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Chef Bill Granger dies and leaves behind an inadvertent legacy – the avocado toast meme

Aarushi Bhandari, Davidson College

Granger, who died in December 2023, is credited with making avocado toast fashionable. Little did he know that his lasting legacy would inspire a meme that symbolized generational tension.

Not all underwater reefs are made of coral − the US has created artificial reefs from sunken ships, radio towers, boxcars and even voting machines

Avery Paxton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; D'amy Steward, University of Guam

Artificial reefs are structures that humans put in place underwater that create habitat for sea life. A new study shows for the first time how much of the US ocean floor they cover.

Connecting researchers and legislators can lead to policies that reflect scientific evidence

Taylor Scott, Penn State

Researchers want real-world impact. Lawmakers want programs that work. The public wants to benefit from taxpayer-funded research. Building a bridge from academia to legislatures is key to all three.

US law permits charities to encourage voting and help voters register, making GOP concerns about this assistance unfounded

I’m an artist using scientific data as an artistic medium − here’s how I make meaning

Trump defends himself to the Supreme Court, saying he called ‘for peace, patriotism, respect for law and order’ on Jan. 6 and is not an insurrectionist

Iceland battles a lava flow: Countries have built barriers and tried explosives in the past, but it’s hard to stop molten rock

Latin America’s colonial period was far less Catholic than it might seem − despite the Inquisition’s attempts to police religion

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

Here’s the last question of this week’s edition:

Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as head of the National Rifle Association just days before the NRA's civil fraud trial began in New York. Which of these is a quote from LaPierre's resignation statement and not a quote from Mohandas Gandhi?

1. A. "I have no weapon but love"
2. B. "My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever"
3. C. "Where there are cowards, there will always be bullies"
4. D. "If I am to die by the bullet of a madman, I must do so smiling"

Test your knowledge