The Conversation

What is a dwarf planet?

Written by Vahe Peroomian, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Pluto, the largest of the dwarf planets. This image was taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft.NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

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.

What is a dwarf planet? – Myranda, age 8, Knoxville, Tennessee

The word...

Nuclear fusion hit a milestone thanks to better reactor walls – this engineering advance is building toward reactors of the future

Written by David Donovan, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee

Magnetic fusion reactors contain super hot plasma in a donut-shaped container called a tokamak.dani3315/iStock via Getty Images

Scientists at a laboratory in England have shattered the record for the amount of energy produced during a controlled, sustained fusion reaction. The production of 59 megajoules of energy over five seconds at the Joint...

These energy innovations could transform how we mitigate climate change, and save money in the process – 5 essential reads

Written by Stacy Morford, Environment + Climate Editor

Building solar panels over water sources is one way to both provide power and reduce evaporation in drought-troubled regions.Robin Raj, Citizen Group & Solar Aquagrid

To most people, a solar farm or a geothermal plant is an important source of clean energy. Scientists and engineers see that plus far more potential.

They envision offshore wind...

Pope Francis' visit to Malta highlights the role of St. George Preca, an advocate for teaching the gospel

Written by Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross

Pope Francis presides over a special prayer in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on March 25, 2022, before heading out to Malta for a two-day visit.AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File

Pope Francis’ two-day visit to the tiny European country of Malta, a strongly Catholic island just south of Sicily, in April, 2022 put a spotlight on Malta’s...

What countries have nuclear weapons, and where are they?

Written by Miles A. Pomper, Senior Fellow, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury

A U.S. Air Force jet performs a test drop of a B61-12 bomb in December 2021. That bomb can contain a nuclear warhead for use in wartime.Los Alamos National Laboratory

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised fears among the public about the use of nuclear weapons in Europe or against the United States. This level of concern has not been seen since...

The war in Ukraine ruins Russia's academic ties with the West

Written by Arik Burakovsky, Assistant Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

U.S. universities are cutting ties with their Russian counterparts, such as Moscow State University, shown here. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, universities across Europe and the United States have condemned the war and cut ties with Russia altogether. In the following...

SCOTUS is about to decide whether a public school football coach can pray on the field

Written by Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education in the School of Education and Health Sciences and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

When is a prayer after a public-school game constitutional?TerryJ/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The Supreme Court has consistently banned school-sponsored prayer in public K-12 schools, whether at the start of the school day, during graduation ceremonies or before football games. Under the Equal Access Act, the Supreme Court has affirmed that...

Medieval illustrated manuscripts reveal how upper-class women managed healthy households – overseeing everything from purging, leeching and cupping to picking the right wet nurse

Written by Jennifer Borland, Professor of Art History, Oklahoma State University

What type of images come to mind when you think of medieval art? Knights and ladies? Biblical scenes? Cathedrals? It’s probably not some unfortunate man in the throes of vomiting.

It might surprise you to learn this scene is found in a luxurious book from the Middle Ages made with the highest-quality materials, including abundant gold leaf....

Tomorrow's COVID safety guidelines will be different from today's – but that doesn't mean yesterday's were wrong

Written by Michael Williams, Associate Professor of Surgery and Public Policy, University of Virginia

COVID guidelines have changed a lot over the past few years as the pandemic has ebbed and flowed.AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

No one gave a second thought to the safety of dining out before the pandemic. Fast-forward to today, and it’s normal to wonder whether there is a city, state or federal policy around whether you need a mask or proof of...

Is Russia committing genocide in Ukraine? A human rights expert looks at the warning signs

Written by Alexander Hinton, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology; Director, Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers University - Newark

A Ukrainian soldier observes a destroyed shopping mall in Kyiv on March 29, 2022. Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

There’s a real threat that Russia will commit genocide in Ukraine. As evidence of war crimes emerges, there is reason to believe it may already be taking place.

“Russia’s forces have...