Across the Country
National News
Top headlines from national outlets, refreshed every 15 minutes. Each story opens on the original publisher’s site.
Why over two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline
A recent national survey reveals a US electorate that is unsettled, gloomy and likely looking for political change.
The Conversation
I’ve been talking to MAGA supporters for years, and here’s why some are sticking with Trump — and others are not
Despite the headwinds that have cratered support for Donald Trump – high prices, the Iran war, corruption – many of Trump’s MAGA loyalists still back him. A scholar who studies MAGA looks at why.
The Conversation
Pittsburgh’s ‘Green Man’ was a real person – why the legend outlives the facts
He wasn’t a monster. He was just a man who survived a terrible accident. So why won’t western Pennsylvania let go of its ‘Green Man’ legend? A folklorist explains.
The Conversation
AI may quickly generate ideas, but working with people leads to more creative ones
A recent experiment found that people working with ChatGPT generated fewer unique ideas than those who collaborated with other humans.
The Conversation
New restrictions on purchases with SNAP benefits in some states mean fewer convenience stores are accepting them
Stores in waiver states may need to update their checkout systems and train employees to prevent purchases that are no longer allowed with SNAP benefits – potentially a big burden for retailers.
The Conversation
Private equity is buying up more methadone clinics. Access to the lifesaving drug isn’t getting easier.
Despite acquiring more than one-third of US methadone clinics, private equity has not significantly expanded methadone availability.
The Conversation
How religion collided with race and politics in Brazil’s presidential election
Religion has become an important factor in Brazilian politics. But to see the whole picture, you need to analyze diversity within churches, a political scientist writes.
The Conversation
Earwax is both slippery and sticky – this weird combo might lead to safer insect repellents
Earwax’s unusual physical properties help it repel insects in the lab. Is this a job it evolved to do in animal ears?
The Conversation
School librarians are vanishing from Michigan schools just when they are needed most
Certified librarians can help boost students’ reading and technological skills but aren’t required in Michigan public schools.
The Conversation
We studied 1,584 data centers – and found the buildings full of machines are tied to modest local job growth
This employment boost took three to five years to show up, two researchers found after studying more than two decades of data.
The Conversation
Leave home with a plan: What to pack in your medical kit and when to seek care for symptoms abroad
Here’s what to talk to your doctor about before traveling abroad.
The Conversation
How should AI be regulated? Follow the harm
Instead of trying to restrict AI technologies, regulations could focus on the harm the technology causes people and companies.
The Conversation
Viruses obey the laws of physics – studying how can help researchers understand why they infect people differently and lead to better treatments
Mechanobiology can help identify how the physical forces within cells affect how well viruses can invade them.
The Conversation
Where humans build, mosquitoes follow – bringing dengue, West Nile and other diseases with them
Disease-carrying mosquitoes are moving deeper into the US. Climate change is only part of the problem.
The Conversation
Punishment alone won’t help gang-involved teens – a former child soldier explains why
Decades of helping child soldiers return to civilian life point to what US responses to youth violence miss.
The Conversation
Why your vote for local chief prosecutor will matter on Election Day
For over a decade, progressive prosecutors have offered voters various options to tackling crime that veer from traditional ‘tough on crime’ tactics focused on heavy prison time for offenders.
The Conversation
Putin hopes hardship will force Ukrainians to sue for peace – polling suggests it won’t work
Many Ukrainians have been deeply traumatized by relentless Russian bombing. But that hasn’t translated into a desire to concede territory for peace.
The Conversation
What legal experts say about the Trump administration’s attempts to make a federal case out of state elections
A crucial US Senate election in Alaska is the latest target among many Trump administration efforts this year to assert unconstitutional control over federal election administration by states.
The Conversation
How Lula turned the tables on the right in Brazil and the US with his comeback presidential victory
Lula won through a resonant message and new outreach success on social media. But governing in the face of a strong right at home and in Washington won’t be easy.
The Conversation
Ghost stories don’t just scare us – they remind us of historical injustices
From phantom ships carrying enslaved people to an apparition in a Maine lake, ghost stories have revived memories of injustices that might otherwise have been forgotten.
The Conversation
If Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts can get dangerous blood clots, so can you – here’s how some states are trying to reduce the risk
In the US, up to 900,000 people are affected by severe blood clots each year, and over 60,000 die from it annually.
The Conversation
Why do people still get polio in some countries and not in others?
Polio can survive only where it finds kids who aren’t protected by a vaccine.
The Conversation
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s notebooks reveal the strange workings of his imagination
In his private notebooks, Hawthorne didn’t have to worry about being called unconventional, depressive or mad. The result is a glimpse of his macabre mind at work.
The Conversation
I composed music about infertility and pregnancy loss, then performed it in a Pittsburgh hospital
1 in 4 known pregnancies in the US ends in loss. A composer explains how those numbers, along with doctors’ expertise, became a 60-minute chamber work.
The Conversation
50 years later, Amory Lovins’ soft energy path meets electrification
Five decades ago, he charted two paths for energy use in the US. His soft path rightly emphasized efficiency and renewables but underestimated the importance of electricity.
The Conversation
AI chatbots can be a valuable health resource for older adults – if they embrace ‘informed skepticism’
AI can help you navigate health information, but evaluating the credibility and quality of responses is key.
The Conversation
Spending in-person time with friends is the biggest predictor of whether college students flourish
Helping young people thrive involves supporting healthy relationships, as well as being engaged in work, school and family life.
The Conversation
Data centers are inspiring bipartisanship – for now
A political scientist who studies AI in campaigns explains why data centers have put Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon on the same side ahead of the midterms.
The Conversation
Congress is freeing Trump of the limited legal requirements left on him by the Supreme Court
In Donald Trump’s second term, congressional leaders have given up much of their constitutionally endowed power, allowing the president to exercise authority with little fear of consequences.
The Conversation
Boo! Feeling scared on Halloween can be fun for children but can sometimes push their limits
A children’s literature author explains how some of her favorite Halloween-themed children’s books can help children prepare for the holiday ahead.
The Conversation