How does the EPA know a pesticide is safe to use in my yard?

Federal regulations govern which pesticides can be used and give specific directions for applying them. Ignoring those directions is a violation of federal law.

Jeffrey Gore, Professor of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection, Mississippi State University • conversation
May 14, 2025 ~8 min

A robot nearly headbutted a festival spectator in China – here are four urgent steps to make the tech safer

Governments around the world have barely started thinking about the safety issues of the upcoming robotics revolution.

Emilia Sobolewska, Lecturer and Researcher in Applied Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University • conversation
Feb. 27, 2025 ~7 min


Dozens of cyclists and pedestrians are killed each year in Philly − an injury epidemiologist explains how to better protect bike lanes, slow drivers down and reduce collisions

Philadelphia implemented new policies this year to better protect pedestrians and cyclists, but the city has a long way to go to reach its Vision Zero commitment of zero traffic deaths by 2030.

D. Alex Quistberg, Associate Research Professor, Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University • conversation
Dec. 2, 2024 ~9 min

Americans own guns to protect themselves from psychological as well as physical threats

Owning a gun can influence your outlook, both fueling a sense of danger in the world around you and holding out the promise of rescuing you from those fears.

Nick Buttrick, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
Oct. 31, 2024 ~8 min

Evacuating in disasters like Hurricane Milton isn’t simple – there are reasons people stay in harm’s way

Evacuating is expensive, and for some people the risks of leaving can seem greater than staying despite the storm.

Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, Research Associate, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Oct. 10, 2024 ~9 min

Why so many people drown at the water’s edge

Around 40% of drownings occur when people aren’t planning to be in the water, and men are 80% more likely to drown than women.

Jill Nash, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University • conversation
July 25, 2024 ~8 min

Traffic engineers build roads that invite crashes because they rely on outdated research and faulty data

A traffic engineer argues that, contrary to his profession’s view, ‘human error’ is not the main cause of deaths in car crashes in the US.

Wesley Marshall, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver • conversation
June 21, 2024 ~8 min

Lightning season is here: Fast facts and how to stay safe, from a meteorologist

What really happens when lightning strikes cars, what to do if you’re out in the open or on a beach, and other tips for National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Chris Vagasky, Meteorologist, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
June 20, 2024 ~6 min


How to stay safe during lightning storms – summer is the highest-risk season

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 23-29, 2024. With the U.S. averaging 37 million lightning strikes and 21 deaths a year, it’s a good idea to pay attention.

Chris Vagasky, Meteorologist, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
June 20, 2024 ~6 min

Don’t let ‘FDA-approved’ or ‘patented’ in ads give you a false sense of security

Most people don’t know what these labels really mean − and advertisers take advantage of that fact.

Michael Mattioli, Professor of Law and Louis F. Niezer Faculty Fellow, Indiana University • conversation
Feb. 14, 2024 ~4 min

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