Using bacteria to clean up oil spills

Edition: US - Today's top story: Can we harness bacteria to help clean up future oil spills? [Click here to view this message in your browser]. Edition: US 22 June 2016 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair] Editor's note It was six years ago, between the months of April and July, that the Deepwater Horizon disaster released more than four million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Using DNA analysis, University of Texas biologists Nina Dombrowski and Brett Baker have confirmed that marine microbes broke down a large share of the spill – including some bacteria that scientists had not known were capable of degrading oil. Their research suggests that these b[acteria can play a bigger role in future oil spill] cleanups. And this week we start a series on summer learning loss – the “summer slide.” Two scholars at the University of Texas at Austin, Keffrelyn Brown and Anthony L. Brown, [describe the burden] of black parents as they try to deal with the summer learning loss as well as “supplementing the missing curriculum knowledge generally not offered in traditional schools that reflects students’ racial and cultural identities.” Jennifer Weeks Editor, Environment and Energy Top story Surface oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Andreas Teske, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. [Can we harness bacteria to help clean up future oil spills?] Nina Dombrowski, University of Texas at Austin; Brett J. Baker, University of Texas at Austin Genetic analysis shows that marine bacteria broke down much of the oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. These findings could lead to more effective cleanups after future spills. Education - [What summertime means for black children] Keffrelyn Brown, University of Texas at Austin; Anthony L. Brown, University of Texas at Austin Summer is not an idyllic time for all. Two researchers who are black and are parents to two black children describe why they feel the weight of the summer. Economy + Business - [Sandy Hook lawsuit is latest effort to hold gun makers liable for mass shootings] Timothy D. Lytton, Georgia State University Gun makers are trying to dismiss the potentially precedent-setting suit, claiming a federal law gives them immunity. - [Would Brexit be followed by breakup of the United Kingdom?] Seth Jolly, Syracuse University The UK's regions – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – hold very different views about whether to remain in the EU, which means the country might not survive a Brexit in its current form. Arts + Culture - [Is there a link between being in the closet and being homophobic?] Cody DeHaan, University of Rochester Orlando shooter Omar Mateen's father has denounced homosexuality, while many say Mateen secretly grappled with his own sexuality. Here's what the research says on the relationship between parents' attitudes, being closeted and being homophobic. Science + Technology - [Buying and selling hacked passwords: How does it work?] Thomas Holt, Michigan State University What happens after a data breach? What does an attacker do with the information collected? And who wants it, anyway? Politics + Society - [Will Donald Trump's call to profile Muslims offend voters?] Deborah Schildkraut, Tufts University How is the electorate reacting to Trump's call for surveillance of American mosques? A survey taken after the 9/11 attacks suggests some answers. Health + Medicine - [Why stress is more likely to cause depression in men than in women] Shervin Assari, University of Michigan Social stress is a main cause of depression, and women, in general, experience more stress than men. But new research suggests men may be more vulnerable to depression caused by stressful events. Rest of the World - United Kingdom [Rewriting their fate: how the world’s ‘invisible’ widows are fighting prejudice] Suzy Solley, Queen Mary University of London Millions of women are ostracised when their husbands die. Many are now empowering themselves to right the wrongs. - Africa [Hate speech raises its ugly voice as Kenya drifts into election mode] Keith Somerville, University of Kent The violence that often accompanies political disputes or elections is testimony to the efficacy of hate propaganda as a tool in the political arsenal of Kenyan politicians. - United Kingdom [Spain steels itself for another election after months with no government] Georgina Blakeley, The Open University As Spain found out at its last election, voting for change is one thing, but achieving it is quite another. [The Conversation on Twitter] [The Conversation on Facebook] 3.3 million unique visitors a month You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly]. We’ll miss you. 745 Atlantic Ave. 8th Floor Boston, MA 02111