Wolves create a 'landscape of fear'

+ TikTok bans tough to enforce US Edition - Today's top story: When wolves move in, they push smaller carnivores closer to human development – with deadly consequences [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 May 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Parasitic infections are spreading in poor Black communities]( - [Drones roam the lawless skies]( - [Test your knowledge of this week’s news]( Lead story Imagine you’re a bobcat or a coyote, living your life in Washington state. And then wolves start moving back to your neighborhood after being absent for years. Now what? Calum Cunningham and Laura Prugh are wildlife scientists at the University of Washington. With their colleagues, they used GPS tracking collars to see how these smaller predators would react to the danger posed by suddenly sharing the environment with wolves. Because wolves tended to avoid any areas where people were likely to be, bobcats, cougars and coyotes shifted into human-heavy areas. Unfortunately for these smaller predators, they miscalculated the risks – people ended up killing them at much higher rates than wolves would have. But Cunningham and Prugh explain why this outcome [isn’t necessarily bad news for the ecosystem overall](. [[Sign up here to our topic-specific weekly emails.](] Mary Magnuson Assistant Science Editor Smaller predators steer clear of wolves, but that brings them closer to people – and the dangers humans pose. Star Tribune via Getty Images [When wolves move in, they push smaller carnivores closer to human development – with deadly consequences]( Calum Cunningham, University of Washington; Laura Prugh, University of Washington Reintroducing wolves can restore important ecological processes, but it can have unintended effects when smaller predators like coyotes are driven closer to people, a team of ecologists found. Science + Technology - [Should governments ban TikTok? Can they? A cybersecurity expert explains the risks the app poses and the challenges to blocking it]( Doug Jacobson, Iowa State University Banning TikTok: What data privacy risk does the app pose, and what could the Chinese government do with data it collects? And is it even possible to ban an app? Politics + Society - [Parasitic infections hit the health of low-income Black communities where states have neglected sewage systems]( Theresa E. Gildner, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Though many Americans believe that parasitic infections exist in poorer countries, research shows that the problem exists in the US and has a higher impact in communities of color. - [Craft breweries are fermenting change, addressing local ills while serving local ales]( Colleen C. Myles, Texas State University And you thought you were just going out for a beer. - [Military drones are swarming the skies of Ukraine and other conflict hot spots – and anything goes when it comes to international law]( Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University As the drone market continues to expand, a set of rules or standards that can help determine how they are used in warfare is needed, writes a former US diplomat. Education - [Talking puppy or finger puppet? 5 tips for buying baby toys that support healthy development]( Brenna Hassinger-Das, Pace University ; Jennifer M. Zosh, Penn State Two experts on children’s play explain why you should be skeptical of toys that are advertised as being educational, and what to look for instead. Ethics + Religion - [When faith says to help migrants – and the law says don’t]( Laura E. Alexander, University of Nebraska Omaha As governments crack down at their borders, religious groups’ teachings to help the stranger remain unchanged. Health + Medicine - [Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling]( Evan Papa, Tufts University Lifestyle factors like physical activity, diet and sleep can lower the ‘biological age’ of your cells and tissues and reduce age-related physical decline. From our international editions - [Cold water therapy: what are the benefits and dangers of ice baths, wild swimming and freezing showers?]( - [Ethiopia has one of Africa’s most ambitious housing policies – but the lottery-based system is pulling communities apart]( - [We’re just starting to learn more about aphantasia, the inability to picture things with the mind’s eye]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which 68-year-old author of "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Pigs in Heaven" just won a Pulitzer Prize for her new novel, "Demon Copperhead"? - A. Barbara Walters - B. Barbara Billingsley - C. Barbara Kingsolver - D. Barbara Cartland [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? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - 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](