Latest from The Conversation for July 16, 2026 version 2

US Edition - Today's top story: Can a power company take your land to support a data center? It depends View in browser 16 July 2026 US Edition   Top headlines It’s a bad tick year – what to do from tick researcher Why mindfulness practices don’t work for everyone The founders designed a government for humanity’s flaws Lead story A half-hour drive from my home in Atlanta, a battle is brewing as Georgia Power eyes some 300 properties for an expansion that will largely serve AI data centers. Utilities across the U.S. are building new transmission lines to keep up with rising electricity demand, which can stress local infrastructure and threaten grid reliability. Often, this means acquiring private property; sometimes, it means using eminent domain – the government’s power to seize land as long as it’s for “public use” – when landowners don’t consent to a sale. Georgia Power, which has called eminent domain “a last resort” in its build-out plans, estimates that as much as 80% of the electricity on its new line will support data centers. Does that qualify as public use? University of Dayton legal scholar Aaron Walayat studies eminent domain. He explains the legal issues related to transmission lines and how the data center boom may test its limits. [ Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails). ]   Heather Buckner Politics + Society Editor   Meeting data center power demands will mean building more transmission lines and acquiring more land to put them on. These lines are in California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Can a power company take your land to support a data center? It depends Aaron Walayat, University of Dayton Courts have long let utilities seize private property to build transmission lines. Does that hold if the power flows to a single data center? Economy + Business A perfect storm of factors is driving up US produce prices, but shoppers can still save Elizabeth Canales, Mississippi State University US shoppers are seeing higher fruit and vegetable prices thanks to trade tensions, extreme weather and geopolitics, just to name a few reasons. Foundations can outlive their charitable missions – and that’s a problem Thomas Adam, University of Arkansas The missions the foundations’ original donors champion during their lifetimes can become outdated after they’ve died. Environment + Energy How to avoid tick bites in your yard or while hiking in the woods, and what to do if one starts feasting on you Amanda Roome, Binghamton University, State University of New York A tick disease researcher explains the risks and how she avoids bringing home ticks from both work and walking her dog in the woods. Lint rollers, tick checks and some types of chemicals play a role. How to stay safe from the triple threat of wildfires, smoke and extreme heat Dr. Farhan M. Asrar, Toronto Metropolitan University As climate-related hazards become more frequent and severe, protecting our health will require moving beyond warnings toward prevention. Ethics + Religion Mindfulness is often presented as a path to calm, but its Buddhist roots explain why it can also bring difficulties Ronald S. Green, Coastal Carolina University Mindfulness can improve health and well-being, but it may not work for everyone. Buddhist teachings suggest that how it is practiced – and who guides it – matters. International Africa’s Greater Horn region is facing a looming polycrisis fueled by conflict, prices, climate and disease Daniel Maxwell, Tufts University; Alex de Waal, Tufts University; Luka Kuol, University of Juba; Merry Fitzpatrick, Tufts University; Peter Hailey, Tufts University The response to the many problems facing the region has been set back by cuts in humanitarian aid. 20 years ago, China bet big on electric vehicles. Now Western carmakers are feeling the pain Timothy Minchin, La Trobe University; Michelle Shu Wun Kuek, La Trobe University China’s rise to EV dominance may seem sudden – but it’s the result of more than 20 years of state investment. Politics + Society After 1776, the founders designed a government that accounts for ‘a degree of depravity in mankind’ Donovan Fifield, University of South Carolina After the colonists declared their independence, designing a government was next. Three of the founding generation said the new government needed to account for the flaws in human nature. Trending on site ‘We are waiting for the Americans to save us’ – in crisis, Cubans have given up on reform from within We asked Ukrainians what they think of Trump – more view him as an enemy than a friend A rare bipartisan housing bill just became law – but Americans will still struggle with affordability Today's video Watch on our channel   About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. We can give away our articles thanks to the generosity of readers like you. Learn more about us Support our work More from The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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