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+ the science of a cranberry US Edition - Today's top story: What is the rule of proportionality, and is it being observed in the Israeli siege of Gaza? [View in browser]( US Edition | 9 November 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Israel’s Gaza campaign and the rule of proportionality]( - [When it comes to packaging designs, less is more]( - [Podcast: What happened after Morocco’s earthquake]( From our Executive Editor I was honored to start running this nonprofit news organization over four years ago because I saw what it delivers every day to readers like you: Clarity. Context. Evidence-based information. Important research. Today, we’re launching an end-of-the-year fundraising campaign that sustains our ability to bring this journalism to you and millions of other people. We don’t have ads, paywalls or subscriptions, because we believe that the public needs quality information. We even give away our articles to hundreds of news organizations, in small towns and big cities, to make sure we reach as many people as we can. If you missed my email earlier this week, you can [read about our growing impact](. Please partner with us in this important work of cutting through the clutter in a complex world. [Your donation of $50, $100 or even $365 will make our work possible](. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Beth Daley Executive Editor and General Manager When does bombing become disproportionate? Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images [What is the rule of proportionality, and is it being observed in the Israeli siege of Gaza?]( Robert Goldman, American University An expert on the laws of war argues that the burden is now on Israel to show that the heavy death toll in Gaza is proportionate to the military advantage gained. Politics + Society - [With government funding running out soon, expect more brinkmanship despite public dismay at political gridlock]( Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Northwestern University The deadline to fund the US government is fast approaching, and it will take a Congress seemingly addicted to brinkmanship to keep the government open. - [As national political omens go, Republicans sought middle ground on abortion in Virginia − and still lost the state legislature]( Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington Democrats regained the Virginia legislature in the 2023 election, and that spells trouble for Republicans seeking to win the White House in 2024. Science + Technology - [People dig deeper to fact-check social media posts when paired with someone who doesn’t share their perspective – new research]( Eli Gottlieb, George Washington University A new study unexpectedly found a way to help people assess social media posts with less bias and more care – pairing them up with partners who have a different perspective. - [Exposing plants to an unusual chemical early on may bolster their growth and help feed the world]( Brad Binder, University of Tennessee A research accident in the Binder lab at the University of Tennessee led to an unprecedented discovery about how plants respond to a hormone called ethylene. - [How animals get their skin patterns is a matter of physics – new research clarifying how could improve medical diagnostics and synthetic materials]( Ankur Gupta, University of Colorado Boulder Understanding how the intricate spots and stripes, or Turing patterns, of many animals form can help scientists mimic those processes in the lab. International - [International reaction to Gaza siege has exposed the growing rift between the West and the Global South]( Jorge Heine, Boston University At the United Nations and elsewhere, the response by the US and Western Europe to events in Israel and Gaza have been out of step with that of governments in Africa, South America and Asia. - [Israel-Hamas war: there is an important difference between a humanitarian pause and a ceasefire]( Malak Benslama-Dabdoub, Royal Holloway University of London At present the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ruled out a ceasefire but may allow ‘little pauses’. - [Chechnya’s boss and Putin’s foot soldier: How Ramzan Kadyrov became such a feared figure in Russia]( Anya Free, Arizona State University; Marat Iliyasov, George Washington University The leader of Chechnya rules with brute force, impunity and near autonomy. Why doesn’t Vladimir Putin rein him in? Arts + Culture - [Why more food, toiletry and beauty companies are switching to minimalist package designs]( Lan Anh Nu Ton, Texas Christian University Pared-down packaging designs send a subtle yet powerful message of purity to shoppers – and they’re willing to fork over more cash for these goods, regardless of the actual number of additives. Environment + Energy - [Cranberries can bounce, float and pollinate themselves: The saucy science of a Thanksgiving classic]( Serina DeSalvio, Texas A&M University Cranberries add color and acidity to Thanksgiving menus, but they also have many interesting botanical and genetic features. Podcast 🎙️ - [Morocco’s earthquake aftermath: artisans in Marrakech’s old medina face uncertain future]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we hear about the importance of Marrakech’s old medina to Islamic heritage and what’s happening to its network of traditional artisans. Trending on site - [Supreme Court considers whether to uphold law that keeps guns out of the hands of domestic abusers]( - [Letting low-income Americans buy groceries online in 2020 with SNAP benefits decreased the share of people without enough food – new research]( - [Israel-Hamas war puts China’s strategy of ‘balanced diplomacy’ in the Middle East at risk]( Today's graphic 📈 [Using the rate of gun homicide risk for U.S. troops during the Afghan War as a benchmark, it is possible to compare the danger of the war zone to different geographies. A young man had more than three times the risk of being shot dead in the most violent ZIP code in Chicago.]( From the story, [Young men in violent parts of Philadelphia, Chicago die from guns at a higher rate than US troops in the heat of battle]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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