Ida's record rainfall is just the beginning

+ the history of tattoos – and why they can carry a stigma US Edition - Today's top story: Hurricane Ida: 2 reasons for its record-shattering rainfall in NYC and the Northeast long after the winds weakened [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 September 2021 [The Conversation]( The remnants of Hurricane Ida unleashed downpours across the Northeast that were so intense they quickly flooded subways lines, roadways and basement apartments. More than 45 people died, and the vulnerabilities of the region’s aging infrastructure were evident everywhere. Russ Schumacher, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University, explains [why the hurricane’s remnants generated so much rainfall]( in the Northeast days after the storm made landfall on the Gulf Coast and explores the influence of global warming. New York’s Central Park saw more than 3 inches of rain in the span of an hour. And geophysicist Klaus Jacobs discusses [why subway systems are at risk]( and how to protect them in cities like New York and Boston. Also today: - [Try dance therapy to boost your mental health]( - [5 ways video games help children learn]( - [Even the Islamic State is facing a labor shortage]( Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood was flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. AP Images/Matt Rourke [Hurricane Ida: 2 reasons for its record-shattering rainfall in NYC and the Northeast long after the winds weakened]( Russ Schumacher, Colorado State University Evidence is mounting that, as the climate warms, the amount of rain falling in heavy storms is increasing, especially in the central and eastern U.S. Education - [5 reasons video games should be more widely used in school]( Andre Thomas, Texas A&M University While China has taken steps to rein in the playing of video games among students during the school week, a US scholar makes the case for why the games should be featured more prominently in school. Health - [Dance and movement therapy holds promise for treating anxiety and depression, as well as deeper psychological wounds]( Lana Ruvolo Grasser, Wayne State University The COVID-19 pandemic and a growing global refugee crisis have shone a light on the ever-increasing need for new approaches to mental health treatment. Environment + Energy - [A subway flood expert explains what needs to be done to stop underground station deluges]( Klaus Hans Jacob, Columbia University Images of water gushing into subway stations filled social media following heavy rain in New York City. Solutions are at hand – but it takes money and political will, an expert explains. - [How Arctic warming can trigger cold waves in North America – a new study makes the connection]( Mathew Barlow, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Judah Cohen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Counter to what you might expect, events like the February cold wave that froze Texas can actually become more likely with global warming. Politics + Society - [Al-Qaida, Islamic State group struggle for recruits]( Charles Kurzman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill A second plot was planned on 9/11, but there were too few terrorists to carry it off. Twenty years later, al-Qaida and its offshoot the Islamic State group still have trouble attracting recruits. - [‘Get out now’ – inside the White House on 9/11, according to the staffers who were there]( Anita McBride, American University A top White House aide to President George W. Bush recounts what 9/11 was like for White House staffers. Economy + Business - [Will having so many disasters happening at the same time affect donations? We asked an expert]( Patrick Rooney, IUPUI Needs will continue in Haiti and New Orleans – and for Afghan refugees – long past the point when most donors will have found new priorities. - [Bitcoin will soon be ‘legal tender’ in El Salvador – here’s what that means]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University The country became the first to make bitcoin a formal part of its payments system, but whether it’ll catch on is another story. Ethics + Religion - [Tattoos have a long history going back to the ancient world – and also to colonialism]( Allison Hawn, Arizona State University The pandemic has made some people rush to get tattoos for different reasons. A tattoo historian explains why tattoos are often seen to be ‘trashy,’ a view likely influenced by colonialism. - [Islam’s deep traditions of art and science have had a global influence]( Kalpana Jain, The Conversation Day 4 of our Understanding Islam series. Knowing the historical contributions of Islam and its influence on other faiths can help counter many assumptions about the religion today. - [Slavery was the ultimate labor distortion – empowering workers today would be a form of reparations]( Joerg Rieger, Vanderbilt Divinity School Rebalancing labor relations so that workers are empowered would be an effective way to address racial wealth disparities and atone for the legacy of slavery, a scholar argues. Podcast 🎙️ - [Back to school: what works to keep children safe from COVID-19]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation Plus, new research into what happens in our brains when we daydream. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast. The Conversation Quiz 🧠- When did Wicca come to America? - A. 1880s - B. 1940s - C. 1960s - D. 1980s [Click here for the answer.]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](