Making fuels from plastics in Newaygo, Michigan, would be controversial – here’s why

A proposed chemical recycling plant in western Michigan may provide a handful of jobs but little environmental benefit.

Yutan Getzler, Pamela G. Hollie Professor of Chemistry, Kenyon College • conversation
Sept. 11, 2024 ~10 min

Sharks are taking a bite out of anglers’ catch in the Gulf of Mexico, but culling isn’t likely to help

Whether they’re going to cook a fish, have it mounted or just take a photo and then release it, anglers want more than a severed head. But with shark numbers rebounding, they’ve got competition.

James Marcus Drymon, Associate Extension Professor in Marine Fisheries Ecology, Mississippi State University • conversation
Aug. 20, 2024 ~9 min


Google monopoly ruling: where the tech giant goes from here

Google has a 90% market share of the market for general search engines.

Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University • conversation
Aug. 15, 2024 ~8 min

Cumbria coal mine shows planning is the next battleground in UK climate policy

By withdrawing its support the government rose to the challenge – but now the real test begins.

Pancho Lewis, Researcher, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University • conversation
July 18, 2024 ~7 min

Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains – and poorer kids are more at risk

Less sleep and later bedtimes are linked to a section of the brain involved in emotion regulation suffering reduced growth, along with weaker connections to other brain areas.

Melissa Hansen, Ph.D. Candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience, Colorado State University • conversation
July 18, 2024 ~5 min

Unregulated online political ads pose a threat to democracy

Political ad transparency – who’s paying for ads and whether candidates stand behind them – is well-regulated for TV and radio. Online, not so much.

Steven Caplan, Adjunct Instructor of Communications and Marketing, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism • conversation
July 9, 2024 ~8 min

Renationalising water could fix sewage crisis – but no major party will do it

Bans on water company boss bonuses, but no overhaul of Britain’s creaking (and leaking) water industry.

Kevin Grecksch, Departmental Lecturer and Course Director MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford • conversation
July 2, 2024 ~9 min

What’s next after Supreme Court curbs regulatory power: More focus on laws’ wording, less on their goals

A widely anticipated Supreme Court ruling will sharply limit federal agencies’ power to interpret the laws that they execute and decide how best to carry them out.

Robin Kundis Craig, Professor of Law, University of Kansas • conversation
July 1, 2024 ~12 min


How to decide how to vote – a psychologist’s advice

Don’t ignore your emotions. They can be important clues as to how politicians are trying to sway you.

Smadar Cohen-Chen, Senior Lecturer in Social and Organisational Psychology, University of Sussex • conversation
June 26, 2024 ~6 min

EPA has lowered the screening level for lead in soil – here’s what that could mean for households across the US

The new level won’t trigger automatic cleanups, but it sets a lower threshold for taking precautions to reduce lead exposure.

Gabriel Filippelli, Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director, Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University • conversation
June 18, 2024 ~9 min

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