Beyond the urban doom loop

+ coffee and chemical engineering US Edition - Today's top story: Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities − what's next for these zones? [View in browser]( US Edition | 25 September 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [What comes after the UAW strike?]( - [The rise of flesh-eating bacteria]( - [The case against Bob Menendez]( Lead story Across the U.S., city officials are pondering when commuters and shoppers will finally come back downtown in pre-pandemic numbers. They won’t get much comfort from reading today's article by John Rennie Short, professor emeritus of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He asserts that “traditional downtowns are dead, dying or on life support across the U.S.,” and [it’s time to figure out]( what can replace them. The key problem is a nationwide surplus of commercial development that’s been building for years, thanks to tax policies and boom-and-bust economic cycles. Pandemic shutdowns and the pivot to remote work have finally popped this bubble, leaving cities with too much office and retail space and an urgent need for ideas of what comes next. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Cities Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( A sign advertises retail spaces for lease at Union Square in San Francisco on June 21, 2023. AP Photo/Eric Risberg [Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities − what’s next for these zones?]( John Rennie Short, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Developers have overbuilt office and commercial space in US cities for decades. Now, in the wake of pandemic shutdowns, many downtowns face hard choices about the future. Politics + Society - [Menendez indictment looks bad, but there are defenses he can make]( Stanley M. Brand, Penn State The indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez is full of lurid details – hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash stuffed into clothes among them. Will they tank Menendez’s career? - [The Supreme Court’s originalists have taken over − here’s how they interpret the Constitution]( Whitley R.P. Kaufman, UMass Lowell Only 50 years ago, originalism was considered a fringe movement, hardly taken seriously. Now its adherents dominate the Supreme Court. Economy + Business - [Union and execs need to shift gears fast once UAW strike is over – transition to EV manufacturing requires their teamwork]( Peter Berg, Michigan State University Building an auto industry for the future that serves the needs of workers, companies and consumers alike will require innovative partnerships between the union and management. International - [Zelenskyy’s meetings with Trudeau and Biden are aimed at winning the long war]( James Horncastle, Simon Fraser University Ukraine must keep its cause in the hearts and minds of the public and its allies in the West. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visits to Ottawa, Washington and the United Nations were in pursuit of that goal. Health + Medicine - [Aerobic and strength training exercise combined can be an elixir for better brain health in your 80s and 90s, new study finds]( Brian Ho, University of Florida; Ronald Cohen, University of Florida It’s long been known that exercise helps maintain strength and agility as we age. New research points to the importance of exercise type in supporting cognitive health in the latest decades of life. Science + Technology - [Flesh-eating bacteria infections are on the rise in the US − a microbiologist explains how to protect yourself]( Bill Sullivan, Indiana University Warmer ocean waters are fueling the spread of the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus. Infections can lead to a rare but fatal condition called necrotizing fasciitis. - [Why does a plane look and feel like it’s moving more slowly than it actually is?]( Sara Nelson, Iowa State University An aerospace engineer explains why it’s so hard to tell just how fast an airplane is really moving. - [‘Design of Coffee’ course teaches engineering through brewing the perfect cup of coffee]( William D. Ristenpart, University of California, Davis In an engineering course at UC Davis, students learn all the nuances that go into brewing ‘a truly excellent cup of coffee.’ Education - [How to create a college internship where students actually learn − and don’t want to quit]( Kyoungjin Jang-Tucci, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Hee Song, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Matthew T. Hora, University of Wisconsin-Madison The transition from college to the workforce can be challenging, but these four strategies can help young workers get valuable experience and feel welcome. Ethics + Religion - [The story of Ohio’s ancient Native complex and its long journey for recognition as a World Heritage site]( Stephen Warren, University of Iowa An Indigenous sacred site, Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks has served as a military barracks, a fairground and, more recently, a golf course. Trending on site - [Rupert Murdoch: His Fox News legacy is one of lies, with little accountability, and political power that rose from the belief in his power − 3 essential reads]( - [Chandrayaan-3’s measurements of sulfur open the doors for lunar science and exploration]( - [Your unique body odor could identify who you are and provide insights into your health – all from the touch of a hand]( Reader Comments 💬 Some authors claim that ‘embodied mathematics’ exists SOLELY in the human brain, and does not exist anywhere else in the objective universe. How can they make this claim? “Indeed, this is a duality that goes back to the time of the ancient Greeks – is math invented by us, or does it exist in its own separate timeless realm, as Plato believed – so that we just discover it? I don’t feel this is something that can be resolved one way or the other, as I expand on in the interview above (and more so in my book).” – Author Manil Suri on the story [‘Big Bang of Numbers’ – The Conversation’s book club explores how math alone could create the universe with author Manil Suri]( - - 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? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Spoutible]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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