+ how you can help fireflies; an unhackable processor? US Edition - Today's top story: Can the world stop Israel and Hamas from committing war crimes? 7 questions answered about international law [View in browser]( US Edition | 20 May 2021 [The Conversation](
Academic rigor, journalistic flair Israel and Hamas both stand accused of committing war crimes in their latest round of escalating violence â Israel for bombarding residential buildings and media companies' offices, and Hamas for firing rockets into Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. After past conflicts in the region, similar claims have been filed against Israel, investigated and substantiated. Yet extreme violence is happening again today in Gaza, some of it against children. International law professor Asaf Lubin of Indiana University explains [who sets the rules that govern warfare, and why theyâre so hard to enforce]( (hint: the U.S. has something to do with it). Also today: - [Movie sex scenes are getting better by getting more real](
- [Pollstersâ post-mortem of 2020 election miscall](
- [How communal theater can help heal post-pandemic]( Catesby Holmes International Editor | Politics Editor
A Palestinian boy inspects his destroyed house after it was shelled by Israeli aircraft, Gaza, May 18, 2021. Ahmed Zakot/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
[Can the world stop Israel and Hamas from committing war crimes? 7 questions answered about international law]( Asaf Lubin, Indiana University Both sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict may be violating the international laws that govern armed conflict. A legal scholar explains these rules â and whether anyone enforces them. Environment + Energy -
[Fireflies need dark nights for their summer light shows â hereâs how you can help]( Avalon C.S. Owens, Tufts University; Sara Lewis, Tufts University Fireflies' summer evening light shows are a delight for humans, but for the insects they are a crucial mating ritual â and human-caused light pollution is a buzz kill. Science + Technology -
[Shape-shifting computer chip thwarts an army of hackers]( Todd Austin, University of Michigan; Lauren Biernacki, University of Michigan Most computer security focuses on software, but computer processors are vulnerable to hackers, too. An experimental secure processor changes its underlying structure before hackers can figure it out. Arts + Culture -
[The sex scene isnât disappearing â itâs simply shifting from clichéd fantasy to messy reality]( Maria San Filippo, Emerson College Some critics are complaining that sex scenes have vanished from cinema. But they're still very much present â in all their awkward, perverse glory. Health -
[Colorectal cancer screening recommended at age 45 instead of 50 â itâs no fun, but itâs worth it]( Franklin G. Berger, University of South Carolina Screening for colorectal cancer should begin at 45, not 50. A colorectal cancer expert explains how that could save lives, and why the age was lowered. Politics + Society -
[Survey experts have yet to figure out what caused the most significant polling error in 40 years in Trump-Biden race]( W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication Stung by their failure to accurately predict the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, pollsters collectively went off to figure out what went wrong. They have yet to figure out what or why. -
[As trust between Israeli Jews and Arabs reaches new lows, Netanyahu rises again]( Eli Gottlieb, George Washington University There are two splits in public opinion about the current Israel-Palestine violence, though everyone has the same set of facts. A cognitive psychologist explains how this can happen. Ethics + Religion -
[How theater can help communities heal from the losses and trauma of the pandemic]( Joel Christensen, Brandeis University The rituals of ancient Greece â especially public performances of tragic plays â have remarkable resonance with the current moment. Education -
[Trans moms discuss their unique parenting challenges during the pandemic â and what they worry about when things go back to ânormalâ]( Derek P. Siegel, University of Massachusetts Amherst Job loss and reduced earnings can exacerbate existing power imbalances trans people may face in their personal relationships. Trending on site -
[Employees are feeling burned over broken work-from-home promises and corporate culture âBSâ as employers try to bring them back to the office]( Kimberly Merriman, University of Massachusetts Lowell; David Greenway, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Tamara Montag-Smit, University of Massachusetts Lowell A divide is growing between workers and management over the return to the office and other issues. -
[Worldâs worst pandemic leaders: 5 presidents and prime ministers who badly mishandled COVID-19]( Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University; Dorothy Chin, University of California, Los Angeles; Elizabeth J King, University of Michigan; Elize Massard da Fonseca, Fundação Getulio Vargas; Salvador Vázquez del Mercado, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas; Scott L. Greer, University of Michigan The pandemic's not over yet, but these world leaders have already cemented their place in history for failing to effectively combat the deadly coronavirus. Some of them didn't even really try. -
[If a satellite falls on your house, space law protects you â but there are no legal penalties for leaving junk in orbit]( Timiebi Aganaba, Arizona State University Chances are small that space junk will destroy property or harm a person, and existing space law could deal with such an event. But current law doesn't address the bigger problem of space pollution. --------------------------------------------------------------- Todayâs graphic [How different light affects fireflies]( Youâre receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](.
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