Across the Country
National News
Top headlines from national outlets, refreshed every 15 minutes. Each story opens on the original publisher’s site.
Ancestors all around – millions of dead people linger in Americans’ memories
The shadow population of deceased relatives is more than three times as large as today’s living population.
The Conversation
UN peacekeepers prepare to exit Lebanon after 70 years – leaving behind a worrying security vacuum
In August, the UN Security Council voted to end the decades-long peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Blue helmets will leave by the end of the year.
The Conversation
PHP is in the foundation of 70% of websites – here’s what it is and why a flaw in the software is a major hacking threat
A cybersecurity researcher explains how a flaw in widespread software makes millions of websites vulnerable to hackers – and underscores the role of AI in attacking and defending the internet.
The Conversation
Why ultra-Orthodox parties hold so much sway in Israeli politics
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, often called Haredim, make up a small but growing percentage of Israel’s population. Still, their political parties wield significant influence.
The Conversation
Fear-based campaign ads can grab attention, but whether they win votes is less clear
Political campaigns often use fear to play on voters’ existing prejudices and stereotypes. What that means for your vote is less predictable.
The Conversation
Surviving cancer starts at diagnosis and continues after treatment – earlier survivorship care can help patients feel better and live longer
Cancer survivorship is often thought to begin after a patient receives their last treatment. But planning for life after cancer is critical to effective care.
The Conversation
Indian Gen Z ‘cockroach’ protesters aim to upend assumptions about democracy – and populism – in Modi’s India
The protests challenge the government’s view of who “the people” are, what democracy means, and who speaks for youth, women and the politically marginalized.
The Conversation
Chiricahua is the nation’s newest national park – what does that mean?
What comes next for Chiricahua, now that is has been officially redesignated as America’s 64th national park?
The Conversation
An AI model’s false tip to Philadelphia police reveals how digital agents can do as they’re told and still cause trouble
An expert on AI governance explains why these rare mistakes may soon be common, and with much higher stakes.
The Conversation
Offering cash for votes is quite common – but here’s why it doesn’t work
Money or other material benefits are often not enough to override a voter’s preferences and partisanship.
The Conversation
El Niño is threatening California’s fragile coast again – the 1982-83 El Niño opened eyes to the serious erosion risks
The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, eroded cliffs, leaving homes hanging precariously over the edges. A coastal scientist explains the escalating risks.
The Conversation
Human rights could improve – or worsen – based on how nations use the UN treaty against cybercrime
If the treaty enters into force, responsible nations will have to carefully monitor how other countries use it.
The Conversation
Horror’s monsters find new meaning with queer and trans audiences – how ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ dissects identity
Horror as a genre has traditionally been rife with transphobia and homophobia. But LGBTQ+ fans love it anyway.
The Conversation
What the failed attack on an Illinois temple reveals about anti-Hindu hate in the United States
Hostility toward Hindu worship practices draws on a long history of prejudice portraying the faith’s followers as idolaters, argues a scholar of Hindu studies.
The Conversation
Japan’s expensive funerals and declining birth rates are transforming ancestral traditions
With fewer people to care for their ancestors’ graves, many in Japan are looking for innovative solutions.
The Conversation
Why the political ambition gap between men and women persists even at the local level
Women are less ambitious for local office than men, mirroring an ambition gap that exists at the state and federal level, too. A group of scholars documented this gap and investigated why it exists.
The Conversation
Horror films exploit how human vision works to deliver movies’ best scares
Scary movies create tension in that space between perception and recognition, as your brain tries to determine what, exactly, you’re seeing.
The Conversation
US inequality is getting worse in ways you might not expect
From tax policy to gas prices and tariffs, a mix of new factors is making inequality in the US more extreme.
The Conversation
How governments worldwide are shaping what AI can say about politics
Some governments use legitimate AI concerns as a pretext to control political discussion, particularly chatbot responses about those in power.
The Conversation
Are partisan politics even changing up our accents? They just might be, y’all
Vowels have become the latest players in partisan politics, a barometer of how beliefs and values fit within the old vs. new South.
The Conversation
Are transgender sports bans really about protecting women? Survey data tells a different story
In a recent national survey, Americans with the most negative views of women were the biggest proponents of transgender sports bans.
The Conversation
State takeovers of struggling Texas school districts come at a high cost, with little evidence of success
The number of uncertified teachers rose, while enrolled student numbers dropped, following a state takeover of Houston. Data shows other uneven results across districts.
The Conversation
I’m a Philly forensic psychologist who has conducted dozens of psychopathic evaluations – here’s why an evaluation of R.C. Horsch in the ‘80s didn’t identify him as a possible psychopath
Philadelphia police and FBI are conducting a massive investigation into the home where the late R.C. Horsch and his son lived, along with several women who’ve gone missing.
The Conversation
Who should have a say in which species are saved? The California condor offers lessons for a global biodiversity treaty
When conservation affects local people, the question of who pays and who has a voice in decisions can make or break species recovery.
The Conversation
A scuff on your bag, a dent in your mug – and suddenly it feels like time for a new one
While perfectionists hold themselves to high or even impossible standards, people who want perfect stuff hold what they buy and own to lofty standards.
The Conversation
Palestinian citizens face a painful choice in Israel’s election: To vote or not
More than a third of Israel’s Palestinian citizens are expected to sit out the election.
The Conversation
Many vapes and e-cigarettes are now banned in Pennsylvania – here’s what Philly consumers and businesses need to know
Vape products from only six manufacturers can now be sold in Pennsylvania.
The Conversation
Federal spending on climate change before 2024 election boosted incumbents of both parties
Incumbents can still reap electoral rewards when federal money reaches their districts, even if they opposed the bill that provided it.
The Conversation
A pregnant mom let her 5-year-old stay outside to collect goose feathers – and was placed on the child abuse and neglect registry
Child neglect statutes are intended to protect children. But some of them are so broadly written that they can end up harming families seeking to instill independence in their kids.
The Conversation
The science and politics behind the panic over ultraprocessed foods
There’s no doubt that the modern food environment needs to be healthier. But are ultraprocessed foods as evil as their reputation suggests?
The Conversation