The Conversation

Are multiverses real? An astrophysicist explains why it depends on how you define ‘real’

Written by Zachary Slepian, Associate Professor of Astronomy, University of Florida

Physics has multiple theories and interpretations of the existence of a multiverse.Yana Iskayeva/Moment via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

Are multiverses real? If so, what do they look like? How do you get...

Panicking scientists, canceled experiments – federal funding cuts turned my work as a research dean into crisis management

Written by Nara Parameswaran, Senior Associate Dean for Research, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University

Cuts to federally funded research slow the progress of scientific innovations and new treatments.Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Fielding frantic faculty emails and panicked texts was not how I had hoped my 2025 would begin. Little did I imagine that my role as a research dean at a medical school would be taken over by...

Sex test used in IOC’s new transgender ban more likely to exclude from Olympics intersex women who were assigned female at birth

Written by Ari Berkowitz, Presidential Professor and Graduate Liaison for biology programs; Director, Cellular & Behavioral Neurobiology Graduate Program, University of Oklahoma

Sex testing in elite sports has had a long, inconsistent history.anton5146/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The International Olympic Committee announced a new policy on March 26, 2026, for women’s competitions: Every athlete must be tested for a gene called SRY, usually found on the Y chromosome. Males typically have a Y chromosome and females...

Shiite grief over attacks on Iran’s sacred cities has deep historical roots

Written by Mary Thurlkill, Professor of Religion, University of Mississippi

Several Shiite communities in South Asia recently refrained from celebrating Eid as they mourned the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. From Nigeria to Kashmir – well beyond the Gulf region – the assassination has stirred deep concerns among Shiite Muslims.

Shiite Islam is the official, and majority, religion...

We analyzed Philly street scenes and identified signs of gentrification using machine learning trained on longtime residents’ observations

Written by Maya Mueller, Ph.D. Candidate in Architectural Engineering, Drexel University

Researchers used Google Street View to pull images of gentrifying neighborhoods.@2021 Google Street View, CC BY-NC

What does gentrification in Philadelphia look like?

“High-rise, modern apartment buildings.”

“(A) modern look that’s so out of place with our traditional row homes that have been here for a hundred years.”

&ld...

Trump’s ‘God Squad’ pits energy vs. endangered species, but it’s a false choice – protecting wildlife can be good for business

Written by Dan Salas, Director of the Sustainable Landscapes Program, University of Illinois Chicago

Boat strikes can harm or kill whales and are one concern about the oil industry's environmental impact.Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

There’s a well-worn debate in U.S. politics that goes something like this: Would you rather have abundant and affordable energy or a clean, healthy planet where wildlife can flourish?

It sounds like an...

COVID-19 variant BA.3.2 is spreading quickly across US – a doctor explains what you need to know

Written by Kyle B. Enfield, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia

The BA.3.2 variant of SARS-COV-2, nicknamed Cicada, is gaining ground across the U.S. and globally. Grafissimo/iStock via Getty Images Plus

A variant of COVID-19 called BA.3.2, which has circulated under the radar since late 2024, is now spreading quickly across the United States.

As a pulmonary and critical care doctor, I see many patients who are...

Ultralightweight sonar plus AI lets tiny drones navigate like bats

Written by Nitin Sanket, Assistant Professor of Robotics Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

This small drone is using sonar, similar to bats' echolocation, to navigate through a grove of trees.Nitin Sanket

To help small aerial robots navigate in the dark and other low-visibility environments, my colleagues and I developed an ultrasound-based perception system inspired by bat echolocation.

Current robots rely heavily on cameras or light...

What Americans can learn from other civil activism movements against authoritarian regimes

Written by John Shattuck, Professor of Practice in Diplomacy, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University

The United States, alongside other countries, has a growing pro-democracy and nonviolent civil movement.Oliver Helbig/Getty Images

On Feb. 24, The Conversation hosted a webinar titled, “What Americans can learn from other nonviolent civil activism movements.”

Executive editor and general manager Beth Daley interviewed John Shattuck,...

War on Iran during nuclear negotiations undermines the US’s ability to talk peace around the world − and the effects won’t end when Trump leaves office

Written by Debak Das, Assistant Professor, University of Denver

On Feb. 7, 2026, Iranian newspapers featured headlines on the resumption of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, following their suspension after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran in June 2025.Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images

Operation Epic Fury – the latest round of military strikes against Iran – began when Iran...