Monsters, Japanese-style | Top 10

+ was Thoreau a good naturalist? US Edition - Today's top story: Newly discovered species of bacteria in the microbiome may be a culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis [View in browser]( US Edition | 30 October 2022 [The Conversation]( Welcome to Sunday and the best of The Conversation. Tomorrow is Halloween, a subject we’ve covered from many angles. For example, although this holiday has its roots in [ancient Celtic culture](, the American celebration has picked up notes of the [Mexican Day of the Dead]( in recent years. But no one culture owns monsters, and this week in editors’ picks we have a great exploration of Japanese monsters from Asian religions professor Kevin Taylor of the University of Memphis. Taylor writes of the spirits said to inhabit everyday objects in many Japanese traditions and folklore. These beliefs inspired the soot sprites in the Hayao Miyazaki animated classic “My Neighbor Totoro” as well as Marie Kondo’s habit of thanking old towels for their service. Taylor also describes some [spookier Japanese beasts]( that I can imagine inspiring Halloween costumes in years to come. This week, readers liked a story by Meagan Chriswell, who is studying immunology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, about a new study suggesting a link between [the microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis](. Next week, we’ll bring you stories about churches founded by spiritual but not religious people looking to build community, how gender influences trust in central bankers, and electrifying trucking. Emily Costello Managing Editor Readers' picks Rheumatoid arthritis leads to painful joint inflammation, often in the hands and wrists. Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank via Getty Images [Newly discovered species of bacteria in the microbiome may be a culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis]( Meagan Chriswell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A new species of bacteria that doesn’t normally live in the gut may trigger an immune response so strong that it spreads to the joints. - [Newly available over-the-counter hearing aids offer many benefits, but consumers should be aware of the potential drawbacks]( Bradley Kesser, University of Virginia They are easy to get, and far less costly than prescription hearing aids. But over-the-counter devices are not the answer for everyone with hearing issues. - [Pit bulls went from America’s best friend to public enemy – now they’re slowly coming full circle]( Colin Dayan, Vanderbilt University A scholar of law and humanities compares bans on dogs with any pit bull genes to “one drop” laws that once classified people with even a single Black ancestor as Black. - [Signatures of alien technology could be how humanity first finds extraterrestrial life]( Macy Huston, Penn State; Jason Wright, Penn State The technology of an advanced alien civilization is likely to produce many signs that could be detected across the vastness of space. Two astronomers explain the search for technosignatures. - [Why do people have slips of the tongue?]( Cecile McKee, University of Arizona A psycholinguist explains what’s really going on when people misspeak. Editors' picks Monsters and spirits –including ‘tsukumogami,’ which are made of everyday objects – in the ‘Hyakki-Yagyō-Emaki’ scroll, painted between the 14th and 16th centuries. Wikimedia Commons [Japan’s ‘waste not, want not’ philosophy has deep religious and cultural roots, from monsters and meditation to Marie Kondo’s tidying up]( Kevin C. Taylor, University of Memphis Shinto and Buddhist ideas about interconnectedness have deeply influenced Japan, shaping centuries-old rituals and stories whose impact continues today. - [The Ukraine conflict is a war of narratives – and Putin’s is crumbling]( Ronald Suny, University of Michigan People understand the world through the stories they are told and tell, a historian writes. In the case of the war in Ukraine, narratives can create problems. - [How the threat of ‘taxpayer-funded abortion’ is being used to mobilize conservative religious voters]( Ruth Braunstein, University of Connecticut In the midterms, some religious voters may be motivated by the argument that if abortion is funded with tax dollars, it makes them personally complicit in sin. - [Most Americans do trust scientists and science-based policy-making – freaking out about the minority who don’t isn’t helpful]( John C. Besley, Michigan State University It’s tempting to focus on the minority of Americans who hold negative views about scientists. But blaming others for their lack of trust won’t build the relationships that can boost trust. - [By fact-checking Thoreau’s observations at Walden Pond, we showed how old diaries and specimens can inform modern research]( Tara K. Miller, Boston University; Abe Miller-Rushing, National Park Service; Richard B. Primack, Boston University Journals, museum collections and other historical sources can provide valuable data for modern ecological studies. But just because a source is old doesn’t make it useful. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Quizmaster, The Conversation This week: questions about Halloween history, voter turnout and fear of 13 Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( 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](