A brown scourge on tropical beaches

+ climate change is fueling baseball's slugfest US Edition - Today's top story: The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is carrying a massive bloom of brown seaweed toward Florida and the Caribbean [View in browser]( US Edition | 7 April 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [6 delectable stories about chocolate]( - [Podcast: The upshot of Earthshot]( - [Gird your loins for this week’s quiz]( Lead story Most of us are used to encountering seaweed at the beach, but Florida and Caribbean nations are contending with it on an epic scale. Starting in 2011, huge blooms of sargassum, a free-floating brown seaweed, have drifted west from the central Atlantic and washed up in heaps on beaches from Fort Lauderdale to Cancun, Mexico. And 2023 could see a record bloom. These piles of rotting seaweed not only drive away tourists, but they also [kill underwater grasses and harm aquatic life](, explains Florida International University coastal scientist Stephen P. Leatherman. Although the cause hasn’t been proven, Leatherman and other scientists point to nutrient runoff from farms – one of the most challenging types of water pollution to control. Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Energy Editor Sargassum seaweed started washing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in mid-March 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images [The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is carrying a massive bloom of brown seaweed toward Florida and the Caribbean]( Stephen P. Leatherman, Florida International University Scientists are predicting a record sargassum bloom in 2023. It’s already starting to wash up on beaches in Florida and the Caribbean and cause a stink. Education - [Efforts to ban critical race theory have been put forth in all but one state – and many threaten schools with a loss of funds]( Taifha Natalee Alexander, University of California, Los Angeles A new database shows that efforts to ban critical race theory are pervasive throughout the United States. - [Black singles with college education embrace life without marriage]( Kris Marsh, University of Maryland A sociologist interviewed dozens of middle-class Black singles about their friendships, freedom and dating lives. Health + Medicine - [Misuse of Adderall promotes stigma and mistrust for patients who need it – a neuroscientist explains the science behind the controversial ADHD drug]( Habibeh Khoshbouei, University of Florida For those who need it, Adderall and other stimulants can be game-changing medications that help restore the chemical imbalances underlying ADHD. But for those who don’t, these drugs can be harmful. - [The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions]( Wendie A. Berg, University of Pittsburgh Dense breast tissue is common and normal, but it can make cancer more difficult to detect. FDA requirements going into effect in September 2024 will dictate that patients be better informed about it. Environment + Energy - [MLB home run counts are rising – and global warming is playing a role]( Christopher W. Callahan, Dartmouth College; Justin S. Mankin, Dartmouth College Scientists analyzed 100,000 baseball games, from the days of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to Aaron Judge. Here’s what they learned about the climate’s growing role. Science + Technology - [Don’t bet with ChatGPT – study shows language AIs often make irrational decisions]( Mayank Kejriwal, University of Southern California Language model AIs are smooth talkers, but you shouldn’t rely on them to make important decisions. That’s because they have trouble telling the difference between a gain and a loss. - [Easter bunnies, cacao beans and pollinating bugs: A basket of 6 essential reads about chocolate]( Maggie Villiger, The Conversation Two food scientists, an entomologist, an anthropologist, a veterinarian and a historian walk into a bar (of chocolate) and tell bitter and sweet stories of this favorite treat. Podcast 🎙️ - [Do glitzy awards like the Earthshot Prize actually help solve problems of climate change?]( Daniel Merino, The Conversation; Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation Climate innovation prizes only make up a small amount of climate research funding but are very high-profile events. From our international editions - [The UN is asking the International Court of Justice for its opinion on states’ climate obligations. What does this mean?]( - [Jacinda Ardern says goodbye to parliament: how her politics of kindness fell on unkind times]( - [Good Friday Agreement: Joe Biden’s historic visit to Ireland comes during turbulent times]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( What term used frequently in this week's news made its first New York Times appearance in a 1994 story about tabloid lingo? - A. Frog march - B. Perp walk - C. Skip bail - D. Drag show [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? 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