The Conversation Daily — September 18, 2026
10 stories · September 18, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Annie Dillard brought poetry into prose, pioneering a mystical form of creative nonfiction that critics both admired and misunderstood
theconversation.com · Amy Cannon, Associate Professor of Writing, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Annie Dillard is rightly celebrated as a pioneer in creative nonfiction after her death on Sep. 15, 2026, at age 81. But the dazzling, disorienting feel of Dillard’s work might be best understood as…
- 2
At-home drug disposal products can play an important role in keeping rural Coloradans safe
theconversation.com · Sunny Linnebur, Professor of Geriatric Pharmacy, University of Colorado Anschutz
Unused medications can become a hazard when not disposed of safely. mediaphotos/iStock via Getty Images Plus Some Coloradans have a drug problem: old prescription medications clogging their medicine…
- 3
Flood-damaged Nepal wants help from the global climate Loss and Damage Fund – but it’s waiting, along with 118 other countries
theconversation.com · Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Research Fellow in the Climate Policy Lab, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
A rush of mud, rock and water inundated the town of Trishuli, Nepal, on Aug. 26, 2026, after a glacier collapsed. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images As it faces the enormous task of rebuilding from a…
- 4
Black moms and pregnant women forced out of their homes in metro Detroit face health and safety threats
theconversation.com · Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson, Associate Professor of Social Epidemiology, The Ohio State University
Is everyone entitled to a fair process before being forced out of their home? The state of Michigan says “yes,” but the reality is often very different and the consequences are severe. In Michigan,…
- 5
Does my kid have COVID-19 or just a cold? A pediatric nurse explains how to tell – and why it matters
theconversation.com · Ann Sheehan, Assistant Dean for Practice, Innovation, and Professional Education and Associate Professor of Nursing, Michigan State University
Seasonal illnesses like the cold and COVID-19 have many overlapping symptoms. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/DigitalVision via Getty Images Fall and winter mark the peak season for common respiratory infections…
- 6
How to know if you can trust an AI’s answer to your question
theconversation.com · Leo S. Lo, Dean, University of Virginia
An AI answer to a search query can fit one of several types. Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto via Getty Images I recently typed a simple question into Google search: How much screen time is too much for…
- 7
Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age
theconversation.com · Karen Stollznow, Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England
Age changes the way languages are learned, but adults remain capable of learning new languages throughout life. DrAfter123/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images Learning another language is a highly…
- 8
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…
- 9
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,…
- 10
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…