Welcome to Sunday and the best of The Conversation.

More than 20 years ago, my mother died of pancreatic cancer that was discovered only when it was too late to treat. At that time, no screening test for pancreatic cancer existed. Even today options are very limited. The same is true for some other aggressive cancers like ovarian, bladder and esophageal.

Now single blood tests designed to screen for the most common cancer types are under development, but not yet approved by the FDA. These sophisticated tests are designed to detect small amounts of tumor DNA circulating in the body, explains University of Washington professor of laboratory medicine and pathology Colin Pritchard. Soon, the tests could lead to earlier detection and better outcomes for patients – assuming doctors can figure out how to best use them.

Tuesday is Election Day, the final day to cast a vote in the midterms. In editors’ picks, we have a few stories related to the upcoming election, including Texas State finance professor William Chittenden’s explanation of why the results won’t have much effect on what you spend at the gas pump and grocery store.

This week we’ll also bring you much more on the midterms – along with stories about Pickleball’s uphill climb to mainstream success, and dung beetles adapting to climate change. Until then, enjoy the rest of the weekend – and go vote!