When camping outdoors is a crime

+ fearing grizzly bears US Edition - Today's top story: Supreme Court to consider whether local governments can make it a crime to sleep outside if no inside space is available [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Tracking methane leaks from space to protect the climate]( - [The battle over poetry in Modi’s India]( - [When online shaming is a good thing]( Lead story It’s never comfortable to see people who are homeless camping out in a public park or under a highway overpass. But should cities be able to fine or arrest people for sleeping in public if they can’t offer space in shelters? The Supreme Court will consider this question on April 22 in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Though the case originated in a small Oregon city, it has implications for addressing homelessness nationwide. According to University of Southern California law professor Clare Pastore, previous rulings have viewed [criminalizing someone for their status]( – such as being homeless or addicted to drugs – as cruel and unusual punishment. She explains how a ruling in favor of the city could worsen racial inequality in the U.S. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor A homeless person near an elementary school in Fruitdale Park in Grants Pass, Ore. AP Photo/Jenny Kane [Supreme Court to consider whether local governments can make it a crime to sleep outside if no inside space is available]( Clare Pastore, University of Southern California Legal precedents hold that criminalizing someone for their status, such as being homeless, is cruel and unusual punishment. But what if that status leads to actions like sleeping in public spaces? Environment + Energy - [More climate-warming methane leaks into the atmosphere than ever gets reported – here’s how satellites can find the leaks and avoid wasting a valuable resource]( Riley Duren, University of Arizona Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that can leak from oil and gas wells, pipelines and landfills. Satellites can spot the releases fast enough to get them fixed and help protect the climate. - [Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals]( Alexander L. Metcalf, University of Montana Whether people are hunters can have a big effect. Arts + Culture - [Indian protesters pull from poetic tradition to resist Modi’s Hindu nationalism]( Krupa Shandilya, Amherst College Thanks to a strong oral Urdu literary tradition in South Asia, poems from the past linger in the popular imagination. Science + Technology - [In the age of cancel culture, shaming can be healthy for online communities – a political scientist explains when and how]( Jennifer Forestal, Loyola University Chicago There is no shortage of horror stories about online shaming, but it’s not always a bad thing. It comes down to who is doing the shaming and how cohesive the online community is. - [Deepfake detection improves when using algorithms that are more aware of demographic diversity]( Siwei Lyu, University at Buffalo; Yan Ju, University at Buffalo New research found a way to both improve the accuracy of deepfake detection algorithms while also enhancing fairness. - [Drugs that aren’t antibiotics can also kill bacteria − new method pinpoints how]( Mariana Noto Guillen, UMass Chan Medical School There are many ways to kill microbes that cause dangerous infections. Combining genetic screening with machine learning can help researchers identify new antimicrobials. - [Exploding stars send out powerful bursts of energy − I’m leading a citizen scientist project to classify and learn about these bright flashes]( Amy Lien, University of Tampa Where specialized algorithms fail to classify star-borne pulses, human volunteers with just a little training can step in. Economy + Business - [Foundations are using so many confusing words that few people can figure out what they’re doing]( Aaron Zeiler, University of Florida; Ann Searight Christiano, University of Florida Boasting about centering your transformative systems change paradigm means you’re doing it wrong. But fixes are available. Politics + Society - [The US is losing access to its bases in Niger − here’s why that’s a big deal]( Michael A. Allen, Boise State University; Carla Martinez Machain, University at Buffalo; Michael E. Flynn, Kansas State University The disintegration of the United States’ relationship with Niger following its military coup in 2023 is giving way to stronger ties between the African country and Russia and China. International - [Once enemies, Japan and US strengthen their alliance – and it goes beyond AUKUS]( Craig Mark, Temple University During a state visit to the White House, the US and Japanese leaders announce a suite of new agreements aimed at countering China’s growing power. - [Rwanda genocide: 30 years on, why Tutsis are at the centre of DR Congo’s conflict]( Christopher P. Davey, Binghamton University, State University of New York Rwanda shapes conflict in the region by using the Congolese Tutsi to centre its claims of a continued threat of genocide. Trending on site - [Shadow war no more: Hostilities between Israel and Iran have strayed into direct warfare – is there any going back?]( - [4 reasons the practice of canceling weakens higher education]( - [Taylor Swift’s homage to Clara Bow]( Today's graphic 📈 [The U.S. had 15 facilities with carbon capture and store operations as of 2023. All but two send their captured carbon for use in enhanced oil recovery (EOR).]( From the story, [How federal tax dollars meant to fight climate change could end up boosting Louisiana’s fossil fuel production]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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