In the remote Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a rare fungus grows inside dead caterpillars. In traditional Chinese medicine, this parasitic fungus is prized for its purported medicinal effects[1]. Known as Ophiocordyceps sinensis – colloquially, caterpillar fungus or
Mass deportations don’t keep out ‘bad genes’ − they use scientific racism to justify biased immigration policies
Threats of mass deportations[1] loom on the post-2024 election horizon. Some supporters claim these will protect the country from immigrants who bring “bad genes[2]” into America. But this is a misguided use of the language of science to give a sheen of
Why does a rocket have to go 25,000 mph to escape Earth?
Curious Kids[1] is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [2]. Why does a rocket have to go 25,000 mph (about 40,000 kilometers per hour) to escape Earth?
Read more https://theconversation.com/why-does-a-rocket-have-to-go-25-000-mph-to-escape-earth-243338
From anecdotes to AI tools, how doctors make medical decisions is evolving with technology
The practice of medicine has undergone an incredible, albeit incomplete, transformation over the past 50 years[1], moving steadily from a field informed primarily by expert opinion and the anecdotal experience of individual clinicians toward a formal scientific
Planning for spring’s garden? Bees like variety and don’t care about your neighbors’ yards
In order to reproduce, most flowering plants rely on animals to move their pollen. In turn, pollinators rely on flowers for food, including both nectar and pollen. If you’re a gardener, you might want to support this partnership by planting flowers. But
Brain monitoring may be the future of work – how it’s used could improve employee performance or worsen discrimination
Despite all the attention on technologies that reduce the hands-on role of humans at work – such as self-driving vehicles[1], robot workers[2], artificial intelligence[3] and so on – researchers in the field of neuroergonomics are using technology to
What is a war crime?
Curious Kids[1] is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [2].What are war crimes and when did they start? – Artie, 12, Queens, New YorkI imagine you’re
Read more https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-war-crime-244005