Inside the Alabama runoff

Edition: US - Today's top story: Defying Trump, Alabama GOP picks Roy Moore – and embraces the same old politics of rage [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 28 September 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note On Tuesday, Republican voters in Alabama ignored President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Luther Strange and handed Roy Moore a win in the GOP runoff for senate. While some commentators see the results as a knock on the president, David Hughes of Auburn University in Montgomery takes a longer view – looking back at the legacy of longtime Democratic Gov. George Wallace, a man who understood [how white rage could be exploited]( to influence an Alabama election. Earlier this week, a study led by Willow Bay, dean of the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California, looked at how families are [struggling with the impact of cellphones and other technology]( on their lives. We reached out to Vanderbilt’s Jaco J. Hamman, a scholar, minister and psychotherapist, to ask why our phones have become “an essential aspect of our sense of self.” The reasons, he says, [lie in our basic human yearning to connect](. And if you’re starting the day with a lackluster cup of joe, University of Oregon materials chemist Christopher Hendon’s article on the [science of brewing a splendid and reproducible cup of coffee]( may have some tips for you. The bad news is that baristas at well-appointed cafes have a few advantages over the rest of us. Emily Costello Senior Editor, Politics + Society Top story Roy Moore wins Alabama’s GOP runoff. REUTERS/Marvin Gentry [Defying Trump, Alabama GOP picks Roy Moore – and embraces the same old politics of rage]( David Hughes, Auburn University at Montgomery A scholar from Alabama’s Auburn University at Montgomery explains how Republicans have slowly but utterly taken over Alabama politics, even while squabbling amongst themselves. Politics + Society - [Is partisan gerrymandering illegal? The Supreme Court will decide]( Jonathan Entin, Case Western Reserve University In an upcoming case about Wisconsin's voting districts, the Supreme Court will tackle legal questions that have long gone unanswered. - [Kurdistan: after vote for independence, what's next?]( Rebecca Richards, Keele University; Robert Smith, Coventry University It seems almost inevitable Iraqi Kurdistan will separate from the rest of Iraq – but going it alone will be hugely difficult. Ethics + Religion - [3 reasons why we are addicted to smartphones]( Jaco J. Hamman, Vanderbilt University Why we love our phones so much might be related to our basic yearnings as human beings, explains a scholar, who is also a pastor. - [On Yom Kippur, remembering Mosul's rich and diverse past]( Stephennie Mulder, University of Texas at Austin As Mosul rebuilds, its history is a reminder that people of many faiths lived in cooperation in the city. In the city was the Tomb of Prophet Jonah, venerated by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. Environment + Energy - [Shrinking and altering national monuments: Experts assess Interior Secretary Zinke's proposals]( Robert B. Keiter, University of Utah; Anthony Moffa, University of Maine; Sarah Schindler, University of Maine; Syma A. Ebbin, University of Connecticut Environmental law and natural resource experts respond to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's proposals to shrink four national monuments and allow logging, fishing and other activities in six more. Health + Medicine - [Beyond bleach: Mold a long-term problem after flooding and disasters]( Katherine Allen, University of Florida Even when power is restored and floodwaters have receded after hurricanes, mold can still be a big problem. There are some things you can do on your own, but the damage can be extensive. - [Healthy choices are neither good or bad; only thinking makes them so]( Elliot Berkman, University of Oregon Are healthy behaviors virtuous (and unhealthy ones sinful), or are they just like any other choice? Here's how we could likely improve our health if we viewed choice differently. Arts + Culture - [Should we worry that half of Americans trust their gut to tell them what's true?]( R. Kelly Garrett, The Ohio State University Intuition is just one of many factors that shape what you believe. Science + Technology - [Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on chemistry and physics]( Christopher H. Hendon, University of Oregon The science behind why what your barista achieves at the cafe tastes better than what you can come up with at home. Education - [Why higher ed needs to get rid of the gender gap for 'academic housekeeping']( Cassandra Guarino, University of California, Riverside Striking a better gender balance would be easy, but until now universities have not been paying much attention to the problem. Trending on site - [Why today's teens aren't in any hurry to grow up]( Jean Twenge, San Diego State University Should parents be worried that many teens are putting off traditional rites of passage like working, driving and dating? - [Just in time for your tailgate: How getting a drink can be dirty business]( Paul Dawson, Clemson University ; Wesam Al-Jeddawi, Clemson University Bacteria are everywhere, even on your drink garnishes and ice. While most are not going to harm you, some can make you very sick. Here are some things to consider at public drink stations. - [Hurricanes drive immigration to the US]( Dean Yang, University of Michigan; Parag Mahajan, University of Michigan Data reveal how hurricanes affect migration, and what it means for US immigration policy. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Why higher ed needs to get rid of the gender gap for 'academic housekeeping']( [Cassandra Guarino]Cassandra Guarino University of California, Riverside [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA