Why most buildings aren’t built for heat

+ how to keep curious kids, curious US Edition - Today's top story: Keep buildings cool as it gets hotter by resurrecting traditional architectural techniques – podcast [View in browser]( US Edition | 15 September 2022 [The Conversation]( Last week, during the peak of the brutal heat wave that baked much of the western U.S., the coolest place in my San Francisco apartment was the floor in my housemate’s bedroom. So that is where I sat and worked and even napped when I couldn’t take the heat anymore. The skyscrapers and houses of San Francisco, like buildings in many cities around the world, are simply not designed to handle hot days. This idea of a mismatch between architecture and climate is the topic of this week’s episode of The Conversation Weekly, a podcast that I co-host and which returns today after taking a summer break. The episode explores how 20th century Western styles of architecture that rely on concrete and glass spread around the world, and in doing so, [usurped local building techniques that are better suited to hotter climates](. My co-host, Gemma Ware, and I spoke with researchers from Nigeria, Iraq and the U.S. about what makes for a well-designed building, and how some architects are starting to use ancient building principles to stay cool. You can listen by following The Conversation Weekly on [Apple Podcasts]( or [Spotify]( for new episodes every Thursday, or find other ways to listen [here](. Tomorrow, we’ll be releasing our weekly news quiz. If you’d like to receive an email alert when it’s available Friday morning, [please sign up here](. If you were unable to sign up last weekend because of a technical glitch, we apologize and would appreciate if you would try again. Also today: - [Why Putin backs mercenaries in Ukraine]( - [Beware the viruses that lie in wait]( - [What the Bible says about migration]( Daniel Merino Assistant Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast Windcatchers in Iran use natural air flow to keep buildings cool. Andrzej Lisowski Travel/Shutterstock [Keep buildings cool as it gets hotter by resurrecting traditional architectural techniques – podcast]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation Follow The Conversation Weekly podcast for new episodes every Thursday. Science + Technology - [Viruses may be ‘watching’ you – some microbes lie in wait until their hosts unknowingly give them the signal to start multiplying and kill them]( Ivan Erill, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Phages, or viruses that infect bacteria, can lie dormant within chromosomes until they’re triggered to replicate and burst out of their hosts. - [The national broadband rollout has a blind spot: Lack of accurate, transparent data about internet access speeds]( Sascha Meinrath, Penn State Ensuring that billions of dollars of federal funding for broadband service are well spent – and that consumers get what they pay for – comes down to knowing the actual speeds internet users experience. Environment + Energy - [2022’s supercharged summer of climate extremes: How global warming and La Niña fueled disasters on top of disasters]( Kevin Trenberth, University of Auckland A climate scientist explains the forces behind the summer’s extreme downpours and dangerous heat waves, and why new locations will be at risk in the coming year. Education - [How to keep kids curious – 5 questions answered]( Perry Zurn, American University A philosophy professor looks at the learning styles of different creatures to gain insight into curiosity among human beings. Politics + Society - [In states where abortion is banned, children and families already face an uphill battle]( Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia States taking the strictest stands against abortion tend to have among the worst statistics in the nation on child and family well-being. - [Russia’s harsh purge against alleged ‘Nazis’ in occupied Ukraine follows Soviet playbook for rooting out real Nazis from Germany after WWII]( Mikkel Dack, Rowan University Russian actions in occupied Ukraine are following a plan modeled on how the Soviet Union dismantled Nazi influence in Germany after World War II – including arrests and revised school lessons. - [Russia’s reliance on mercenaries in Ukraine points to the weakness of its military – and Putin’s strategy of deflecting blame]( Christopher Michael Faulkner, US Naval War College As Ukraine retakes parts of its northeastern region from Russia, the Kremlin continues to increasingly look to private military companies to fill in military power gaps. - [US is becoming a ‘developing country’ on global rankings that measure democracy, inequality]( Kathleen Frydl, Johns Hopkins University The United States came in 41st worldwide on the UN’s 2022 sustainable development index, down nine spots from last year. A political historian explains the country’s dismal scores. Ethics + Religion - [Debates about migration have never been simple – just look at the Hebrew Bible]( Ki-Eun Jang, Fordham University The Bible is full of stories about migrants. That doesn’t mean it has a simple takeaway message about them. Trending on site - [Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor and mindset]( - [How do ants crawl on walls? A biologist explains their sticky, spiky, gravity-defying grip]( - [Is your gas stove bad for your health?]( Today's graphic [A line graph showing the labor participation rate in the US from 2000 to 2022. It stood at 67.3% in January 2000 and 62.2% in January 2022, following a rebound from a pandemic-influenced low of 61.4% a year earlier.]( From the story, [Legal work-related immigration has fallen by a third since 2020, contributing to US labor shortages]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](