The Conversation Daily — September 4, 2026
10 stories · September 4, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Farmer-poet Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith and belief in caring for creation
theconversation.com · Kristy Nabhan-Warren, Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies, University of Iowa
Wendell Berry, right, joins an 'I Love Mountains' rally against mountaintop mining at the Kentucky Capitol in 2013. AP Photo/James Crisp For most of his 92 years, Wendell Berry farmed his Lane’s…
- 2
Mosquitoes are picky eaters – we studied 3 common South Florida species to learn why they like some people more than others
theconversation.com · Kaylee Marrero, Ph.D. Student and Transdisiplinary Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences Fellow, Florida International University · Matthew DeGennaro, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University
If you’ve ever had to prepare a meal for a picky eater, you know it’s not easy. They may not like certain flavors or textures, and there are often foods you have to avoid altogether. And it turns out,…
- 3
Essential digital technologies are critical infrastructure – they are not always built and managed that way
theconversation.com · Francine Berman, Director of Public Interest Technology and Stuart Rice Honorary Research Professor, UMass Amherst
Passengers fill a terminal at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 19, 2024, after a major internet outage disrupted flights worldwide. AP Photo/Ty ONeil What do the water system in…
- 4
Dog parks are an antidote to the isolation and divisions that social media can fuel
theconversation.com · Kevin B. Johnson, Professor of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics and Science Communication, University of Pennsylvania
A group of regulars meet at the Harford dog park in Radnor, Pa. Kevin B. Johnson, CC BY-NC-SA The case against social media has gotten so well rehearsed that most people can easily merge it into…
- 5
Taxpayers don’t want to pay for new NFL stadiums – so why did politicians approve billions in subsidies to fund six new ones?
theconversation.com · J.C. Bradbury, Professor of Economics, Kennesaw State University
Beginning in 2027, the Tennessee Titans will play their home games in the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Over $1 billion in public dollars have been committed to the project. Wesley Hitt/Getty…
- 6
Puerto Rico is rationing water, but many residents stopped trusting the tap long before the drought
theconversation.com · Ivis García, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
Residents collect water from a tanker truck amid government-imposed water rationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in August 2026. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images Imagine turning on your kitchen…
- 7
Colorado River water conservation efforts get only halfway to a solution
theconversation.com · Sarah Porter, Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy, ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University
A view over Lake Mead shows how far the lake's level has fallen. AP Photo/Ty ONeil In August 2026 the nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both on the Colorado River, hit their…
- 8
Cursive is making a comeback. But does it deserve one?
theconversation.com · Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, Clinical Professor of Literacy Studies, Drexel University
More than 25 states currently require students to learn cursive. PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images Plus Learning to read and write cursive was once a rite of passage for practically every American…
- 9
New therapies help people with schizophrenia – but access is woefully inadequate
theconversation.com · Matthew Kurtz, Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, Wesleyan University
Schizophrenia is among the top 10 leading causes of disability, according to the World Health Organization. ATHVisions/E+ via Getty Images It’s common to hear casual descriptions of “schizophrenic”…
- 10
Nearly 1 in 4 students are chronically absent from school – kids who feel happy and safe are less likely to miss class
theconversation.com · Jerome A. Graham, Assistant Professor of K-12 Educational Administration, Michigan State University · Su Yon Choi, Assistant Professor of School Leaders, Florida Atlantic University · Yi-Chih Chiang, Assistant Professor of P-12 Educational Administration, Idaho State University
Close to 1 in 4 students in the U.S. do not attend school for at least 10% of the academic year. Antonio Hugo Photo/Moment via Getty Images Chronic absenteeism – referring to students who miss 10% or…