The Conversation Daily — June 25, 2026
10 stories · June 25, 2026
In this issue
- 1
When your local reflecting pool or pond turns green with algae, don’t reach for chemicals – nature has better solutions
theconversation.com · Eric Palkovacs, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
A National Park Service employee uses a vacuum to clean the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 20, 2026. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein When the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green with…
- 2
Why rural healthcare fund’s $50B focus on tech upgrades may not help vulnerable hospitals and providers
theconversation.com · Kevin J. Bennett, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of South Carolina
Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert is one of close to 200 rural hospitals that have closed in the past two decades. AP Photo/Jeff Amy Healthcare across rural America is in crisis.…
- 3
What are supermassive black holes? Everything you need to know – and what astronomers are still learning – about these mysterious objects
theconversation.com · Mary Ogborn, Astrophysics PhD Candidate, Penn State
An artist's impression of the black hole in the M87 galaxy and its powerful jet. S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF), CC BY-NC-SA Nearly every massive galaxy observed hosts a supermassive black hole at its…
- 4
What 20 million bans reveal about the strain on Wikipedia’s volunteers
theconversation.com · Ryan McGrady, Senior Research Fellow, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, UMass Amherst
The numbers for Wikipedia tell a story of change – and stress. Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images This year, Wikipedia is celebrating 25 years as the internet’s encyclopedia…
- 5
Students branch out and climb trees to learn up close how to care for them and why they help cities flourish
theconversation.com · Sharon Jean-Philippe, Professor of Urban Forestry, University of Tennessee
Undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee take their study of trees to new heights. Sharon Jean-Philippe Students who study forestry will read about trees, but they do not often get the…
- 6
I have spent the past 6 months reading hundreds of poems by young people – I was surprised to find hope, not despair
theconversation.com · Sean Murphy, Director, Center for Story, Shenandoah University
The 177 young poets featured in a new anthology range in age from 10 to 21. Muhamad Agil/iStock/Getty Images Plus If you’ve read any commentary about younger people, none of the following statistics…
- 7
The art of literary translation exposes the limits of AI
theconversation.com · Krupa Shandilya, Associate Professor of Sexuality, Women's and Gender Studies, Amherst College
When composing or translating poetry, AI stumbles when trying to convey mood, metaphor and emotion. Jeremessias/iStock via Getty Images For centuries, people have dreamed of undoing Babel. Sci-fi…
- 8
Heat waves can leave homes dangerously hot – even for young, healthy adults, as Texas shows
theconversation.com · Zoltan Nagy, Professor of Building Services, Eindhoven University of Technology
When temperature soar inside homes, being outside even on very hot days can feel less uncomfortable than being indoors. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Most people know that heat waves can be dangerous.…
- 9
Using cannabis for sleep isn’t harmless – a neurologist explains how it can trap people in a cycle of dependency
theconversation.com · Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh
Cannabis has become a go-to-sleep aid, but safety evidence is lacking. IRA_EVVA/iStock via Getty Images Plus For millions of people, cannabis has become the unofficial prescription for lost sleep. But…
- 10
How Pennsylvania towns are protecting themselves from the noise, heat and utility costs of massive data centers
theconversation.com · Michael Helbing, Adjunct Professor of Law, Penn State
Residents of Archbald, Penn., are experiencing a contentious boom in proposed AI data center projects. Heather Ainsworth for The Washington Post via Getty Images Pennsylvania has become a hot spot for…