Why we listen to a few hearty caucusgoers in Iowa

+ attacks on Indigenous Russian activists US Edition - Today's top story: 1 good thing about the Iowa caucuses, and 3 that are really troubling [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [How to prevent America’s aging buildings from collapsing]( - [Government shutdowns are a drain on basic R&D]( - [Your body has a built-in weight loss system]( Lead story The Iowa caucuses are best known as a contest where long-shot political candidates earn a brief and shining victory − and then just as quickly fade into distant memory. Think Pete Buttigieg in 2020, Ben Carson in 2016, Rick Santorum in 2012, Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Howard Dean in 2004. But 2024 caucus voters didn’t do anything surprising. Former president Donald Trump, who had dominated in the polls, earned 51% of the vote. Trailing behind were GOP rivals Ron DeSantis at 21% and Nikki Haley at 19%. Regardless how the caucuses turned out, it is worth casting a skeptical eye over a contest that occurs in an overwhelmingly white state plagued with low voter turnout. With temperatures below zero, just about 115,000 people turned out to caucus last night. “Every four years,” political scientist Stephen J. Farnsworth wrote, “the Iowa caucuses find new ways to become [a problematic part of the presidential nomination process](.” [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Howard Manly Race + Equity Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears at a Fox News town hall in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 10, 2024. Joe Raedle/Getty Images [1 good thing about the Iowa caucuses, and 3 that are really troubling]( Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington The Iowa caucuses have long been an oddity in modern-day politics but remain a place where GOP candidates can test their presidential aspirations. Environment + Energy - [How to prevent America’s aging buildings from collapsing – 4 high-profile disasters send a warning]( Abieyuwa Aghayere, Drexel University Too often, signs of trouble are ignored until a problem becomes a crisis. Here are some clear warning signs residents should watch for. If you see something, say something – it could save lives. - [Miami residents believe Biscayne Bay is ‘healthy,’ despite big declines in water quality and biodiversity, new study finds]( Julia Wester, University of Miami A survey of Miami-Dade residents found bipartisan support for protecting Biscayne Bay − though most locals were not aware of the extent of its decline in recent years. Economy + Business - [Congress is failing to deliver on its promise of billions more in research spending, threatening America’s long-term economic competitiveness]( Jason Owen-Smith, University of Michigan The latest government showdown over the budget risks not only a shutdown but jobs, regional economies and America’s competitiveness in AI and other advanced fields. Education - [What social robots can teach America’s students]( Gerald K. LeTendre, Penn State Social robots can be useful tools to help students learn about programming, but here’s why they won’t be replacing classroom teachers anytime soon. Politics + Society - [Long after Indigenous activists flee Russia, they continue to face government pressure to remain silent]( Laura A. Henry, Bowdoin College More than six years after Pavel Sulyandziga, an Indigenous activist from Russia, left the country to seek political asylum in the US, he continues to face harassment by the Russian government. Science + Technology - [Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome]( Christopher Damman, University of Washington Weight loss and diabetes drugs target regulatory pathways involved in metabolism that the microbes in your gut and certain molecules from food already play a key role in regulating. - [Your fingerprint is actually 3D − research into holograms could improve forensic fingerprint analysis]( Partha Banerjee, University of Dayton Using fingerprints to catch criminals isn’t 100% accurate, but analyzing fingerprints in 3D, rather than 2D, could improve the process. International - [Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland upends regional dynamics, risking strife across the Horn of Africa]( Alemayehu Weldemariam, Indiana University Somalia has demanded that a memorandum of understanding – which would see Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea via a Somaliland port – be ripped up. - [Misinformation: how fact-checking journalism is evolving – and having a real impact on the world]( Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster; Lucas Graves, University of Wisconsin-Madison Artificial intelligence is likely to make the ‘fake news’ problem worse. But it can also be used to help us counter misinformation. Trending on site - [Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution – here’s how to clean your clothes more sustainably]( - [Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland upends regional dynamics, risking strife across the Horn of Africa]( - [Gen Z and millennials have an unlikely love affair with their local libraries]( Today's graphic 📈 [A chart showing the breakdown of United States billion dollar disasters each year from 1980 to 2023. The number of weather and climate disasters exceeding $1 billion in damage each has grow in recent decades, with costs adjusted for inflation.]( From the story, [2023’s billion-dollar disasters list shattered the US record with 28 big weather and climate disasters amid Earth’s hottest year on record]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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