Adriana Smith’s story highlights a growing reality in post-Roe America: fetal rights can override a woman’s, even in death. But an expert on ‘postmortem pregnancies’ says: don’t oversimplify.
The Conversation
Keeping brain-dead pregnant women on life support raises ethical issues that go beyond abortion politics
Adriana Smith’s body was kept on life support for 16 weeks so her fetus could gestate. Abortion politics don’t capture the ethical complexities...
 #abortionrights #abortionbans
What happens when religious beliefs and inclusive education collide? A new #SCOTUS ruling gives parents more say over what their kids learn – and gives schools a complex new mandate to navigate.
The Conversation
In LGBTQ+ storybook case, Supreme Court handed a win to parental rights, raising tough questions for educators
SCOTUS decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, one of its blockbuster cases from 2025, largely rested on two parental rights cases from 1925 and 1972.
Happy #CanadaDay to all you Canadians, and our sister site @ConversationCA: New from them: Canada Day symbols are at the heart of heated debates about Canadian identity, with some viewing them as unifying while others see them as exclusionary.
The Conversation
Symbols take centre stage in debates about Canadian nationalism
Arguments over Canada’s national symbols, from a new flag in the 1960s to new passports two years ago, reveal how deeply some Canadians are attac...
Analyzing 7,000+ barks from 10 dogs, researchers found consistent acoustic patterns linked to distinct situations like play, threats or isolation. https://buff.ly/mrOGlII
Modern autocrats don’t always wear uniforms or rule by fear. They use elections, media control and polished images. Understanding this “spin dictatorship” is key to protecting democracy, especially in the U.S, writes an expert on authoritarian regimes: https://buff.ly/qTjDLP7
Planning to use charcoal to grill for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend? A new study of charcoal bag labels reveals widespread false claims. One brand promises U.S.-grown oak — but delivers tropical scraps, bark, and rocks instead. Half the bags were underweight. You may be paying premium prices for mystery wood.
The Conversation
Grilling with lump charcoal: Is US-grown hardwood really in that bag?
None of the analyzed bags of lump charcoal gave buyers as much effective grilling fuel as their labels promised.
 #FourthofJuly
Yelp’s “Black-owned” tag was meant to support businesses – but in Detroit, it may have backfired. A new study found the label led to more reviews, and average ratings dropped by 0.75 stars. https://buff.ly/BE60MCh
Who’s the most American? Psychological studies show that many people are biased and think it’s a white English speaker https://buff.ly/nNbK4Ee
The James Webb #Space Telescope doesn't take regular photos - its detectors convert infrared light to digital data, which scientists on Earth process into the stunning full-color space images we see. An astrophysicist explains:
The Conversation
How can the James Webb Space Telescope see so far?
The James Webb Space Telescope has 2 powerful instruments that see light the human eye can’t.
 #JWST
Jewish couples are adapting traditional wedding rituals to reflect gender equality, from revising the ketubah contract to both partners breaking the glass under the chuppah. A Jewish studies scholar explains: https://buff.ly/BYbXt7H