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.
Pig-human heart transplants still have a long way to go
It’s a tempting solution with some big problems.
Why knowing when Alzheimer’s starts could lead to new treatments
The “switch on” moment happens up to 25 years before any symptoms are displayed.
200 years ago, this terror of the Amazon inspired the world’s first batteries
Electric eels don’t shock their prey to death; they just electrically stun it before attacking.
One simple activity could ease your lower back pain
Reach for the sky.
Octopus facts: 5 incredible tidbits you didn't know about the cephalopod
What octopuses eat depends on what species they are and where they live.
Lemon water won’t detox or energize you — but here’s what it can do
Lemon juice may have other benefits, but research so far has been mixed.
The supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy proves Einstein right
Here’s how over 300 astronomers captured the dazzling first image of Sagittarius A*, and why it matters.
Human-Neanderthal relations were more violent than we think
Neanderthals were likely skilled fighters and dangerous warriors.
Why scientists think physics could be in for a reckoning
The evidence seems to be growing that some new physics is needed.
How to treat adult ADHD: A psychologist explains medication and more
The experience of ADHD isn’t entirely based in genetics.
NASA images reveal a man-made scar in the Amazon so big you can see it from space
There is proof of the Belo Monte Dam project’s impact on the Big Bend, though — from above.
Severe Covid-19 can dramatically age your brain — study
A severe case of Covid-19 can be the equivalent of aging 20 years.
The world’s first octopus farm will be an evolutionary disaster — here’s why
Farming octopuses is cruel and inhumane, too.
Real-life time travel hinges on this one controversial scientific theory
Time travel is full of contradictions, but one popular sci-fi concept could resolve them all.
Some dangerous — even banned — drugs lurk in dietary supplements
What are these hidden substances, and why do they matter?
New messages to aliens bring up two crucial ethical questions
Should we just be blasting out to the cosmos?
Studio Ghibli films have a subversive message hiding in plain sight
Beneath the veneer of fantasy and cute creatures lies an important narrative.
The grossest idea from The Matrix could lower your energy bill
We’ll all feel the heat, the heat between me and you.
A controversial discovery could reveal the last moments of the dinosaurs
Let’s take a look at what we know about this most important time in our planet’s history
Barbell exercises might not work for everyone – here’s what to do instead
Barbell movements could actually place some people at greater risk of injury in some cases.