Stories by The Conversation US

Retroviruses, some of which predate the human species, are tied to a genetic susceptibility to major psychiatric disorders

The National Hurricane Center’s hurricane season outlook for the Atlantic Ocean forecasts 17 to 25 named storms in 2024 because of an expected combination of warm ocean temperatures and a La Niña climate pattern

An atmospheric scientist explains what wind shear is and how it influences hurricanes

The pasteurization process was invented in the 1860s and continues to keep people safe from a range of foodborne illnesses

Earth is shifting into a La Niña period, changing climate patterns all around the globe

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. Here's how you can figure out when you're being fooled

Three factors determine whether a society experiences disease outbreaks—and how we can fight them

A mysterious 12-sided object called a dodecahedron discovered in England has archaeologists both excited and baffled

Media coverage of university students speaking up against the war in Gaza, just like coverage of other protest movements, has fallen prey to some serious weaknesses

You can thank yeast and bacteria cultivated over generations for the distinctive taste and smell of the oldest leavened bread in history

Famine is affecting an increasing number of people in Gaza, Sudan, Haiti and elsewhere around the globe, and its development follows a clear pattern

Myopia is becoming so common some people deem it “epidemic.” Here’s why getting kids outside and treating nearsightedness early is crucial for healthy eyesight

An environmental engineer provides a glimpse of the magnitude of the challenge to remove PFAS from water supplies and ways you can reduce these “forever chemicals” in your own drinking water

Family caregivers provide critical support and familiarity to patients, but can also experience burnout

A rectangular nine-volt battery is basically just a bunch of smaller batteries in a trench coat

An elite athlete’s metabolism mostly looks different from that of a person with COVID—but their occasional similarities can reveal important insights into health and disease

When anger strikes, decreasing arousal is more likely to reduce aggression than venting is, according to a massive review of 154 studies

Earthquakes in the Northeast are usually too small to feel, but larger temblors like the 4.8 magnitude quake in New Jersey aren’t unheard of

Ancient Maya saw solar eclipses as a “broken sun” that was a sign of possible destruction

An earthquake scientist discusses what we know about Taiwan’s magnitude 7. quake so far and what may happen next

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, announced she had cancer last month. Many cancer patients undergo surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments in combination

The loss of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo ship collision will teach engineers how to design structures better able to withstand disasters

Scientists have created a guide to the 2024 total solar eclipse for the visually impaired that includes tactile graphics

Climate change is affecting every aspect of gardening, including what plants thrive where, which can survive multiple years, whether trees bear fruit, and what pests are most threatening