Kidnapping for ransom has long fueled insurgencies in the west African Sahel. New analysis of 58,000 violent events shows a shift: jihadist groups once targeted westerners but now they increasingly abduct local civilians, turning kidnapping into a widespread predatory economy.
The Conversation
Kidnapping for ransom in the Sahel: analysis of 24 years of data shows a new trend
The kidnapping industry fuels insurgencies in Africa’s Sahel region.
Space’s next frontier is closer than ever. Engineers are developing satellites that orbit just 60–250 miles above Earth, promising sharper images, faster internet and better weather data (if they can overcome intense atmospheric drag).
The Conversation
The next frontier in space is closer than you think – welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites
The closer to Earth a satellite flies, the clearer a picture it can take of the surface. But low-flying satellites also have to deal with atmospher...
Studying how mice see is giving neuroscientists new insight into how the human brain turns light into vision 👀
The Conversation
Gazing into the mind’s eye with mice – how neuroscientists are seeing human vision more clearly
It was once believed that mice had relatively poor vision. Turns out mice are far from blind – and studying how their vision is shaped by their e...
Letter grades may not show what students actually learn. More teachers are experimenting with alternatives like retakes, portfolios and feedback-based grading to better measure understanding, not just test performance.
The Conversation
A, B, C or D – grades might not say all that much about what students are actually learning
Grades can magnify inequities that exist in American schools, making it harder for some students to succeed.
Chile’s new president is the country’s most right-wing leader in decades. Beyond ideology, the vote points to something else: deep voter frustration and a habit of punishing incumbents.
The Conversation
Chile elects most right-wing leader since Pinochet – in line with regional drift, domestic tendency to punish incumbents
José Antonio Kast, who has run for the presidency several times, successfully seized on widespread dissatisfaction over issues like crime and immi...
Weak crypto regulation is creating new pathways for rogue states like North Korea and Russia and militant groups like Hamas to finance weapons programs.
The Conversation
How rogue nations are capitalizing on gaps in crypto regulation to finance weapons programs
North Korea was behind a $1.5 billion digital bank heist in February 2025. Other countries are similarly stealing crypto to fund nefarious activities.
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At the top, U.S.-China tensions run hot. Inside government offices, things look familiar. A new analysis shows bureaucrats on both sides respond to the same pressures and manage difficulties in similar ways.
The Conversation
2 superpowers, 1 playbook: Why Chinese and US bureaucrats think and act alike
The men and women tasked with implementing policy are governed by the same incentives and constraints − whether in Beijing or Washington.
The magnetic North Pole is drifting (up to 34 miles a year!) 🌍 That affects compasses, smartphones and navigation worldwide (including Santa’s sleigh). Here’s why it moves and how your devices adjust:
The Conversation
The North Pole keeps moving – here’s how that affects Santa’s holiday travel and yours
There are actually two North Poles. One has been wandering over northern Canada and north of there for years. An earth scientist explains why and w...
A genetic researcher who has spent a decade studying how new drugs are developed (after decades doing it himself) writes that NIH funding is crucial to the process, and has been a huge driver of innovation and economic growth. The White House has proposed a 40% budget cut for 2026.
The Conversation
How the NIH became the backbone of American medical research and a major driver of innovation and economic growth
The agency’s budget has grown steadily since the 1960s, fueling an industry that creates lifesaving medicines and attracts billions of dollars in...
How China’s President Xi’s does diplomacy with pandas, pingpong and ancient canals. A cultural historian of modern China explains:
The Conversation
Pandas, pingpong and ancient canals: President Xi’s hosting style says a lot about Chinese diplomacy
During a recent visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron was given the diplomatic works.