The Conversation

How many types of insects are there in the world?

Written by Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University

This is a close-up photo of an ordinary garden fly.Amith Nag Photography/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.

How many types of insects are there in the world? – Sawyer, age 8, Fuquay-Varina, North...

Genomic sequencing reveals previously unknown genes that make microbes resistant to drugs and hard to kill

Written by Nneka Vivian Iduu, Graduate Research Assistant in Pathobiology, Auburn University

In the 20th century, when a routine infection was treated with a standard antibiotic, recovery was expected. But over time, the microbes responsible for these infections have evolved to evade the very drugs designed to eliminate them.

Each year, there are more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States, leading to over...

Poor neighborhoods, health care barriers are factors for heart disease risk in Black mothers

Written by Curisa M. Tucker, Assistant Professor of Nursing Science, University of South Carolina

The study examined more than 7 million births that occurred over 22 years.supersizer/E+ via Getty Images

Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood contributes to a rare form of heart failure known as peripartum cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly disease that disproportionately affects Black mothers.

That’s the key finding of my recent study,...

National monuments have grown and shrunk under US presidents for over a century thanks to one law: The Antiquities Act

Written by Monica Hubbard, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University

Over 730,000 people visit Colorado National Monument each year. It was established in 1911 under the Antiquities Act.Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA

America’s public lands, from its majestic national parks to its vast national forests, are at the heart of the country’s identity.

They cover more than a quarter of the nation and large parts of...

How Japanese anime draws on religious traditions to explore themes of destiny, sacrifice and the struggle between desire and duty

Written by Ronald S. Green, Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Coastal Carolina University

Kyojuro Rengoku, also known as the Flame Hashira, is a central character in the 'Demon Slayer' series.Deviant Art, CC BY-ND

I have spent years studying and teaching Japanese anime, exploring how its narratives intertwine with cultural, philosophical and religious traditions. One of the most compelling aspects of Japanese anime is its ability to...

Egg prices soar as outdated supply chains crack under pressure

Written by Jack Buffington, Associate Professor of Practice in Supply Chain Management, University of Denver

Experts predict that egg prices will keep climbing in 2025.Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There may be no kitchen table issue in America more critical than the price of food.

So when the price of eggs rose over 40% from 2024 to 2025, it became a headline news story in Colorado and across the nation.

Public officials and...

Who gets to brand Puerto Rico: Its tourism agency or its biggest star?

Written by Carlos A. Suárez Carrasquillo, Associate Instructional Professor in Political Science, Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida

The Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is one of the biggest stars of the music world. After becoming Spotify’s most-streamed artist for three years in a row – the first and only artist ever to do so – he sold out all 49 dates of his 2024 U.S. tour, netting US$211 million.

Earlier this year, after Bad Bunny co-hosted “The Tonight...

Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department was inspired by the Heritage Foundation’s decades-long disapproval of the agency

Written by Fred L. Pincus, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The Heritage Foundation flag flies over its building on July 30, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 20, 2025, that calls for closing the U.S. Department of Education.

The president needs congressional approval to shutter the department. The order, however, directs...

What are AI hallucinations? Why AIs sometimes make things up

Written by Anna Choi, Ph.D. Candidate in Information Science, Cornell University

What springs from the 'mind' of an AI can sometimes be out of left field.gremlin/iStock via Getty Images

When someone sees something that isn’t there, people often refer to the experience as a hallucination. Hallucinations occur when your sensory perception does not correspond to external stimuli.

Technologies that rely on artificial...

Why the words in your job posting may attract rule-bending narcissists

Written by Jonathan Gay, Assistant Professor of Accountancy, University of Mississippi

Posting a job opening? Take a close look at the language.Ronnie Kaufman/The Image Bank via Getty Images

When companies advertise job openings, they often use buzzwords like “ambitious” and “self-reliant” to describe their ideal candidate. These traits sound appealing — what hiring manager wouldn’t want a driven...