The Conversation - Ties that bind Trump and Vance

Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect – how history’s lessons apply to cities today

Brian Stone Jr., Georgia Institute of Technology

As summer temperatures rise, finding ways to build cities that don’t hold in the heat and can provide some cooling is increasingly important.

The mystic and the mathematician: What the towering 20th-century thinkers Simone and André Weil can teach today’s math educators

Scott Taylor, Colby College

André Weil was a mathematician. His sister Simone Weil was a philosopher. They both thought deeply about the nature and value of mathematics and mathematics education.

No, the world isn’t heading toward a new Cold War – it’s closer to the grinding world order collapse of the 1930s

David Ekbladh, Tufts University

Over the past 15 years, the world has seen a financial crisis, the rise of populist politics and a fracturing of the world economic order. Sounds all a bit pre-WWII, right?

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

‘Coconut farmers for Harris,’ influencers and vertical signs – Smithsonian curators’ encounters at the Democratic National Convention

From thoughts to words: How AI deciphers neural signals to help a man with ALS speak

America’s Iran policy is a failure − piecemeal deterrence and sanctions can go only so far

Want to fight gender inequality? A review of data from 118 counties shows that development aid works

Biden administration’s negotiated price cuts for 10 common prescription drugs likely to save Medicare billions, beginning in 2026

4 ways Wissahickon Valley Park makes Philly more resilient against climate change

The Polaris Dawn mission to Earth’s orbit will test SpaceX’s capabilities for a commercial space program

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

Here’s the first question of this week’s edition:

"Does Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz [***]"

1. A. Dare stand up to China?
2. B. Swear too damn much?
3. C. Have a 'Minnesota toupee'?
4. D. Know that 'brat' is not a sausage?

Test your knowledge