Why highways keep buckling in the searing heat

+ the moon has water ... how, exactly? US Edition - Today's top story: Stuck bridges, buckling roads − extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America's aging infrastructure [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Microaggressions harm people’s brains]( - [Trusting party voters to pick winning candidates]( - [Playing arcade and video games with your mouth]( Lead story This summer’s heat has been taking a toll on the nation’s aging transportation. It’s evident in all the videos showing up of highways and other roads buckling into dangerous mounds of jagged pavement. Suyun Paul Ham, a civil engineer at the University of Texas at Arlington, explains [why roads and rails can’t always handle the heat](. He also describes some of the innovations engineers are developing to keep roads healthier with far less hassle for travelers. [ [Understand what’s going on in Washington and around the world. Get our Politics Weekly newsletter](. ] Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor When highways buckle, the damage can happen quickly, putting drivers in danger and tying up traffic. AP Photo/David Goldman [Stuck bridges, buckling roads − extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America’s aging infrastructure]( Suyun Paul Ham, University of Texas at Arlington A civil engineer explains why roadways and rails warp and crack in the heat − and points to some innovative ways to keep the US transportation system healthy as long as possible. Science + Technology - [How can there be ice on the Moon?]( Thomas Orlando, Georgia Institute of Technology; Frances Rivera-Hernández, Georgia Institute of Technology; Glenn Lightsey, Georgia Institute of Technology It’s a fundamental requirement for life on Earth. But how does water exist on such a forbidding world as the Moon? - [How people with disabilities got game − the surprisingly long history of access to arcade and video sports]( Matt Knutson, University of North Dakota A pioneering effort that allowed a teenager with a neck injury to play pinball sheds light on today’s vibrant community of esports players with disabilities. - [Why are migraines worse during your period? Research in mice points to a hormone called progesterone, offering a new treatment target]( Suchitra Joshi, University of Virginia; Jaideep Kapur, University of Virginia Women typically suffer from more headaches than men, and some people experience migraines only during menstruation. - [AIs encode language like brains do − opening a window on human conversations]( Zaid Zada, Princeton University Brains encode language by matching words to patterns of activity. Large language models can do the same thing. Health + Medicine - [The menstrual cycle is a vital sign and important indicator of overall health − 2 reproductive health experts explain]( Evelina Sterling, Kennesaw State University; Margaret Louisa Stubbs, Chatham University Most doctors ask about the menstrual cycle at well-checks in order to inquire about menstrual problems, pregnancy or menopause. Few recognize that menstruation is a cornerstone of overall health. - [Racism and discrimination lead to faster aging through brain network changes, new study finds]( Negar Fani, Emory University; Nathaniel Harnett, Harvard University Black women who are more frequently exposed to racism showed stronger connections in areas of the brain involved in rumination and heightened vigilance, both of which lead to faster biological aging. Ethics + Religion - [Arab Druze community in mourning after tragic rocket strike on Golan Heights soccer field − highlighting challenges for Druze within Israel and the region]( Rami Zeedan, University of Kansas Druze are often held up as the best-integrated of Israel’s Arab minorities. But members of the faith who live in the Golan Heights have an especially complicated relationship with Israel. Politics + Society - [As president, Harris could not easily make Roe v. Wade federal law − but she could still make it easier to get an abortion]( Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia; Alan Morrison, George Washington University; Sonia Suter, George Washington University While both Congress and the president have extensive powers, they cannot easily change the law to protect abortions. - [Democratic Party’s choice of Harris was undemocratic − and the latest evidence of party leaders distrusting party voters]( Daniel Klinghard, College of the Holy Cross Handing VP Kamala Harris the Democratic presidential nomination without having her compete in primaries is a throwback to less democratic ways of picking nominees, a political scientist says. - [In ‘bamboo diplomacy,’ late Vietnam leader Nguyen Phu Trong left a path for smaller nations to navigate great-power rivalries]( Jorge Heine, Boston University Leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party died on July 19, 2024. Among those who paid tribute was US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 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When they contacted my dad, he was able to tell them, and tell them the story of their father!" – Reader James Dawes on the story [Filling the silences in family stories − how to think like a historian to uncover your family’s narrative]( - - 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](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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