The Conversation - Gladiators, vanity and self-restraint

Better but not stellar: Pollsters faced familiar complaints, difficulties in assessing Trump-Harris race

W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication

With a history of presidential polls getting it wrong − sometimes very wrong − how did this year’s polling fare? Some US pollsters did better, but a Brazilian pollster did the best.

Transplanting insulin-making cells to treat Type 1 diabetes is challenging − but stem cells offer a potential improvement

Vinny Negi, University of Pittsburgh

Type 1 diabetes develops when the body destroys its own insulin-producing cells. Using stem cells to replace them could be a way to get around donor shortages and transplant complications.

US House passes measure that could punish nonprofits Treasury Department decides are ‘terrorist’

Beth Gazley, Indiana University

Organizations representing nonprofits have condemned this bill, which critics see as a threat to President-elect Donald Trump’s opponents.

Activism on foot: When Indigenous activists walk the land to honor their past and reshape their future

Public health surveillance, from social media to sewage, spots disease outbreaks early to stop them fast

New maps show high-risk zones for whale-ship collisions − vessel speed limits and rerouting can reduce the toll

Philadelphia students have a new reading and writing curriculum − a literacy expert explains what’s changing

Why does the Senate confirm Trump’s picks for key posts — and how? A legal scholar explains the confirmation process and the ‘constitutional loophole’ of recess appointments

75 years ago, Maria Tallchief made the ballet world reimagine itself and find a place for a Native American prima ballerina

‘For the very first time I really enjoyed sex!’ − how lesbian escort agencies became a form of self-care in Japan

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

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

In a boost to Ukraine's morale, news reports say that the Biden administration has now authorized the country to do what?

1. A. Use F-16s to attack North Korean troops
2. B. Deploy M1 Abrams tanks on Russian soil
3. C. Fire ATACMS missiles deeper into Russian territory
4. D. Borrow America's Netflix password

Test your knowledge