How Native Americans built their democracies

Fast fashion may seem cheap, but it’s taking a costly toll on the planet − and on millions of young customers

Paula M. Carbone, University of Southern California

The industry has a reputation for pollution and waste, but it has psychological effects as well.

To control your spending this holiday season, stick with cash

Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University

An economist swears by this technique.

75 years ago, Maria Tallchief made the ballet world reimagine itself and find a place for a Native American prima ballerina

Shannon Toll, University of Dayton

Despite assumptions to the contrary, Tallchief showed that Indigenous people could not just exceed the standards of Western arts but also set new ones, writes a scholar of Indigenous cultures.

Activism on foot: When Indigenous activists walk the land to honor their past and reshape their future

Meaghan Weatherdon, University of San Diego

Movements like the Journey of Nishiyuu walk the land to reclaim culture and push for Indigenous nations’ rights.

Fossilized footprints reveal two extinct hominin species living side by side 1.5 million years ago

Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Smithsonian Institution; Kevin Hatala, Chatham University, and Purity Kiura, National Museums of Kenya

Ancient fossil footprints are the first evidence of two different hominin species − Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei − living in the same place at the same time.

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

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

Let's begin with good climate change news: Norway is on track to entirely phase out what in 2025?

1. A. Fossil fuel vehicle sales
2. B. Coal power plant operations
3. C. Reindeer methane emissions
4. D. North Sea oil drilling

Test your knowledge

Blurry, morphing and surreal – a new AI aesthetic is emerging in film

Holly Willis, University of Southern California

In a world where algorithms increasingly shape everyday life, many works of art are beginning to reflect how intertwined we’ve become with computational systems.

Simple science summaries written by AI help people understand research and trust scientists

David Markowitz, Michigan State University

Scientists use jargon and complicated language to describe their work. Regular folks ‘get it’ more when descriptions are simpler – and think better of the researchers themselves.

Doctors are already using AI in care – but we don’t actually know what safe use should look like

Mark Sujan, University of York

A survey of 1,000 UK doctors found one in five used ChatGPT or Gemini in clinical practice.

Smaller brains? Fewer friends? An evolutionary biologist asks how AI will change humanity’s future

Rob Brooks, UNSW Sydney

Evolution could alter or even eliminate some of the human traits we cherish most, changing forever what it means to be human.

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