The costs of emergency exits on planes

+ Bill Belichick, football historian US Edition - Today's top story: Why did Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have a sealed-off emergency exit in the first place? The answer comes down to money [View in browser]( US Edition | 18 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Stabilizing schools by prioritizing teacher mental health]( - [Why Arctic blasts are part of a warming world]( - [Nicaragua’s crackdown on the Catholic Church]( Lead story Flying commercial may be the safest way to travel, but it doesn’t always feel that way. That’s especially the case when things go awry – say, for example, a giant hole opens in the side of the airplane in midflight, as happened earlier this month on the ill-fated Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. On the bright side, the flight crew heroically landed the plane, and everyone survived. On the less-bright side, anxious air travelers have something new to worry about: the hidden “door plugs” that seal unused emergency exits on some aircraft, including on Alaska 1282. The idea that airlines deliberately block emergency exits might surprise some people – but not Amy Fraher, a former United Airlines pilot-turned-management professor. Fraher, an expert on aviation safety, explains [why it has long made economic sense]( for some airlines to block off those doors, and why the latest developments may push them to rethink things. [ [Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails).]( ] Tracy Walsh Economy + Business Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( The door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft awaits inspection on Jan. 10, 2024. Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo [Why did Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have a sealed-off emergency exit in the first place? The answer comes down to money]( Amy Fraher, Yale University A commercial pilot turned management expert and author of ‘The Next Crash: How Short-Term Profit Seeking Trumps Airline Safety,’ explains the economics behind the near-deadly disaster. Education - [Students do better and schools are more stable when teachers get mental health support]( Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, University of North Dakota Mental health for teachers carries critical benefits for students. Environment + Energy - [Extreme cold still happens in a warming world – in fact climate instability may be disrupting the polar vortex]( Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell While the world can expect fewer severe cold events as average temperatures rise, people still need to be prepared for wintery blasts. - [A Supreme Court ruling on fishing for herring could sharply curb federal regulatory power]( Robin Kundis Craig, University of Southern California An important but controversial legal doctrine, known as Chevron deference, is at issue in two fishing cases. The outcome could affect many sectors across the nation. - [Not all underwater reefs are made of coral − the US has created artificial reefs from sunken ships, radio towers, boxcars and even voting machines]( Avery Paxton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; D'amy Steward, University of Guam Artificial reefs are structures that humans put in place underwater that create habitat for sea life. A new study shows for the first time how much of the US ocean floor they cover. Politics + Society - [Women presidential candidates like Nikki Haley are more likely to change their positions to reach voters − but this doesn’t necessarily pay off]( Shawn J. Parry-Giles, University of Maryland; David Kaufer, Carnegie Mellon University Nikki Haley is the latest American female politician to shift her language, depending on whom she is talking to and where. But this tactic has a flip side, prompting criticism of her as inconsistent. - [US law permits charities to encourage voting and help voters register, making GOP concerns about this assistance unfounded]( Philip Hackney, University of Pittsburgh A professor of nonprofit law explains why drafting any restrictions on charities requires proceeding with great care. - [Conflict over William Penn statue removal in Philadelphia misses a point – Penn himself might have objected to it]( Andrew Murphy, University of Michigan A proposal to remove William Penn’s statue from a Philadelphia park was pulled after public outcry. Penn’s biographer says his Quaker religion may well have disapproved of such a statue. Ethics + Religion - [Nicaragua released imprisoned priests, but repression is unlikely to relent – and the Catholic Church remains a target]( Kai M. Thaler, University of California, Santa Barbara When President Daniel Ortega returned to power in 2006, church figures supported him. Violent repression after the 2018 protests has soured the relationship and made clergy targets for intimidation. - [What are the principles of civilian immunity in war? A scholar of justice in war explains]( J. Toby Reiner, Dickinson College Just-war theory insists that civilians are not legitimate targets. However, civilian immunity does not provide blanket protection from harm. Arts + Culture - [Bill Belichick’s hidden playbook – the 19th century origins of ‘The Patriot Way’]( Rich Hanley, Quinnipiac University The coach’s legendary terseness and his rejection of technological trends belie a wealth of knowledge about the game and its history. Trending on site - [Church without God: How secular congregations fill a need for some nonreligious Americans]( - [What’s the best diet for healthy sleep? A nutritional epidemiologist explains what food choices will help you get more restful z’s]( - [Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland upends regional dynamics, risking strife across the Horn of Africa]( Today's graphic 📈 [While about half of helium is used in MRI machines and scientific research, the helium in balloons and other lighter-than-air objects made up around 17% of consumption in the U.S. in 2018.]( From the story, [Helium is an essential material for research and medical equipment, but it’s nonrenewable and difficult to recycle]( - - 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? 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