Rethinking agriculture's Green Revolution

+ Pope Francis’ synod reflects push for more inclusive Catholic Church US Edition - Today's top story: The Green Revolution is a warning, not a blueprint for feeding a hungry planet [View in browser]( US Edition | 4 October 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Nagorno-Karabakh catastrophe was avoidable]( - [The everything app’s Taoist origins]( - [The attosecond – how a flash of light won a Nobel]( Lead story Nobel Prize week is a time to appreciate how science has changed human lives for the better – but sometimes that work takes on a different cast as time passes. [Anthropologist Glenn Davis Stone offers an example](: a reassessment of the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. This initiative brought large-scale high-tech agriculture to developing nations, mainly in Asia, and for years has been widely credited with heading off famine. Plant scientist Norman Borlaug, the most prominent expert behind the strategy, received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. But Stone and other scholars now are raising questions about what the Green Revolution really meant for food supplies and self-sufficiency – suggesting policymakers should be wary of pushing for another one. [ [Science from the scientists themselves. Sign up for our weekly science email newsletter.]( ] Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor A farmer spreads fertilizer in a wheat field outside Amritsar, India. Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images [The Green Revolution is a warning, not a blueprint for feeding a hungry planet]( Glenn Davis Stone, Sweet Briar College Did the Green Revolution, which brought high-tech agriculture to developing nations in the 1960s, prevent famine? Recent research takes a much more skeptical view. Science + Technology - [What is an attosecond? A physical chemist explains the tiny time scale behind Nobel Prize-winning research]( Aaron W. Harrison, Austin College Three scientists won the 2023 Nobel Prize in physics for their work developing methods to shoot laser pulses that only last an attosecond, or a mind-bogglingly tiny fraction of a second. - [Making ‘movies’ at the attosecond scale helps researchers better understand electrons − and could one day lead to super-fast electronics]( Niranjan Shivaram, Purdue University The 2023 Nobel Prize in physics recognized researchers studying electron movement in real time − this work could revolutionize electronics, laser imaging and more. - [China’s WeChat is all-encompassing but low-key − a Chinese media scholar explains the Taoist philosophy behind the everything app’s design]( Jianqing Chen, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis The design philosophy of the everything app WeChat may seem paradoxical, being simultaneously pervasive and inconspicuous. But this idea of “everythingness” goes back to ancient Taoist philosophy. - [Cell death is essential to your health − an immunologist explains when cells decide to die with a bang or take their quiet leave]( Zoie Magri, Tufts University Your cells die to keep you alive. Cell death does everything from fighting cancer cells and pathogens to forming your fingers and toes. Politics + Society - [The Nobel Peace Prize offers no guarantee its winners actually create peace, or make it last]( Andrew Blum, University of San Diego The Nobel Peace Prize has recognized some legendary leaders and peace activists, but it has a mixed track record of recognizing people who actually deserve the prize. - [Despite one of the US military’s greatest fiascoes, American troops are still in Somalia fighting an endless war]( Jason C. Mueller, Kennesaw State University Thirty years after the Battle of Mogadishu, the US continues waging war in Somalia, with little public knowledge, scrutiny or constructive results. Ethics + Religion - [The worldwide consultations for the global synod reflect Pope Francis’ efforts toward building a more inclusive Catholic Church]( Daniel Speed Thompson, University of Dayton As the Synod of Bishops meets in Rome, a Catholic theologian explains the preparations that went into the consultative process and what it says about Pope Francis’ vision for the future church. International - [Death of the Armenian dream in Nagorno-Karabakh was predictable but not inevitable]( Ronald Suny, University of Michigan The collapse of the self-proclaimed republic ushers in a new reality in the South Caucasus. For Armenia, the first concern is how to accommodate the needs of 100,000-plus refugees. Economy + Business - [LGBTQ+ Americans feel they are just getting by in retirement and face greater financial risks]( Marc Cohen, UMass Boston; Jane Tavares, UMass Boston; Molly Wylie, UMass Boston Gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities can face significant economic challenges with age. Education - [Do ‘sputnik moments’ spur educational reform? A rhetoric scholar weighs in]( Mark Hlavacik, University of North Texas Policymakers and others often invoke the 1957 Russian launch of sputnik when trying to spark a discussion about education reform. A rhetoric scholar examines how often they succeed. Arts + Culture - [Why are some Chinese women still looking to the West for love?]( Monica Liu, University of St. Thomas Their desire to pursue marriage abroad not only reveals their longing for a better life but also reveals the pervasive gender, age and class inequalities that continue to plague modern-day China. Trending on site - [Nationwide test of Wireless Emergency Alert system could test people’s patience – or help rebuild public trust in the system]( - [Psychedelics plus psychotherapy can trigger rapid changes in the brain − new research at the level of neurons is untangling how]( - [How do astronomers know the age of the planets and stars?]( Today's graphic 📈 [American Green Bank Consortium members and private funds they leveraged contributed $4.64 billion in 2022. Each green bank dollar brought in more than $2 in private funds.]( From the story, [Using green banks to solve America’s affordable housing crisis – and climate change at the same time]( - - 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: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [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](