Astronomers just spotted a massive object racing through our solar system, and it’s not from around here. Meet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar visitor:

The Conversation

Astronomers have discovered another puzzling interstellar object − this third one is big, bright and fast

Over the next few days, astronomers will pull together evidence to determine whether the object is a comet.

#space #science

Some parents say sex ed should only happen at home, and not in schools — but many of those parents aren’t having those conversations at home.

The Conversation

Parents who oppose sex education in schools often don’t discuss it at home

Comprehensive sex education has benefits, but the birds and the bees appear to be a taboo topic for some families.

Before casseroles took over and Jell-O turned it into dessert, pudding was the star of the American table, especially at big celebrations like #IndependenceDay. Why did pudding disappear? Blame food fads, bad science and a little white supremacy.

The Conversation

A backlash against ‘mixed’ foods led to the demise of a classic American dish

In the 19th century, puddings were as popular and widespread as pasta dishes are today.

@npub1uc0p...cpgf #Histodons #Food

Millions of working Americans rely on Medicaid — not because they’re unemployed, but because their jobs don’t offer affordable health insurance. Even though the cuts in Congress are mainly about requiring people on #Medicaid to work, the paperwork would disproportionately hurt low-wage workers who are already falling through the cracks of our employer-based system.

The Conversation

Employers are failing to insure the working class – Medicaid cuts will leave them even more vulnerable

Medicaid improves access to care for low-wage workers who cannot survive on bare-bone benefits offered by their employers.

Speedballing — mixing opioids like fentanyl with stimulants like cocaine or meth — is now a major driver of overdose deaths in the U.S. Overdoses involving the combination of drug types have risen 50x since 2010.

The Conversation

Speedballing – the deadly mix of stimulants and opioids – requires a new approach to prevention and treatment

In recent years, the majority of stimulant-related overdose deaths have also involved fentanyl or other synthetic opioids.

We celebrate the Declaration of Independence for its bold ideals — but it was also a breakup letter, full of heartbreak and fear. 250 years later, some of those same feelings still hit close to home. A closer look this #FourthofJuly:

The Conversation

Along with the ideals it expresses, the Declaration of Independence mourns for something people lost in 1776 − and now, too

For all the festivities around July 4, the nation’s founding document, the Declaration of Independence, actually depicts a wounded, fearful socie...

#USPolitics @npub1uc0p...cpgf #Histodons

What do you call a fizzy drink?🥤 Pop Soda Coke Something else Whatever your answer, you’re part of a centuries-long American linguistic tradition.

The Conversation

Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate

An expert in American dialects explains how a ‘health drink’ from the early 1800s spawned so many names and variations.

Animals from monkeys to fish can perform logical reasoning tasks similar to humans. But the type of logic being tested matters, and results can vary widely between species and tasks. An animal behavior expert explains his latest findings:

The Conversation

Humans and animals can both think logically − but testing what kind of logic they’re using is tricky

How researchers measure the logical reasoning of monkeys, pigeons, rats, fish and wasps shapes how they understand mental processes in animals − ...

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#AI is advancing even faster than #scifi visionaries like Neal Stephenson imagined in his 1995 novel, “The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer”:

The Conversation

AI is advancing even faster than sci-fi visionaries like Neal Stephenson imagined

Three recent developments in AI – in video games, wearable technology and education – suggest that building something like Stephenson’s Young...

Only 4% of Americans are "definitely planning to move" to another country, despite pre-election claim by many that they would flee. Most cite exploration and adventure over political reasons for considering relocation, according to a migration expert:

The Conversation

Despite claims they’d move overseas after the election, most Americans are staying put

Even if they don’t support the current administration, most Americans are not actually making plans to leave the country.