A vast holy stash

+ VSCO gIrLS, hAnGOverS aNd aThEiSts [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 23 December 2019 [The Conversation]( [Support The Conversation in 2020 with a monthly gift]( [Emily Schwartz Greco] A note from... Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor This holiday season, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons, are weighing allegations from a former employee of an investment fund tied to the church. The whistleblower alleges that the fund’s holdings mushroomed to $100 billion because the fund took advantage of charitable tax breaks without giving any of that money away as the law may require. John Turner, a historian of the church, can’t verify the accusations – but [they didn’t shock him](. “For nearly two centuries, the church has conducted its finances in ways that defy the expectations Americans have for religious organizations,” he writes. Also today: - [Keeping up with VSCO girls, ‘OK Boomer’ and oTheR hoT iNteRnET tRenDs]( - [Researching hangovers]( - [Distrusting atheists]( Top story There was something fishy about this $3 bill. Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com [Mormons and money: An unorthodox and messy history of church finances]( John Turner, George Mason University A historian connects the $100 billion reportedly at the church's disposal with the rocky start Mormons got in finance in the 1830s. Arts + Culture - [3 internet language trends from 2019, explained]( Zachary Jaggers, University of Oregon; Melissa Michaud Baese-Berk, University of Oregon As the year winds down, we'll get you up to speed. Plus, there's no better way to kill a trend than to bring it up at the dinner table in front of your kids. Health + Medicine - [Hangovers happen as your body tries to protect itself from alcohol’s toxic effects]( Daryl Davies, University of Southern California; Joshua Silva, University of Southern California; Terry David Church, University of Southern California Researchers know the basic biology of what happens to your system after a night of heavy drinking. Unfortunately, evidence-based cures for the common hangover are still at the investigation stage. Ethics + Religion - [Why some people distrust atheists]( Jaimie Arona Krems, Oklahoma State University; Jordan W. Moon, Arizona State University Many Americans have a distrust of atheists. A group of researchers found that some of the distrust relates to beliefs about atheists' family values. Environment + Energy - [Statistic of the decade: The massive deforestation of the Amazon]( Liberty Vittert, Washington University in St Louis About 24,000 square miles of Amazon rainforest have been deforested over the last decade. Most read on site - [Why are so few people born on Christmas Day, New Year’s and other holidays?]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University December 25 is the least popular day to give birth in the US, Australia and New Zealand, and second only to Boxing Day on Dec. 26 in England, Wales and Ireland. - [As life expectancies rise, so are expectations for healthy aging]( Marcia G. Ory, Texas A&M University ; Basia Belza, University of Washington; Matthew Lee Smith, Texas A&M University The age of the US is increasing, and with it, new expectations of health and happiness. Is the US prepared for the wave of baby boomers who will live long and want to be as healthy as they do? - [Will Netflix eventually monetize its user data?]( Jason Mittell, Middlebury Something about Netflix's business model just doesn't add up – unless you look at the streaming service as a massive data collection company. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Statistic of the decade: The massive deforestation of the Amazon]( [Liberty Vittert] Liberty Vittert Washington University in St Louis [The Conversation brings you new research and analysis from experts. Please donate and help us thrive.]( [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