The Conversation Daily — September 19, 2026
10 stories · September 19, 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
Do you need to worry about the Sun turning into a black hole?
theconversation.com · Anuradha Gupta, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy, University of Mississippi
Black holes have a gravitational pull so strong that no objects close to them can escape. Victor de Schwanberg/Science Photo Library via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages.…
- 7
Stars and Stripes shows how government-funded journalism can work – if it’s free to report the truth
theconversation.com · Cindy Elmore, Professor of Journalism, East Carolina University
A drawing that appeared in an edition of Stars and Stripes depicts American troops participating in the predawn attack on Omaha Beach during D-Day on June 6, 1944. Ed Vebell/Getty Images As local and…
- 8
Compared to driving, flying is extraordinarily safe – but why doesn’t it feel that way?
theconversation.com · Mihhail Berezovski, Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University · Alex Chaparro, Professor of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Millions of people fly safely every day, but when plane crashes do happen, they can be catastrophic. RM Bulseco/Flickr, CC BY A commercial airplane crash can change how people behave long after the…
- 9
AI skin cancer detection tools are getting better – but only for people with light skin
theconversation.com · Mohamed Akrout, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee
Melanoma and other skin conditions can look different in people with darker versus lighter skin – but image databases include many more examples from people with lighter skin. SeventyFour/iStock via…
- 10
Satellite images show how penguins’ diets are changing in response to Antarctic climate change
theconversation.com · Casey Youngflesh, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Clemson University
An Adélie penguin swims through the ocean. Casey Youngflesh, CC BY The color of penguin poop, as seen from space, is offering a new window into how the ecology and the environment of Antarctica are…