The Conversation Daily — July 24, 2026
10 stories · July 24, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Colorado prepares for screwworms, as the pest that was eradicated in 1966 returns to the US
theconversation.com · Sarah Tomlinson, Veterinarian and Senior Research Scholar, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University
New World screwworm flies lay their eggs in the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Ramdan Fatoni/iStock via Getty Images New World screwworm, a concerning pest that mainly impacts livestock and…
- 2
How do scientists know if climate change made a heat wave, extreme storm or wildfire worse?
theconversation.com · Kevin T. Smiley, Associate Professor of Sociology, Louisiana State University · Deepti Singh, Associate Professor School of the Environment, Washington State University · Jennifer Marlon, Research Scientist, Yale University · Jim Hurrell, Professor and Scott Presidential Chair in Environmental Science and Engineering, Colorado State University
People try to stay cool on the sweltering streets of Manhattan during a heat wave in July 2025. Spencer Platt/Getty Images When a devastating heat wave, hurricane, flood or wildfire strikes, people…
- 3
Pennsylvania roads are being coated in radioactive wastewater − here’s why
theconversation.com · William Burgos, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Penn State · Nathaniel Warner, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Brine, a mixture of salt and water, is sprayed onto roads to prevent snow and ice from sticking or freezing to the pavement. Portland Press Herald Collection via Getty Images Pennsylvania’s roughly…
- 4
The Benadryl Challenge isn’t going away – here’s how public health officials are trying to stop this deadly viral trend
theconversation.com · Andrew Yockey, Assistant Professor of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dangerous online trends have become a major public health problem. Xavier Lorenzo/Moment via Getty Images A dangerous social media trend that started in 2020 has persisted into 2026, with…
- 5
South Dakota’s abortion pill advertising ban runs into free speech roadblock
theconversation.com · Lucinda M. Finley, Professor of Law and Director of Appellate Advocacy, University at Buffalo
It's very hard to legally prevent abortions today, even in states that ban them. GarikProst/iStock via Getty Images Plus South Dakota is having trouble enforcing a law banning advertising about…
- 6
Millions of family caregivers manage complex diets for older relatives – often with little nutritional guidance
theconversation.com · Minakshi Raj, Assistant Professor of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
About 1 in 4 family caregivers help an older relative manage their nutritional needs. kali9/E+ via Getty Images My first science experiment was in sixth grade for our county’s science fair. Over three…
- 7
Jimothy the raccoon survived against the odds, a testament to sophisticated brains and devoted mothers
theconversation.com · Kelly Lambert, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Richmond
There Jimothy goes! Kiana Hall As a neuroscientist who studies raccoon and rats, I see the viral story of Jimothy the raccoon as a compelling tale of an animal overcoming disability and surviving in…
- 8
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…
- 9
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…
- 10
Earthquakes in Venezuela expose a severely under-resourced and unprepared healthcare system
theconversation.com · Hermes Florez, Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina · Zeina Hannoush, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Miami
In the days immediately following the earthquakes, neighbors came together to search for survivors. picture alliance/picture alliance via Getty Images Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24,…