Managing health hazards in space

+ Biden’s prisoner swap with Iran US Edition - Today's top story: Spending time in space can harm the human body − but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before sending people to Mars [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 September 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Oil demand is falling – so why is the fossil fuel industry doubling down?]( - [The growing political clout of Moms for Liberty]( - [How to reinforce aging buildings for future disasters]( Lead story Despite its awe-inspiring beauty, space is an incredibly hostile environment. Humans who leave Earth must work to manage a myriad of threats to their health, from muscle and bone deterioration to cosmic radiation exposure. Spending a long time in an environment without gravity can even cause your brain to sit higher in your skull. Rachael Seidler is a kinesiologist from the University of Florida who’s spent years working with astronauts to study the health effects of going to space. She’s part of a NASA team that’s trying to understand what health challenges the agency needs to overcome before humans take the long journey to Mars. [Seidler outlines some of the key hazards]( her colleagues are hoping to mitigate and some of the innovations that might make space a little more habitable. If you find this work as fascinating as I do, I hope you will [support the work we do by donating to our brief back-to-school fundraising drive](. Thank you! Mary Magnuson Assistant Science Editor [Spending time in space can harm the human body − but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before sending people to Mars]( Rachael Seidler, University of Florida Space can damage everything from your cardiovascular and nervous systems to your mental health – long voyages can feel isolating for many. Politics + Society - [Ransom or realism? A closer look at Biden’s prisoner swap deal with Iran]( Klaus W. Larres, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The hostage swap between the U.S. and Iran may be an important step in a new nuclear deal between the West and Iran. - [Moms for Liberty: ‘Joyful warriors’ or anti-government conspiracists? The 2-year-old group could have a serious impact on the presidential race]( Shauna Shames, Rutgers University Moms for Liberty, founded in 2021 and now boasting 120,000 members, could ride its conservative, limited-government message to a position of strong influence in the GOP. - [Jack Smith’s requested gag order, like judicial orders restricting Trump’s speech, seeks to balance constitutional rights]( Lynn Greenky, Syracuse University Trump has not been silenced. The limits on his speech protect fundamental rights − including his right to a fair trial by an unbiased jury and the public’s right to a working justice system. - [Rising number of ‘predatory’ academic journals undermines research and public trust in scholarship]( Eric Freedman, Michigan State University; Bahtiyar Kurambayev, KIMEP University In some cases, it can be difficult for academics to know which journals are not credible – but other times, people feel pressure to publish in these publications. Environment + Energy - [EV sales growth points to oil demand peaking by 2030 − so why is the oil industry doubling down on production?]( Robert Brecha, University of Dayton The International Energy Agency moved up the date when it expects oil demand to peak to before 2030. Electric vehicle growth is a big part of the reason. - [As extreme downpours trigger flooding around the world, scientists take a closer look at global warming’s role]( Mohammed Ombadi, University of Michigan There’s a rule of thumb that rainfall intensity increases by about 7% per degree Celsius as temperatures rise. But the increase is much higher in the mountains, scientists found. Ethics + Religion - [AI won’t be replacing your priest, minister, rabbi or imam any time soon]( Pauline Hope Cheong, Arizona State University A scholar of digital religion explains why the use of AI isn’t necessarily displacing religious leadership: It is the clergy who are helping with the programming, critical for its deployment. Economy + Business - [What are ‘mule addresses’? Criminologists explain how vacant properties serve as depots for illegal online purchases]( David Maimon, Georgia State University; Saba Aslanzadeh, Georgia State University Buyers and sellers alike use this system to not get caught. Science + Technology - [Earthquakes and other natural hazards are a risk everywhere – here’s how people are preparing in the US and around the world]( John van de Lindt, Colorado State University One way to prevent the destruction wrought by a devastating earthquake – like the one that hit Morocco in September 2023 – is to construct resilient homes and buildings. Education - [This course uses ‘climate fiction’ to teach about the perils that a warming planet faces]( Debra J. Rosenthal, John Carroll University Poetry and prose are prominent features in this course about how climate change is affecting the world. International - [US policy of ‘pragmatic engagement’ in Afghanistan risks legitimatizing Taliban rule]( Sher Jan Ahmadzai, University of Nebraska Omaha The Biden administration has not ruled out diplomatic recognition of the Taliban. Doing so risks legitimizing the group’s rule without holding it accountable. - Trending on site - [Humility is the foundation to a virtuous life]( - [NASA report finds no evidence that UFOs are extraterrestrial]( - [The complex chemistry behind America’s spirit – how bourbon gets its distinctive taste and color]( Today's graphic 📈 [The percentage of the Southwest – Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico – experiencing extreme summer heat, in the top 10% of the historical record, has risen in recent decades.]( From the story, [Summer 2023 was the hottest on record – yes, it’s climate change, but don’t call it ‘the new normal’]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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