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US colleges and universities have billions stashed away in endowments − a higher ed finance expert explains what they are

With the Trump administration seeking to cut federal funding for colleges and universities, you might be wondering whether the endowments of these institutions of higher education might be able to fill those gaps. Todd L. Ely, a professor of public administration at the University of Colorado Denver, explains what endowments…

The Conversation · Apr 24, 2025

Even experts disagree over whether social media is bad for kids. We examined why

Disagreement and uncertainty are common features of everyday life. They’re also common and expected features of scientific research.

The Conversation · Apr 22, 2025

Gambling in Australia: how bad is the problem, who gets harmed most and where may we be heading?

Gambling prevalence studies provide a snapshot of gambling behaviour, problems and harm in our communities. They are typically conducted about every five years.

The Conversation · Apr 22, 2025

Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia

The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese.

The Conversation · Apr 21, 2025

Three ways Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement

The death of Pope Francis has been announced by the Vatican. I first met the late Pope Francis at the Vatican after a conference called Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth in July 2018. My colleagues and I sensed something momentous was happening at the…

The Conversation · Apr 21, 2025

As views on spanking shift worldwide, most US adults support it, and 19 states allow physical punishment in schools

Nearly a half-century after the Supreme Court ruled that school spankings are permissible and not “cruel and unusual punishment,” many U.S. states allow physical punishment for students who have misbehaved.

The Conversation · Apr 18, 2025

Trump’s attacks on central bank threaten its independence − and that isn’t good news for sound economic stewardship (or battling inflation)

Nearly every country in the world has a central bank – a public institution that manages a country’s currency and its monetary policy. And these banks have an extraordinary amount of power. By controlling the flow of money and credit in a country, they can affect economic growth, inflation, employment…

The Conversation · Apr 18, 2025

Why Katy Perry’s celebrity spaceflight blazed a trail for climate breakdown

What’s not to like about an all-female celebrity crew riding a rocket into space? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

The Conversation · Apr 17, 2025

Birkin vs Wirkin: the backlash against the global elite and their luxury bags – podcast

The Birkin bag made by French luxury retailer Hermès has become a status symbol for some of the global elite. Notoriously difficult to obtain, a select few obsess over how to get their hands on one.

The Conversation · Apr 17, 2025

Human connections to seagrass meadows date back 180,000 years, study reveals

For millennia, humans lived as hunter-gatherers. Savannas and forests are often thought of as the cradle of our lineage, but beneath the waves, a habitat exists that has quietly supported humans for over 180,000 years.

The Conversation · Apr 16, 2025