The Conversation Daily — September 30, 2026
10 stories · September 30, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Question of whether taxpayers or fossil fuel companies pay for climate change damage heads to Supreme Court
theconversation.com · Patrick Parenteau, Professor of Law Emeritus, Vermont Law & Graduate School
People living in Boulder County, Colo., have experienced wildfires, flooding and other climate-related disasters. Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images Climate change is causing billions of dollars’…
- 2
Antarctica’s ice loss is locked in, and extra snowfall won’t save it – that’s bad news for low-lying coastal areas elsewhere
theconversation.com · Yucheng Lin, Assistant Professor of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong · Robert Kopp, Professor of Earth Sciences, Rutgers University
A glacier front meets the sea in Antarctica. The ice sheet holds enough water to raise global sea level by about 190 feet (58 meters). Qiyue Sun Sea-level rise is one of the most visible signs of…
- 3
As AI political deepfakes go viral, lawmakers struggle to keep up – 2 states’ laws show limits of what they can do
theconversation.com · Stefani Langehennig, Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Denver
A woman views a manipulated video in January 2019 that changes what is said by President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, illustrating how deepfake technology can deceive viewers. Robe…
- 4
Why the nor'easter’s storm surge was so high, and what it says about the El Niño winter ahead
theconversation.com · Brian Tang, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University at Albany, State University of New York
A nor'easter's storm surge swept into restaurants and homes in Sea Bright, N.J., in late September 2026. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki As a powerful nor’easter hit the U.S. Atlantic Coast in late September…
- 5
Criminal conspiracy to steal used cooking oil shows how trash can become treasure
theconversation.com · Edward D. Melillo, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Amherst College
A restaurant owner looks at a tank for collecting used cooking oil. Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images Federal prosecutors recently described an interstate criminal enterprise with all the…
- 6
Using an AI chatbot to practice new languages can be helpful, but it doesn’t replace speaking with an actual person
theconversation.com · Antonio Perez-Nunez, Associate Professor of Spanish, College of Charleston
Relying on AI chatbots to learn a new language has various drawbacks, including the propensity for the chatbots to sometimes have cultural biases and make grammatical mistakes. Andriy…
- 7
The ‘War Games’ problem: Computer science has long understood what it takes to keep AI under control
theconversation.com · Deven Desai, Professor of Business Law and Ethics; Associate Director for Law, Policy, and Ethics at the Machine Learning Center, Georgia Institute of Technology
In the movie 'War Games' an AI plays a game with the real threat of triggering nuclear Armageddon. Courtesy of United Artists/Amazon MGM Studios AI agents don’t go rogue. That’s something only humans…
- 8
Starship’s first orbital flight put its heat shield to the test – how it fares could determine if SpaceX’s vision is possible
theconversation.com · Sven Bilén, Professor of Engineering Design, Electrical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, Penn State
SpaceX's Starship rocket launched to orbit for the first time on Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Eric Gay SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, reached Earth orbit for the first…
- 9
Pittsburgh’s kindergartners fall below the measles safety threshold, testing the city’s vaccine legacy
theconversation.com · Rebecca Smullin Dawson, Associate Professor of Biology, Allegheny College
Pennsylvania's 2026 outbreak has grown to more than 670 confirmed cases statewide. Sean Rayford/Stringer via Getty Images It takes a lot to knock football out of the headlines in Pittsburgh. But…
- 10
We paid college students about $5 a night to sleep at least 7 hours – and their grades quickly improved
theconversation.com · Osea Giuntella, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Pittsburgh · Sally Sadoff, Professor of Economics and Strategy, University of California, San Diego · Silvia Saccardo, Associate Professor of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University
Half of surveyed college students said they go to bed after 1 a.m., on average. iStock via Getty Images Plus Paying college students about US$5 a night to sleep seven hours got them a quarter more…