The Conversation U.S.
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If so, please consider donating to our fall fundraising campaign.
As a thank-you, you’ll receive a downloadable e-book from our series on bold ideas for tackling the housing crisis.
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“Belief polarization” is driving the shutdown more than political disagreement, according to a philosopher. Like-minded people become more extreme versions of themselves, not because of evidence, but because they want to fit in with their peers.
Blame the shutdown on citizens who prefer politicians to vanquish their opponents rather than to work for the common good
Politicians get blamed for government shutdowns. But does the fault lie also with citizens, who are more invested in punishing partisan rivals than in demanding competent government?
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
“Belief polarization” is driving the shutdown more than political disagreement, according to a philosopher. Like-minded people become more extreme versions of themselves, not because of evidence, but because they want to fit in with their peers.
Nanoparticles navigating liquid-filled pores behave differently depending on electric field strength. This new technique could transform drug delivery systems and chemical purification technologies, changing guesswork into predictable science. buff.ly/PtL9wEp
Electric fields steered nanoparticles through a liquid-filled maze – this new method could improve drug delivery and purification systems
Moving tiny particles through materials quickly can improve the efficiency of a variety of technologies.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Nanoparticles navigating liquid-filled pores behave differently depending on electric field strength. This new technique could transform drug delivery systems and chemical purification technologies, changing guesswork into predictable science. buff.ly/PtL9wEp
Walking speed is a powerful indicator of longevity. Researchers are now using AI and motion sensors to track it and other movement patterns as a way to predict long-term health outcomes and life expectancy. buff.ly/mdOatV4
Turning motion into medicine: How AI, motion capture and wearables can improve your health
Motion data is well known for improving athletic performance and rehab. Thanks to AI, it’s also turning motion into another vital sign for general health.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Walking speed is a powerful indicator of longevity. Researchers are now using AI and motion sensors to track it and other movement patterns as a way to predict long-term health outcomes and life expectancy. buff.ly/mdOatV4
As #COP30 gets underway in Brazil, Robert Muggah — who researches how crime harms the environment — warns that illegal land grabbing, logging, gold mining, wildlife trafficking and toxic dumping are driving 90% of Brazil’s deforestation, fueled by global demand. 🌎
#climatechange #environmentalcrime
#climatechange #environmentalcrime
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 AM
As #COP30 gets underway in Brazil, Robert Muggah — who researches how crime harms the environment — warns that illegal land grabbing, logging, gold mining, wildlife trafficking and toxic dumping are driving 90% of Brazil’s deforestation, fueled by global demand. 🌎
#climatechange #environmentalcrime
#climatechange #environmentalcrime
Unlike sharks or crocodiles that grow new teeth throughout their lives, humans get only two sets. Scientists are working on regenerative dentistry to grow new teeth or help existing teeth repair themselves:
Why do people have baby teeth and adult teeth?
A pediatric dentist and an anthropologist explain how baby teeth and adult teeth help humans chomp their food over a long lifespan.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Unlike sharks or crocodiles that grow new teeth throughout their lives, humans get only two sets. Scientists are working on regenerative dentistry to grow new teeth or help existing teeth repair themselves:
Allen Iverson refused to play by the NBA's unwritten rules. He wore cornrows, embraced hip-hop culture and spoke his mind. The 2001 Sixers represented Philadelphia's brash soul and changed basketball culture. buff.ly/ojSpmF0
Allen Iverson’s 2001 Sixers embodied Philly’s brash, gritty soul − and changed basketball culture forever
The 76ers celebrate the 25th anniversary of an iconic team that lost the championship but captured the heart of the city.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Allen Iverson refused to play by the NBA's unwritten rules. He wore cornrows, embraced hip-hop culture and spoke his mind. The 2001 Sixers represented Philadelphia's brash soul and changed basketball culture. buff.ly/ojSpmF0
Canada was officially declared “measles-free” 27 years ago, but no more. The rising number of measles outbreaks is a symptom of a deeper issue: declining trust in public messaging about science and health, which has led to decreased vaccination rates. buff.ly/V7RPaXR
Canada loses its official ‘measles-free’ status – and the US will follow soon, as vaccination rates fall
Decreased vaccination rates have led to measles outbreaks in Canada and other countries.
theconversation.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Canada was officially declared “measles-free” 27 years ago, but no more. The rising number of measles outbreaks is a symptom of a deeper issue: declining trust in public messaging about science and health, which has led to decreased vaccination rates. buff.ly/V7RPaXR
The beauty backfire effect: Being too attractive can hurt fitness influencers, new research shows buff.ly/T3vsyjc
The beauty backfire effect: Being too attractive can hurt fitness influencers, new research shows
Pretty isn’t always profitable.
theconversation.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The beauty backfire effect: Being too attractive can hurt fitness influencers, new research shows buff.ly/T3vsyjc
Researchers examining Florida's Nature Coast found something rare and wonderful: seagrass meadows that have thrived for centuries, offering a blueprint for what successful coastal conservation can look like. #GoodNews buff.ly/R8M0MCW
Seashells from centuries ago show that seagrass meadows on Florida’s Nature Coast are thriving
Scientists are using mollusk shells to evaluate the health of Florida’s seagrass ecosystems.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Researchers examining Florida's Nature Coast found something rare and wonderful: seagrass meadows that have thrived for centuries, offering a blueprint for what successful coastal conservation can look like. #GoodNews buff.ly/R8M0MCW
Who gets SNAP benefits to buy groceries and what the government pays for the program – in 5 charts buff.ly/P1WL1P3
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Who gets SNAP benefits to buy groceries and what the government pays for the program – in 5 charts buff.ly/P1WL1P3
Voters often elect political amateurs expecting them to "fix" Congress, but research shows these outsiders actually reduce bipartisan cooperation.
Amateurs tend to view compromise as a concession rather than a tool for effective governing. buff.ly/VVMAE9J
Amateurs tend to view compromise as a concession rather than a tool for effective governing. buff.ly/VVMAE9J
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns
The public’s frustration with ‘politics as usual’ has led more political newcomers to win office. But amateurs are more likely to view bipartisanship as a concession, not a tool for advancing policy.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Voters often elect political amateurs expecting them to "fix" Congress, but research shows these outsiders actually reduce bipartisan cooperation.
Amateurs tend to view compromise as a concession rather than a tool for effective governing. buff.ly/VVMAE9J
Amateurs tend to view compromise as a concession rather than a tool for effective governing. buff.ly/VVMAE9J
Banks that catch fraudsters see customers stay loyal even after being victimized. But when they refund a customer without identifying the culprit, and they're 40% more likely to leave. A marketing professor explains why: buff.ly/lfrVpu2
Customers can become more loyal if their banks solve fraud cases, researchers find
These findings support a paradox: When a business handles a problem well, its customers can become more loyal than if no problem had occurred.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Banks that catch fraudsters see customers stay loyal even after being victimized. But when they refund a customer without identifying the culprit, and they're 40% more likely to leave. A marketing professor explains why: buff.ly/lfrVpu2
Reposted by The Conversation U.S.
A generic blood pressure drug called prazosin, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration because it contains elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Here's what to know. (via @us.theconversation.com)
https://to.pbs.org/486HI9y
https://to.pbs.org/486HI9y
What to know about the FDA's recall of the blood pressure drug prazosin
A generic blood pressure drug called prazosin, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration because it contains elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals calle...
www.pbs.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
A generic blood pressure drug called prazosin, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration because it contains elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Here's what to know. (via @us.theconversation.com)
https://to.pbs.org/486HI9y
https://to.pbs.org/486HI9y
Producing a pound of beef requires roughly 1,800 gallons of water compared with 500 gallons for chicken. Even modest shifts in your diet could sig nificantly reduce the water needed to grow your food. buff.ly/TpENcde
2 ways you can conserve the water used to make your food
Consumer choices about what to eat and how much of it can affect how much water farmers need to use.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Producing a pound of beef requires roughly 1,800 gallons of water compared with 500 gallons for chicken. Even modest shifts in your diet could sig nificantly reduce the water needed to grow your food. buff.ly/TpENcde
PragerU, a conservative media company with millions of followers, moved beyond producing videos into teacher licensing by creating an exam designed to screen out "woke" teachers in Oklahoma. The company's influence over who can teach is expanding.
Oklahoma tried out a test to ‘woke-proof’ the classroom. It was short-lived, but could still leave a mark
Oklahoma announced in October 2025 it would no longer assess out-of-state teachers with a controversial test developed by a conservative media company.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
PragerU, a conservative media company with millions of followers, moved beyond producing videos into teacher licensing by creating an exam designed to screen out "woke" teachers in Oklahoma. The company's influence over who can teach is expanding.
Well-resourced schools are positioned to help teachers experiment with #AI, while under-resourced schools lag behind. Researchers say how teachers implement AI now will determine whether it narrows or widens educational equity gaps. buff.ly/ESdQ4wZ
AI could worsen inequalities in schools – teachers are key to whether it will
Under-resourced schools are less likely to support teachers in implementing AI technology to best serve learning.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Well-resourced schools are positioned to help teachers experiment with #AI, while under-resourced schools lag behind. Researchers say how teachers implement AI now will determine whether it narrows or widens educational equity gaps. buff.ly/ESdQ4wZ
Constant, conflicting and false information from the White House causes the public to see truth as relative and dismiss those who disagree as untruthful. It's a tactic with historical ties to 1930s Nazi Germany and modern extremist movements, according to a journalism scholar.
buff.ly/VDmXird
buff.ly/VDmXird
Overwhelm the public with muzzle-velocity headlines: A strategy rooted in racism and authoritarianism
The unrelenting diet of chaotic, contradictory headlines that Americans face today echoes an antidemocratic playbook from the past.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Constant, conflicting and false information from the White House causes the public to see truth as relative and dismiss those who disagree as untruthful. It's a tactic with historical ties to 1930s Nazi Germany and modern extremist movements, according to a journalism scholar.
buff.ly/VDmXird
buff.ly/VDmXird
A generic blood pressure drug called prazosin is being recalled due to cancer-causing nitrosamine contamination. A 2025 study found generics made in India carry 54% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to U.S.-made versions. buff.ly/yDUnmZo
FDA recall of blood pressure pills due to cancer-causing contaminant may point to higher safety risks in older generic drugs
As the generics market for a particular drug gets crowded, competition on price might be driving quality issues that could harm patients.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A generic blood pressure drug called prazosin is being recalled due to cancer-causing nitrosamine contamination. A 2025 study found generics made in India carry 54% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to U.S.-made versions. buff.ly/yDUnmZo
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is withholding the oath of office from Arizona's newly elected representative Adelita Grijalva, citing the government shutdown. A law scholar who analyzes government institutions looks at the historic precedents. buff.ly/2v5qJ0Z
House speaker’s refusal to seat Arizona representative is supported by history and law
House speakers have had the power to determine when the oath is administered, and courts have been reluctant to weigh in on that influence.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is withholding the oath of office from Arizona's newly elected representative Adelita Grijalva, citing the government shutdown. A law scholar who analyzes government institutions looks at the historic precedents. buff.ly/2v5qJ0Z
Mothers often shoulder the primary burden of school selection and worry their choices reflect their parenting abilities. A new book examines how school choice has intensified anxiety among parents when their kids start kindergarten. buff.ly/8iOVXTA
Anxiety over school admissions isn’t limited to college – parents of young children are also feeling pressure, some more acutely than others
Women often see their choice of school as a reflection of whether they are good moms, while parents of color feel pressure to find a racially inclusive school.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Mothers often shoulder the primary burden of school selection and worry their choices reflect their parenting abilities. A new book examines how school choice has intensified anxiety among parents when their kids start kindergarten. buff.ly/8iOVXTA
Obama's 2011 roast of Trump at the White House correspondents' dinner humiliated the future president so visibly that observers say it motivated his 2016 run. And part of the roast were jokes about how Trump would reshape the White House. buff.ly/GCfWNSd
Trump’s White House renovations fulfill Obama’s prediction, kind of
President Barack Obama’s mockery of Donald Trump in 2011 may have fueled the former real estate mogul’s run for president and his desire to leave his mark on the White House.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Obama's 2011 roast of Trump at the White House correspondents' dinner humiliated the future president so visibly that observers say it motivated his 2016 run. And part of the roast were jokes about how Trump would reshape the White House. buff.ly/GCfWNSd
The Trump administration’s ending funding for SNAP during the government shutdown sent calls to 211 helplines for food assistance up 4x. buff.ly/nFVpfvq
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 AM
The Trump administration’s ending funding for SNAP during the government shutdown sent calls to 211 helplines for food assistance up 4x. buff.ly/nFVpfvq
Nobel Prize winner James Watson died at 97 having made monumental contributions to science while also leaving a legacy tarnished by sexism, racism and the erasure of colleagues like Rosalind Franklin. His life illustrates both the best and worst of the scientific establishment. buff.ly/paVQvZD
James Watson exemplified the best and worst of science – from monumental discoveries to sexism and cutthroat competition
James Dewey Watson is best known for his Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the structure of DNA. Controversy around who should be credited highlights the challenges of scientific collaboration.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Nobel Prize winner James Watson died at 97 having made monumental contributions to science while also leaving a legacy tarnished by sexism, racism and the erasure of colleagues like Rosalind Franklin. His life illustrates both the best and worst of the scientific establishment. buff.ly/paVQvZD
Researchers examining Florida's Nature Coast found something rare and wonderful: seagrass meadows that have thrived for centuries, offering a blueprint for what successful coastal conservation can look like. #GoodNews buff.ly/R8M0MCW
Seashells from centuries ago show that seagrass meadows on Florida’s Nature Coast are thriving
Scientists are using mollusk shells to evaluate the health of Florida’s seagrass ecosystems.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Researchers examining Florida's Nature Coast found something rare and wonderful: seagrass meadows that have thrived for centuries, offering a blueprint for what successful coastal conservation can look like. #GoodNews buff.ly/R8M0MCW
Zohran Mamdani's last name tells the story of centuries of trade routes, migration patterns and cultural exchange across continents. “Mamdani” reveals how names carry histories we often overlook, according to a religious studies professor. buff.ly/oMNKrKr
Zohran Mamdani’s last name reflects centuries of intercontinental trade, migration and cultural exchange
Mamdanis belong to the Khoja community, who were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as “Hindoo Mussalman” because their traditions spanned both religions.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Zohran Mamdani's last name tells the story of centuries of trade routes, migration patterns and cultural exchange across continents. “Mamdani” reveals how names carry histories we often overlook, according to a religious studies professor. buff.ly/oMNKrKr