The Conversation U.S.
@us.theconversation.com
A nonprofit news organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge of experts with the public, in accessible, trustworthy articles drawing on their research.
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Free to read, without paywalls or ads.
Annie Dillard brought poetry into prose, pioneering a mystical form of creative nonfiction that critics both admired and misunderstood
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
Annie Dillard brought poetry into prose, pioneering a mystical form of creative nonfiction that critics both admired and misunderstood
For Annie Dillard, the sonic intensity of poetry was critical to every form of writing she published throughout her life.
www.yahoo.com
September 19, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Annie Dillard brought poetry into prose, pioneering a mystical form of creative nonfiction that critics both admired and misunderstood
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
Attn: sleep talkers (and those who have to sleep next to them):
Yes, you really can have a whole conversation while asleep. No, your partner probably can’t use it to get your secrets.
And fun fact: The most common word sleep talkers say is “no.”
theconversation.com/why-do-i-tal...
Yes, you really can have a whole conversation while asleep. No, your partner probably can’t use it to get your secrets.
And fun fact: The most common word sleep talkers say is “no.”
theconversation.com/why-do-i-tal...
Why do I talk in my sleep? A sleep psychologist explains
It might seem like a weird thing to do, but more than two-thirds of people have talked in their sleep at some point.
theconversation.com
September 19, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Attn: sleep talkers (and those who have to sleep next to them):
Yes, you really can have a whole conversation while asleep. No, your partner probably can’t use it to get your secrets.
And fun fact: The most common word sleep talkers say is “no.”
theconversation.com/why-do-i-tal...
Yes, you really can have a whole conversation while asleep. No, your partner probably can’t use it to get your secrets.
And fun fact: The most common word sleep talkers say is “no.”
theconversation.com/why-do-i-tal...
Decades of industrial pollution changed the bacteria living at a former Pittsburgh steel mill.
Some evolved to break down toxic chemicals as food!
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
Some evolved to break down toxic chemicals as food!
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
At an old steel site in Pittsburgh, bacteria evolved to survive – and eat – industrial pollution
Decades of pollution at Pittsburgh brownfields left bacteria that evolved to survive it – and maybe help clean up contaminated soil.
theconversation.com
September 19, 2026 at 7:13 AM
Decades of industrial pollution changed the bacteria living at a former Pittsburgh steel mill.
Some evolved to break down toxic chemicals as food!
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
Some evolved to break down toxic chemicals as food!
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
Hypothetically, if you committed a crime in your living room … what would your Roomba know?
Robot vacuums, smart speakers and other devices are quietly collecting data that could end up in court.
Here’s what that means for evidence and your privacy:
theconversation.com/your-robotic...
Robot vacuums, smart speakers and other devices are quietly collecting data that could end up in court.
Here’s what that means for evidence and your privacy:
theconversation.com/your-robotic...
September 19, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Hypothetically, if you committed a crime in your living room … what would your Roomba know?
Robot vacuums, smart speakers and other devices are quietly collecting data that could end up in court.
Here’s what that means for evidence and your privacy:
theconversation.com/your-robotic...
Robot vacuums, smart speakers and other devices are quietly collecting data that could end up in court.
Here’s what that means for evidence and your privacy:
theconversation.com/your-robotic...
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power. A scholar of Latin American politics explains:
theconversation.com/pardoned-by-...
theconversation.com/pardoned-by-...
Pardoned by Trump and escaping charges at home, ex-Honduran leader’s case shows a nation’s struggle for sovereignty
Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power. A scholar of Latin American politics explains:
theconversation.com/pardoned-by-...
theconversation.com/pardoned-by-...
Rapid Houthi advances in Yemen pose massive strategic risks for Saudi Arabia in the Gulf.
A Persian Gulf analyst explains:
theconversation.com/rapid-houthi...
A Persian Gulf analyst explains:
theconversation.com/rapid-houthi...
Rapid Houthi advances in Yemen pose massive strategic risks for Saudi Arabia in the Gulf
The resumption of fighting, paired with the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, complicates regional strategy and energy policy for the Gulf powerhouse.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Rapid Houthi advances in Yemen pose massive strategic risks for Saudi Arabia in the Gulf.
A Persian Gulf analyst explains:
theconversation.com/rapid-houthi...
A Persian Gulf analyst explains:
theconversation.com/rapid-houthi...
The U.S.-Brazil dispute isn't just about trade.
It began with Trump's objections to the prosecution of ally Jair Bolsonaro. Now it's become an issue in Brazil's election next month.
theconversation.com/the-us-sells...
It began with Trump's objections to the prosecution of ally Jair Bolsonaro. Now it's become an issue in Brazil's election next month.
theconversation.com/the-us-sells...
September 18, 2026 at 6:12 PM
The U.S.-Brazil dispute isn't just about trade.
It began with Trump's objections to the prosecution of ally Jair Bolsonaro. Now it's become an issue in Brazil's election next month.
theconversation.com/the-us-sells...
It began with Trump's objections to the prosecution of ally Jair Bolsonaro. Now it's become an issue in Brazil's election next month.
theconversation.com/the-us-sells...
Reposted by The Conversation U.S.
Some bangers in this week's news quiz from @us.theconversation.com and yours truly. Enjoy!
theconversation.com/the-conversa...
theconversation.com/the-conversa...
September 18, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Some bangers in this week's news quiz from @us.theconversation.com and yours truly. Enjoy!
theconversation.com/the-conversa...
theconversation.com/the-conversa...
Your turn to chime in on a century-old debate:
‘Fountain’ might make you laugh or scowl but asks important questions – a Philly art historian explains why Marcel Duchamp’s iconic 1917 sculpture still provokes
A version of ‘Fountain’ is part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s permanent collection and will appear in the Duchamp retrospective, which opens Oct. 10, 2026.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Your turn to chime in on a century-old debate:
Separating MMR vaccines into individual shots sounds like giving parents more choice, but it could actually limit access for families already struggling with healthcare costs and getting to a clinic.
Here’s what a sociologist learned talking to Colorado families:
Here’s what a sociologist learned talking to Colorado families:
Separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine could decrease access for Colorado parents
Parents concerned about vaccine overload may not get the outcome they expect from Trump’s recent vaccine executive order.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Separating MMR vaccines into individual shots sounds like giving parents more choice, but it could actually limit access for families already struggling with healthcare costs and getting to a clinic.
Here’s what a sociologist learned talking to Colorado families:
Here’s what a sociologist learned talking to Colorado families:
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power. A scholar of Latin American politics explains:
Pardoned by Trump and escaping charges at home, ex-Honduran leader’s case shows a nation’s struggle for sovereignty
Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández’s escape from legal accountability at home and abroad point to the larger challenges of democracy building under the shadow of US power. A scholar of Latin American politics explains:
Meditation has proven health benefits, but it may not be right for everyone.
Even the Buddha struggled with meditation. In a historical text, he describes experiencing headaches and other symptoms from overconcentration.
Even the Buddha struggled with meditation. In a historical text, he describes experiencing headaches and other symptoms from overconcentration.
Even the Buddha experienced challenges with meditation: Historical texts reveal its potential downsides
While meditation has been shown to have health benefits, it may not always be the right practice for all people.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Meditation has proven health benefits, but it may not be right for everyone.
Even the Buddha struggled with meditation. In a historical text, he describes experiencing headaches and other symptoms from overconcentration.
Even the Buddha struggled with meditation. In a historical text, he describes experiencing headaches and other symptoms from overconcentration.
In lupus, a strong immune response doesn’t necessarily mean better protection from infection. A microbiologist explains the type and timing of immune attacks matter, too:
Why an overactive immune system attacks the bodies of people with lupus but still leaves them vulnerable to infection
A strong immune response doesn’t necessarily mean better protection from infection. The type and timing of immune attacks matter, too.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 4:00 AM
In lupus, a strong immune response doesn’t necessarily mean better protection from infection. A microbiologist explains the type and timing of immune attacks matter, too:
“In the face of messages that farming sustainably was irrelevant to their faith, or even anti-Christian, Berry stood out as a voice validating their efforts.”
theconversation.com/what-wendell...
theconversation.com/what-wendell...
September 18, 2026 at 3:11 AM
“In the face of messages that farming sustainably was irrelevant to their faith, or even anti-Christian, Berry stood out as a voice validating their efforts.”
theconversation.com/what-wendell...
theconversation.com/what-wendell...
The bipartisan opposition to automated license plate readers suggests Americans have not entirely lost their rebellious spirit. A historian explains how the revolt against Flock cameras mirrors the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
How the American revolt against Flock cameras mirrors the Boston Tea Party of 1773
The bipartisan revolution against automated license plate readers suggests Americans have not entirely lost their rebellious spirit.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The bipartisan opposition to automated license plate readers suggests Americans have not entirely lost their rebellious spirit. A historian explains how the revolt against Flock cameras mirrors the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
More Gen Z’ers prefer taking photos on a disposable or analog camera instead of their ever-present smartphones.
They’re reviving film photography not out of nostalgia, but out of their desire to capture memories in a way that feels more personal and tangible.
They’re reviving film photography not out of nostalgia, but out of their desire to capture memories in a way that feels more personal and tangible.
Why Gen Z is falling in love with film photography
Armed with rolls of film, some young people are opting out of their algorithmic feeds in favor of experiencing life in ways that feel more deliberate, personal and tangible.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
More Gen Z’ers prefer taking photos on a disposable or analog camera instead of their ever-present smartphones.
They’re reviving film photography not out of nostalgia, but out of their desire to capture memories in a way that feels more personal and tangible.
They’re reviving film photography not out of nostalgia, but out of their desire to capture memories in a way that feels more personal and tangible.
Russians vote in parliamentary elections this weekend, and a win for Putin’s United Russia party is almost certainly guaranteed.
Putin’s United Russia will win – but vote tally, turnout and level of coercion will tell the real story of Russia’s wartime elections
Russia’s 2026 parliamentary elections will take place over three days, starting Sept. 18.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Russians vote in parliamentary elections this weekend, and a win for Putin’s United Russia party is almost certainly guaranteed.
Campaign spending is confusing, but we’ve got a guide to help you understand it. A political scientist explains how to tell the difference between corruption and politics as usual:
8 rules to help you understand what campaign finance reporting reveals about influence and support – or doesn’t
Campaign spending is confusing, but there are basic rules to help you understand information about money in elections. They can help you determine what is corruption and what is just regular politics.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Campaign spending is confusing, but we’ve got a guide to help you understand it. A political scientist explains how to tell the difference between corruption and politics as usual:
Lockdown and active shooter drills at school look and feel very different, though people often lump the two practices together. Here’s what you need to know about them:
Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children’s safety and well-being
Lockdown and active shooter simulations look and feel very different, though people often lump the two practices together.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Lockdown and active shooter drills at school look and feel very different, though people often lump the two practices together. Here’s what you need to know about them:
Is the American Dream dying for Hispanic Americans?
Just 40% now say hard work can get you ahead, down from 52% two years ago.
And that trend holds regardless of party affiliation.
theconversation.com/why-hispanic...
Just 40% now say hard work can get you ahead, down from 52% two years ago.
And that trend holds regardless of party affiliation.
theconversation.com/why-hispanic...
September 18, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Is the American Dream dying for Hispanic Americans?
Just 40% now say hard work can get you ahead, down from 52% two years ago.
And that trend holds regardless of party affiliation.
theconversation.com/why-hispanic...
Just 40% now say hard work can get you ahead, down from 52% two years ago.
And that trend holds regardless of party affiliation.
theconversation.com/why-hispanic...
Reposted by The Conversation U.S.
Check out this article I wrote (with help from profession editors!) for @us.theconversation.com on our project that uses principles from ecology & evolution to guide our search for microbes that improve bioremediation of brownfields! @cmuscience.bsky.social
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
At an old steel site in Pittsburgh, bacteria evolved to survive – and eat – industrial pollution
Decades of pollution at Pittsburgh brownfields left bacteria that evolved to survive it – and maybe help clean up contaminated soil.
theconversation.com
September 17, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Check out this article I wrote (with help from profession editors!) for @us.theconversation.com on our project that uses principles from ecology & evolution to guide our search for microbes that improve bioremediation of brownfields! @cmuscience.bsky.social
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
theconversation.com/at-an-old-st...
Trump's comments supporting Irish reunification break from nearly three decades of official U.S. neutrality on the issue. But they echo an older position dating back to Andrew Jackson.
Trump’s thumbs-up to Irish reunification breaks with precedent, but evokes earlier age of White House support
Trump waded intro controversial territory with his comments in Ireland.
theconversation.com
September 17, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Trump's comments supporting Irish reunification break from nearly three decades of official U.S. neutrality on the issue. But they echo an older position dating back to Andrew Jackson.
After America’s 100th birthday, librarians gathered in Philadelphia and founded the American Library Association.
In America’s 250th year, lIbraries in Pennsylvania – and across the country – remain vital institutions at the center of communities.
theconversation.com/how-librarie...
In America’s 250th year, lIbraries in Pennsylvania – and across the country – remain vital institutions at the center of communities.
theconversation.com/how-librarie...
How libraries in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania communities evolved from subscription clubs to vital public institutions
The nation’s first successful circulating library was established almost 300 years ago by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia.
theconversation.com
September 17, 2026 at 10:31 AM
After America’s 100th birthday, librarians gathered in Philadelphia and founded the American Library Association.
In America’s 250th year, lIbraries in Pennsylvania – and across the country – remain vital institutions at the center of communities.
theconversation.com/how-librarie...
In America’s 250th year, lIbraries in Pennsylvania – and across the country – remain vital institutions at the center of communities.
theconversation.com/how-librarie...
For young people entering an uncertain job market, getting a foot in the door can be harder than ever. That makes internships and other hands-on experience increasingly important.
A group of scholars who study STEM internship programs share tips for landing a job:
A group of scholars who study STEM internship programs share tips for landing a job:
To crack the job market, internships can be just as key for young people as the degree
Job preparation through internships matters more than ever for young people amid a precarious and fast-changing job market.
theconversation.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
For young people entering an uncertain job market, getting a foot in the door can be harder than ever. That makes internships and other hands-on experience increasingly important.
A group of scholars who study STEM internship programs share tips for landing a job:
A group of scholars who study STEM internship programs share tips for landing a job:
Some AI systems have resisted being shut down in tests. But taking steps to finish a task is a lot different from an instinct to stay “alive”, a neurologist explains:
No, AI systems don’t have a drive to survive – a developmental psychologist explains why it only looks that way
In tests, some AI systems resisted being shut down. But an instinct to stay “alive” isn’t the reason they behaved that way.
theconversation.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Some AI systems have resisted being shut down in tests. But taking steps to finish a task is a lot different from an instinct to stay “alive”, a neurologist explains: