Resisting attempts to control speech has long history | Top 10

+ take our news quiz! US Edition - Today's top story: Why more and more Americans are painting their lawns [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 April 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday. Welcome to the best of The Conversation. First, here are some of our just-published stories: - [Anti-mifepristone court decisions rely on medical misinformation about abortion and questionable legal reasoning]( - [What is Discord? An internet researcher explains the social media platform at the center of Pentagon leak of top-secret intelligence]( From mid-March to Halloween, I work an additional part-time job – doing my level best to control my unruly yard. I banished chemicals when my kids were little. For that reason and others, the patches of grass that came with the house have often been weedy, brown and generally not up to the neighborhood standards of lush emerald green. In one of our most-read pieces this week, historian Ted Steinberg explains the profit motives that created [those grass beauty standards in the first place]( – and why it’s no real surprise that they are starting to slip as prices for lawn care rise and the climate changes. Later this week, we’ll bring you stories about how hip-hop has changed education, Black gamers and why seasonal allergies are getting worse. Emily Costello Managing Editor Readers' picks Americans – especially those living in areas affected by drought – are turning to paint to give their grass that perfect green sheen. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images [Why more and more Americans are painting their lawns]( Ted Steinberg, Case Western Reserve University The ideal of perfect turf – a weed-free, supergreen monoculture – is a relatively recent phenomenon. - [Hangry bacteria in your gut microbiome are linked to chronic disease – feeding them what they need could lead to happier cells and a healthier body]( Christopher Damman, University of Washington Research has examined how ultraprocessed foods can contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mood disorders. A healthier diet is one way to use food as medicine. - [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. - [I tried to pay my taxes in cash – here’s what happened, and why the IRS should make it easier to do so]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University As the US increasingly becomes a cashless society, it’s getting harder to use currency to pay for things – including taxes. One fearless economist gave it a try. - [Jupiter’s moons hide giant subsurface oceans – two upcoming missions are sending spacecraft to see if these moons could support life]( Mike Sori, Purdue University The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer and Europa Clipper missions will arrive at Jupiter in the 2030s and provide researchers with unprecedented access to the icy moons orbiting the gas giant. Editors' picks Social media algorithms are programmed to swoop in and flag certain words. Dmitry Kovalchuk/iStock via Getty Images [What is ‘algospeak’? Inside the newest version of linguistic subterfuge]( Roger J. Kreuz, University of Memphis The aggressive efforts of social media platforms to police language have spawned a new lexicon meant to evade censors. - [Boosting EV market share to 67% of US car sales is a huge leap – but automakers can meet EPA’s tough new standards]( Alan Jenn, University of California, Davis An EV industry expert offers five reasons to be optimistic that the government’s ambitious proposed rules to clean up auto emissions can succeed. - [Low-cost, high-quality public transportation will serve the public better than free rides]( Nicholas Dagen Bloom, Hunter College Everyone likes getting something for nothing, but history shows why the math behind free public transit doesn’t add up. - [In the turbulent Drake Passage, scientists find a rare window where carbon sinks quickly into the deep ocean]( Lilian (Lily) Dove, California Institute of Technology Working with underwater robots, scientists show how deep sea mountains and fast currents between Antarctica and South America play a crucial role in stabilizing the climate. - [Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is filling ICUs this spring – a pediatric infectious disease specialist explains this little-known virus]( John V. Williams, University of Pittsburgh Similar to the patterns seen with COVID-19, flu and RSV, HMPV is making a comeback after years of being repressed by people wearing masks and social distancing. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Test your knowledge with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. Questions this week on baseball, tax day, JUICE and a special meatball. 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](