Getting to know your leafy neighbors

+ board games about climate change US Edition - Today's top story: Take a break from your screen and look at plants − botanizing is a great way to engage with life around you [View in browser]( US Edition | 23 September 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( From gardening to watching birds at backyard feeders, connecting with nature offers many opportunities to engage with your surroundings and tune out the cacophony of daily life. Plant biologists Jacob Suissa and Ben Goulet-Scott offer another option: [botanizing, or observing and appreciating plants](. Like birding, botanizing doesn’t require much gear: A hand lens, field guide and maybe a plant ID app will get you started. And because plants are so central to our lives, you don’t need to look farther than your garden, or even the foods in your kitchen, to take on a deeper appreciation for plants’ role in nature. This week we also liked stories on [Jim Croce on the 50th anniversary of his death](, the [medieval Tinmel mosque]( destroyed in Morocco’s earthquake, and research on [deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression](. Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( You may be surprised by what’s growing on a familiar trail. Benjamin Goulet-Scott [Take a break from your screen and look at plants − botanizing is a great way to engage with life around you]( Jacob S. Suissa, University of Tennessee; Ben Goulet-Scott, Harvard University Botanizing is the practice of observing and appreciating plant life. Two plant scientists explain how it benefits people and the planet. Jim Croce went from struggling folk musician to chart-topping singer-songwriter. Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images [‘Time In A Bottle’: Jim Croce’s music continues to inspire 50 years after his life was cut short]( Ted Olson, East Tennessee State University Jim Croce’s brief time in the national spotlight was enough to put a bevy of songs in heavy rotation on radio stations – and on stage in the hands of a lengthy A-list of fellow musicians. Teamwork is a common theme among the growing number of board games that deal with climate change. Victor Habbick Visions/Science Photo Library via Getty Images [What can board games teach students about climate change?]( Debra J. Rosenthal, John Carroll University While most board games are designed for one person to win, climate change games are about saving the world. - [War in Ukraine is contributing to the erosion of global consensus over the spread of dangerous weapons]( Nolan Fahrenkopf, University at Albany, State University of New York Post-9/11 international cooperation on weapons proliferation is giving way to a fractured regime dominated by ideology. - [Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear resurfaces questions about player safety on artificial turf]( Philip Anloague, University of Dayton Two days after Rodgers’ injury, the NFL players union called on the league to convert all playing fields to natural grass. - [Tinmel – Morocco’s medieval shrine and mosque – is one of the historic casualties of the earthquake]( Abbey Stockstill, Southern Methodist University Morocco is grappling not just with the loss of lives from the recent earthquake, but with the destruction of its cultural heritage – a 12th century mosque in the village of Tinmel is among them. - [Nazi Germany had admirers among American religious leaders – and white supremacy fueled their support]( - [‘Big Bang of Numbers’ – The Conversation’s book club explores how math alone could create the universe with author Manil Suri]( - [Moms for Liberty: ‘Joyful warriors’ or anti-government conspiracists? The 2-year-old group could have a serious impact on the presidential race]( - [Depression recovery can be hard to measure − new research on deep brain stimulation shows how objective biomarkers could help make treatment more precise]( - [What are ‘mule addresses’? Criminologists explain how vacant properties serve as depots for illegal online purchases]( - [NASA’s Mars rovers could inspire a more ethical future for AI]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( In a deal announced on Sept. 18, President Biden agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds in exchange for what? - A. Nuclear inspections - B. A promise not to attack Israel - C. Five American detainees - D. 5 million bootleg copies of "Argo" [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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