The Conversation U.S.

Have you ever looked up at a power line and wondered, what are those orange balls? Those orange balls — called aviation marker balls — on power lines aren’t random. Rui Bo, who researches power systems at Missouri University of Science and Technology, explained them to us.

No, baby boys aren’t “less social.” That’s just a stereotype. Decades of research shows boys and girls are equally wired to connect from day one. But boys are nudged toward toughness over tenderness, given fewer chances to practice empathy and subtly discouraged against connection. Based on an article by Lise Eliot, a neuroscientist who studies child development at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. #parenting #boymom #newmom #empathy #parentingtips

States are making companies pay for the packaging waste they create, which could push them toward greener designs. But state laws vary in what’s covered, what’s recyclable and how fees are calculated. Without coordination, America’s packaging waste problem becomes a packaging-policy problem. https://lnkd.in/eCwxquKF

Cities across the U.S. are building more tiny house villages to help people experiencing homelessness. The number of these communities nearly quadrupled in just five years. https://lnkd.in/ek3D-Bk8

A major breakthrough in pancreatic cancer treatment: A newly approved drug targets a protein once considered “undruggable” — and nearly doubled survival for patients with advanced disease in a clinical trial. https://lnkd.in/eP_3rwZ8

Meta’s $17 billion settlement could mean some pretty big changes for teens on Facebook and Instagram. Daily time limits, overnight blocks, fewer notifications and even an option to ditch the algorithmic feed are all part of the deal. https://lnkd.in/gNvngp9Q

You may feel your energy start to dip as the fall and winter months creep in. That’s normal. The seasons can affect your energy, mood and how you handle stress. A behavioral scientist explains why — and how to work with those changes instead of against them: https://lnkd.in/eC6xkFg8

QAnon is not dead. Its language has moved from fringe message boards into official government accounts. Nearly a decade after the conspiracy theory emerged, QAnon phrases like “Trust the Plan” and “Patriots are in Control” are showing up in posts from the White House and Pentagon. And whether or not these references in official government accounts are truly ideological or simply trolling is less relevant than the effect they have, writes a scholar of conspiracy theories and extremism. The government is intentionally or unintentionally emboldening conspiracy theories, fueling new claims that “undermine public health, governance and civil society,” says Matthew N. Hannah who teaches at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I believe these ghostly eruptions of QAnon conspiracy theories into the public will only continue to divide Americans at a time of social and economic crisis.” https://lnkd.in/eTKQ-mxc

The Supreme Court allowed Trump’s plan to restrict on mail voting to move forward — but it didn’t rule on whether it’s legal. Our politics and legal affairs editor Naomi Schalit talked with Quinnipiac University election law scholar John J. Martin about how the court didn’t get into the issue of whether Trump has the authority to do what he wants to do – and how this ruling adds uncertainty for voters and the officials trying their best to run fair elections. https://lnkd.in/gNPpZuQY #Politics #News #SCOTUS

A lifted evacuation order doesn’t necessarily mean a home is safe. Even homes untouched by flames can contain hidden health risks after a wildfire. Purdue University environmental engineer Andrew W. – who studies what’s left behind by fires – shares tips on what to check and what to do before moving back in: https://lnkd.in/ePpcEUct #wildfires #health #Spokane