The Conversation Daily — August 11, 2026
10 stories · August 11, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Wildfires can leave surviving homes and their water unsafe – safety tips for residents as they return
theconversation.com · Andrew J. Whelton, Professor of Civil, Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University
Smoke from burning buildings and vehicles, such as Spokane, Wash., experienced in August 2026, can carry harmful pollutants into neighboring homes. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images When fire…
- 2
New tech adds phone tracking to license plate readers, associating devices with identifiable cars
theconversation.com · Nicole M. Bennett, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Assistant Director at the Center for Refugee Studies, Indiana University
License plate readers like this one could soon be joined by sensors that detect phones inside passing cars. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Imagine that you share a ride to work with the same colleague…
- 3
How vaccine skeptics use storytelling effectively to create powerful but medically inaccurate messaging
theconversation.com · Katherine Shwetz, Lecturer in Medical Humanities, Rice University; University of Toronto
Vaccine skeptics have been around as long as vaccines have – for more than 200 years. Volanthevist/Moment via Getty Images As long as there have been vaccines, there have been people who doubted their…
- 4
It’s getting hotter in classrooms and on playgrounds – schools aren’t ready to handle extreme temperatures
theconversation.com · Allison Poulos, Associate Professor in the College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University · Jennifer Vanos, Associate Professor of Sustainability, Arizona State University
Retrofitting old classrooms with air conditioners, even when necessary to maintain a cool classroom, isn't always financially possible. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post As temperatures in Phoenix soared to…
- 5
Bird droppings were a foundation of modern agriculture and American empire
theconversation.com · Edward D. Melillo, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Amherst College
An advertisement for guano to be used as fertilizer depicts not only seabirds but also a guano island. Bradley Fertilizer Company via Garden History The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which…
- 6
Flocking together – how a birding hobby may boost your mental health and build community
theconversation.com · Jennifer G. Andrews, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Morehouse College
Birding is a good way to practice mindfulness, psychologists report. Jennifer Andrews If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a rut while cooped up all day at a nine-to-five job, or just felt stressed…
- 7
Severe storms battered Pittsburgh twice as often as usual this spring – a meteorologist explains why
theconversation.com · Christopher Davis, Professor of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences, UMass Amherst
In the months of March, April, May and June 2026, Pennsylvania saw a total of 852 reports of severe weather. SeanPavonePhoto/iStock via Getty Images Plus It’s no secret: This year has been a bad one…
- 8
What makes muscles contract? A physiologist explains how muscles move
theconversation.com · Kiki Crawford, Lecturer of Biological Sciences, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
A lot goes into making sure your muscles can move your body. Kentaroo Tryman/Moment via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to…
- 9
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…
- 10
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…