America’s last foreign policy president

Edition: US - Today's top story: Why we'll miss George H.W. Bush, America's last foreign policy president [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 1 December 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note George H.W. Bush has died in Houston at the age of 94. A World War II military hero who served as ambassador to the UN and director of the CIA, Bush was the last person elected to the White House with any prior foreign policy experience. In the assessment of James Goldgeier of American University’s School of International Service, Bush’s presidency “represents the moment at the end of the Cold War when [anything seemed possible for the United States]( in world affairs, and the underlying challenges were only just beginning to become visible.” About 100,000 new books get released every year, but only a fraction become best-sellers. So how many copies do you actually need to sell to crack the vaunted list? Data scientist Albert-László Barabási, whose own books have yet to make the list, wanted to know the answer. So he took out his data microscope and [analyzed the 4,493 fiction and nonfiction titles]( that have become New York Times best-sellers over the past decade. A Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, said he edited the DNA of twin girls born through in vitro fertilization, an announcement that shocked the scientific community. These girls are designed to be resistant to HIV. Sounds like a case of [good intentions](, says University of California San Diego sociologist John Evans, who explains why scientists condemned He for experimenting with human life. Two days later He shared [exactly how he did it](; reproductive physiologist George Seidel of Colorado State details the science behind these babies of our brave new world. Emily Costello Deputy Editor Top stories Unlike every president who followed him, George H.W. Bush had a background in foreign policy. In 1972, Bush was serving as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. AP Photo/Dave Pickoff [Why we’ll miss George H.W. Bush, America’s last foreign policy president]( James Goldgeier, American University School of International Service The first President Bush had some impressive foreign policies wins, but could he be best remembered for getting the US entangled in Iraq? Factors ranging from the timing of a book’s release to its subject matter can determine whether it will crack the vaunted list. Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com [What big data can tell us about how a book becomes a best-seller]( Albert-László Barabási, Northeastern University It's easier to make the list than you might think. A Chinese scientist claims he edited the DNA of twin girls during an in vitro fertilization procedure. CI Photos / Shutterstock.com [The road to enhancement, via human gene editing, is paved with good intentions]( John Evans, University of California San Diego A Chinese scientist has revealed he edited the DNA of twin girls born through in vitro fertilization. These girls are designed to be resistant to HIV. Is the edit a medical necessity or an enhancement? Health + Medicine [Living drugs: Engineering bacteria to treat genetic diseases]( Pedro Belda Ferre, University of California San Diego Researchers are exploring the possibility of creating living drugs – designer microbes that can live in our guts and provide critical components that our body needs but can't make itself. [Smoking rates in US have fallen to all-time low, but how did they ever get so high?]( Richard Gunderman, Indiana University Smoking rates are at their lowest, but it has been a long and expensive struggle. Promoters of cigarette smoking have included not only tobacco companies but advertisers and even the US government. Economy + Business [G-20 leaders descend on Buenos Aires as host Argentina battles worst economic crisis in a decade]( Robert H. Scott III, Monmouth University; Kenneth Mitchell, Monmouth University Argentina has been grappling with currency flight and an economy sinking deeper into recession, not to mention the worst drought in decades. [Trump was dealt a winning hand on trade – his hardball negotiating tactics are squandering it]( James Lake, Southern Methodist University Boasting the world's biggest and strongest economy, the U.S. has enormous leverage when it sits down with a partner to negotiate a trade deal. Threats and tariffs are not really helping. Ethics + Religion [How Salvation Army’s red kettles became a Christmas tradition]( Diane Winston, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Around this time of the year, The Salvation Army's red kettles become visible as part of holiday giving. How this British evangelical organization came to the US is interesting history. [Why Twitter’s cute, heart-shaped ‘like’ button is not so harmless]( A. Trevor Sutton, Concordia Seminary The 'like' button does far more than just express how much a person likes a particular picture or post. It could be used to make social comparisons. Education [Betsy DeVos has little to show after 2 years in office]( Dustin Hornbeck, Miami University Although many feared that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos would destroy public education, a review of the past two years shows that much of her policy agenda has failed. [Test prep is a rite of passage for many Asian-Americans]( Julie J. Park, University of Maryland Test prep is a prominent feature in Asian-American communities, which helps explain recent gains that Asian-Americans made in the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, a higher education scholar argues. Politics + Society [Mexico wants internet access for all. Getting everyone online could reduce poverty, too]( Jack J. Barry, University of Connecticut Mexico made internet connectivity a constitutional right in 2013, but most poor people still aren't online. Research shows that internet access would give these residents more economic mobility. [America’s dark history of organized anti-Semitism re-emerges in today’s far-right groups]( Bradley W. Hart, California State University, Fresno American anti-Semitism took an organized form in the 20th century. The German American Bund and the Silver Legion developed a unique culture of hatred for Jews that persists today in alt-right groups. Arts + Culture [How local journalism can upend the ‘fake news’ narrative]( Damian Radcliffe, University of Oregon A recent survey found that Americans trust local media outlets far more than national ones. [The impact of climate change on language loss]( Anastasia Riehl, Queen's University, Ontario Approximately 7,000 languages are spoken in the world today, but only about half are expected to survive this century. One factor contributing to this loss is climate change. Environment + Energy [Companies blocked from using West Coast ports to export fossil fuels keep seeking workarounds]( Shawn Olson-Hazboun, Evergreen State College; Hilary Boudet, Oregon State University The 'thin green line' of resistance against any new infrastructure for shipping oil, gas and coal abroad has won many battles. But it faces a new source of pressure: the Trump administration. [Climate change is making soils saltier, forcing many farmers to find new livelihoods]( Joyce J. Chen, The Ohio State University; Valerie Mueller, Arizona State University Rising seas and groundwater depletion, both driven by climate change, are making soils saltier in many parts of the world. Farmers will need help adapting, especially in developing countries. Science + Technology [The surprising way plastics could actually help fight climate change]( Joseph Rollin, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Jenna E. Gallegos, Colorado State University One big problem with plastics is that they're largely made of petroleum. Sourcing bio-polymers from plants and bacteria has some big benefits – and the technology is starting to take off. [Swamped by cyberthreats, citizens need government protection]( Karen Renaud, Abertay University; Merrill Warkentin, Mississippi State University Governments can help citizens protect their own cybersecurity by providing practical advice and meaningful support. [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