WHO sharply lowers recommended air pollution limits

+ debt ceiling Q+A US Edition - Today's top story: Fall means more deer on the road: 4 ways time of day, month and year raise your risk of crashes [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 September 2021 [The Conversation]( It’s the first day of fall here in the Northern Hemisphere! For anyone driving through farm country or woods, that means it’s time to be extra vigilant for deer on the road. Deer cause over 1 million accidents in the U.S. every year. Tom Langen studies animal behavior at Clarkson University and has some tips for staying safe. It turns out that [time of day, week and month, as well as the season, can all significantly raise your risk of a crash](. And Tufts’ Laura Corlin unpacks the World Health Organization’s [newly released air quality standards and what scientists now know about the high health risks from air pollution](. Also today: - [Taliban, Islamic State arm themselves with weapons the U.S. left behind in Afghanistan]( - [A new randomized control study on masking and COVID-19]( - [How ordinary objects can come to feel special]( Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor Deer cross roads whenever they wish, but some time periods are higher risk than others. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images [Fall means more deer on the road: 4 ways time of day, month and year raise your risk of crashes]( Tom Langen, Clarkson University Avoiding hitting deer on the road is as much about when you drive as where. An animal behavior expert explains why. Environment + Energy - [Combatting an invisible killer: New WHO air pollution guidelines recommend sharply lower limits]( Laura Corlin, Tufts University The new global air quality guidelines are the World Health Organization’s first update since 2005. Scientists know far more now about the serious risks these pollutants pose to human health. Politics + Society - [Taliban, Islamic State arm themselves with weapons US left behind]( Nolan Fahrenkopf, University at Albany, State University of New York Despite efforts to prevent militant groups from getting weapons, they often get their hands on U.S. equipment and use it to attack American troops. Economy + Business - [Why America has a debt ceiling: 5 questions answered]( Steven Pressman, Monmouth University Republicans are refusing to support an increase in the debt ceiling, but not doing so risks an unprecedented default. An economist explains why it’s time to get rid of the debt limit once and for all. - [Harvard’s decision to ditch fossil fuel investments reflects changing financial realities and its climate change stance]( Susan Gary, University of Oregon The announcement didn’t use the word ‘divest.’ A legal scholar explains why that shouldn’t matter. Health - [Evidence shows that, yes, masks prevent COVID-19 – and surgical masks are the way to go]( Laura (Layla) H. Kwong, University of California, Berkeley Since the coronaviurs first began spreading around the globe, people have debated how effective masks are at preventing COVID-19. A year and a half in, what does the evidence show? - [Study shows an abortion ban may lead to a 21% increase in pregnancy-related deaths]( Amanda Jean Stevenson, University of Colorado Boulder Carrying a pregnancy to term is riskier than having an abortion, especially for non-Hispanic Black women. - [Spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is against the law in 37 states – with penalties ranging up to life in prison]( Robin Lennon-Dearing, University of Memphis Current HIV criminal laws increase HIV stigma and discrimination against marginalized people – and negatively affect public health. Ethics + Religion - [How the Satanic Temple is using ‘abortion rituals’ to claim religious liberty against the Texas’ ‘heartbeat bill’]( Joseph P. Laycock, Texas State University The Satanic Temple, a nontheistic group, is invoking the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to challenge Texas’ new anti-abortion law. Science + Technology - [Your driver-assist system may be out of alignment… with your understanding of how it works]( Steve Casner, NASA Tesla crashes and the investigations that follow generate a lot of headlines, but the dangers of automotive automation are industrywide. The common denominator is the human behind the wheel. - [Psychological ‘specialness spirals’ can make ordinary items feel like treasures – and may explain how clutter accumulates]( Jacqueline Rifkin, University of Missouri-Kansas City Have you ever bought an item and then just not gotten around to using it because the time never felt right? New studies suggest an explanation for what researchers call nonconsumption. Education - [Therapy dogs help students cope with the stress of college life]( Christine Kivlen, Wayne State University Colleges and universities are using therapy dogs as a low-cost way to improve their students’ mental health. - [Female leaders in higher education have created more inclusive and open institutions – here are 3 key figures]( Thalia Plata, The Conversation In a webinar hosted by The Conversation, “Women’s Transformative Power in Higher Education and Beyond,” current leaders discussed how their predecessors have shaped higher education. Trending on Site - [A giant space rock demolished an ancient Middle Eastern city and everyone in it – possibly inspiring the Biblical story of Sodom]( Christopher R. Moore, University of South Carolina New research suggests that fire from the sky in the form of a small asteroid annihilated a city near the Dead Sea 3,600 years ago. - [The Supreme Court has overturned precedent dozens of times in the past 60 years, including when it struck down legal segregation]( David Schultz, Hamline University There is value in observing legal precedent, but sometimes circumstances, logic or judges’ views determine it’s time to overturn it. - [New treatments for COVID-19 may stave off the worst effects of the virus]( Patrick Jackson, University of Virginia Medications to treat COVID-19 are in no way a substitute for the vaccine. But under the right circumstances, some show great promise for helping patients. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A chart showing how Americans' confidence in science has changed between 1975 and 2021. The chart shows statistics for U.S. adults, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.]( From the story, [Political orientation predicts science denial – here’s what that means for getting Americans vaccinated against COVID-19]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](