What's beyond outer space? + palm oil is everywhere | Top 5

+ generational shifts in evangelicalism US Edition - Today's top story: Does outer space end – or go on forever? [View in browser]( US Edition | 27 June 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Welcome to Sunday! The top five stories on our website this week are displayed below. Editor’s pick: Brood X cicadas are big and loud — but at least they don’t bite. That’s not the case with ticks, another unpopular bug having a field day in the eastern United States this summer. In an article we published in May of last year, epidemiologist Durland Fish, who spent decades researching infectious diseases, explains the connection between deer, tick bites and Lyme disease — and why [more of the country needs to do tick checks this summer](. Emily Costello Managing Editor It can stretch your mind to ponder what’s really out there. Stijn Dijkstra/EyeEm via Getty Images [Does outer space end – or go on forever?]( Jack Singal, University of Richmond Astronomers know a lot about what's in outer space – and think it's possible it never ends. New research suggests that Venus’ crust is broken into large blocks – the dark reddish–purple areas – that are surrounded by belts of tectonic structures shown in lighter yellow–red. Paul K. Byrne/NASA/USGS [The surface of Venus is cracked and moves like ice floating on the ocean – likely due to tectonic activity]( Paul K. Byrne, North Carolina State University Researchers used decades-old radar data and found that some low-lying areas of Venus' crust are moving and jostling. This evidence is some of the strongest yet of tectonic activity on Venus. - [White Gen X and millennial evangelicals are losing faith in the conservative culture wars]( Terry Shoemaker, Arizona State University Growing numbers of young evangelicals and 'Exvangelicals' are pro-LGBTQ, support #BlackLivesMatter – or are fed up altogether with mixing faith and politics. - [This tiny minority of Iraqis follows an ancient Gnostic religion – and there’s a chance they could be your neighbors too]( James F. McGrath, Butler University Mandaeans are followers of ancient Gnostic religion, whose traditional homeland was the region of Iraq and Iran. Today, this small minority lives in many parts of the world, including the US. - [How palm oil became the world’s most hated, most used fat source]( Jonathan E. Robins, Michigan Technological University Palm oil is responsible for widespread deforestation and labor abuses, but it's also cheap and incredibly useful. That's why many advocates call for reforming the industry, not replacing it. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451