The Conversation Daily — August 26, 2026
10 stories · August 26, 2026
In this issue
- 1
FDA approves breakthrough pancreatic cancer drug – an oncologist explains how daraxonrasib nearly doubles survival
theconversation.com · Christopher Lieu, Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz
Pancreatic cancer has been notoriously difficult to target and treat. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus For a long time, the likelihood of surviving pancreatic cancer has been extremely low. For…
- 2
Disappearing lakes, old photos and AI are helping scientists map Arctic permafrost thaw in near-real time
theconversation.com · Anna Liljedahl, Affiliated Professor in Arctic Hydrology, University of Alaska Anchorage · Ingmar Nitze, Postdoctoral Research in Polar Geoscience, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Thermokarst ponds, or trough ponds, typically form when the ice in permafrost melts. They can also drain quickly. Anna Liljedahl Florida gets a lot of attention for its sinkholes, especially when they…
- 3
Why Trump’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule protecting national forests will struggle in court
theconversation.com · Patrick Parenteau, Professor of Law Emeritus, Vermont Law & Graduate School
Roadless areas in Alaska contain important old-growth forests. Mike Reid Photography/Moment via Getty Images Over 368,000 miles of roads wind through U.S. national forests, eight times more than the…
- 4
I’m part of the team writing the next bible of psychiatry – for the first time, the DSM will use biology to understand mental disorders
theconversation.com · Anand Kumar, Professor and Department Head of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago
Part of the challenge of finding a biomarker for mental illness is the environment's significant influence. rudall30/iStock via Getty Images Plus The “ bible” of clinical psychiatry – the DSM, short…
- 5
Stop trying to maintain constant productivity: Your ability to cope with stress changes with the seasons and your own biological clocks
theconversation.com · Masha Remskar, Psychologist and Postdoctoral Researcher in Behavioral Science, Arizona State University
Stress resilience is a dynamic balance rather than a fixed trait. Maskot via Getty Images Do you feel like the same person in February as in June? For most people, the answer is a resounding no.…
- 6
Wildfires can contaminate nearby homes and water systems – here’s what returning residents need to know
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…
- 7
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…
- 8
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…
- 9
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…
- 10
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…