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

Close-up of several China flags overshadowing two US flags in the foreground

Close-up of several China flags overshadowing two US flags in the foreground

China surpasses US in research spending – the consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout

Caroline Wagner, The Ohio State University

You probably wouldn’t notice if an AI chatbot slipped ads into its responses

Brian Jay Tang, University of Michigan and Kang G. Shin, University of Michigan

A whole bulb of black fermented garlic and both a peeled and unpeeled clove on a dark wooden table.

A whole bulb of black fermented garlic and both a peeled and unpeeled clove on a dark wooden table.

What is black garlic? How heat and humidity turn a pungent ingredient mild and slightly sweet

Mavra Javed, Michigan State University

An image of Amazon's AI shopping assistant, Rufus, appears on a computer monitor to greet shoppers at a store in New York City.

An image of Amazon's AI shopping assistant, Rufus, appears on a computer monitor to greet shoppers at a store in New York City.

What we lose when artificial intelligence does our shopping

Mark Bartholomew, University at Buffalo and Samuel Becher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

School gardens help students learn science and connect with agriculture – but making them happen isn’t easy

Shelley Mitchell, Oklahoma State University

Three schoolchildren and their teacher dig in a garden plot.

Three schoolchildren and their teacher dig in a garden plot.

Umbilical cord blood may hold clues for a child’s risk of developing Type 1 diabetes

Angelica P. Ahrens, University of Florida; Eric W. Triplett, University of Florida, and Johnny Ludvigsson, Linköping University

Close-up of child's arm with small round device attached

Close-up of child's arm with small round device attached

Washington silhouette against orange sky filled with rows of numbers

Washington silhouette against orange sky filled with rows of numbers

US government ramps up mass surveillance with help of AI tech, data brokers – and your apps and devices

Anne Toomey McKenna, Penn State

Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it

Phil Starks, Tufts University

Hand holding empty pill capsules

Hand holding empty pill capsules

It’s a myth that baby boys are less social than girls – a new look at decades of research shows all babies are born to connect

Lise Eliot, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Elevated view of two babies, one in pink hat, one in navy blue, lying on backs facing opposite directions

Elevated view of two babies, one in pink hat, one in navy blue, lying on backs facing opposite directions

Is the science that we do today truth, likely to be a lie, or is it undetermined?

Greg Eghigian, Penn State

Two scientists wearing lab coats sitting at a bench using pipettes and holding flasks.

Two scientists wearing lab coats sitting at a bench using pipettes and holding flasks.

Most people do not realize when a personal message they receive was written by AI, study finds

Andras Molnar, University of Michigan

cartoon image of a typewriter with text on a piece of paper in it

cartoon image of a typewriter with text on a piece of paper in it

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Space

An astronaut inside a spacecraft holding a camera up to a window with a cloth covering. The lens is pushed through a hole in the covering.

An astronaut inside a spacecraft holding a camera up to a window with a cloth covering. The lens is pushed through a hole in the covering.

Artemis II crew brought a human eye and storytelling vision to the photos they took on their mission

Christye Sisson, Rochester Institute of Technology

Artemis II crew used modern photography to tell the visual story of their lunar journey – and update some classic Apollo images

Jennifer Levasseur, Smithsonian Institution

An astronaut looking out a window from below. The Earth is taking up most of the view outside the window.

An astronaut looking out a window from below. The Earth is taking up most of the view outside the window.

Artemis II moonshot reflects a spacefaring vision present in Jules Verne’s 19th-century novel

Anastasia Klimchynskaya, Illinois Wesleyan University

The Earth, partially shadowed, visible beyond the lunar horizon.

The Earth, partially shadowed, visible beyond the lunar horizon.

I found a new meteor shower, and it comes from an asteroid getting broken down by the Sun

Patrick M. Shober, NASA

A long exposure photo of meteors streaking across the sky. Each meteor looks like a line crossing the sky

A long exposure photo of meteors streaking across the sky. Each meteor looks like a line crossing the sky

‘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.

More articles about space

Digital life

illustration of a woman sitting in front of a computer screen that has a large smiling face

illustration of a woman sitting in front of a computer screen that has a large smiling face

AIs have ‘personalities’ – here’s how they affect you more deeply than you may realize

Tamilla Triantoro, Quinnipiac University

How Iranian hackers pose a threat to US critical infrastructure

William Akoto, American University School of International Service

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

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

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

Carolina Rossini, UMass Amherst

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

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

More articles about artificial intelligence

New research

Ancient teeth reveal clues to the environment humans’ early ancestors evolved in millions of years ago

Zelalem Bedaso, University of Dayton

A jaw bone showing teeth from the bottom.

A jaw bone showing teeth from the bottom.

Using atomic nuclei could allow scientists to read time more precisely than ever – what this research could mean for future clocks

Eric R. Hudson, University of California, Los Angeles and Andrei Derevianko, University of Nevada, Reno

A large machine in the dark with bright optical lasers running through it

A large machine in the dark with bright optical lasers running through it

How does spider venom damage human cells? Researchers uncover the killer mechanism of recluse spider toxin

Matthew Cordes, University of Arizona

Close-up of brown spider with seven long legs and six eyes

Close-up of brown spider with seven long legs and six eyes

About 80% of breast cancer biopsies turn out benign – new imaging tool promises clearer diagnoses and fewer biopsies

Quing Zhu, Washington University in St. Louis

Patient lying on side with arm raised, health care provider holding ultrasound probe on the side of their breast, images displayed on the machine's screen

Patient lying on side with arm raised, health care provider holding ultrasound probe on the side of their breast, images displayed on the machine's screen

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Zachary Slepian, University of Florida

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

Perry Samson, University of Michigan

A truck parked near a tornado.

A truck parked near a tornado.

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?'

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

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.

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