In the middle of the South Pacific, a group of tropical plants hosts multiple aggressive ant species, without chaos and without them ever knowing about each other. How? It builds them separate apartments.
The Conversation
This tropical plant builds isolated ‘apartments’ to prevent battles among the aggressive ant tenants it relies on for survival
Squamellaria plants grow special structures to host the ants they symbiotically rely on for nutrients. Distinct compartments help different ant col...
IRS says churches may endorse political candidates despite a decades-old federal statute barring them from doing that
The Conversation
IRS says churches may endorse political candidates despite a decades-old federal statute barring them from doing that
There’s only one known instance of a church losing its tax-exempt status because it violated the Johnson Amendment, but Republicans have tried to...
Muscle weakness in cancer survivors may be caused by treatable weakness in blood vessels – new research
The Conversation
Muscle weakness in cancer survivors may be caused by treatable weakness in blood vessels – new research
Many cancer survivors struggle with muscle weakness, which can be so profound that they may have difficulties walking up a couple of flights of sta...
AI in health care could save lives and money − but change won’t happen overnight
The Conversation
AI in health care could save lives and money − but change won’t happen overnight
Privacy and bias concerns and integration challenges are brakes on the pace of health care systems adopting the technology.
Spotted lanternflies love grapevines, and that’s bad for Pennsylvania’s wine industry
The Conversation
Spotted lanternflies love grapevines, and that’s bad for Pennsylvania’s wine industry
An entomologist describes how the sap-sucking insects can weaken grapevines and reduce fruit yield and quality.
School smartphone bans reflect growing concern over youth mental health and academic performance
The Conversation
School smartphone bans reflect growing concern over youth mental health and academic performance
Across the US, parents are leading the charge to limit cellphone use in schools.
Recycling solar panels sounds like a no-brainer — but it’s costly, complex, and often not worth it economically. Most panels still end up in landfills, but smarter designs could change that.
The Conversation
Why recycling solar panels is harder than you might think − an electrical engineer explains
Recycling solar panels seems like a smart idea, but it’s complicated. Built to withstand years of wind and weather, solar panels are designed for...
 #sustainability
Say goodbye to duty-free fast fashion. A little-known tariff loophole let Shein and Temu ship cheap clothes to U.S. shoppers tax-free, but that just ended for China, and it’s ending globally in 2027. That $20 dress? Now it’s $30 with tariffs.
The Conversation
That $20 dress direct from China now costs $30 after Trump closed a tariff loophole – and the US will soon end the ‘de minimis’ exemption for the rest of the world, too
New trade barriers are set to go into effect in July 2027.
Iran’s defeat and Hezbollah’s losses have left #Lebanon at a crossroads. With weakened foreign influence, could the country finally break free of regional conflicts and chart a more neutral path?
The Conversation
A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the region’s conflicts − will it be enough?
For decades, Lebanon has been torn apart by internal division and external conflict. There may currently be a narrow window for a different future.
Feeling anxious? There’s a bot for that. Can it actually help? Maybe. Is it listening? Kinda. #AI chatbots are stepping in as #mentalhealth support, but can they really do the job as a professional therapist? A neuroscientist tried one and has thoughts:
The Conversation
The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health?
Mental health chatbots promise therapy at your fingertips, but can AI ease anxiety and depression, or are we confusing conversation with care?