The Conversation Daily — July 21, 2026
10 stories · July 21, 2026
In this issue
- 1
5 lessons from 20 years of climate surveys: Political party matters, but it doesn’t explain everything
theconversation.com · Mayank Kejriwal, Research Assistant Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of Southern California · Yidan Sun, Ph.D. Student in Engineering, University of Southern California
Voters of all ages come to climate policies with different views, and those views are not always tied to party affiliation. Scott Olson/Getty Images Why would a young Republican back solar power but…
- 2
I’m a Philly neonatologist, and every time I discharge a baby from the NICU, I worry about the air they’ll breathe at home
theconversation.com · Tim Nelin, Instructor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
The same polluted air that may have contributed to a baby's preterm birth is also a risk when the vulnerable baby goes home. Nenov/Moment Collection via Getty Images Discharge day in the neonatal…
- 3
Legally or not, the US government is controlling global access to the world’s most powerful AI
theconversation.com · João Marinotti, Associate Professor of Law, Indiana University
The U.S. government is 'caging' the most powerful commercial AI models. Wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images When the U.S. Commerce Department ordered Anthropic on June 12, 2026, to immediately prevent…
- 4
Not so terrible, after all – 2-year-olds just want to be independent
theconversation.com · Lindsay Barnhart, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic
Toddler tantrums have more behind them than you might think. H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock via Getty Images A 2-year-old is lying on the floor yelling, with their socks pulled off after spending…
- 5
Why employers still place a premium on people skills, not AI, when they make hiring decisions
theconversation.com · Murugan Anandarajan, Professor of Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems, Drexel University · Cuneyt Gozu, Associate Clinical Professor of Organizational Behavior, Drexel University
College students on the job hunt should know that communication and interpersonal skills are even more important than technical know-how, an employer survey finds. AP Photo/Alex Slitz, File If you…
- 6
Time for a clock change? Congress considers daylight saving time … again
theconversation.com · Beth Ann Malow, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University
Nearly two-thirds of Americans would like to stop changing the clocks twice a year, according to a 2026 poll. i-am-helen/iStock via Getty Images Plus In the 108-year history of daylight saving time in…
- 7
More testosterone won’t make a better soldier or a tougher man – aggression and strength drive T levels, not the other way around
theconversation.com · Adam Stanaland, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Richmond
A person's testosterone level does not determine their manliness or ability to fight. wilpunt/iStock via Getty Images Plus How low is too low when it comes to testosterone levels? When Defense…
- 8
Reading for pleasure builds empathy in children, but fewer kids are picking up books just for the fun of it
theconversation.com · William Dee Nichols, Professor of Literacy, Language and Culture, University of Maine · Michelle Kearney, Professor of Literacy, University of Maine
In 2023, 14% of 13-year-olds read for fun, a decrease from the 27% of teens this age who said they did so in 2012. Jorm Sangsorn/iStock via Getty Images Plus Reading allows children to live in a…
- 9
Electric companies don’t need to black out customers to prevent wildfires – here are 3 relatively fast, affordable solutions
theconversation.com · Jasmine Garland, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Colorado Boulder
A severe winter snow drought has left snowpack levels far below normal across the American West in 2026. Without a slow-melting blanket of snow to keep the soil and forests moist, alpine vegetation is…
- 10
Nearly 20% of new moms have anxiety or depression, but a promising psychedelic treatment is on the horizon
theconversation.com · Camille Hoffman, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz
Women with postpartum depression and anxiety have a higher risk of birth complications and death by suicide. Justin Paget/DigitalVision via Getty Images About 1 in 5 women will experience depression…