Do you have a pet peeve? You know, an irritation that rankles you but is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things? As Americans approach our national day of Thanksgiving, it irritates me when people flippantly refer to it as “Turkey Day.” It is so much more than a day for turkey, football, and all the trimmings! Now, these things are great traditions that I enjoy as much as the next person—but they should not overshadow the origins and the meaning of the occasion.

New satellite data concerning the Nile basin reveals the growing threat of a water crisis (The Conversation, November 4, 2020). Although there has been more rain in recent years, studies show that the region is still highly “stressed” and that is only likely to increase as the population in the area continues to grow.

If, as expected by many, Joe Biden is inaugurated as America’s next president, what changes can the world expect concerning the relationships between the United States and the international community—Europe in particular? Many are suggesting that Mr. Biden will bring a thaw to the currently chilly relations between America and the nations of the world, developed during the Trump administration.

Truth suppression comes in many forms, such as silencing, censoring, covering up, boycotting, sequestering, and even “canceling.” We hear a lot about transparency, but sadly it is often missing in the words and deeds of business, government, media, and personal relationships. Why do we “suppress the truth”?

A new study from Trinity College Dublin reports on the impact of high-temperature sterilization of baby bottles on microplastics (The Guardian, October 19, 2020).