Is the old movie theater model falling apart?

+ a closer look at OSHA's new heat exposure rule US Edition - Today's top story: David Chase might hate that 'The Many Saints of Newark' is premiering on HBO Max – but it's the wave of the future [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 October 2021 [The Conversation]( For decades, a movie’s dissemination adhered to strict guidelines: First, a movie would appear in theaters. If you didn’t want to pay for a ticket, you’d have to wait until it was released on VHS or DVD. And if you didn’t want to buy or rent it, there was a chance that you’d be able to catch it on cable TV. The rise of streaming services puts stress on this model. The COVID-19 pandemic shattered it. University of Virginia’s Anthony Palomba, a media innovation and audience analysis scholar, [explains why Hollywood executives are so eager to move on]( from the antiquated way of doing things, even as some film directors chafe at the new regime. Also today: - [Black churches and mental health]( - [Conservatorships like Britney Spears’ are easily abused]( - [Teaching robot fish how to swim]( Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor Fans of ‘The Sopranos’ will have the option of watching Michael Gandolfini play a young Tony Soprano from their living rooms or in theaters. Bobby Bank/GC Images via Getty Images [David Chase might hate that ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ is premiering on HBO Max – but it’s the wave of the future]( Anthony Palomba, University of Virginia With pricing flexibility, the ability to capture data on viewers and the promise of attracting new subscribers, film premieres on streaming services are a no-brainer for studio executives. Ethics + Religion - [Americans are in a mental health crisis – especially African Americans. Can churches help?]( Brad R. Fulton, Indiana University More houses of worship are offering mental health programs, especially African American congregations. Science + Technology - [To swim like a tuna, robotic fish need to change how stiff their tails are in real time]( Daniel Quinn, University of Virginia Researchers used an old theory on vibrating plane wings to study how fish swim so well. They were able to double the swimming efficiency of their robotic fish over a range of speeds. Health - [Britney’s conservatorship is one example of how the legacy of eugenics in the US continues to affect the lives of disabled women]( Michaela Kathleen Curran, University of Iowa The legacy of eugenics is still active in the U.S. Paternalistic attitudes and policies on the reproductive agency of disabled people is one way it manifests. Environment + Energy - [Monsoons make deserts bloom in the US Southwest, but climate change is making these summer rainfalls more extreme and erratic]( Diana Zamora-Reyes, University of Arizona; Christopher L. Castro, University of Arizona Monsoons are weather patterns that bring thunderstorms and heavy rains to hot, dry areas when warm, moist ocean air moves inland. They’re challenging to forecast, especially in a changing climate. - [A major new workplace safety initiative targets dangerous heat on the job, but what about chronic heat exposure?]( Lynée Turek-Hankins, University of Miami; Katharine Mach, University of Miami Excessive heat puts your body at risk for organ damage. When workers don’t have a chance to cool off at home between shifts, that harm can accumulate. Economy + Business - [Coffee bean prices have doubled in the past year and may double again – what’s going on?]( Jonathan Morris, University of Hertfordshire The black stuff is suddenly much more expensive – the question is whether smallhold farmers will see any of the proceeds. - [Britney Spears gets free of father’s conservatorship – but many others remain shackled by the easily abused legal arrangement]( Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia Spears’ battle to end her conservatorship may lead to reforms. Podcast 🎙️ - [Germany election winners, losers, and how the Greens emerged as kingmakers – Podcast]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation Plus, the health benefits of saunas and hot baths, particularly after exercise. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast. From our International Editions - [Want to know about vaccine rollouts in Africa? Click on a country here and find out]( Catherine Kyobutungi, African Population and Health Research Center Almost half of the countries in Africa have vaccination rates below 2%. - [Australia’s competition watchdog says Google has a monopoly on online advertising — but how does it work?]( David Tuffley, Griffith University Each time you visit a page hosting ads, an automated ad auction begins behind the scenes — where the highest bidder wins the chance to target you with their product. - [CGI influencers: when the ‘people’ we follow on social media aren’t human]( Francesca Sobande, Cardiff University The creation of social media accounts based on fictional models raises pointed questions about race, representation and commodification. The Conversation Quiz 🧠- How many tattoos does Ötzi the Iceman have? - A. 3 - B. 26 - C. 42 - D. 61 [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](