TheConversationUS

TheConversationUS, 8 days ago to books

"Every so often, a cause ignites a sustained fury on college campuses across the nation. In 2020, it was Black Lives Matter. In 2011, it was Occupy Wall Street. In the 1980s, it was apartheid in South Africa.

Today, it’s the Israeli military campaign in Gaza."

Here are five books that shine light on a rich history of campus protests in the US that goes back to the 1960s – compiled by veteran journalist Steve Friess.

https://theconversation.com/5-books-to-help-you-better-understand-todays-campus-protests-229166

#campusprotests #books #history @histodons

TheConversationUS, 8 days ago to technology

Although companies have created detectors to help spot #deepfakes, studies have found that biases in the data used to train these tools can lead to certain demographic groups being unfairly targeted.

A team of researchers discovered new methods that improve both the fairness and the accuracy of these detection algorithms by teaching them about human diversity

https://theconversation.com/deepfake-detection-improves-when-using-algorithms-that-are-more-aware-of-demographic-diversity-226061
#technology #engineering #bias @blackmastodon #BlackMastodon

TheConversationUS, 8 days ago to news

Poverty researcher Sherri Lawson Clark has been asking Americans for 25 years if they are poor.

Nobody ever replies ‘Yes, I’m poor’.

But there are tens of millions of Americans who the government defines as ‘poor’. Clark takes a look at how that’s measured and how the poverty rate has changed in the Trump and Biden administrations.
https://theconversation.com/why-some-people-receiving-federal-benefits-dont-consider-themselves-poor-even-though-poverty-rates-have-increased-since-the-covid-19-pandemic-224227
#News #Society #Poverty #USPolitics

TheConversationUS, 9 days ago to random

❤️There are remarkable benefits that family caregivers bring to patient care in the hospital.
💔There’s a remarkably heavy burden on family caregivers when their loved ones go to the ICU.
A critical care registered nurse offers some advice:
https://theconversation.com/family-caregivers-can-help-shape-the-outcomes-for-their-loved-ones-an-icu-nurse-explains-their-vital-role-222396

TheConversationUS, 9 days ago to random

Federal grants don’t always go to the communities that need them most.

Data for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program shows just that. The grants target low- and moderate-income communities, but a disproportionate share goes to the moderate-income neighborhoods, not the ones suffering the most.

Researchers explain how “return on investment” doesn’t reduce inequality:
https://theconversation.com/neediest-areas-are-being-shortchanged-on-government-funds-even-with-programs-designed-to-benefit-poor-communities-221848
#cities #inequality #urbanplanning

TheConversationUS, 9 days ago to USpolitics

Many Americans believe Congress could be fixed with a simple solution: Throw the bums out with term limits.

But that creates more problems than it solves, says political scientists.

For one, members in their legally mandated final term in office enjoy a kind of "senioritis" -- and experience apathy toward being productive in their final year, because they don't have to face the voters again at the ballot box.

https://theconversation.com/term-limits-arent-the-answer-229090
#uspolitics #election2024

video/mp4

TheConversationUS, 9 days ago to blackmastodon

Black Lives Matter protests often pitted demonstrators against police in 2020 − but not in every city.

Protests in cities with police departments led by Black women tended to be peaceful.

https://theconversation.com/cities-with-black-women-police-chiefs-had-less-street-violence-during-2020s-black-lives-matter-protests-227440
#BLM #Protests @blackmastodon

TheConversationUS, 10 days ago to news

With some universities canceling or modifying commencement ceremonies over protests or fear of protests, an anthropologist reminds us that there’s a lot more at stake than just a line of seniors getting a fancy piece of paper.
https://theconversation.com/commencement-isnt-just-about-awarding-degrees-and-cancellations-leave-students-disconnected-and-disillusioned-229425
#News #CampusProtests @academicchatter #HigherEd

TheConversationUS, 10 days ago to Health

Nearsighted? You're not alone. Researchers estimate that about half of the world's population will need corrective lenses by 2050 if current rates continue.

Reading, scrolling and focusing on objects near our faces increases the risk of developing myopia - but a little time in sun can help mitigate it ☀️
https://theconversation.com/nearsightedness-is-at-epidemic-levels-and-the-problem-begins-in-childhood-225255
#health #science

TheConversationUS, 10 days ago to news

It's happening for a second straight year: Dozens of wildfires are burning across Canada and sending unhealthy smoke blowing into the northern U.S., and at the same time, the southeastern U.S. is getting smoke from fires in Mexico.

Is this the new normal for summers? Why air quality scientists say yes:
https://theconversation.com/wildfire-smoke-is-back-fires-burning-across-canada-are-already-triggering-us-air-quality-alerts-in-the-midwest-and-plains-229992
#News #BreakingNews #wildfires #Smoke #Climate

TheConversationUS, 10 days ago to random

Conspiracy theories are everywhere these days, and they can involve just about anything. What should you believe − and how can you tell?

Here are 7 ways to vet a claim you’ve seen or heard (you might know someone who would benefit from you sharing these simple tips):
https://theconversation.com/how-to-tell-if-a-conspiracy-theory-is-probably-false-229081

TheConversationUS, 10 days ago to random

Science news coverage shows bias for researchers with Anglo names:
An analysis of 223,587 news stories from 288 US media outlets found authors with East Asian and African names were mentioned or quoted about 15% less relative to those with Anglo names. The bias is there even after controlling for geographical location, corresponding author status, authorship position, affiliation rank, author prestige, research topics, journal impact and story length.
Our story on NPR:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/19/1245621185/scientists-mentioned-news-media-bias-disparity-anglo-asian-african-names

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to random

Paid caregiving is one of the US’ fastest growing occupations, but with the low pay and terrible benefits, there’s a huge shortage of workers – and that’s bad for those who need care and the families that have to provide unpaid care, instead.

But a new analysis finds that in Nebraska (and likely elsewhere) boosting wages return $1.40 for every $1.00 in additional tax dollars spent on it.
https://theconversation.com/paying-caregivers-more-could-boost-nebraskas-economy-new-research-227646
#medicaid #workershortage #caregiving #longtermcare

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to science

Plant scientists at the University of Tennessee wanted to figure out alternatives to mechanical radiation sensors, which have a history of failing at the wrong time.

How about a potato plant that glows fluorescent green when exposed to radiation?

This “could act as a fail-safe if a disaster similar to Fukushima Daiichi were to occur.”
https://theconversation.com/potato-plant-radiation-sensors-could-one-day-monitor-radiation-in-areas-surrounding-power-plants-219950
#science #research #health

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to Health

Some commonly recommended tactics for managing anger, including hitting a punching bag, jogging and cycling, aren’t effective at helping people cool off. ⁠
⁠
That’s the key takeaway of a new review of 154 studies that looked at how activities that increase or decrease physiological arousal affect anger and aggression.⁠
https://theconversation.com/chilling-out-rather-than-blowing-off-steam-is-a-better-way-to-manage-anger-new-review-of-154-studies-reveals-what-works-225984
#health #emotion #anger #psychology

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago (edited 10 days ago) to news

Mexico claims that U.S. gun-makers engaged in “deliberate efforts to create and maintain an illegal market for their weapons in Mexico.”
Mexico’s lawsuit says:
> The manufacturers intentionally design their weapons to be attractive to criminal organizations in Mexico
> That illegal gun trafficking flows from the industry’s design choices, marketing and distribution practices.
> Feeding demand for illegal weapons is central to the industry’s business model
https://theconversation.com/mexico-is-suing-us-gun-makers-for-arming-its-gangs-and-a-us-court-could-award-billions-in-damages-223598
#News #guns

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to books

Young people are reading #books, but they’re rejecting the identity of ‘reader,’ which perhaps has more to do with community, wealth and gender than whether someone actually reads.
https://theconversation.com/gen-zers-and-millennials-are-still-big-fans-of-books-even-if-they-dont-call-themselves-readers-228569
#Bookstodon #Books @bookstodon

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to Health

If you needed long-term care, could you afford it?

For many Americans, especially those with a middle-class income and little savings, the answer to that question is absolutely not.

Washington state has done the most so far to make it accessible, but this November, state residents will vote on whether to make paying the program tax voluntary – which would essentially kill the statewide insurance program.

https://theconversation.com/us-long-term-care-costs-are-sky-high-but-washington-states-new-way-to-help-pay-for-them-could-be-nixed-228174
#health #healthcare

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to USpolitics

Third-party campaigns can inject new ideas and force major parties to incorporate a wider array of interests.

The minor-party campaigns of Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan in 2000 are remarkable examples where their campaign increased overall voter turnout.

But lawmakers from the Democratic and Republican parties make the rules – and those rules make it very hard for third parties.

https://theconversation.com/third-parties-will-affect-the-2024-campaigns-but-election-laws-written-by-democrats-and-republicans-will-prevent-them-from-winning-226877
#Election #Election2024 #USPolitics