Fact-checking the insect apocalypse

+ helping kids cope with COVID-19 anxiety US Edition - Today's top story: Insect apocalypse? Not so fast, at least in North America [View in browser]( US Edition | 11 August 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Insects play critical ecological roles around the world. That’s why studies in the past several years that found massive insect die-offs sparked ominous headlines warning that an “insect apocalypse” was underway. Ecologist Matthew Moran and his colleagues wanted to see what was happening in North America, so they did a broad review of thousands of datasets. Their findings show how little we really know about the insect world, and why [there’s room for optimism even in a world radically altered by humankind](. Also today: - [Do mask mandates violate freedom of religion?]( - [Why online education doesn’t always lead to tuition discounts]( - [How the pandemic is changing life for kids in foster care]( Jennifer Weeks Environment + Energy Editor The Texas frosted elfin (Callophrys irus hadros), a small butterfly subspecies found only in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, has lost most of its prairie habitat and is thought to have dramatically declined over the last century. Matthew D. Moran [Insect apocalypse? Not so fast, at least in North America]( Matthew D. Moran, Hendrix College Recent reports of dramatic declines in insect populations have sparked concern about an 'insect apocalypse.' But a new analysis of data from sites across North America suggests the case isn't proven. Health - [4 tips to help kids to cope with COVID-19 anxiety]( Steven Siegel, University of Southern California Watching coronavirus coverage can cause anxiety in your child. An expert offers some tips that will help. - [I’m a COVID-19 long-hauler and an epidemiologist – here’s how it feels when symptoms last for months]( Margot Gage Witvliet, Lamar University Margot Gage Witvliet went from being healthy and active to fearing she was dying almost overnight. An epidemiologist, she dug into the research to understand what's happening to long-haulers like her. Politics + Society - [Freedom of religion doesn’t mean freedom from mask mandates]( John E. Finn, Wesleyan University A Florida minister and a conservative lawmaker filed suit against a county law mandating mask wearing, saying it violates the freedom of religion. A constitutional law professor says they're wrong. - [Indigenous Mexicans turn inward to survive COVID-19, barricading villages and growing their own food]( Jeffrey H. Cohen, The Ohio State University The Zapotec people of southern Mexico have always relied on each other to solve problems when the government can't, or won't, help. That's proving to be a pretty effective pandemic response. - [African Americans have long defied white supremacy and celebrated Black culture in public spaces]( Shannon M. Smith, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University Protests of Confederate flags and monuments have grown since 2015, but resistance is not new. African Americans have been protesting against Confederate monuments since they were erected. Education - [Should students get a discount if they won’t be on campus because of COVID-19?]( Robert Massa, University of Southern California An enrollment specialist explains why colleges can or can't charge less for tuition amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced many to hold their classes online. - [Children in foster care face deeper jeopardy during the coronavirus pandemic]( Lenette Azzi-Lessing, Boston University Visits between foster children and their biological families are being disrupted and reunification hearings delayed. Environment + Energy - [What is a derecho? An atmospheric scientist explains these rare but dangerous storm systems]( Russ Schumacher, Colorado State University Hurricane and tornado winds spin in circles, but there's another, equally dangerous storm type where winds barrel straight ahead. They're called derechos, and are most common in summer. Video The wall of Moms group is the latest in a long tradition of mothers’ movements around the world. Alisha Jucevic via Getty Images / AFP via Getty Images [Video: The Wall of Moms builds on a long protest tradition]( Kelsy Kretschmer, Oregon State University By inflicting violence on protesting moms, governments only amplify the message of the movement they seek to quell. From our International Editions - [100 days without COVID-19: how New Zealand got rid of a virus that keeps spreading across the world]( Michael Baker, University of Otago; Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago; Nick Wilson, University of Otago New Zealand is one of a small number of countries that have managed to eliminate community transmission of COVID-19. It's close to a 100-day milestone with no new cases in the community. - [Lions are less likely to attack cattle with eyes painted on their backsides]( Neil R Jordan, UNSW; Cameron Radford, UNSW; Tracey Rogers, UNSW Many carnivores are ambush predators. Being seen by their prey can lead to them abandoning the hunt. - [Legacy of Canada’s role in atomic bomb is felt by northern Indigenous community]( Geoffrey Bird, Royal Roads University Seventy-five years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the people of Délı̨nę remain affected by Canada's role in the attack. A documentary presents their stories. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111