TheConversationUS

TheConversationUS, 1 hour ago to Ukraine

If $61 billion seems like a lot to spend now on military aid, it’s nothing compared with what will be needed in the months and years to come to rebuild #Ukraine

https://theconversation.com/the-price-of-rebuilding-ukraine-goes-up-each-day-but-shirking-the-bill-will-cost-even-more-229670

TheConversationUS, 5 hours ago to geopolitics

Don’t celebrate too much about the Dow reaching record highs, says a financial markets scholar.

There’s a lot of randomness in financial markets, and the significance of round-number milestones like last week's toppling of the 40,000 mark is mostly psychological.

https://theconversation.com/dow-tops-40-000-as-stock-indexes-continue-to-cross-milestones-making-many-investors-feel-wealthier-223274
#economy #dowjones

TheConversationUS, 12 hours ago to news

A philosopher and a psychologist share their 5 thoughts for new college grads to consider as they head out into the “real world,” including:

#3: Seeking work with a purpose is a noble and understandable goal

And #4: It is also understandable to care about money

More important reminders for grads:

#graduation #graduated #news #newstodon
https://theconversation.com/5-thoughts-for-new-college-grads-seeking-to-find-the-right-balance-between-meaningful-work-and-making-money-229956

TheConversationUS, 1 day ago (edited 9 hours ago) to news

TGIF! It's #news #quiz day. Here's this week's first question:

A majority of recent graduates say they want to work for companies that try to improve society rather than generate profits. What are researchers calling this new young cohort?

Check your answer and try questions on impregnation, pollination and carbonation:
https://theconversation.com/the-conversation-u-s-weekly-news-quiz-189437

/ / /

TheConversationUS, 2 days ago to news

An expert on deceptive communication says the jury might not like that #Trump is sitting with his eyes closed instead of making eye contact – or they might view it as him sending a message.

That’s just one of the observations he has, in a discussion with a former federal judge about this week’s testimony:

https://theconversation.com/a-silent-trump-with-eyes-closed-and-a-convicted-liar-on-the-stand-2-experienced-observers-of-trumps-criminal-trial-discuss-what-stands-out-230261

#News #BreakingNews #USPolitics #TrumpTrial

TheConversationUS, 2 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, 2 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, 2 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, 3 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, 3 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, 3 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, 3 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, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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, 4 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, 5 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, 5 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