Petro-power in Alaska

Edition: US - Today's top story: Fracking comes to the Arctic in a new Alaska oil boom [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 13 April 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note Oil is a cyclical business: production expands when prices are high and contracts when they fall. But as Scott Montgomery of the University of Washington explains, technical innovations have enabled oil companies to make big new discoveries in Alaska even in a time of relatively low prices. If these fields are developed, he predicts, the Arctic will bolster America’s role as [the world’s newest petro-superpower](. Meanwhile, protests continue in the streets of Venezuela against the government and President Nicolas Maduro, after the Supreme Court ruled to take power from the national assembly. Maduro, successor to Hugo Chavez, has led a steady erosion of Venezuela’s democratic institutions.But now, writes Laura Gamboa, the mask of Venezuela’s democracy [has been ripped off](. Jennifer Weeks Editor, Environment and Energy Top story Trans-Alaska Pipeline, northern Brooks Range, Alaska. U.S.Geological Survey/Flickr [Fracking comes to the Arctic in a new Alaska oil boom]( Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington Oil production used to fall when prices were low. But a new drilling boom in Alaska, driven by technical advances and global partnerships, spotlights America's rise as a world oil power. Politics + Society - [Venezuela has lost its democratic facade]( Laura Gamboa, Utah State University Rather than an outright coup, Venezuela's government has slowly eroded its democratic institutions and processes, until now. Science + Technology - [Is the Supreme Court acting less like a court?]( Daniel N. Rockmore, Dartmouth College; Michael A. Livermore, University of Virginia The Supreme Court's public reputation is strong in part because people see it as less political than other government branches. What can text analysis tell us about how accurate that perception is? - [Fishing for DNA: Free-floating eDNA identifies presence and abundance of ocean life]( Mark Stoeckle, The Rockefeller University Animals shed bits of DNA as they go about their lives. A new study of the Hudson River estuary tracked spring migration of ocean fish by collecting water samples and seeing whose DNA was present when. - [“While the principle of aquatic eDNA is well-established, we’re just beginning to explore its potential for detecting fish and their abundance.”]( Mark Stoeckle The Rockefeller University [Read more]( [Mark Stoeckle] Ethics + Religion - [Is temptation such a bad thing?]( Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross While temptation can be an invitation to sin, experiencing temptation can also make us consider more deeply: What is it that tempts us and why? Health + Medicine - [Don't believe everything you hear about pesticides on fruits and vegetables]( Michael P. Holsapple, Michigan State University; Heather E. Dover, Michigan State University; Keith Ayoob, Yeshiva University Reports about trace amounts of pesticides, like the EWG's Dirty Dozen, can leave people afraid to buy fruits and vegetables. But the hype is often overblown. Environment + Energy - [In planned EPA cuts, US to lose vital connection to at-risk communities]( Deborah Morrison, University of Oregon; Nicole Smith Dahmen, University of Oregon The EPA served as a conduit between the federal government and at-risk communities. Communications scholars look at how environmental justice issues could be set back in scaled-down EPA. Economy + Business - [Can universal basic income counter the ill-effects of the gig economy?]( Vili Lehdonvirta, University of Oxford A universal basic income would enable people to embrace the gig economy and give them greater leverage in the jobs they choose. Trending on Site - [How economics 101 could have prevented United's PR nightmare]( Volodymyr Bilotkach, Newcastle University Videos of a United passenger being involuntarily dragged off a plane went viral, creating a PR disaster for the company – one that could have easily been avoided. - [Do Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have too much power?]( Henry F. (Chip) Carey, Georgia State University Does Trump’s family have too much sway in the White House? We consider parallels ranging from the Ottoman empire to the Clinton administration. - [Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday]( Brent Landau, University of Texas at Austin A scholar explains the rich historical roots of Easter and how it has evolved over the centuries. [The Conversation is a non-profit and your donation is tax deductible. Help knowledge-based, ethical journalism today.]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA