COVID Tests?
Two testing experts explain the latest data on how well the assays perform
Natural DisastersMay 10, 2022
Why the 2022 Southwest Fire Season Is So Early and Intense
La Niña, climate change and an increasing human presence are all raising wildfire risks
Climate ChangeMarch 29, 2022
What to Know about Antarctica’s Conger Ice Shelf Collapse
Though this particular collapse is not a major concern, events like it are becoming more common
SportsMarch 28, 2022
The ‘Hot Hand’ Is a Real Basketball Phenomenon, but It Is Rare
A statistical analysis finds evidence for shooting streaks in real game situations
Mental HealthMarch 11, 2022
Ukrainians Face Lasting Psychological Wounds from Russian Invasion
A psychiatrist who specializes in PTSD and stress describes the trauma that war survivors and refugees commonly experience
PollutionMarch 8, 2022
Military Action in Chernobyl Could Be Dangerous for People and the Environment
Vehicles can kick up radioactive dust, and fighting risks igniting a wildfire in the exclusion zone
EcologyMarch 2, 2022
Russian Capture of Ukraine’s Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Threatens Future Research
Long-standing studies on the effects of radiation exposure to ecosystems have been thrown into uncertainty
EpidemiologyFebruary 26, 2022
What Is a Vaccinated Person’s Risk of Dying from COVID?
Vaccination definitely lowers the odds, but the exact answer is hard to find
GeneticsFebruary 15, 2022
First Gene Therapy for Tay-Sachs Disease Successfully Given to Two Children
About one in 300 people in the general population carry the Tay-Sachs disease gene
SportsFebruary 12, 2022
The Olympics Have 100 Percent Fake Snow—Here’s the Science of How It Gets Made
Artificial snow can affect the performance of skiers and snowboarders
SportsFebruary 11, 2022
Olympic Ski Jumping: Falling or Flying in Style?
An interplay of gravity, lift and drag allows athletes to soar astonishingly far through the air
Quantum PhysicsFebruary 8, 2022
The High-Speed Physics of Olympic Sledding, Explained
There is more to the bobsled, luge and skeleton events than merely sliding down steep, icy slopes
PolicyFebruary 4, 2022
Facial Recognition Plan from IRS Raises Big Concerns
Government agencies are tapping a facial recognition company to prove you’re you
Climate ChangeFebruary 1, 2022
New Maps Show U.S. Flood Damage Rising 26 Percent in Next 30 Years
Future flooding will disproportionately affect Black communities
WeatherJanuary 28, 2022
What Is a Bomb Cyclone?
An atmospheric scientist explains