The Conversation Daily — August 5, 2026

In this issue

1. 1

   El pueblo indígena wounaan ha hecho frente a la tala ilegal de palo de rosa y a siglos de explotación con sabiduría y belleza

   theconversation.com · Julie Velásquez Runk, Professor of Environment and Sustainability Studies, Wake Forest University; Smithsonian Institution; University of Michigan · Chenier Carpio Opua, Member of Wounaan Podpa Nʌm Pömaam (Wounaan National Congress), Indigenous Knowledge · Doris Cheucarama Membache, Member of Wounaan Podpa Nʌm Pömaam (Wounaan National Congress), Indigenous Knowledge

   En una gran pila se apilan troncos de palo de rosa cortados. Estos troncos, cuya especie exacta se desconoce, se encuentran en Madagascar, uno de los puntos clave del comercio mundial de palo de rosa.…

2. 2

   Climate change may be making us lonelier: How heat waves and extreme weather disrupt social connections everyone relies on

   theconversation.com · Fiona Doherty, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Tennessee

   During miserable heat waves, people tend to stay inside if it's cooler there, limiting social connection. AP Photo/Nathan Howard Severe storms, heat waves and wildfires can shut down the social life…

3. 3

   Wounaan Indigenous people have opposed illegal rosewood logging and centuries of exploitation with wisdom and beauty

   theconversation.com · Julie Velásquez Runk, Professor of Environment and Sustainability Studies, Wake Forest University; Smithsonian Institution; University of Michigan · Chenier Carpio Opua, Member of Wounaan Podpa Nʌm Pömaam (Wounaan National Congress), Indigenous Knowledge · Doris Cheucarama Membache, Member of Wounaan Podpa Nʌm Pömaam (Wounaan National Congress), Indigenous Knowledge

   Cut rosewood logs sit in a large pile. These logs, the exact species of which are unknown, are in Madagascar, one of the hot spots of global rosewood trade. Maky via Wikimedia Commons Leer en español.…

4. 4

   SpaceX aims to use rockets to quickly transport cargo across the Earth and into orbit – moves that would expand the global cargo system

   theconversation.com · Euihyeon Choi, Ph.D. Student in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology · Koki Ho, Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

   SpaceX aims to use rockets like its Falcon 9 to bring cargo to and from orbit, as well as between different points on Earth. AP Photo/John Raoux You might think about rockets as powerful vehicles that…

5. 5

   Philadelphia’s failing air quality hits hardest in neighborhoods near industry and highways, where asthma rates soar

   theconversation.com · Qian He, Assistant Professor of Geography, Planning and Sustainability, Rowan University · Mahbubur Meenar, Professor of Urban & Regional Planning, Rowan University · Sean Olcese, Graduate Research Fellow, Rowan University

   A view from a bridge overlooking the Harrowgate neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images Philadelphians who live near industrial land and major roads – those who live in the…

6. 6

   What critics of college athletes making money get wrong about name, image and likeness policies

   theconversation.com · Brennan Berg, Professor of Sport Management, University of Mississippi

   Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes, were among the first student-athletes to sign major deals over their name, image and likeness. AP Photo/Darron…

7. 7

   How hackers attack municipal water systems – and why the utilities are so vulnerable

   theconversation.com · William Akoto, Assistant Professor of Global Security, American University School of International Service

   A July 2026 cyberattack targeted more than 30 water systems in Minnesota municipalities, including Plymouth. AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt Hackers tried to break into at least 30 municipal water systems in…

8. 8

   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…

9. 9

   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…

10. 10

    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…