The Conversation Daily — August 7, 2026
10 stories · August 7, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Trump’s slapdash Reflecting Pool renovations stand in stark contrast to years of deliberation and engineering ingenuity that went into its creation
theconversation.com · Jennifer Tucker, Professor of History, Wesleyan University
Work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began in 1919. Bettmann/Getty Images In the latest twist in one of the strangest ongoing scandals in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of…
- 2
Parents putting screens in front of their kids is more about their own stress than other factors
theconversation.com · Enid A. Moreira, Doctoral Student of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, Florida International University · Daniel M. Bagner, Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training, Florida International University · Shayl Griffith, Associate Professor, Department of Counselling, Recreation, and School Psychology and the FIU Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
About 70% of caregivers say that managing their children's screen use is a primary source of parenting stress. Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images It is 6 p.m. after a full workday. A tired parent…
- 3
The typical gig worker is changing – and struggling more than ever to make ends meet
theconversation.com · Jacob Lederman, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Michigan Flint
The number of gig workers on public benefits has surged in recent years. AP Photo/John Minchillo The next time you call an Uber ride or order food delivery with an app, there’s a good chance that the…
- 4
White House plan for a ‘golden age’ of science ignores the structures that made the US a scientific superpower
theconversation.com · H. Christopher Frey, Professor of Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Does the White House report Science: A New Golden Age signal twilight for US global scientific leadership? Charles Smith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images A new White House report argues that eight decades…
- 5
A lot of casual friends, or only a few you’re really close with? New research questions that trade-off
theconversation.com · Jessica D. Ayers, Assistant Professor of Psychological Science, Boise State University · Diego Guevara Beltran, Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, University of Arizona
Friends are essential to a healthy, happy life. Alina Rudya/Bell Collective/DigitalVision via Getty Images Is there a natural trade-off between quantity and quality when it comes to the friends in…
- 6
DIY peptide injections are risky, and people may make serious mistakes when administering them
theconversation.com · C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut
Gray-market peptides are not regulated by any health authority. Westend61/Getty Imaages DIY peptide injections, which promise to boost everything from weight loss and muscle-building to longevity and…
- 7
Employers everywhere are using AI – but business schools aren’t preparing students for the shift
theconversation.com · Murugan Anandarajan, Professor of Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems, Drexel University · Stacy Kline, Learning Clinical Professor of Accounting, Drexel University
Just knowing how to use AI isn't enough to prepare students for entry-level positions. J Studios/DigitalVision/Getty Images Artificial Intelligence has become part of routine business operations, as…
- 8
New Trump administration rules on federal science funding could make American research slower, costlier and harder to share
theconversation.com · Aliasger K. Salem, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa
Political appointees may soon oversee scientific research in America. Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images Most Americans don’t read the rules that govern the federal grants funding science. Those…
- 9
College professors face an emerging challenge: We know students are no longer reading entire books
theconversation.com · Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College
A survey of 1,250 high school English teachers showed that they assigned an average of 2.81 books to read each year. Malte Mueller/fStop via Getty Images Anyone who has spent time on a college campus…
- 10
Detroit wants to elevate youth voices in leadership – that means giving them real power
theconversation.com · Krista Mehari, Associate Professor of Public Health, Michigan State University
Detroit is encouraging its young residents to participate in safe, social activities after large crowds of youth congregating downtown have led to curfew violations and multiple arrests. Photo by…