Worst-case scenario for Antarctica might not happen after all

+ eye movement therapy for trauma; space and colonialism US Edition - Today's top story: Thwaites Glacier won't collapse like dominoes as feared, study finds, but that doesn't mean the 'Doomsday Glacier' is stable [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( We have some good news out of Antarctica today about Thwaites Glacier, and it’s a pretty big deal. It involves ice cliffs and the theory that Thwaites, dubbed the “Doomsday Glacier,” could begin collapsing like dominoes this century. Mathieu Morlighem, a polar scientist who led the new study, describes the findings. He also explains why the [results don’t mean Thwaites Glacier is stable](, and he discusses other reasons why Antarctica’s riskiest glacier remains a serious threat to coastal regions worldwide. Also in this week’s science news: - [China’s ambitious and coordinated AI strategy]( - [Trees jockey for resources, giving insight into better management]( - [Mobile app privacy settings – how to cut through the complexity]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor The calving front of Thwaites’ ice shelf. The blue area is light reflecting off ice below the water. James Yungel/NASA Icebridge [Thwaites Glacier won’t collapse like dominoes as feared, study finds, but that doesn’t mean the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is stable]( Mathieu Morlighem, Dartmouth College Antarctica’s riskiest glacier is a disaster in slow motion, a polar scientist writes. But in a rare bit of good news, the worst-case scenario may be off the table. EMDR was developed in 1987. Laurence soulez/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Hard-to-treat traumas and painful memories may be treatable with EMDR – a trauma therapist explains why it is gaining popularity]( Laurel Niep, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or EMDR, can help patients process painful memories and reduce anxiety and depression stemming from those events. Trees are one way to cool down a city. Architects in ancient Rome also designed buildings with porticos for shade and air flow. Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images [Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect – how history’s lessons apply to cities today]( Brian Stone Jr., Georgia Institute of Technology As summer temperatures rise, finding ways to build cities that don’t hold in the heat and can provide some cooling is increasingly important. [Editing fetal genomes is on the horizon − a medical anthropologist explains why ethical discussions with the target communities should happen sooner rather than later]( Julia Brown, University of California, San Francisco In the absence of clear-cut regulation, who should decide on where and how a technology that could change the course of human health should be applied? [Astronomers have warned against colonial practices in the space industry − a philosopher of science explains how the industry could explore other planets without exploiting them]( Mary-Jane Rubenstein, Wesleyan University Space may be considered the final frontier, but the US was once a frontier, too. How can space industry leaders avoid repeating practices that led to colonialism in the 18th century and beyond? [Real-time crime centers are transforming policing – a criminologist explains how these advanced surveillance systems work]( Kimberly Przeszlowski, Quinnipiac University As police departments across the US and the world adopt real-time crime centers, there’s a need for better public understanding of how these centers work. [Banana apocalypse, part 2 – a genomicist explains the tricky genetics of the fungus devastating bananas worldwide]( Li-Jun Ma, UMass Amherst Fusarium oxysporum can infect over 120 plant species. Whether it destroys Cavendish bananas as it did their predecessor depends on the agricultural industry and consumers. [Blood sugar fluctuations after eating play an important role in anxiety and depression]( Mary Scourboutakos, Eastern Virginia Medical School High-carb diets, especially of ultraprocessed foods, create blood sugar spikes, while diets high in leafy, green vegetables and whole grains are absorbed more slowly and produce smaller fluctuations. [West Nile virus season returns − a medical epidemiologist explains how it’s transmitted and how you can avoid it]( Daniel Pastula, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Most people who get infected with West Nile virus have mild symptoms, but in certain cases the illness can become serious or even deadly. - [Sharks are taking a bite out of anglers’ catch in the Gulf of Mexico, but culling isn’t likely to help]( James Marcus Drymon, Mississippi State University Whether they’re going to cook a fish, have it mounted or just take a photo and then release it, anglers want more than a severed head. But with shark numbers rebounding, they’ve got competition. - [What is mpox? A microbiologist explains what’s known about this smallpox cousin]( Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University The World Health Organization had declared mpox a global health threat in 2022 and 2024. While most mpox infections are mild, some can be fatal, and cases are spreading in Africa. - [Space missions are getting more complex − lessons from Amazon and FedEx can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit]( Koki Ho, Georgia Institute of Technology; Mariel Borowitz, Georgia Institute of Technology The space missions of the future will need to coordinate multiple satellites and spacecraft − and figure out how to refuel, repair and even replace them in orbit. - [Could we use volcanoes to make electricity?]( David Kitchen, University of Richmond We don’t generate power directly from volcanoes, but their presence is a sign that there are good geothermal resources underground that can be tapped. - [Politicians step up attacks on the teaching of scientific theories in US schools]( - [Biden administration’s negotiated price cuts for 10 common prescription drugs likely to save Medicare billions, beginning in 2026]( - [Complicated app settings are a threat to user privacy]( - [China leans into using AI − even as the US leads in developing it]( - [Trees compete for space, light and resources, and those clashes can leave battle scars]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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