The Conversation Daily — September 29, 2026
10 stories · September 29, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Oil and gas industry expected surplus – but war brought shortage instead
theconversation.com · John Patrick Schoeneman Jr., Assistant Professor of International Political Economics, Oklahoma State University
With fuel prices at record highs, a truck driver prepares to pump diesel into a tractor trailer at a gas station in Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images In 2023, the International Energy Agency predicted…
- 2
Arctic infrastructure was built on frozen ground – drones and digital twins can help spot the permafrost thaw coming
theconversation.com · Ming Xiao, Professor of Civil Engineering, Penn State
A view of Wainwright, Alaska, which sits on low-lying coastal terrain underlain by permafrost. Ming Xiao From the air, Wainwright, Alaska, looks like a perfectly stable band of homes and roads between…
- 3
Why Trump’s plan to cut Head Start regulations could undermine services for the country’s poorest families
theconversation.com · Alexander Thim, PhD Candidate of Economics, UMass Amherst; Westfield State University · Bridgette Davis, Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, UMass Amherst
A teacher leads a clay activity with students at a dual language Head Start program at Hillcrest Elementary School in Monterey Park, Calif., in August 2026. Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty…
- 4
Are religious charter schools constitutional? After deadlocked SCOTUS decision, another Oklahoma case is trying to find out
theconversation.com · Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton
Another case about the constitutionality of a religious charter school may be on the Supreme Court's horizon. Finn Gomez/Getty Images Just over a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered an unusual…
- 5
Last year, Floridians over 60 lost nearly $710M to cybercrime – here’s what to do if you or a loved one has been scammed
theconversation.com · Angela Ramos, Lecturer in Information and Technology Management, University of Tampa
Senior citizens are valuable and vulnerable targets for cybercriminals. ozgurcankaya/iStock via Getty Images As a cybersecurity educator, I’m used to being the unofficial IT support for my friends,…
- 6
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ winks and blows a blood-soaked kiss at horror films of queer past
theconversation.com · Scott Malia, Associate Professor of Theatre, College of the Holy Cross
Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder star in 'Camp Miasma.' MUBI Oversexed teenagers, invincible killers and a deserted cabin – what could possibly go wrong? Slasher movies that focus on teenagers…
- 7
Why does your brain mix up memories? A new study examines how memories are misplaced in your brain’s filing cabinets
theconversation.com · Ian McDonough, Associate Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Older people may confuse memories rather than forgetting them altogether. LWA/Stone via Getty Images Old age and forgetfulness seem to go hand in hand. But my colleagues and I found that memories…
- 8
Physicists zoom into the birth of cosmic rainstorms with new CERN study
theconversation.com · Jesse Liu, Assistant Professor of Physics, New York University
Scientists want to learn more about the cosmic rays that create particle showers in Earth's atmosphere. Thomas Bergauer/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND Every second, particles zip through your body at nearly the…
- 9
Wildfire strategy doesn’t need a winner – with 3 camps fighting for dominance, the system can’t keep up with the risk
theconversation.com · Tony Cheng, Professor of Forest and Natural Resource Policy, Colorado State University · Matt Thompson, Affiliate Wildfire Scientist, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Colorado State University
A firefighter monitors a backfire in California, set to clear away dry vegetation that could fuel wildfires. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images One of the problems with how America deals with wildfires…
- 10
School choice proponents say it offers families more options – but those don’t always extend to immigrant students
theconversation.com · William McCorkle, Associate Professor of Social Studies Education, College of Charleston · Beth Lloyd, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, College of Charleston
School choice gives families options, but not all families necessarily have the same ones. Andrii Yalanskyi/iStock via Getty Images Plus Educators, politicians and education observers have long…