The Conversation Daily — July 13, 2026
10 stories · July 13, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Why is Venus hotter than Mercury, when Mercury is closer to the Sun?
theconversation.com · Vahe Peroomian, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The surface of Venus, as reconstructed from radar data collected by NASA's Magellan mission. NASA/JPL, CC BY-NC-SA Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like…
- 2
2.6 million Americans lost health insurance in 2025 after ACA subsidies expired, leading to real health consequences
theconversation.com · Aparna Soni, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, Indiana University
Interruptions in health insurance coverage can interfere with care and leave people with medical bills they can't pay. Pressmaster/iStock via Getty Images Plus Millions of Americans who buy their own…
- 3
When disaster recovery becomes a way of life: Community disaster fatigue is on the rise with more frequent floods
theconversation.com · Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota
Fast-moving floodwater from a storm damaged bridges and homes and broke apart Million Bible Church in Richmond, Ky., in late June 2026. Jon Cherry/Getty Images Flash flooding has been tearing up…
- 4
Can Ozempic prevent cancer? A doctor explains why the headlines are easy to misread
theconversation.com · Ziyad Al-Aly, Clinical Epidemiologist, Washington University in St. Louis
Initial concerns about the cancer risk of GLP-1 drugs have made an about-face. Roberto Pfeil/Picture Alliance via Getty Images In the weeks around the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of…
- 5
Despite the growth of some AI schools like Alpha, research doesn’t show that AI tutors are better than human teachers
theconversation.com · Gerald K. LeTendre, Professor of Educational Administration, Penn State
While there are benefits to personalized tutoring, the evidence isn't clear that having AI tutors helps students learn better or faster. CreativaImages/iStock/Getty Images Plus Over the past decade,…
- 6
Texas approves mandatory Bible readings in public schools, reigniting a century-long debate
theconversation.com · Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton
Texas' new list of required readings for public schools, which includes biblical stories and excerpts, will begin to take effect in 2030. AP Photo/David Goldman On June 26, 2026, the Texas State Board…
- 7
Many students listen to music to focus and stay motivated while they study – but it doesn’t always help
theconversation.com · Bridget K. Daleiden, Ph.D., Instructor in educational psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The relationship between listening to music and studying is complex, depending on factors like what kind of music a person is listening to. Steven Errico/Stock Photos/Getty Images Walk into any…
- 8
Why Gen Z is falling in love with film photography
theconversation.com · Rotem Rozental, Lecturer in Critical Studies, Roski School of Art and Design, University of Southern California
Children look at developed film in a darkroom during an analog photography workshop held in southeastern Turkey on June 14, 2026. Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Images Film photography is experiencing a…
- 9
As Route 66 turns 100, what is it that we’re actually celebrating?
theconversation.com · Daniel Milowski, Adjunct Professor of History, Arizona State University
A stretch of Route 66 in Albuquerque, N.M., pictured on June 7, 2026. Towns and cities located along the highway are gearing up to celebrate the iconic road's centennial. Heather Diehl/Getty Images…
- 10
8 principles from human ecology can help AI work for human well-being
theconversation.com · Dipesh Navsaria, Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development & Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison · Lori DiPrete Brown, Distinguished Teaching Faculty of Civil Society & Community Studies, Director of Global Health and Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison · Soyeon Shim, Dean of the School of Human Ecology, Professor of Consumer Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
AI is a factor in human well-being, whether harmful or helpful. EvgeniyShkolenko via Getty Images Artificial intelligence is reshaping relationships by providing conversation and companionship, and…