You may have bought a drink recently and noticed something odd — the once removable cap is now tethered to the bottle by a small strip of plastic. An EU directive was enacted in July, requiring that all single-use bottles have caps that remain attached. This is one of several policies designed to limit the… Continue reading Why plastic bottles now have their caps attached
Scientists and engineers are developing new ways to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) efficiently and sustainably. This class of chemicals is known as “forever chemicals” because PFAS persist and accumulate in the environment, animals and our bodies. PFAS have been used for decades to make everything from firefighting foam, packaging, waterproof clothes and non-stick… Continue reading New technologies could help destroy persistent “forever chemicals”
The situation in Lebanon has reached a critical juncture as ongoing military actions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, leading to significant humanitarian crises and geopolitical ramifications. This article explores the current events unfolding in Lebanon, the humanitarian impact and the potential repercussions for the region and beyond. Current Events Intensified military actions In recent… Continue reading The escalating conflict in Lebanon — current events and potential repercussions
When we conjure up ancient philosophers, the image that springs to mind might be a bald Socrates discoursing with young men in the sun, or a scholarly Aristotle lecturing among cool columns. But what about Aspasia, the foreign mistress of the foremost politician in Athens who gave both political and erotic advice? Or Sosipatra, mystic,… Continue reading Wise women — six ancient female philosophers you should know about
Sudan finds itself in the midst of one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history. Since the eruption of civil war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the nation has spiralled into political chaos, extreme violence and humanitarian devastation. The conflict, originally centred in… Continue reading Sudan’s humanitarian crisis — a nation on the brink
In what is being described as one of the most harrowing crimes in recent memory, the rape and murder of a young trainee doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College has left the city of Kolkata, and indeed the entire nation, reeling. The brutal incident, which occurred on the night of August 9, 2024, has… Continue reading Tragedy strikes Kolkata as trainee doctor’s rape and murder sparks nationwide outrage
The predators were consuming the potent stimulant due to its continuous release from inadequate sewage treatment facilities and clandestine refining operations, scientists wrote in a study published in Science of the Total Environment. Some may also have attacked bricks of cocaine which traffickers had lost at sea off the coast of Brazil, one of the… Continue reading Sharks in Rio de Janeiro test positive for cocaine
Defining what is and isn’t a country is a lot more complicated than many people would realize. Take the case of Taiwan. On Aug. 30, 2023, a committee of the U.K. Parliament referred to Taiwan as an “independent country” in a report. This is the first time any part of the British political system has… Continue reading Is Taiwan a country or not?
While Israeli air strikes continue to devastate the Gaza Strip, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rip families apart in the United States and Russia strikes Ukraine’s second-biggest city, the European Parliament places their attention elsewhere. In the last two weeks, the EU Parliament has voted to ban the words “burger”, “sausage”, “steak” and others from… Continue reading What exactly is a burger? — EU Parliament votes to ban “meat”-related names on plant-based product
In 2025, the world finds itself in the midst of an intense new round of tariff wars, with the United States at the center. These trade battles, marked by sweeping tariffs on goods from China, the European Union, and other key partners, are already reshaping global commerce and daily life for millions of people. The… Continue reading The tariff war — America’s trade battles and the global ripple effect
