Nearly anyone can have more meaningful conversations by becoming an "opener," a term psychology researchers have for someone who easily gets others to open up.

• Why it matters: Research suggests that strangers are much more open to conversation than you think.

Marisa Franco, a professor, psychologist and the author of "Platonic," has these science-backed tips for having more engaging discussions.

1. 🔍 Be curious.

• Openers are genuinely interested in other people, without judgment. They seek connection instead of gossip.

2. 💬 Ditch the small talk.

• Get creative, and forget the standard "What do you do for a living?"
• Asking for someone's opinion — or going out on a limb with one of these questions from Axios CEO Jim VandeHei's dinner party list — could spur deeper connection.
• People view vulnerability much more positively than we think.

3. 👀 Ask more follow-ups.

• Process what the other person says and respond thoughtfully to it. That shows you've truly heard them.

4. 👂 Stay present.

• Focus on the current moment and conversation, without scanning the room. Listen closely and avoid a rehearsed back-and-forth.

5. ✨ Find the "cathexis."

• That's a psychology term for the moment when someone gets excited about a topic — maybe their eyes light up or they gesture more.
• Openers can identify and zero in on it, drawing out deeper stories and feelings.

💭 Carly's thought bubble: I tend to steer clear of questions that make people pick a "favorite" — I don't like being put on the spot like that myself.

• But one thing I do ask all the time — which I didn't realize until my husband recently teased me about it — is simply: "Can you tell me more about that?"
• I guess that's my way of chasing the cathexis.

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Axios Detroit spotlighted one of its own — photographer Joseph Ferraro, of Ferndale — who's among 24 finalists for a prestigious wildlife photography award.

• Ferraro's photo, "Ready to Pounce," captures a 4-millimeter ambush bug nymph perched motionless on a flower.
• Ambush bugs are part of the assassin bug family, and they're common in the Detroit area.

The finalists were selected out of 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories.

View the finalists ... Get Axios Local.