Record low sea ice in late 2023 led to breeding failures in one-fifth of Antarctica’s emperor penguin colonies. Record low sea ice in late 2023 led to breeding failures in one-fifth of Antarctica’s emperor penguin colonies. Emperor penguins suffered mass breeding failures due to record low sea ice in 2023, according to scientists with the… Continue reading “We’re predicting that we’ll lose around 99%” — emperor penguins face extinction by 2100
Electric vehicles (EVs) are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions — and air pollution — from transport. Is this view correct? Yes — but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the recent boom in EV purchases, they are still a tiny minority of the cars on the road. We would get more immediate benefit… Continue reading Electric vehicles will start to cut emissions and improve air quality in our cities — but only once they’re common
For the first time in its 170-year history, the V&A held an exhibition that centred solely on African fashion. Fashion has long been seen and taught as centred in Europe, with Japanese designers occasionally highlighted as international non-Western exponents. The fashion education experienced by students often relies on a design cycle that has not changed… Continue reading Why the V&A’s Africa Fashion exhibition was important — and long overdue
There are only around 22,000 lions left in Africa, compared to about 100,000 not many years ago. Kruger National Park has some of the best access to wild animals in all of Africa and is possibly the most famous game reserve on the continent. South African National Parks—SANParks—has acknowledged that poachers have poisoned lions in… Continue reading Lions in South Africa’s Kruger Park are being poisoned by poachers who want their body parts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has joined hundreds of cities and counties across the country in declaring racism a public health threat. On 8 April 2021, CDC director Dr Rochelle P. Walensky called racism an epidemic that affects “the entire health of our nation”. Declaring racism a public health threat will create… Continue reading Declaring racism a public health crisis brings more attention to solving long-ignored racial gaps in health
Homelessness is reaching record highs in the UK. The latest statistics on statutory homelessness show that in March 2023, 104,510 households — including over 131,000 children — were living in hotels, hostels, B&Bs and the like. But disabled people are particularly affected by homelessness, as our new report, commissioned by the Centre for Homelessness Impact,… Continue reading Disabled people are disproportionately affected by homelessness — and getting support feels ‘nearly impossible’
The European Commission is taking legal action against Hungary at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), escalating a longstanding dispute over the country’s anti-LGBT laws. This is an unprecedented step for the EU, but it isn’t a sure win for LGBT rights in Europe—and even has the potential to endanger them. Hungary (under prime minister… Continue reading EU sues Hungary over anti-gay law — what it could mean for LGBT rights in Europe
Secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be, according to Raymond W. Baker in his new book Invisible Trillions. Global capitalism, he argues, operates beyond the rule of law. This contributes to extreme inequality that threatens liberal democracy. Deals in the financial secrecy system account for half of… Continue reading Invisible Trillions — global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy
A cultural critic rails against a society that worships celebrity and prizes images over ideas. A progressive intellectual attacks the dominance of corporate elites. A curmudgeonly academic condemns his society’s ignorance of its past and the dumbing down of public education. A psychologically astute writer explores the conflicts eddying around gender and sexuality. Who are… Continue reading Seer of the selfie — in the culture of narcissism, Christopher Lasch excoriated his self-absorbed society
When OceanGate, the deep-sea exploration enterprise, created a promotional video for its ill-fated US$250,000-per-head trip to see the wreck of the Titanic, it told prospective passengers to: “Get ready for what Jules Verne could only imagine – a 12,500-foot journey to the bottom of the sea”. Those behind the video hoped viewers would recognise the… Continue reading Classic literature still offers rich lessons about life in the deep blue sea
