The problem with No Mow May

+ how college presidents pick commencement speakers US Edition - Today's top story: It's OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants [View in browser]( US Edition | 18 May 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Sometimes a trend can seem too good to be true – like the idea that not mowing your lawn in the month of May will help bees and butterflies by fostering wildflowers that these early season pollinators feed on. #NoMowMay started in England and is gaining support in North America – but as Penn State entomologists Christina Grozinger and Harland Patch explain, [it’s not an effective strategy on this side of the Atlantic](. That’s because most common lawn flowers in North America aren’t the native species that pollinators here rely on, but rather were introduced from elsewhere. And leaving lawns unmowed also can spread ticks. Planting native flowers, shrubs and trees will do more for pollinators, not just in May but year-round. This week we also liked stories on how [“Pomp and Circumstance” became a graduation standard](, the fluid dynamics of [“dancing raisins” in carbonated water](, and [Florence Nightingale’s contributions to modern science and nursing](. [ [Get a global perspective on the news, with the best of The Conversation’s journalism from around the world, twice weekly.]( ] Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor A pollinator garden at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan., with nine species of native plants. USFWS Mountain-Prairie [It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants]( Christina Grozinger, Penn State; Harland Patch, Penn State NoMowMay is a catchy concept, but it doesn’t provide the food that native North American pollinators need or lasting support for them. Some students walked out on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commencement speech at Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2024. The Washington Post via Getty Images [I served as a college president for nearly two decades – I know choosing the right commencement speaker can be fraught with risks]( Walter M. Kimbrough, University of Southern California The right commencement speaker can create a memorable experience, generate favorable media coverage for the school and inspire donors. So why do colleges miss the mark on this once-a-year decision? Actress Marisa Abela and actor Eddie Marsan film a scene for the Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ in London. Neil Mockford/GC Images via Getty Images [By not lip-syncing Amy Winehouse’s songs, actress Marisa Abela confronts impossible expectations in ‘Back to Black’]( Katherine Meizel, Bowling Green State University Some viewers seem to want Abela’s voice to be a carbon copy of Winehouse’s. But the art of vocal impersonation isn’t about perfect replication. - [Latest inflation figures are good news – even if they give a lot of people heartburn]( Christopher Decker, University of Nebraska Omaha Investors, homebuyers and central bankers all have reason to be irritated by the latest data, and inflation isn’t licked just yet. But the numbers also show reason for optimism. - [Attempted assassination of Slovak prime minister follows country’s slide into political polarization]( Alexandria Wilson-McDonald, American University School of International Service The shooting of Robert Fico was ‘politically motivated,’ authorities say. - [What is pasteurization? A dairy expert explains how it protects against foodborne illness, including avian flu]( Kerry E. Kaylegian, Penn State Before World War II, pathogens in milk accounted for 1 in 4 cases of foodborne diseases in the US. Pasteurization reduced this figure to less than 1%. - [A silent Trump with eyes closed and a convicted liar on the stand − 2 experienced observers of Trump’s criminal trial discuss what stands out]( - [Thirsty in paradise: Water crises are a growing problem across the Caribbean islands]( - [Bats in Colorado face fight against deadly fungus that causes white-nose syndrome]( - [Rap ‘beef’ as public spectacle is a dangerous game that artists rarely win]( - [Biden’s labor report card: Historian gives ‘Union Joe’ a higher grade than any president since FDR]( - [Asian Jewish Americans have a double reason to celebrate their heritage in May]( - [‘Dancing’ raisins − a simple kitchen experiment reveals how objects can extract energy from their environment and come to life]( - [How a British military march became the distinctive sound of American graduations]( - [Florence Nightingale overcame the limits set on proper Victorian women – and brought modern science and statistics to nursing]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( On May 15, the Vatican began hosting a global conference on climate change. In a statement, whom did Pope Francis blame for the world's lack of climate action? - A. "The Devil, the Devil in us all" - B. "The greedy pursuit of short-term gains by polluting industries" - C. "Politicians who care not a fig for the Earth" - D. "The Koch brothers, or Koke brothers, however it's pronounced" [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [Giving Today]( [New!] • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Threads]( • [Nostr]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to [help you make sense of our complex world](. 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