The Conversation Daily — August 10, 2026
10 stories · August 10, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Chronic pain is missing from America’s heat warnings
theconversation.com · Feinuo Sun, Assistant Professor of Demographics, Sociology and Population Health, University of Texas at Arlington
Fans can help circulate air, but on a hot day they do little for people working in a Mississippi farmer's market AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a…
- 2
Cyclospora spreads through human waste – so how did it get on food?
theconversation.com · Joan Rose, Professor of Water Research; Director, Water Alliance, Michigan State University
A sign warns passers-by that irrigation in the area uses treated sewage wastewater. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The nationwide cyclospora outbreak is very likely a…
- 3
Lightning strikes kill thousands globally each year, but for those who survive, the storm is far from over
theconversation.com · Daile Zhang, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota
Survivors of lightning strikes often struggle to find physicians who know how to treat them. Rakesh Bakshi/AFP via Getty Images Every year, an estimated 6,000 to 24,000 people are killed by lightning…
- 4
Class, let’s watch a short video – more than 75% of teachers say they use YouTube in the classroom
theconversation.com · Cody Pritchard, Doctoral Candidate of Education, University of Tennessee · Jeff Carpenter, Professor of Education, Elon University · Joshua Rosenberg, Assistant Professor of STEM Education, University of Tennessee
Most teachers who use YouTube report showing it on a big screen to the entire class. Pressmaster/iStock via Getty Images Approximately three-quarters of 393 preschool and K-12 teachers in the U.S. say…
- 5
How do computers talk with voices that sound like people?
theconversation.com · Tam Nguyen, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Dayton
How often do you hear a phone, computer or video game speak with a humanlike voice? Phynart Studios/E+ via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d…
- 6
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…
- 7
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…
- 8
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…
- 9
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…
- 10
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…