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Edition: US
30 September 2017
[[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair](
Editor's note
A new survey asking football fans about the recent NFL protests found that only 17 percent of white fans âstrongly approveâ of the protests, while 54 percent of African-American fans âstrongly approveâ of them. To University of Florida sociologists Tamir Sorek and Robert G. White, these results probably arenât shocking. [The duo published a study]( last year that found the NFLâs black fan base has been growing steadily over the past few decades. But during that same period, national pride among black football fans has been in decline.
The result? Black fans could be more supportive of black athletes publicly tackling social issues â even if it means taking a knee before the flag.
Nick Lehr
Editor, Arts and Culture
Top Story
New Orleans Saints fans cheer from the stands during a game against the Denver Broncos in 2016. Jeff Haynes/AP Photo
[The difference between black football fans and white football fans](
Tamir Sorek, University of Florida; Robert G. White, University of Florida
A recent study might explain why there's been such divergent, emotional responses to the NFL protests.
Economy + Business
[Let them eat caviar: When charity galas waste money](
Philip Hackney, Louisiana State University ; Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University
Why do nonprofit fundraisers juxtapose calls to feed the hungry, house the homeless and cure cancer with champagne toasts?
[The surprising connection between 'take a knee' protests and Citizens United](
Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon
Team owners' defense of their players 'taking a knee' during the national anthem shows the vital role business leaders play in political discourse â one championed by Citizens United.
Health + Medicine
[The real reason some people become addicted to drugs](
Mike Robinson, Wesleyan University
Drug addiction isn't about bad habits, fear of withdrawal or a selfish search for pleasure. It's about the brain.
[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.
[Why your kids might be able to see better if they play outdoors more often](
Karla Zadnik, The Ohio State University; Don Mutti, The Ohio State University
Kids need to play outside for a number of reasons, but there may even be benefit for their eyes. Here's how sunlight helps prevent nearsightedness, or myopia.
[How the anal cancer epidemic in gay and bi HIV-positive men can be prevented](
Ashish A. Deshmukh, University of Florida; Elizabeth Chiao, Baylor College of Medicine ; Jagpreet Chhatwal, Harvard Medical School ; Scott B. Cantor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
A new study shows that anal cancer, caused by the virus HPV, can be successfully fought in HIV-positive men by timely treatment and HPV vaccination of lesions that may ultimately lead to cancer.
Science + Technology
[Teens and parents in Japan and US agree â mobile devices are an ever-present distraction](
Willow Bay, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
New research shows that families in Japan and the US struggle in very similar ways with how technology is affecting their lives, their relationships and each other.
[Why don't big companies keep their computer systems up-to-date?](
Douglas C. Schmidt, Vanderbilt University; Jules White, Vanderbilt University
There are technical reasons companies can be slow to update software, but as seen in the Equifax hack, a key problem is management.
[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.
[Worries about spreading Earth microbes shouldn't slow search for life on Mars](
Alberto G. Fairén, Cornell University
Planetary protection protocols try to make sure we don't seed places like Mars with life from our planet. An astrobiologist argues they're misguided â especially with human astronauts on the horizon.
Ethics + Religion
[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.
[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.
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.
[What it's like to be gay and in a gang](
Vanessa R. Panfil, Old Dominion University
A sociologist spent two years interviewing gay gang members. While some were in the closet and others were openly gay, all were forced to reckon with an environment of hypermasculinity.
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.
[Merkel's challenge: Governing Germany in an age of rising nationalism](
Elizabeth Heineman, University of Iowa
Generations of Germans have worked to create a positive national identity based on difficult self-reckoning with the Nazi era. The recent election attacks that progress.
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.
Environment + Energy
[As communities rebuild after hurricanes, study shows wetlands can significantly reduce property damage](
Siddharth Narayan, University of California, Santa Cruz; Michael Beck, University of California, Santa Cruz
New research by scholars, conservationists and the insurance industry shows that coastal wetlands provide hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of protection from flooding, boosting the case for protecting them.
[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.
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