How California could fight drought by saving rain | Top 10

+ new research on who gets long COVID US Edition - Today's top story: Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during 'Monday Night Football' could be commotio cordis or a more common condition – a heart doctor answers 4 questions [View in browser]( US Edition | 8 January 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( After a holiday break, The Conversation newsroom is back to work. There’s no such thing as a routine in a small, growing organization like ours – but we do have a few important workplace rituals. One is our morning news meeting, during which we gather staff for 30 minutes to discuss upcoming stories and brainstorm. The focus we bring to that meeting could be considered a gift to our colleagues and readers, according to one of our most-read stories last week. Jeremy David Engels, a professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State, describes [modern unplugged mindfulness]( and the challenges it faces in the attention economy. It’s a great piece to read as you try to start the new year with healthy habits. Another one of our readers’ favorites reports new research on long COVID. Sarah Wulf Hanson and Theo Vos, who study health metrics at the University of Washington, write about their recent multicountry study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found that the great majority of long-COVID sufferers had only a mild case. “We think, based on the pervasiveness and severity of long COVID, that it is keeping people from working and therefore [contributing to labor shortages,”]( Hanson and Vos write. “Long COVID could also be a factor in how people losing their jobs has disproportionately affected women.” This coming week, we’ll bring you stories about AI and the future of knowledge workers, how cancer cells migrate and consumers fooled by negative reviews. Emily Costello Managing Editor Readers' picks Damar Hamlin, #3, collapsed on the field after making a tackle during a game on January 2, 2023. Dylan Buell via Getty Images [Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during ‘Monday Night Football’ could be commotio cordis or a more common condition – a heart doctor answers 4 questions]( Wendy Tzou, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Disruptions to the electrical signals that control a person’s heartbeat are dangerous, no matter the cause. A heart doctor explains the biology of cardiac arrest and what might have happened on the field. - [Pope Benedict XVI: A man at odds with the modern world who leaves a legacy of intellectual brilliance and controversy]( Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Pope Benedict XVI led the Catholic Church at a crucial time and had to confront a growing sexual abuse scandal. - [Long COVID stemmed from mild cases of COVID-19 in most people, according to a new multicountry study]( Sarah Wulf Hanson, University of Washington; Theo Vos, University of Washington While there are still far more questions than answers about long COVID-19, researchers are beginning to get a clearer picture of the health and economic consequences of the condition. - [Why you should give the gift of mindfulness this New Year]( Jeremy David Engels, Penn State Mindfulness can teach us to be more present – not just for ourselves, but also for our colleagues, friends and loved ones. - [Pelé: a global superstar and cultural icon who put passion at the heart of soccer]( Simon Chadwick, SKEMA Business School The Brazilian soccer great died on Dec. 29, 2022, at the age of 82. His record as a goal-scorer – and the delight he gave millions – means he will go down as one of the greatest. Editors' picks Heavy rain from a series of atmospheric rivers flooded large parts of California from late December 2022 into early January 2023. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images [How California could save up its rain to ease future droughts — instead of watching epic atmospheric river rainfall drain into the Pacific]( Andrew Fisher, University of California, Santa Cruz Urban infrastructure was designed to take stormwater out to the ocean quickly. Now, California needs that precious water. - [Global economy 2023: Why central banks face an epic battle against inflation amid political obstacles]( Steve Schifferes, City, University of London Central banks are raising interest rates to tame inflation, but 2023 will increasingly turn a technical decision into a political challenge. - [Ukraine schools remain a key battlefront in fight for nation’s future]( Katja Kolcio, Wesleyan University Schools are a key battleground in the Ukrainian resistance against Russia’s invasion. - [Better sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents – especially after holiday disruptions to routines]( Erika Bocknek, Wayne State University Sound sleep, for long enough every night, with consistent bed and wake-up times are critical for kids’ health. A child development expert suggests some overarching tips to help get you there. - [Making sweat feel spiritual didn’t start with SoulCycle – a religion scholar explains]( Cody Musselman, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Fitness and religion make a potent combination, one people have explored for centuries. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Questions this week on the pope emeritus, women in politics and Theodore Roosevelt. 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. 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