Science + Technology – The Conversation – new research, AI, space, psychology and more

lines of ones and zeros overlay a green, white and red flag

lines of ones and zeros overlay a green, white and red flag

How Iranian hackers pose a threat to US critical infrastructure

William Akoto, American University School of International Service

a large plume of black smoke rises in an industrial area

a large plume of black smoke rises in an industrial area

Why Iran targeted Amazon data centers and what that does – and doesn’t – change about warfare

Dennis Murphy, Georgia Institute of Technology

Four astronauts wearing orange jumpsuits

Four astronauts wearing orange jumpsuits

Astronaut Victor Glover is the latest in a long line of Black American explorers − including York, the enslaved man who played a key role in the Lewis and Clark expedition

Craig Fehrman, Indiana University

a person wearing a lifevest and facemask operates a speedboat carrying a large spherical object

a person wearing a lifevest and facemask operates a speedboat carrying a large spherical object

How sea mines threaten global trade, and how navies detect them

John Femiani, Miami University

‘Project Hail Mary’ demonstrates how intellectual humility can be a guiding force for scientists and astronauts

Deana L. Weibel, Grand Valley State University

Ryan Gosling dressed as Ryland Grace, strapped into the pilot's chair of a spaceship.

Ryan Gosling dressed as Ryland Grace, strapped into the pilot's chair of a spaceship.

Artemis II’s long countdown – a space historian explains why it has taken over 50 years to return to the Moon

Emily A. Margolis, Smithsonian Institution

A conical module reading NASA in space, with the Earth and Moon visible in the distance.

A conical module reading NASA in space, with the Earth and Moon visible in the distance.

NASA wants to build a base on the Moon by the 2030s – how and why it plans to build up to a long-term lunar presence

Michelle L.D. Hanlon, University of Mississippi

Panicking scientists, canceled experiments – federal funding cuts turned my work as a research dean into crisis management

Nara Parameswaran, Michigan State University

man in dark room looks at computer screens showing microscopy image of cells

man in dark room looks at computer screens showing microscopy image of cells

Sex test used in IOC’s new transgender ban more likely to exclude from Olympics intersex women who were assigned female at birth

Ari Berkowitz, University of Oklahoma

Close-up of an athlete crouched on a track, about to sprint

Close-up of an athlete crouched on a track, about to sprint

Are multiverses real? An astrophysicist explains why it depends on how you define ‘real’

Zachary Slepian, University of Florida

Hand reaching out to a dark, glowing surface with white circles of light, a reflection of another hand reaching back

Hand reaching out to a dark, glowing surface with white circles of light, a reflection of another hand reaching back

We analyzed Philly street scenes and identified signs of gentrification using machine learning trained on longtime residents’ observations

Maya Mueller, Drexel University and Isaac Quaye, Temple University

Street view image of a shuttered grocery store in a gentrifying neighborhood in North Philadelphia.

Street view image of a shuttered grocery store in a gentrifying neighborhood in North Philadelphia.

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Space

Four astronauts wearing orange jumpsuits

Four astronauts wearing orange jumpsuits

From Artemis II to ‘Project Hail Mary’, spaceflight captures audiences when it centers on people because human space travel is hazardous

Scott Solomon, Rice University

Why is the US going back round the Moon with Artemis II? A space policy expert explains

Gemma Ware, The Conversation

The Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft.

The Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft.

‘Project Hail Mary’ explores unique forms of life in space – 5 essential reads on searching for aliens that look nothing like life on Earth

Mary Magnuson, The Conversation

A deep view of many galaxies and stars in space

A deep view of many galaxies and stars in space

The first modern rocket launched 100 years ago, beginning a century of both innovations and challenges for spaceflight

Michael Carrafiello, Miami University

A black and white photo of a man leaning against a rocket that's several meters long.

A black and white photo of a man leaning against a rocket that's several meters long.

While the US government is investigating unidentified anomalous phenomena, academic researchers studying them face stigma

Darrell Evans, Purdue University

A black and white photo showing a blurry object flying above clouds.

A black and white photo showing a blurry object flying above clouds.

More articles about space

Digital life

a man wearing a black robe sits at a raised desk with a large wall-mounted seal and two flags behind him

a man wearing a black robe sits at a raised desk with a large wall-mounted seal and two flags behind him

Two verdicts in two days: How American courts are rewriting the rules for Big Tech and children

Carolina Rossini, UMass Amherst

Jury finds Instagram and YouTube addictive in lawsuit poised to reshape social media – platform design meets product liability

Carolina Rossini, UMass Amherst

a teen girl weaing pajamas looks at a phone while sitting on a bed in a dark room

a teen girl weaing pajamas looks at a phone while sitting on a bed in a dark room

How AI English and human English differ – and how to decide when to use artificial language

Laura Aull, University of Michigan

cartoon of a woman and a humanoid robot talking to each other

cartoon of a woman and a humanoid robot talking to each other

Constant technology changes throw seniors a curve – and add to caregivers’ load

Debaleena Chattopadhyay, University of Illinois Chicago

an older woman sitting at a table points to the screen of the smartphone she's holding as a younger woman looks where she's pointing

an older woman sitting at a table points to the screen of the smartphone she's holding as a younger woman looks where she's pointing

Why cloud service outages ripple across the internet – and the economy

Doug Jacobson, Iowa State University

a man wearing an ID lanyared and carrying a water bottle walks past blank display screensin an airport terminal

a man wearing an ID lanyared and carrying a water bottle walks past blank display screensin an airport terminal

More articles about artificial intelligence

New research

Ultralightweight sonar plus AI lets tiny drones navigate like bats

Nitin Sanket, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

a small boxy drone in a grove of trees

a small boxy drone in a grove of trees

Mosquitoes carrying malaria are evolving more quickly than insecticides can kill them – researchers pinpoint how

Jacob A Tennessen, Harvard University

Close-up of mosquito on someone's skin

Close-up of mosquito on someone's skin

New study measures titanium in Apollo rock to uncover Moon’s early chemistry

Advik D. Vira, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emily First, Macalester College

A black and white photo of the lunar surface, with several large rocks and a ridge in the background.

A black and white photo of the lunar surface, with several large rocks and a ridge in the background.

Scientists may be overestimating the amount of microplastics in the environment – and the culprit is lab gloves

Anne McNeil, University of Michigan and Madeline Clough, University of Michigan

Image of overlapping laboratory gloves.

Image of overlapping laboratory gloves.

Drones paired with AI could help search-and-rescue teams find missing persons faster

Adeel Khalid, Kennesaw State University

a small quadcopter flies near a forest

a small quadcopter flies near a forest

How dolphins communicate – new discoveries from a long-term study in Sarasota, Florida

Laela Sayigh, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

two dolphins surfacing together

two dolphins surfacing together

You probably agree with the animals on which bird calls, frog noises and cricket chirps are most attractive – new research

Logan S. James, The University of Texas at Austin; McGill University

three birds perched on a rod cocking their heads in different directions

three birds perched on a rod cocking their heads in different directions

Hundreds of hungry mosquitoes, a student volunteer and a mesh suit helped us figure out how these deadly insects reach their targets

David Hu, Georgia Institute of Technology

white silhouette of a human upper body surrounded by what look like filaments, concentrated around the head

white silhouette of a human upper body surrounded by what look like filaments, concentrated around the head

Brain and mind

Why do basketball players miss shots they’ve made a thousand times before? Neuroscience has an answer

David Van den Heever, Mississippi State University

Wide shot of basketball player shooting a free throw under a spotlight highlighting other basketballs surrounding him on the court

Wide shot of basketball player shooting a free throw under a spotlight highlighting other basketballs surrounding him on the court

Irrational decision or helpful evolutionary adaptation? A philosopher on the rationality wars behind ‘nudge’ policy

Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez, Wake Forest University; University of North Carolina – Greensboro

two teenagers with trays of food at a self-serve cafeteria display

two teenagers with trays of food at a self-serve cafeteria display

Making good choices when life gets messy – practical wisdom relies on human judgment, not rules

Tim Hulsey, University of Tennessee

Woman lying on couch and adolescent girl leaning on it look at each other

Woman lying on couch and adolescent girl leaning on it look at each other

Are heroes born or made? Role models and training can prepare ordinary people to take heroic action

Catherine A. Sanderson, Amherst College

little girl's silhouette flexing her muscles with shadow of a caped superwoman

little girl's silhouette flexing her muscles with shadow of a caped superwoman

More articles about psychology

Curious Kids

Real kids ask real questions and real experts answer them

A truck parked near a tornado.

A truck parked near a tornado.

Can you survive inside a tornado? This scientist did by accident – he’s lucky to be alive

Perry Samson, University of Michigan

What was the very first plant in the world?

Erin Potter, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Fern in foreground of wooded scene with brook

Fern in foreground of wooded scene with brook

Kids ask the questions. Scholars answer them.

Be sure to include your name, age and where you live. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

Send in your question!

Graphic that says 'connecting experts with curious kids', with words in background saying 'how? why? who?'

Graphic that says 'connecting experts with curious kids', with words in background saying 'how? why? who?'

Why do mountaintops stay snowy?

Allie Mazurek, Colorado State University

A father and his young daughters walk through a field of wildflowers with a snow-covered mountain ahead.

A father and his young daughters walk through a field of wildflowers with a snow-covered mountain ahead.

Why are so many statues naked? An art historian explains this tradition’s ancient roots

Anna Swartwood House, University of South Carolina

porcelain station of a naked, bearded man reclining with mini children cavorting over and around him

porcelain station of a naked, bearded man reclining with mini children cavorting over and around him

More Curious Kids articles

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