The Conversation

The Conversation US is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public. The Conversation has access to independent, high quality, authenticated, explanatory journalism underpins a functioning democracy.

Health

Sitting Is Even Deadlier Than We Thought, A New Study Reveals

How much sitting is too much?

ByThe Conversation and Daniel Bailey
Health

New Twin Study Reveals A Potential Brain-Gut Connection

Could the microbes in our gut hold the key to preventing cognitive decline in our ageing population?

ByThe Conversation and Mary Ni Lochlainn
Health

The One Key Fact You Should Remember About Ultra-Processed Foods

The consumption of large proportions of ultra-processed foods has been linked to poor health outcomes and early death.

ByThe Conversation and Pete Wilde
Science

Would Humans Be Better Off With Tails? Scientists Reveal the Complicated Answer

The tail loss occurred in our ape ancestors at the same time as the evolution of a more erect back.

ByLaurence D. Hurst and The Conversation
Science

An Ancient Bone With Traces of Psychoactive Compounds Inside Has Stumped Scientists

Hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which are concentrated in certain leaves and seeds, are known for their psychoactive and medicinal properties.

ByThe Conversation and Sarah Edwards
Science

This Simple Yet Critical Aspect Of Spaceflight Has Completely Stumped Engineers

The first spacewalk has been delayed due to complications with the design and development of a suitable spacesuit.

ByYang Gao and The Conversation
Health

This Forgotten Text Reveals An Untold Society of Women Practicing Medicine In Secret

The Distaff Gospels, first published in France around 1480, is a collection of “gospels” around pregnancy, childbirth, and health.

ByThe Conversation and Pragya Agarwal
Health

Should You Drink a Shot of Olive Oil Every Day? Here's What a Nutritionist Does

Celebrities and influencers are sold on liquid gold, but what about the rest of us?

ByHazel Flight and The Conversation
Health

The Secret to Cleaning Out Your Ears Is Even Simpler Than You Might Think

Ear wax is a largely invisible entity — more often felt than seen.

ByDan Baumgardt and The Conversation
Health

This Specific Type of Sleep Could Help Protect You From Dementia

We monitored and analyzed the sleep of people aged 60 and over to see who did — or did not — develop dementia. Here’s what we learned.

ByAndrée-Ann Baril, Matthew Pase and The Conversation
Science

Not All Bees Have a Queen. Two Bug Experts Explain Why.

Since lots of bees successfully live without a queen, what is it that queens provide for the bee species that do have them?

ByPhil Starks, Aviva Liebert and The Conversation
Science

Physicists Just Measured Gravity on the Smallest Scale Ever By Using a Promising New Technique

Researchers say the work could “unlock more secrets about the universe’s very fabric” and may be an important step toward the next big revolution in physics.

BySam Baron and The Conversation
Health

Scientists Are Tantalizingly Close To Identifying The Gut Bacteria Linked To Stress

Your gut microbiome contains trillions of a diverse range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

ByAndrea Merchak and The Conversation
Health

Putting Nutrition Labels on Bottles Could Decimate the Wine Industry — Or Save It

Do you really want to know how many calories that glass of Merlot has in it?

ByDeidre Popovich and The Conversation
Health

The Quest for ‘Budget Ozempic’ Has Led to this Harmful TikTok Diet Trend

The drug’s soaring popularity online has not only contributed to shortages and bootleg versions of the drug but also harmful practices.

ByThe Conversation and Swrajit Sarkar
Health

Scientists Debunk the Idea That Smiling Makes You Happy

A new analysis looks closely at happiness research — and doesn’t find much to smile about.

ByThe Conversation and Amber Dance
Health

Can Covid-19 Lead to Cognitive Decline? Here’s What the Evidence Actually Shows

A large and growing body of evidence details the many ways Covid-19 leaves an indelible mark on the brain.

ByZiyad Al-Aly and The Conversation
Health

A Psychiatrist Reveals the Human Emotions That Could Halt Longterm Space Travel

Mars is far away and a mission to the red planet will take two to two and a half years between travel time and the Mars surface exploration itself.

ByThe Conversation and Nick Kanas
Health

Should You Quit Caffeine? An Expert Reveals 4 Health Benefits

If you’re thinking about giving up caffeine and are wondering what benefits it may have, here’s what the research says.

ByThe Conversation and Adam Taylor
Science

This Hardy Creature Can Survive Almost Anything — Could It Colonize the Moon?

What happened to the tardigrades that were traveling on the probe? Could they have contaminated the Moon?

ByThe Conversation and Laurent Palka