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

50 Years Later, Neuroscientists Are Still Finding New Ways Dopamine Works In The Brain

Dopamine is a brain chemical famously linked to mood and pleasure − but researchers have found multiple types of dopamine neurons with different functions

ByThe Conversation and Kimberlee D'Ardenne
Science

Your Body Odor Might Reveal Crucial Information About Your Health

Researchers have been studying the discriminating potential of human scent for over three decades.

ByThe Conversation, Chantrell Frazier, Kenneth G. Furton and Vidia A. Gokool
Science

NASA Needs To Solve This One Critical Problem Before Humans Can Travel To Mars

Spending time in space can cause harm to the human body.

ByThe Conversation and Rachael Seidler
Science

These Two States Were Once Considered Perfect Climates — Now They Are The Most At Risk

This vision of an “American Italy” captured hearts and imaginations across the U.S.

ByThe Conversation and Henry Knight Lozano
Health

Is the Newest Covid-19 Variant More Transmissible? 4 Key Questions About BA.2.86, Answered

The latest variant, or sublineage, of SARS-CoV-2 to emerge on the scene, BA.2.86, has public health experts on alert as COVID-19 hospitalizations begin to rise.

ByThe Conversation and Suresh V. Kuchipudi
Opinion

Many People Think Cannabis Smoke Is Harmless — Here’s What The Evidence Shows

Though tobacco use is declining among adults in the U.S., cannabis use is increasing.

ByThe Conversation and Beth Cohen
Health

This Tiny Engineering Marvel Could Usher In A Revolution In Medicine

Nanotubes, carbon particles that are 10,000 times thinner than human hair, could create a new era for drug development.

ByThe Conversation and Bryan Smith
Science

Why the Evidence for Interstellar Materials Found on the Ocean Floor is Flimsy

The bold claims from a Harvard astronomer need better evidence.

Science

What is Nudge Theory? Why This 15-Year-Old Idea is Still Controversial

It’s been 15 years since a particular concept of behavioral science went mainstream.

Health

Is It Dangerous to Kiss Your Pet? Disease Experts Explain the One Real Risk

While rare, our pets can harbor infectious diseases that can be passed on to us.

ByThe Conversation, Sarah McLean and Enzo Palombo
Health

Why This Anxiety Trigger Is So Common — And How To Avoid It

When we’re surrounded by distractions, our brains essentially become battlegrounds for attention.

ByThe Conversation and Erika Penney
Health

What Does Anxiety Actually Do To Us? A Psychiatrist Explains How It Invades The Body

Research confirms that while emotions do originate in your brain, it’s your body that carries out the orders.

ByThe Conversation and Arash Javanbakht
Science

Scientists Figure Out the “Hot Spots” Where Wildfire Prevention Would Do the Most Good

The U.S. government is investing over US$7 billion in the coming years to try to manage the nation’s escalating wildfire crisis.

Health

Your Hands Can Tell A Lot About Your Health? Here’s What To Look For

Sometimes, changes in nail color and pattern are not sinister and are merely signs of aging.

Health

Do Ketone Drinks Improve Athletic Performance? Here’s What The Research Actually Shows

Because of their high price and claimed improvement gains, many called for their ban. But do they really work?

Health

Short Naps Are Good for You — But Not Past 30 Minutes

A 20 to 30 minute nap could be restorative for many people, but things get more complicated past that.

Science

Are There Still Places to Live to Escape Climate Change? This One Location is No Longer a Safe Bet

“Climate havens” are areas touted as natural refugees from extreme climate conditions. But they aren’t disaster-proof.

ByThe Conversation, Julie Arbit, Brad Bottoms and Earl Lewis
Science

Why Do Almost Half of Moon Missions Fail? Here’s Why Space Is Still So Risky

Moon missions, in particular, are still a coin flip, and we have seen several high-profile failures in recent years.

Tech

Extreme Heat Could Ruin Our Technology, Too

Electronics could degrade more quickly in extreme heat.

Health

This Common Misconception About Oily Skin Could Be A Game-Changer For Acne

Lipids actually play a vital role in maintaining the skin barrier.

ByThe Conversation and Samia Almoughrabie