The Conversation Daily — June 12, 2026
10 stories · June 12, 2026
In this issue
- 1
El Niño is back, and ocean temperatures are already near record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals
theconversation.com · Dillon Amaya, Climate Research Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
It’s official: El Niño is back. By late fall 2026, forecast models give a 2-in-3 chance of a strong-to-very strong El Niño affecting the weather, climate and ocean temperatures across the planet. El…
- 2
Efforts to combat climate change often exclude Indigenous people – and they may not have any recourse
theconversation.com · Buket Altınçelep, Ph.D. Candidate in Global Governance and Human Security, UMass Boston
Fred Ngusilo, left, a member of the Ogiek community, works with a relative to sift through the ruins of their grandfather's house in the Mau forest, destroyed by Kenyan police. Tony Karumba/AFP via…
- 3
Trump’s AI security order acknowledges risks but stops short of regulating industry
theconversation.com · Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University
The White House addresses the need to protect against powerful AI systems. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Some technology and policy watchers were surprised when President Donald Trump signed an…
- 4
Killing cancer requires immune cells to infiltrate tumors’ hostile microenvironment – sugar shields can help them break in
theconversation.com · Charles J. Dimitroff, Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Florida International University · Lee Seng Lau, Postdoctoral Associate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Florida International University
CAR-T cells must overcome cancer’s many defenses in order to mount an effective attack. Lulu Perez, CC BY-SA You might think of cancer as a mass of rogue cells that grow uncontrollably. But cancer is…
- 5
Firefighters face a higher risk of skin cancer – nano fabrics with tiny, rough fibers can help keep them safer
theconversation.com · Sumit Mandal, Associate Professor of Textile Science, Oklahoma State University
Smoke and ash contain chemicals that can harm wildland firefighters, and not just when they breathe it in. White River National Forest/BLM via Flickr Wildland firefighters are exposed to a mix of…
- 6
Bingles, knuckleballs and ‘Beer Barrel Polka’ – hundreds of forgotten works showcase the eclectic world of baseball scholarship
theconversation.com · Tom Reinsfelder, Distinguished Librarian, Penn State
The aerodynamics of the knuckleball was one of the hundreds of academic theses and dissertations that were recently compiled in a database. Diamond Images/Getty Images Today’s fans may associate…
- 7
5 ways data centers endanger their local communities and the country as a whole
theconversation.com · Neha Gour, Ph.D. Candidate in Science Communication, George Mason University · Ed Maibach, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Communication, George Mason University · Luis Ortiz, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University
An Amazon data center sits next to a neighborhood in northern Virginia. Nathan Howard/Getty Images Every internet search, streamed video and AI-generated response depends on a data center somewhere.…
- 8
Both Democrats and Republicans give millions to universities in earmarks – but not in the same way
theconversation.com · Stephanie Aguilar-Smith, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, University of Georgia · Heather McCambly, Assistant Professor Educational Foundations, Organizations and Policy, University of Pittsburgh
Approximately $2 billion in earmarked money went to colleges and universities from September 2025 through October 2026. Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images Plus U.S. politicians have perhaps never…
- 9
Upcoming telescopes could shed light on dark matter – astronomers are looking for these ‘fingerprints’ of the elusive substance
theconversation.com · Marco Ajello, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University · Christopher Karwin, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University
Dark matter makes up a large proportion of galaxies like the Milky Way, but scientists are still figuring out what it is. RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/B. Quint, CC BY NASA’s plans to return…
- 10
HIV enters the brain and doesn’t leave – paradoxically, drugs intended to reduce brain inflammation increase virus levels
theconversation.com · Smita S. Iyer, Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh
HIV hides in reservoirs in the brain, causing persistent inflammation and long-term damage. Design Cells/iStock via Getty Images Plus HIV can damage the brain and cause memory and cognitive problems.…