Across the Country
National News
Top headlines from national outlets, refreshed every 15 minutes. Each story opens on the original publisher’s site.
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
Why and how US and Canadian energy markets are so deeply intertwined
The two countries’ energy systems and markets are so intertwined that tariffs on electricity, oil and gas would devastate both economies.
The Conversation
How candidates are (quietly) talking about climate change – 3 election strategies you’ll see across the US
Voters have a lot of weighty issues on their minds, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worried about climate change.
The Conversation
Students take up to 88 standardized tests before high school, but more testing doesn’t improve learning
Students’ scores on standardized tests can affect schools’ ratings, adding to the pressure teachers experience in preparing their students for the assessments.
The Conversation
Maine Sen. Collins’ success bringing home federal funds is a perfect example of the thin line between political favoritism and effective representation
The line between political favoritism and effective representation is remarkably thin. Why is access to public money so dependent on the political influence of individual legislators?
The Conversation
40 days to arrive, 40 days to leave: How Armenian culture honors life’s most important moments
Armenian culture marks major events such as birth and death with a special period of 40 days, called ‘karasunk,’ as people transition from one state to another.
The Conversation
Why haven’t farm animals evolved against humans? A biologist explains why there won’t be a chicken uprising anytime soon
From domesticated foxes to tuskless elephants, humans have directly and indirectly influenced the evolution of a wide range of animals.
The Conversation
NASA’s Mars orbiter fleet is getting old – here’s how that could affect future exploration
NASA lost contact with its Maven spacecraft – the youngest of its Mars orbiters – at the end of 2025. The others in its fleet are over two decades old.
The Conversation
Why calling for a ‘kill switch’ is the wrong way to think about reining in AI
A kill switch to shut down dangerous AI systems is a seductive concept, but the metaphor hides how the models work – and how they get out of control in the first place.
The Conversation
Young voters fear mass shootings like the one in Oregon, but that fear divides them on gun control
An Oregon school shooting comes weeks before midterms when young voters could break turnout records, but research shows shared fear doesn’t mean shared views on guns.
The Conversation
Remote work made these colleagues more open with each other, not less
Remote work does not necessarily mean that social connections break down. Instead, it can provide the spark for stronger and better relationships between co-workers.
The Conversation
Belonging and belief: Why evangelical churches draw many migrants in the US
Many migrants find community in evangelical churches in the U.S. – part of wider shifts in the country’s religious landscape.
The Conversation
Treating depression during pregnancy may benefit baby’s brain development – new research
Therapy during pregnancy for those who need it may have advantages for the next generation.
The Conversation
Fentanyl is fueling overdose deaths in Colorado – what voters need to know about Proposition 132’s attempt to stiffen penalties
In November, Colorado voters will decide whether to further criminalize the use of illicit fentanyl.
The Conversation
Pennsylvania’s aging prisons weren’t built for today’s extreme weather – leaving women and seniors especially at risk of illness and death
Extreme hot and cold temperatures are associated with higher rates of deaths, infirmary admissions and transfers to external medical facilities, researchers found.
The Conversation
Sexual violence concepts launched online are spilling into the real world – harming women and young men and overwhelming counselors
Spurred by #MeToo backlash and post-COVID loneliness, online influencers have built social media networks that give young men and boys a sense of belonging through promulgating misogyny.
The Conversation
Why the 26 secretary of state races this November matter more than they did before Trump’s drive to assert federal authority over elections
Secretaries of state are at the center of growing conflict over how election authority should be divided between states and the federal government. There are 26 elections for the job this November.
The Conversation
Starlink slowdown underscores Ukraine’s reliance on the US in the battle for the skies
Temporary restrictions on crucial Ukrainian guidance system is the latest in a series of setbacks for Kyiv. It also comes amid worsening relations with Washington.
The Conversation
For centuries, bird migration was a mystery – a tech revolution is changing that, and could help save these amazing creatures
An early clue came from storks found in Europe with African arrows in their bodies. Today, an atlas reveals hundreds of bird migration routes that are both complicated and remarkable.
The Conversation
Americans want electric cars – they just can’t find them
Sales reveal how many cars people actually bought, but not how many they actually wanted. Prices, on the other hand, show how demand is changing.
The Conversation
Can social media bans protect young people’s mental health? Early research suggests that bans aren’t the answer
Kids have found ways around most of the safeguards meant to keep them off social media platforms.
The Conversation
Using light to control brain cells – neuroscientist Karl Deisseroth explains how he made his Nobel-winning discovery
Optogenetics, a field that started with an algae gene, is shedding light on new treatments for eye and neuropsychiatric conditions.
The Conversation
As AI takes on more tasks, what happens when people have to jump in to clean up after it?
Having a human “in the loop” overseeing when an AI makes a decision is important, but what happens to that responsible human over time when the AI gets it right over and over again?
The Conversation
Americans who go to church and trust science are also more likely to believe in ghosts and curses, new research shows
Belief in science and belief in magic can coexist.
The Conversation
Do you think teachers are similar to coaches, pastors or something else? It depends on where you live
Across three countries, people agree that teaching is centered on the teacher-student relationship. But they don’t agree on which profession teaching most resembles.
The Conversation