The Conversation

We don't talk much about nanotechnology risks anymore, but that doesn't mean they're gone

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Vantablack is the darkest pigment ever – thanks to carbon nanotubes.Surrey NanoSystems, CC BY-ND

Back in 2008, carbon nanotubes – exceptionally fine tubes made up of carbon atoms – were making headlines. A new study from the U.K. had just shown that, under some conditions, these long, slender fiber-like tubes could cause harm in...

Mexican desert mangroves – small but valuable in dealing with climate change

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Scientists have long known that mangroves provide vital barriers against storms and that these forests can store vast amounts of carbon.

An article published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights again why mangroves are important for coastlines, ecosystems and the planet’s human populations.

This study,...

Could the language barrier actually fall within the next 10 years?

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Pieter Bruegel the Elder's 'The Tower of Babel' (1563).Wikimedia Commons

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the nuisance of communicating in a different language?

In a recent Wall Street Journalarticle, technology policy expert Alec Ross argued that, within a decade or so, we’ll be...

Athletes look for an edge in a new place: virtual reality

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Virtual reality (VR) appears ready to take the entertainment world by storm in 2016. In addition to the much-hyped Oculus Rift, major corporations such as Facebook, Sony and Samsung are poised to release high-quality VR headsets to the public this year. After years of VR being discussed as the “next big thing,” this may be the year...

If we don't own our genes, what protects study subjects in genetic research?

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Who's in charge once your biological material is out of your body?igemhq, CC BY

On February 25, the White House hosted a forum on the National Institute of Health’s Precision Medicine Initiative. This is an ambitious research study that aims to develop targeted drugs and treatments that would vary from individual to individual.

To reach the...

Is global warming causing marine diseases to spread?

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Coral affected by black band disease, BahamasJames St. John/Flickr, CC BY

Global climate change is altering the world’s oceans in many ways. Some impacts have received wide coverage, such as shrinking Arctic sea ice, rising sea levels and ocean warming. However, as the oceans warm, marine scientists are observing other forms of damage.

My...

Here's how witnessing violence harms children’s mental health

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Children are being increasingly exposed to violence. What's the impact?ieat31415, CC BY-NC-ND

Caroline was having a hard time getting her daughter to go to school. The night before, her daughter saw the news about a terrorist bombing that had occurred that day where several children and adults were killed and schools were immediately closed.

Her...

Will voters' fear of terrorism propel Trump to the White House?

Written by The Conversation Contributor

The Islamic State’s bombing of an airport terminal and subway station in Brussels, Belgium on March 22 horrified the world. But Donald Trump saw a silver lining in the latest terrorist atrocity.

During an interview a few hours after the bloodshed in Brussels, Trump announced that foreign threats benefited his presidential campaign. He proudly...

Will the new education law allow for teachers with lower qualifications?

Written by The Conversation Contributor

Will the new education law help the most vulnerable kids?Bob Cotter, CC BY-NC

On December 9, Congress passed the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, called the Every Child Succeeds Act. A replacement for the much criticized No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the reauthorization gained support from groups as diverse as The...

Scientists turn to 3D printing, digital simulations to treat heart disease

Written by The Conversation Contributor

My mother bought her first GPS in the 1990s. A few months later, she came home angry because it had directed her to the wrong side of the city, making her an hour late. “That’s too bad,” I said, and we went on with our lives. We both understood that commercial GPS was a new technology and wasn’t infallible, but one wasted...