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Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?

Sleeping with your dog in the same room could be negatively affecting your sleep quality, according to my team’s recently published research in Scientific Reports. … more

Brian N. Chin, Trinity College, The Conversation | 4/3/24

How ‘Dune’ became a beacon for the fledgling environmental movement − and a rallying cry for the new science of ecology

“Dune,” widely considered one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, continues to influence how writers, artists and inventors envision the future. Of course, there are Denis Villeneuve’s visually stunning films, “Dune: Part One” (2021) and “Dune: Part Two” (2024). … more

Devin Griffiths, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, The Conversation | 3/15/24

Cherry blossoms – celebrated in Japan for centuries and gifted to Americans – are an appreciation of impermanence and spring

Cherry blossoms mark the beginning of spring. Various festivals are regularly organized in California, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., to celebrate the bloom of cherry trees. … more

Małgorzata (Gosia) K. Citko-DuPlantis, University of Tennessee, The Conversation | 3/7/24

W.E.B. Du Bois’ study ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ at 125 still explains roots of the urban Black experience – sociologist Elijah Anderson tells why it should be on more reading lists

W.E.B. Du Bois is widely known for his civil rights activism, but many sociologists argue that he has yet to receive due recognition as the founding father of American sociology. His groundbreaking study, “The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study,” … more

Elijah Anderson, Yale University, The Conversation | 2/29/24

Betty Smith enchanted a generation of readers with ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ − even as she groused that she hoped Williamsburg would be flattened

Eighty years ago, in the winter and spring of 1944, Brooklyn-born author Betty Smith was entering a new chapter of life. A year earlier, she was an unknown writer, negotiating with her publisher about manuscript edits and the date of publication for her first book, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” … more

Rachel Gordan, University of Florida, The Conversation | 2/28/24

Training an animal? An ethicist explains how and why your dog − but not your frog − can be punished

People talk to their pets every day: offering praise when they’re good, reassurance when they’re confused and affection when they’re cuddling. We also speak to animals when they misbehave. “Why did you do that?” someone might ask their dog. … more

Jon Garthoff, University of Tennessee, The Conversation | 2/2/24

Dog care below freezing − how to keep your pet warm and safe from cold weather, road salt and more this winter

In much of the country, when winter rolls around, previously hospitable conditions can quickly turn chilly and dangerous for people and pups alike. … more

Erik Christian Olstad, University of California, Davis, The Conversation | 1/30/24

Cats first finagled their way into human hearts and homes thousands of years ago – here's how

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go on safari in southern Africa. One of the greatest thrills was going out at night looking for … more

Jonathan Losos, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, The Conversation | 12/22/23

Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool

Indigenous Coast Salish women wove woolly dogs' fur into blankets. Artist's reconstruction by Karen Carr Dogs have been in the Americas for more than 10,000 years. They were already domesticated when … more

Audrey T. Lin, Smithsonian Institution; Chris Stantis, University of Utah, and Logan Kistler, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation | 12/14/23

Outside storytelling

Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition comes to life in audio with features that will both entertain and inform listeners. We launched in March 2016 with our first series, … more

3/10/23

Purrr-fectly enjoyable

In these cat podcasts, learn everything there is to know about cats on Cattitude with your hosts Michelle Fern & Tom Dock. In this cat podcast, each week we’ll spotlight a cool cat breed, … more

3/10/23

How We Have Fallen Short in Teaching Literacy -- And What To Do About It

(NewsUSA) - This may be difficult to read, but did you know:In the last 15 years, 15 million students graduated from high schools testing below the basic reading level.One in five college students … more

2/15/23

Humorous, Poetic & Allegorical Tale Reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno

(NewsUSA) - Theatrical essence, we know, relies upon a shared experience of space and time. How else does one describe the crescendo between the stage and stalls during a curtain call?In Presence, … more

2/7/23

Twin Sisters at the Core of Dark Coming-of-Age Psycho Thriller By Debut Author

(NewsUSA) - Most good thriller novels keep readers guessing until the end. Then there are some that cause jaws to drop.TKO Rogue has launched debut author Janet Porter’s intriguing, intricate and … more

1/25/23

BookTrib’s Bites: True Crime Inspirations, Dystopian Gem, Making Great Factories

(NewsUSA) - Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich RoyceWhen a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, FL, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved … more

1/16/23

The Conversation: U.S. weekly news quiz

From the editors at The Conversation, an independent news organization based in Boston that publishes articles written by academic experts and edited by a team of journalists. more

11/21/22

Dog talk ... and more

Every dog lover's resource for keeping yourself & your best friend happy, healthy and long living - naturally. Listen in to Dr. Peter Dobias weekly to find out how both you and your furry friend … more

9/7/22

Exploring rural America

The Bear Grease Podcast with host Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. more

9/6/22

All about thru-hiking

Backpacker Radio is a podcast all about thru-hiking. Topics include hiking news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets. more

9/6/22

Stories about short stories

Our greatest actors transport us through the magic of fiction, one short story at a time. Sometimes funny. Always moving. Selected Shorts connects you to the world with a rich … more

8/25/22