Here's how much ecology influences culture

Kakhovka dam breach raises risk for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – receding waters narrow options for cooling

Najmedin Meshkati, University of Southern California

The International Atomic Energy Agency says the plant has enough water to last for several months. What happens afterward or if the remaining water is lost to the war could lead to a disaster.

Brain tumors are cognitive parasites – how brain cancer hijacks neural circuits and causes cognitive decline

Saritha Krishna, University of California, San Francisco; Shawn Hervey-Jumper, University of California, San Francisco

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type of brain cancer, causing significant decline in cognitive function. New research suggests a common anti-seizure drug could help control tumor growth.

Forts Cavazos, Barfoot and Liberty — new names for army bases honor new heroes and lasting values, instead of Confederates who lost a war

Jeff South, Virginia Commonwealth University

The last relics of ‘lost cause’ ideology are being removed, as a federal panel renames US military bases that honored Confederate generals.

Kakhovka dam breach: 3 essential reads on what it means for Ukraine’s infrastructure, beleaguered nuclear plant and future war plans

Matt Williams, The Conversation

Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attack on crucial civilian infrastructure. Experts explain what the incident means for future war plans, and for the safety of the affected region.

Mike Pence is jockeying against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – joining the ranks of just one vice president who, in 1800, also ran against a former boss

Shannon Bow O'Brien, The University of Texas at Austin

Pence’s announcement that he will run for president brings to mind how rare it is for a vice president to compete against a former running mate.

Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders

Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Research shows that social media, with it endless promotion of unrealistic standards of beauty, has had a negative impact on millions of young people.

This course studies NGOs aiming to help countries recover from mass atrocities and to prevent future violence

David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York

College students learn about people who have dedicated their professional lives to reducing the threat of violence – and their successes and failures.

Aztec and Maya civilizations are household names – but it’s the Olmecs who are the ‘mother culture’ of ancient Mesoamerica

Karl Taube, University of California, Riverside

The return of an important monument to Mexico puts a spotlight on a culture whose influence is still felt in the Americas today.

Why insurance companies are pulling out of California and Florida, and how to fix some of the underlying problems

Melanie Gall, Arizona State University

It’s not a question of if insurance will become unavailable or unaffordable in high-risk areas – it’s a question of when. A disaster risk expert explains.

The ugly side of beauty: Chemicals in cosmetics threaten college-age women’s reproductive health

Leslie Hart, College of Charleston

Finding cosmetics that are free of hormone- disrupting chemicals often means paying more. An epidemiologist explains the risk, particularly for young women.

Peaches are a minor part of Georgia’s economy, but they’re central to its mythology

William Thomas Okie, Kennesaw State University

A 90% crop loss in the Peach State may sound like a disaster, but Georgia isn’t actually the Big Apple of peach production that it claims to be.

UK PM Sunak visits Washington to strengthen ties, watch baseball – having already struck out on trade deal

Garret Martin, American University School of International Service

The UK leader’s visit to the US comes amid trouble at home, with low ratings for his Conservative Party. But don’t expect much joy for Sunak on trade or Northern Ireland.

How AI could take over elections – and undermine democracy

Arsenic contamination of food and water is a global public health concern – researchers are studying how it causes cancer

Should the giving styles of the rich and famous alarm us all?