The Conversation Daily — October 3, 2026
10 stories · October 3, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Hunter-gatherer societies are often put on a pedestal as paragons of equality – but the reality is more complicated
theconversation.com · Duncan Stibbard Hawkes, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Baylor University · Christopher von Rueden, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond
Even in egalitarian societies, people can be unequal in various ways. Duncan Stibbard Hawkes On the shores of Lake Eyasi in Northern Tanzania, a small number of people still hunt and gather their…
- 2
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…
- 3
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…
- 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
Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon
theconversation.com · Morgan Bazilian, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines · Jamie Webster, Fellow, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines
Diesel fuel prices are at all-time highs in the United States. Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Diesel fuel prices in the U.S. continue to break all-time records, hitting $6.28 a…
- 9
The story of Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro is the story of how Italian immigrants became American
theconversation.com · Clare Whitton, PhD Candidate in Medieval History, University of Oxford
Over the past century, New York City's Feast of San Gennaro has grown from a one-day, parochial affair into an 11-day event that draws more than a million visitors. Spencer Platt/Getty Images For two…
- 10
Your robotic vacuum is a witness: What home robots mean for evidence, privacy and the law
theconversation.com · Henry F. Fradella, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University · George Grispos, Associate Professor of Digital Forensics, Arizona State University · Jihun Joun, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Forensics, Arizona State University
The camera on a robot vacuum cleaner captured this cat. What else did it capture around the house? voorts/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A husband in Taiwan suspected his wife of having an affair. In…