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PFAS are now found in all of the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior, pictured.

PFAS are turning up in the Great Lakes, putting fish and water supplies at risk – here’s how they get there

Some of these ‘forever chemicals’ are toxic at very low levels. They can get into water systems and bioaccumulate in fish, ultimately posing risks to people. more

Christy Remucal, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Conversation | 1/28/26

As part of the Artemis II mission, humans will fly around the Moon for the first time in decades.

NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program

Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role. more

Michelle L.D. Hanlon, University of Mississippi, The Conversation | 1/27/26

Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind.

Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus

Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear. more

Atom Sarkar, Drexel University, The Conversation | 1/27/26

A land manager examines young longleaf pines, some in their grassy phase, in a private forest in South Carolina.

How fire, people and history shaped the South’s iconic longleaf pine forests

One of North America’s richest ecosystems, sustained and shaped by Native peoples before European contact, nearly disappeared. A recovery is underway. more

Andrea De Stefano, Mississippi State University, The Conversation | 1/27/26

Colorado ski resorts faced sparse snow conditions in early 2025.

Colorado ski resorts got some welcome snowfall from Winter Storm Fern, but not enough to turn a dry and warm winter around

Ski resorts in Colorado can make snow, but it only goes so far. more

Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University and Michael Childers, Colorado State University, The Conversation | 1/27/26

Boston and much of the U.S. faced a cold winter blast in January 2026.

How the polar vortex and warm ocean are intensifying a major US winter storm

The atmosphere is a complicated place. Warm temperatures in one spot can contribute to brutally cold storms somewhere else. more

Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell and Judah Cohen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Conversation | 1/26/26

A spreader sprays sewage sludge, which is rich in phosphorus, across a farm in Oklahoma.

Why too much phosphorus in America’s farmland is polluting the country’s water

Plants need phosphorus, and other nutrients, to grow. But soil tests can’t tell if there’s too much. more

Dinesh Phuyal, University of Florida, The Conversation | 1/26/26

3 in 4 US shoppers blame tariffs for shortages they personally encounter

inFlow Inventory reports that a survey reveals 73% of U.S. shoppers blame tariffs for personal shortages, while only 22% cite them for overall shortages. more

Jared Plumb for inFlow Inventory | 1/26/26

What the strongest 401(k) plans get right: 3 strategies for employers

Bernstein Private Wealth Management reports that employers can enhance 401(k) plans by optimizing record-keeping, considering pooled employer plans, and modernizing investment options. more

Christopher Gouryh for Bernstein Private Wealth Management | 1/24/26

When the paychecks stop: How to steady your finances after leaving a job

The Retirement Group reports on managing finances after job loss, emphasizing the need to review financial status, plan for short-term expenses, and assess retirement options. more

Tyson Mavar for The Retirement Group | 1/24/26

$A man holds his 17½-year-old Chihuahua mix, which is receiving end-of-life hospice care. Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group via Long Beach Press-Telegram and Getty Images via The Conversation$

Dogs can need more than kibble, walks and love − consider the escalating expenses of their medical care before you adopt

The decision to bring a dog into the family should recognize that, like other family members, they will require medical care. more

David L. Weimer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Conversation | 1/23/26

Late summer and early fall are a perfect time to fight weeds in the garden.

To control weeds in your garden, late summer and early fall is the best time to make a difference

What gardeners do at the end of the growing season will determine how clean, productive and manageable their garden beds will be when spring arrives. more

Manjot Kaur Sidhu, University of Maine, The Conversation | 1/20/26

American farmers face a changing future for their businesses.

American farmers, who once fed the world, face a volatile global market with diminishing federal backing

The US government used to have American farmers’ backs, but that support has been dwindling for decades. New subsidies signal big changes for farmers. more

Peter Simons, Hamilton College, The Conversation | 1/16/26

As a trusted advocate in the Latino community, Alexis Gonzalez encouraged blood donation, raised awareness about its lifesaving impact, and helped amplify her community’s voice. Then, a medical emergency showed her firsthand why that mission matters so much.

Rooted In Culture And Service: How One Red Cross Employee Went From Advocate To Patient

(NAPSI)—For Alexis González, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross, her job gives her the opportunity to serve and work alongside her community every day. “My work … more

1/10/26

Turf battle in the NFL: Natural vs. artificial grass

LawnStarter reports on the NFL's ongoing debate over natural grass vs. artificial turf, highlighting player safety concerns and increased injuries on turf. more

Adrian Nita for LawnStarter | 1/9/26

‘Ask for help’ mental health resources and stress management tips for farmers

Communication with loved ones, neighbors and mental health professionals can be a key piece of addressing the stressors and mental health issues that affect farmers at higher rates than other professions. According to the National Rural Health Association, suicide rates are “significantly higher” in rural areas than in urban areas and farmers die by suicide […] more

Cami Koons | 1/3/26

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) and Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) show off their athleticism on Sept. 7, 2025.

George Plimpton’s 1966 nonfiction classic ‘Paper Lion’ revealed the bruising truths of Detroit Lions training camp

George Plimpton, then a 36-year-old literary editor, endured the brutal realities of a professional football quarterback despite barely ever playing the sport. more

Stephen Siff, Miami University, The Conversation | 12/19/25

A mix of annuals and perennials can look colorful and carefree. Deryn Davidson

Chaos gardening – wild beauty, or just a mess? A sustainable landscape specialist explains the trend

Chaos gardening is touted on social media as an easy, no-effort way to create a beautiful garden. A landscape specialist explains what to be aware of before chaotically tossing seeds around. more

Deryn Davidson, Colorado State University, The Conversation | 8/20/25

Colorful gardens can be pollinator-friendly with native flowering plants.

Cultivating for color: The hidden trade-offs between garden aesthetics and pollinator preferences

Uniquely colored flowers with big blooms might make for an aesthetically pleasing garden, but they can be unhelpful to pollinators. Careful consideration can help you plan a colorful and eco-friendly garden. more

Claire Therese Hemingway, University of Tennessee, The Conversation | 8/18/25

A biologist maintains a large population of black soldier flies for protein farming.

Genomics can help insect farmers avoid pitfalls of domestication

Considering how easily bird flu swept through chicken farms, it’s clear that domestication has downsides. Lessons from the past paired with modern genomic technology can help with farming insects. more

Christine Picard, Indiana University and Hector Rosche-Flores, Indiana University, The Conversation | 8/15/25

This dairy farm in California's Central Valley has installed solar panels on a portion of its land.

California farmers identify a hot new cash crop: Solar power

Solar is helping farmers in California save water and secure reliable income in the face of drought and economic pressure. more

Jacob Stid, Michigan State University; Annick Anctil, Michigan State University, and Anthony Kendall, Michigan State University, The Conversation | 7/22/25

Studies show that dogs help humans cope with stress.

Dogs are helping people regulate stress even more than expected, research shows

A new study finds that dogs’ mitigation of human stress is more biologically complex than scientists previously understood. more

Kevin Morris, University of Denver and Jaci Gandenberger, University of Denver, The Conversation | 7/21/25

New book honors 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugees arriving in WA

Fifty years ago, Washington welcomed the first of thousands of Southeast Asian refugees fleeing war and conflict in their home countries. A new book captures 15 stories of first-generation refugees and their descendants and how they rebuilt their lives in Washington state. “New Land: Southeast Asian Refugees Finding Home in Washington” touches upon topics such […] more

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero | 5/28/25

From Alaska Capitol’s cafeteria, author and illustrator claims Pulitzer Prize

Tessa Hulls was making sandwiches in the Alaska Capitol when she learned she had won a Pulitzer Prize. Her book, “Feeding Ghosts,” is a nonfiction graphic novel that documents three generations of women in her family, starting with her grandmother, who was a journalist at the time of the Chinese Communist Revolution. It had already […] more

James Brooks | 5/6/25

Windy days can mean more pollen and more sneezing.

Worsening allergies aren’t your imagination − windy days create the perfect pollen storm

From sending more pollen airborne to breaking up pollen grains, which lets them penetrate deeper into your lungs, the wind is not the allergy sufferer’s friend. more

Christine Cairns Fortuin, Mississippi State University, The Conversation | 5/5/25