The Conversation

Do We Really Need to Walk 10,000 Steps a Day?

Written by: The Conversation

Feb. 2, 2021

The 10,000 step target has more to do with marketing than scientific fact.

How to Tell If Your Dog Is a Genius

Written by: The Conversation

Feb. 2, 2021

A paper published in Nature shows some dogs learn the name of a new object after hearing it only ...

Will Coronavirus Really Evolve to Become Less Deadly?

Written by: The Conversation

Feb. 1, 2021

How confident can we be in predicting how evolution will shape the relationship between a pathog ...

How Trolls Evade Social Media Moderation

Written by: The Conversation

Feb. 1, 2021

Social media companies are using automated content moderation tools in an effort to flag and del ...

Conspiracy Theories: Why Are They Thriving in the Pandemic?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 29, 2021

In contrast to past crises, recent conspiracy theories have been driven by the rapid change in h ...

How to Counter COVID-19 Misinformation on Chinese Social Media

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 28, 2021

Conspiracy theories and misinformation are global phenomena that affect people’s perceptions of ...

Impeachment After Leaving Office? Rome Put a Pope's Corpse on Trial

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 25, 2021

Even death may not be a bar to prosecution for misconduct in public office.

Why Does It Take Longer to Fly from East to West?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 25, 2021

The jet stream can have a big impact on how long a plane ride will last.

The Spellbinding History of Cheese and Witchcraft

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 22, 2021

It’s not entirely clear why cheese is seen to have magical properties.

What Does the Vice President Do?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 20, 2021

The vice presidency has traditionally been a relatively insignificant position, though the offic ...

The Far-Right Rioters at the Capitol Were Not Antifa – But Violent Groups Often Blame Rivals for Unpopular Attacks

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 14, 2021

Deception helps terrorist groups innovate by allowing them to learn, master and experiment with ...

A Second Impeachment Is Just the Start of Trump's Legal Woes

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 14, 2021

The second impeachment is the opening salvo of investigations and allegations of wrongdoing that ...

Capitol Siege Raises Questions Over Extent of White Supremacist Infiltration of US Police

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 14, 2021

The belief that white people are superior to other races has long tainted elements within law en ...

The Myths Behind the Tattoos Worn by 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 12, 2021

The defining image of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6 was undoubtedly that of a bare ...

Why Do Smoke Alarms Keep Going Off Even When There's No Smoke?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 11, 2021

Sensors in smoke detectors monitor how particles in the air affect a flow of current to the battery.

Giant Ancient Sharks Had Enormous Babies That Ate Their Siblings in the Womb

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 11, 2021

Some sharks lay eggs, while others give birth to live young. In most sharks, however, the eggs h ...

Yellow Gadsden Flag Carries a Long and Shifting History

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 8, 2021

Often, people use a flag not because of what is explicitly displayed, but because of what the pe ...

Andrew Johnson's Failed Presidency Echoes in Trump's White House

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 8, 2021

The disgraced Johnson, like Trump, also declined to attend his successor's inauguration ceremony.

EXPLAINER: How Does the 25th Amendment Work?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 7, 2021

The 25th Amendment, ratified by the states in 1967, declares that upon the removal, resignation ...

What's Behind Trump Supporters' Brazen Storming of the Capitol?

Written by: The Conversation

Jan. 7, 2021

There was almost a carnival element to people's delight in causing complete chaos.