Curious Kids[1] 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 [2]. What was the first thing scientists discovered? – Jacob, age 9, Santiago, Panama All societies have had ways of understanding nature based on their experiences of it. For
... Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy
Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see – museum collections are filled with all this and more.
These collections are treasure troves that recount the planet’s natural and human history, and they help scientists in...
How cognitive biases shape thoughts and policy
A state law signed Feb. 28, 2025, removes gender identity as a protected status[1] from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, leaving transgender people vulnerable to discrimination. The rights of transgender people – those who present gender characteristics that differ from what has historically been expected of someone based on their biological sex...
Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft
Powering spacecraft with solar energy may not seem like a challenge, given how intense the Sun’s light can feel on Earth. Spacecraft near the Earth[1] use large solar panels to harness the Sun for the electricity needed to run their communications systems and science instruments.
However, the farther into space you go, the weaker the...