Making challah, brisket and more by the book

+ conspiracy theories have ripple effects US Edition - Today's top story: 'Traditional' Jewish American foods keep changing, with cookbooks playing an influential role in how Jews mark Rosh Hashana [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 September 2022 [The Conversation]( Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, starts at sunset this Sunday. Many people in Jewish homes around the country are planning big holiday meals. Some also face a conundrum: What is suitable for serving to people who keep kosher? This isn’t a new problem – even for those whose relatives arrived more than 100 years ago. Many Jewish immigrants left their families behind when they came to the U.S. And even if their ancestors knew all the rules of kosher food preparation, that knowledge may have faded over time. Deborah Dash Moore, a historian at University of Michigan, explains how during the 19th and 20th centuries, [female cookbook writers]( stepped into this knowledge gap. These women left a lasting influence on the food choices that guide American Jews today. This week we also liked articles about the [history of Westminster Abbey](, [deepfake audio]( and when you should get your [flu and COVID-19 vaccines](. Kalpana Jain Senior Religion + Ethics Editor Judaism possesses an elaborate system that determines what foods Jews can eat and which ones can be eaten together. Rafael Ben-Ari/Photodisc via Getty Images [‘Traditional’ Jewish American foods keep changing, with cookbooks playing an influential role in how Jews mark Rosh Hashana]( Deborah Dash Moore, University of Michigan A historian of American Judaism explains how cookbooks across the 20th century have influenced and reflected the shifting tastes of American Jews. With deepfake audio, that familiar voice on the other end of the line might not even be human let alone the person you think it is. Knk Phl Prasan Kha Phibuly/EyeEm via Getty Images [Deepfake audio has a tell – researchers use fluid dynamics to spot artificial imposter voices]( Logan Blue, University of Florida; Patrick Traynor, University of Florida AI-generated voice-alikes can be indistinguishable from the real person’s speech to the human ear. A computer model that gives voice to the dinosaurs turns out to be a good way to tell the difference. It is safe to get the newly formulated COVID-19 booster shot and the flu shot at the same time. SDI Productions/ E+ via Getty Images [When should you get the new COVID-19 booster and the flu shot? Now is the right time for both]( Libby Richards, Purdue University When COVID-19 and the flu co-infect, it’s ‘flurona.’ But such cases are rare, and there are effective ways to protect yourself from both viruses. - [Westminster Abbey has witnessed nearly a millennium of British history – but many rituals, like those at royal funerals, aren’t so old]( Paul Hammer, University of Colorado Boulder A scholar of British history explains how the ornate church and its significance to the monarchy have changed over centuries. - [Patagonia’s founder has given his company away to fight climate change and advance conservation: 5 questions answered]( Ash Enrici, Indiana University Yvon Chouinard’s gift is unusual due to its structure but is also part of a trend. Many billionaires and large foundations are now funding these causes. - [Conspiracy theories are dangerous even if very few people believe them]( Keith Raymond Harris, Ruhr University Bochum Worrying about how many people believe false ideas misses the real danger – that people are influenced by them whether they believe them or not. - [India’s economy has outpaced Pakistan’s handily since Partition in 1947 – politics explains why]( - [Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’ continues to delight fans and inspire animators 20 years after its US premiere]( - [Why does nature create patterns? A physicist explains the molecular-level processes behind crystals, stripes and basalt columns]( - [‘Men who have sex with men’ originated during the HIV pandemic to focus on behavior rather than identity – but not everyone thinks the term helps]( - [1,000-year-old stalagmites from a cave in India show the monsoon isn’t so reliable – their rings reveal a history of long, deadly droughts]( - [Book bans reflect outdated beliefs about how children read]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Quizmaster, The Conversation Here's the first question of this week's edition: NASA will try out full-scale planetary defense with a mission, dubbed DART, next week. What does DART stand for? - A. Distant Asteroid Retrieval Trial - B. Debris Aspirating Rocket Test - C. Double Asteroid Redirection Test - D. Drilling Aimed at Righteous Titanium [Test your knowledge]( - - 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](