The Conversation Daily — August 9, 2026
10 stories · August 9, 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
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…