Health risks are rising on a hotter, more crowded planet

+ fundamental problems with work; election deniers on the ballot US Edition - Today's top story: 8 billion people: Four ways climate change and population growth combine to threaten public health, with global consequences [View in browser]( US Edition | 10 November 2022 [The Conversation]( At the United Nations climate conference this week, leaders from around the world are discussing the extraordinary damage that global warming is doing to their countries, [particularly the poorest]( – and how to limit the risks yet to come. We often hear about the sudden destruction from weather disasters, like the flooding that inundated a third of Pakistan this past summer. But climate change is also fueling health crises around the world: Wetter conditions bring malaria-carrying mosquitoes, extreme heat stresses the heart, poor air quality harms the lungs, and the list goes on. Next week, the U.N. forecasts that Earth’s population will hit 8 billion humans, all trying to survive in this hotter, riskier world. Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of Public Health, explains [four key ways climate change and population growth are raising the global health threat](. Also today: - [Abortion proved to be a motivating force in election]( - [How contemporary Christian music got so big]( - [Podcast: What should happen to art repatriated to Africa?]( Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor Infectious diseases like COVID-19 top the list of health concerns. Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images [8 billion people: Four ways climate change and population growth combine to threaten public health, with global consequences]( Maureen Lichtveld, University of Pittsburgh The father of ecological economics and a founding architect of sustainable development showed the economy's reliance on the environment. It was revolutionary. Economy + Business - [American workers feel alienated, helpless and overwhelmed – here’s one way to alleviate their malaise]( Alec Stubbs, UMass Boston What if the best parts of two competing visions for a solution were brought together? - [The inconvenient truth of Herman Daly: There is no economy without environment]( Jon D. Erickson, University of Vermont The father of ecological economics and a founding architect of sustainable development showed the economy's reliance on the environment. It was revolutionary. Politics + Society - [Voters largely reject election deniers as secretaries of state – but the partisan battle for election administration will continue]( Thom Reilly, Arizona State University Voters mostly did not cast their ballots for chief election administration officials who deny the 2020 election. But the hyperpartisan trend could further erode trust in elections. - [In first nationwide election since Roe was overturned, voters opt to protect abortion access]( Linda C. McClain, Boston University; Nicole Huberfeld, Boston University Abortion rights were on the ballot in five states during the midterm elections – all broke in favor of abortion-rights advocates. - [I’m an election law expert who ran a polling station this election – here’s what I learned about the powerful role of local officials in applying the law fairly]( Derek T. Muller, University of Iowa What’s it like for an election law scholar to work at a polling place on Election Day? A law school professor sees how election laws work – or keep election workers guessing – at the ground level. Ethics + Religion - [Kennedy Center honoree Amy Grant is just one big star who’s walked the line between ‘Christian’ and ‘secular’ music]( David W. Stowe, Michigan State University The genre of contemporary Christian music has been around for decades, but the line between CCM and secular pop music has always been blurry. Environment + Energy - [What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains]( Antonia Hadjimichael, Penn State Flash droughts can develop within a few weeks, causing water shortages, damaging crops and worsening fire risks. Arts + Culture - [Renaming California’s Hastings law school sparks $1.7 billion legal fight that shows how hard it is to ditch donors’ names]( Terri Lynn Helge, Texas A&M University Universities, museums and other charities that find themselves saddled with names that have become sullied must choose among a few bad options. Health + Medicine - [Concussions can cause disruptions to everyday life in both the short and long term – a neurophysiologist explains what to watch for]( David Howell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus While high-profile concussions in the NFL have brought renewed attention to the gravity of head injuries, they can also occur on the playground or during junior varsity practices – with lasting effects. Education - [Disparities in advanced math and science skills begin by kindergarten]( Paul L. Morgan, Penn State By kindergarten, white and Asian students are three to four times as likely as Black and Hispanic students to display advanced math skills. Podcast 🎙️ - [Why stolen objects being returned to Africa don’t belong just in museums]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation Momentum is growing for the restitution of objects, such as the Benin Bronzes, stolen during colonialism. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast. Trending on site - [How asexuals navigate romantic relationships]( - [Pickleball’s uphill climb to mainstream success]( - [What is inflammation? Two immunologists explain how the body responds to everything from stings to vaccination and why it sometimes goes wrong]( Today's graphic [A chart breaking down US income and wealth inequality.]( From the story, [Why inequality is growing in the US and around the world]( - - 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](