The Conversation

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Health

The Secret To Slowing Aging Might Be Hiding In Plain Sight

Researchers have known for decades that the faster an animal grows, the shorter its lifespan, at least among mammals.

By Chen Hou and The Conversation
Health

Humans Can Make Better Choices In Elections Than A Monkey, Right? Right?

Researchers show that when it comes to election decisions, humans don’t have much of an edge on monkeys.

By Michael Platt and The Conversation
Science

‘Tiny Forests’ Are Taking Off In Cities Everywhere — But Can They Thrive?

Trees in urban areas are expensive to plant and difficult to maintain. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying.

By Hanyu Qi, Nicola Dempsey and The Conversation
Science

Cooling The Earth By Blocking Sunlight Is Relatively Simple — But Should We?

The risks of solar geoengineering will be magnified if critics are ignored and researchers are allowed to self-regulate.

By Albert Van Wijngaarden, Adrian Hindes, Chloe Colomer and The Conversation
Science

Researchers Find Oxygen Made Without Photosynthesis — With Mind-Blowing Consequences

A recent study demonstrates that oxygen may be produced without the need for life at depths where light cannot reach.

By Lewis Alcott and The Conversation
Health

Science Is Slowly Uncovering the Link Between Mental Health and Perimenopause

Women going through perimenopause are more than twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder.

By Lisa Shitomi-Jones, Arianna Di Florio and The Conversation
Science

The Most Powerful Telescopes Suggest the Cosmos Is Surprisingly Simple

The universe may actually be far less complex than we thought.

By Neil Turok and The Conversation
Sweet Science

A Candy Engineer Reveals What A Snickers Bar Is Actually Made Of

The components of one Snickers bar showcase several common processes used in candy science.

By Richard Hartel and The Conversation
Science

When The Clocks Go Back For Daylight Savings, Night Owls Lose Out

It turns out not everyone “gains an extra hour” of sleep.

By Darren Rhodes and The Conversation
The Dirty Truth

Why Dirt Is Good For Kids — And Could Lead To A Healthier Adulthood

Let them eat dirt!

By Samuel J. White, Philippe B. Wilson and The Conversation
Birds

49 Years Later, The Tiny Bird Stephen King Marked As An Omen Of Death Still Haunts Us

This shy, nocturnal bird has a song that has spooked people for centuries.

By Jared Del Rosso and The Conversation
Science

The Medicines We Take Don’t All Break Down In Our Bodies — They End Up Here Instead

However, the chemicals can eventually end up in rivers, oceans, soils, and so many more places.

By Lauren T. May, Manuela Jorg and The Conversation
Health

Do IUDs Actually Increase the Risk For Breast Cancer? Here’s What A New Study Revealed

A new study has found a link between hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and breast cancer.

By Brett Montgomery and The Conversation
Health

How Good Is AI At Detecting Human Emotions? Too Good.

Identifying specific emotions has significant implications for everything from marketing to education and health care.

By Leo Paas, Ho Seok Ahn, Sanghyub John Lee and The Conversation
Health

The Real Reason America Is Obsessed With Beef Is Not What You Think

Beef has reached iconic status in American culture.

By Hannah Cutting-Jones and The Conversation
Health

A Halloween Candy Binge Can Wreck Havoc On Your Gut Health — But There Is A Key Trick

While no candy is truly healthy, some options are better for your gut than others.

By Christopher Damman and The Conversation
Health

This Forgotten Parasite Is More Common Than You Think — Can AI Help Detect It?

Blood samples of patients infected with a parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis contain hidden information that marks different stages of the disease.

By Trirupa Chakraborty, Aniruddh Sarkar, Jishnu Das and The Conversation
Health

Women Have A Uniquely Increased Risk for Heart Disease And Doctors Don’t Know The Mechanism

Cardiovascular risk accelerates dramatically after menopause.

By Amy Huebschmann, Judith Regensteiner and The Conversation
Entertainment

The Story Behind The “Ghosts” In All Those (Very Real) Victorian Photos

What is the deal with all those ghosts in 19th century photos?

By Andrea Kaston Tange and The Conversation
Sit Down

Wait, Standing Desks Might Be Bad For Your Health?

Did we all take the idea that standing is better than sitting for granted?

By Jack McNamara and The Conversation