The Conversation Daily — July 10, 2026
10 stories · July 10, 2026
In this issue
- 1
The ball is round – and contrary to some keepers’ views, in this World Cup it has performed just fine
theconversation.com · John Eric Goff, Professor of Engineering Practice, Purdue University
Not every World Cup goal is a classic. Sometimes a half-hearted shot goes in as a result of little more than goalkeeper error. And on those occasions, goalies may be inclined to find an excuse. During…
- 2
Teachers are worried about students cheating with AI, but my survey suggests the deeper issue is learning
theconversation.com · Brett DeJager, Assistant professor of psychology and education, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic
Students cheating while using AI is a common concern among educators, but not the only one. Phiwath Jittamas/iStock/Getty Images Plus The risk of students using AI to cheat tends to get a lot of…
- 3
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…
- 4
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.…
- 5
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…
- 6
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…
- 7
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…
- 8
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…
- 9
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…
- 10
The military traded its flu vaccine mandate for ‘medical freedom’ – an outbreak quickly followed
theconversation.com · Katrine L. Wallace, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago
A military training base provides a prime environment for the influenza virus to spread. Photographer and Illustrator/iStock via Getty Images Plus Amid a worsening flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force…