Global warming, jet streams and heat domes

+ the candidates on health care; new food labels? US Edition - Today's top story: What the jet stream and climate change had to do with the hottest summer on record − remember all those heat domes? [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 September 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation U.S. Here are a few of our recently published stories: - [Wind phones help the bereaved deal with death, loss and grief]( - [Pager attack on Hezbollah was a sophisticated ‘booby-trap’ operation − it was also illegal]( Covering the climate, with its continual changes, is a tough job. But it’s an extremely important one so that all of us can better understand what the heck is happening to our planet, how these changes affect the weather, and what it all means for every one of us. Fortunately, we have a talented environment and climate editor who’s always on top of her beat and excels at finding the right experts to explain what’s going on in new and original ways. Last week, we published one such story, which naturally became one of the articles readers found most engaging. In it, University of Dayton atmospheric scientist Shuang-Ye Wu [explores how global warming influenced weather patterns]( and helped make summer 2024 the hottest on record. It was the clearest explanation I’ve seen as to what drove a summer of suffocating heat waves across the globe − and why human-caused climate change is at the root of it. [ [Get perspectives from around the world with our weekly global newsletter](. ] Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( Readers' picks [What the jet stream and climate change had to do with the hottest summer on record − remember all those heat domes?]( Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton As a record-hot summer comes to a close, an atmospheric scientist explains how global warming drove long periods of extreme heat. - [TRUTH in Labeling Act would heighten the warning for shoppers looking to cut sugar, salt and saturated fat intake]( Kimberly Baker, Clemson University If the legislation passes, the new label would be centered on the front of the package. But it’s an add-on, not a replacement for the existing label. - [Health care under Harris versus Trump: A public health historian sizes up their records]( Zachary W. Schulz, Auburn University Harris and Trump have starkly contrasting records on health care. This analysis examines their differing approaches to Medicare, the ACA, drug pricing and other public health efforts. - [UN’s pact to protect future generations will be undermined by Security Council’s veto and its use in cases of mass atrocity]( Mike Brand, University of Connecticut The permanent members of the UN Security Council have repeatedly used their power of veto to block resolutions relating to mass atrocities. Is it time to revoke that power? - [Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballot system has a problem − but it’s not what Trump is making unfounded claims about]( Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State Pennsylvania’s delays in counting mail-in votes have not been fixed − creating an opportunity for Trump and his allies to cast doubt on the results again in 2024. Editors' picks [To American revolutionaries, patriotism meant fair dealing with one another]( Barbara Clark Smith, Smithsonian Institution The first widespread agreement across the American Colonies dealt with economic independence from British trade and taxation. - [America’s dairy farms are disappearing, down 95% since the 1970s − milk price rules are one reason why]( Elizabeth Eckelkamp, University of Tennessee Dairy farms are struggling to survive as production costs exceed sales. The result, consolidation, with more cows on bigger farms, has an impact on communities and knowing where your food comes from. - [Pagers and walkie-talkies over cellphones – a security expert explains why Hezbollah went low-tech for communications]( Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Smartphones may be indispensable to modern life, but they’re also perfect tools for spying on their owners. Anyone looking to avoid being tracked – like, say, militant groups – tends to ditch them. - [Happiness swings votes – and America’s current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters]( Carol Bishop Mills, Florida Atlantic University The 2024 election has upended traditional voting blocs, with young people trending rightward and seniors embracing Harris. New research proposes an intriguing theory: It may come down to happiness. - [Men are carrying the brunt of the ‘loneliness epidemic’ amid potent societal pressures]( Alvin Thomas, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Quinn Kinzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison There is an epidemic of isolation gripping the United States, health experts say, with the resulting loneliness disproportionately impacting men and leading to concrete health issues. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Test your knowledge with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. This week, questions on James Earl Jones, pager attacks and 1774. - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Giving Today]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get one daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you [facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world](. We can give away all our articles without any ads or paywalls thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](