The Conversation Daily — October 1, 2026
10 stories · October 1, 2026
In this issue
- 1
Dozens of men failed to stop an alleged gang rape at Cornell – here’s the misperception that keeps bystanders from intervening and how to short-circuit it
theconversation.com · Catherine A. Sanderson, Poler Family Professor of Psychology, Amherst College
People may quash their own beliefs to fit in with what they think the group believes. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis News via Getty Images As an undergrad student decades ago, I attended a dorm…
- 2
3 iconic animals show the value of the US Endangered Species Act – and the harm in stripping it away
theconversation.com · Timothy Randhir, Professor of Environmental Sciences, UMass Amherst
A rescued Florida panther, one of fewer than 300 of the endangered big cats alive today, is released into the wild. Mark Cunningham/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, CC BY-SA It used…
- 3
Too many males to choose from can overwhelm female frogs – and change who gets to mate
theconversation.com · Claire Therese Hemingway, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee; Smithsonian Institution
There can be too many frogs in the dating pool. R. Andrew Odum/Photodisc via Getty Images If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by menu options at a restaurant, cereal varieties at the grocery store or…
- 4
100 years ago, Schrödinger’s equation shed light on quantum physics – scientists use it today to fine-tune chemical reactions
theconversation.com · Sophya Garashchuk, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina
At the quantum level, particles act like waves rather than discrete points. GarryKillian/iStock via Getty Images The objects you interact with every day are predictable – you can pick up a box, sit…
- 5
Nina Simone, Langston Hughes and their forgotten creative collaboration
theconversation.com · Jason Miller, Assistant Lecturer, North Carolina State University
Nina Simone performs live on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, R.I., on July 4, 1968. David Redfern/Redferns Many music fans know that Nina Simone’s 1965 hit “ I Put a Spell on You ”…
- 6
As private equity, politics and prediction markets reshape sports, is the press box up to the task?
theconversation.com · Alex Volonte, Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant in Journalism Studies, University of Florida
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension from the NBA after the league found that the franchise had violated salary cap circumvention rules. Christina House/Los Angeles…
- 7
Global health research makes America richer and healthier
theconversation.com · Joshua R. Ehrlich, Associate professor, University of Michigan
Global health research has proved to be a solid economic investment, in addition to helping make the world healthier. Noko LTD/E+ via Getty Images Recently, a middle-aged woman came to see me in my…
- 8
If you’re on GLP-1 drugs and plan to fast for Yom Kippur, here’s what you need to know
theconversation.com · Reed Berger-Fleishman, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine and Surgery, University of Illinois Chicago
Fasting for Yom Kippur ends at nightfall with a family meal. halbergman/E+ via Getty Images Millions of people worldwide – as many as 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. – are on GLP-1 medication, such as…
- 9
Why an overactive immune system attacks the bodies of people with lupus but still leaves them vulnerable to infection
theconversation.com · Andrew Monteith, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Tennessee
Lupus can cause a painful, widespread rash. pocketlight/E+ via Getty Images Despite having an overactive immune system, people with lupus may still struggle to fight bacterial infections. My team and…
- 10
Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children’s safety and well-being
theconversation.com · Emily Greene-Colozzi, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
Most states have laws that mandate lockdowns, but the exercises differ greatly in practice. Catherine McQueen/Moment via Getty Images School shooting preparedness drills have been a routine though…