What do sticking your hand out a car window & landing a spacecraft on Mars have in common? Drag. Aerospace engineers are using aerobraking — slowing spacecraft with thin atmosphere instead of fuel — to orbit planets, save propellant, and reduce #space junk.
The Conversation
Spacecraft can ‘brake’ in space using drag − advancing craft agility, space safety and planetary missions
An aerospace engineer explains why NASA, Space Force and other agencies are using or testing aerobraking for more fuel-efficient spacecraft.
Cursive was dropped from most schools after Common Core in 2010—but now states like California, Iowa, and Oklahoma are bringing it back. Why? Research links it to stronger reading, spelling and storytelling.
The Conversation
Can learning cursive help kids read better? Some policymakers think it’s worth a try
Teachers often have trouble finding enough time in the school day to teach all the expected writing skills, let alone cursive handwriting.
Worsening #allergies aren’t your imagination. A forestry professor explains #climatechange is extending pollen seasons by an average of 20 days and increasing pollen concentrations by 21% across North America:
The Conversation
Worsening allergies aren’t your imagination − windy days create the perfect pollen storm
From sending more pollen airborne to breaking up pollen grains, which lets them penetrate deeper into your lungs, the wind is not the allergy suffe...
Have you ever wondered how millions of people can watch the same video at the same time without overwhelming the internet? A computer scientist explains the technology behind streaming:
The Conversation
How millions of people can watch the same video at the same time – a computer scientist explains the technology behind streaming
A lot of sophisticated digital plumbing goes into delivering that streaming video to your phone, computer or TV.
Modern algebra can help solve a scrambled Rubik's cube. It's not just about equations, but studying objects and how they behave when combined in different ways.
The Conversation
Algebra is more than alphabet soup – it’s the language of algorithms and relationships
What do Sudoku, AI, Rubik’s cubes, clocks and molecules have in common? They can all be reimagined as algebraic equations.
 #Mathstodon
Why some people say pop, others say soda, and Southerners just ask for a coke (even if what they’re drinking isn’t Coke):
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.
“Manu jumping” is all about the biggest, loudest splash. The sport originated in the Māori community, where manu jumpers leap from bridges, wharves and diving platforms to make giant splashes.
The Conversation
‘Manu jumping’: The physics behind making humongous splashes in the pool
Do a manu jump and you’ll likely make the biggest splash at the pool party.
Most students are using AI to write, but not necessarily to cheat. They’re brainstorming, revising and thinking critically with tools like ChatGPT. A writing professor says this isn’t a threat – it’s an opportunity, rather than a loss.
The Conversation
AI isn’t replacing student writing – but it is reshaping it
If AI allows students to automate routine cognitive tasks, it doesn’t mean they’re thinking less. It means their thinking is changing.
In the past 2 decades, the U.S. has lost over 20% of its butterfly population. Other insects are declining too – bees, moths, dragonflies and more.
The Conversation
Humans are killing helpful insects in hundreds of ways − simple steps can reduce the harm
Insects are often under pressure from several threats at once, from pesticides to habitat loss to pollution.
Fake #health information – whether shared unknowingly and innocently, or deliberately to mislead or cause harm – can be far more captivating than accurate information.
The Conversation
Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts
If the health content you see on social media sounds too good to be true, it’s very likely false – but there are ways to check it out before s...