Rakes won’t prevent forest fires

Better forest management won't end wildfires, but it can reduce the risks – here's how [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 November 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Support The Conversation and research-based journalism]( Editor's note California’s devastating Camp Fire now is about two-thirds contained, but it has killed at least 77 people and over 900 remain missing. Outraging many scientists and fire managers, President Trump has claimed that the state caused the fire by mismanaging its forests. Not so, according to forest scientists Courtney Schultz of Colorado State University and Cassandra Moseley of the University of Oregon. As they explain, fire is a natural hazard and [no single strategy will work everywhere](. Cities with lots of green space are routinely ranked among the most liveable in the United States. But not every urbanite loves their local park. Women may avoid densely wooded areas while walking home from work, for example, while parks named for Confederate generals can alienate black visitors. Thaisa Way, a landscape historian from the University of Washington, explains how [inclusive design can make the difference]( between a busy, beloved park and an empty patch of grass. And, what parent hasn’t felt exasperated and exhausted while trying to get a tired baby to sleep, especially when traveling and visiting other people’s homes? While infant health is always important, the holidays are a critical time to review the rules about safe sleep for babies, and Richard Gunderman of Indiana University School of Medicine does just that. Rule number one, according to Gunderman: [Babies should always sleep alone](. Jennifer Weeks Environment + Energy Editor Top stories President Donald Trump and other federal and state officials tour a mobile home and RV park on Nov. 17, 2018 in the wake of the Camp Fire. Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool [Better forest management won’t end wildfires, but it can reduce the risks – here’s how]( Courtney Schultz, Colorado State University; Cassandra Moseley, University of Oregon Forest management is not a cure-all for wildfires, although it can help reduce the chances of massive burns. Making this happen will require broad collaborative efforts and more money. Tiny Paley Park, surrounded by skyscrapers in New York City, introduced the concept of a ‘pocket park’ in dense urban centers. Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr [Parks help cities – but only if people use them]( Thaisa Way, University of Washington Research shows that access to urban green space makes people and neighborhoods healthier. But parks can't work their magic if their design ignores the needs of nearby communities. . Babies should sleep on their backs, as this one is doing. lsarapic/Shutterstock.com [Preventing infant deaths: The ABCs of safe baby sleep]( Richard Gunderman, Indiana University Hundreds – perhaps thousands – of infant deaths every year are preventable if parents make sure babies sleep in their own cribs, on their backs. Politics + Society - [Kavanaugh’s impact on the Supreme Court and the country may not be as profound as predicted]( Ofer Raban, University of Oregon With Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, many predict that the court will move to the right on issues from abortion to gun rights. But Supreme Court rulings are often not the last word on a matter. Science + Technology - [Fear, more than hate, feeds online bigotry and real-world violence]( Adam G. Klein, Pace University Hysterical narratives promoting fear among some Americans may be more effective at sparking violence than hate speech is. Social media companies are expected to guard against both. - [New dates for ancient stone tools in China point to local invention of complex technology]( Ben Marwick, University of Washington; Bo Li, University of Wollongong; Hu Yue, University of Wollongong A fresh look at museum artifacts fills in a gap in the Asian archaeological record and refutes the idea that an advanced technique was imported from the West by early modern humans. [Now, more than ever, the public needs to hear the voices of experts. Help us elevate them above the crowd, with a tax-deductible donation.]( From our International Editions - [Road deaths: why matters have only got worse over the past 100 years]( Lisa Kane, University of Cape Town Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. - [More than just working in your pyjamas, telecommuting saves time and money]( Helen Hambly, University of Guelph; Jamie Lee, University of Guelph Telecommuting provides an economic benefit for employees working remotely, researchers have found. - [Ireland’s border: mapping the emotional landscape of the across and in-between]( Garrett Carr, Queen's University Belfast While one of the most contentious Brexit issues, politicians forget the essential human aspect of the border as a place that is lived in and loved. Today’s quote ["Researchers who study the beliefs of anti-vaxxers have found many different reasons, not just religious or political, as to why some parents refuse to get their children vaccinated. As a bioethicist who investigates how societal values impact medicine, I consider such decisions to be downright indefensible."]( [3 ethical reasons for vaccinating your children]( Joel Michael Reynolds University of Massachusetts Lowell [Joel Michael Reynolds] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111