The Conversation Daily — June 17, 2026
10 stories · June 17, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Heat waves increase wildfire risk – a new study explains how much, and it’s not a small number
theconversation.com · Dmitri Kalashnikov, Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of California, Merced · Cong Yin, Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate and Hydrology, University of California, Merced · Madhulika Gurazada, Ph.D. Student in Management of Complex Systems, University of California, Merced · Mukesh Kumar, Postdoctoral Researcher in Wildfires and Complex Systems, University of California, Merced
A record-tying heat wave helped spread a wildfire in Northern California's Shasta and Trinity counties in July 2018. Terray Sylvester/Getty Images When heat waves hit the Western United States, the…
- 2
Rural areas lag behind in cancer treatment and prevention – even as rich, urban areas increasingly leave dying from cancer in the rearview
theconversation.com · Arthur Cosby, Professor of Sociology, Mississippi State University
Cancer treatment and prevention strategies are lagging in the rural U.S. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images Cancer in the United States experienced a dramatic turnaround in 1991. Prior to…
- 3
Why states are walking back their own climate and energy laws, and what they could do instead
theconversation.com · Andres Clarens, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia
Over a third of Hawaii's power comes from renewable energy, which cuts its need for fossil fuel imports. John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty Images During the first Trump administration, states and…
- 4
Energy costs are high and unaffordable – what utilities, governments, communities and you can do to help save consumers money
theconversation.com · Sanya Carley, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Energy Policy and City Planning, University of Pennsylvania · Alexandra Klass, James G. Degnan Professor of Law, University of Michigan · Alison L. Knasin, Lab Manager, Energy Justice Lab, University of Pennsylvania · David Konisky, Lynton K. Caldwell Professor of Public Affairs, Indiana University · Shelley Welton, Professor of Law and Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania
There are a few ways to get help in handling high energy costs. Carme Parramon/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images For many Americans, energy bills are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Energy…
- 5
Many college students already have well-formed cheating habits – that, not AI, is the real problem
theconversation.com · Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College
Students are using AI to cheat, but the problem isn't limited to that. VectorMine/iStock/Getty Images Plus My colleagues and I recently spoke with a group of talented, interesting students who just…
- 6
DIY zines are helping queer communities tell their own stories and craft their own culture
theconversation.com · Rachel Schneider, Associate Teaching Professor in English and Technical Communication, Missouri University of Science and Technology
A volunteer at the Papercut Zine Library in Cambridge, Mass., which has roughly 16,000 zines in its collection. Michele McDonald/The Boston Globe via Getty Images At Pride festivals held across the…
- 7
40 years on, Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal is still celebrated. But should it be?
theconversation.com · Cesar R. Torres, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Philosophy, Penn State
A mural by Argentine artist Spiga depicts Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in Naples. Alessio Paduano/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In soccer, memorable goals are generally linked to the players who scored…
- 8
Poop tests and blood tests join colonoscopy as options for colorectal cancer screening
theconversation.com · Andrea Dwyer, Director of the Colorado Cancer Screening Program, University of Colorado Anschutz
Screening is essential to prevent and effectively treat colorectal cancer. Varlay/iStock via Getty Images Plus It’s increasingly common to see headlines and social media conversations about the rise…
- 9
What’s wrong with how US and Uganda plan to stop Ebola spreading
theconversation.com · Katrine L. Wallace, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago
The Democratic Republic of Congo is scaling up health operations to contain the Ebola epidemic. Michel Lunanga/Getty Images As public health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo work to rein in…
- 10
Blue Origin rocket exploded on launchpad, throwing the future of NASA’s Artemis program into question
theconversation.com · Wendy Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies, Air University
A New Glenn rocket stands ready at the launchpad in April 2026, a month before disaster would strike. AP Photo/John Raoux During an evening test fire on May 28, 2026, a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket…