The UK has fallen down Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index (CPI) after a year of high-profile government scandals. The CPI is not a measure of corruption itself but a measure of how much corruption is perceived to exist across a country’s public sector. For the UK government, already focusing very much on the next general election amid multiple scandals, perception matters.… Continue reading UK slides in corruption perception index after series of political scandals
Carbon dioxide is often highlighted in discussions about climate change, but methane is a more potent greenhouse gas, trapping 28 times more heat per molecule than CO2, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Recent reports and scientific papers have underscored the significant impact of animal production on climate change. Denmark has become the first… Continue reading Denmark to tax cows, sheep and pigs for emitting methane
Scientists have observed wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) consuming plants that have anti-bacterial and pain-relieving properties to heal themselves. They conducted detective work in the forests of Uganda, studying injured or sick animals and gathering evidence to construct a case. There were 13 members of the team who were botanists, ecologists, ethnopharmacologists, parasitologists and primatologists.… Continue reading Chimpanzees Use Plants as Medicine: A Breakthrough in Animal Behaviour and Pharmacology
A small group of Taiwanese expatriates took to the streets of London to protest in defence of their homeland’s democracy. Rallying under the banner “No Discussion, Not Democracy,” the overseas activists held demonstrations on May 26th and June 2nd in Central London. These events, part of the “BlueBird Movement,” highlight an international effort by Taiwanese… Continue reading Taiwanese in London Protest Against Legislative Threats to Democracy
High in the barren mountains of the Himalayas, Indian soldiers overlook a broad swath of icy terrain. Gazing back at them are thousands of Chinese soldiers, both protecting what the other side claims. The object of desire, an unmarked landscape which spans thousands of kilometres and stretches from India’s border with Pakistan in the west… Continue reading Indo-American Relations Grow Over Threat Of Chinese Incursions In The Himalayas
Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, is an 1818 novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Set in the late 18th century, it follows scientist Victor Frankenstein’s creation of life and the terrible events that are precipitated by his abandonment of his creation. It is a Gothic novel in that it combines supernatural elements with horror, death and… Continue reading Frankenstein: how Mary Shelley’s sci-fi classic offers lessons for us today about the dangers of playing God
A little over a year since leader of Fratelli d’Italia Georgia Meloni rose to power in Italy, the latest data spells out a clear message: she is not the only ultraright politician surfing on voters’ anxieties. In fact, we may be entering a new cycle of far-right extremism across the continent, with heavy stakes for… Continue reading From France to Italy, Hungary to Sweden, voting intentions track the far-right’s rise in Europe
The United States Congress, the legislative arm of the federal government, is a bicameral body composed of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This dual-chamber system, established by the Constitution, balances the representation of states and the populace, ensuring a robust and thorough legislative process. Each chamber has distinct roles, responsibilities, and… Continue reading The Structure and Function of the US Congress: A Comprehensive Overview
In the vast desert of Kutch district, northwest India, where salt is harvested in colorful rectangular ponds, a circular feature in the otherwise flat Banni Plains has intrigued scientists for over a decade, with suspicions that it resulted from a meteorite impact remaining unconfirmed until recently. This crater, named Luna after the nearest village, measures… Continue reading Study Confirms Meteorite Caused Crater in India
The contraceptive pill revolutionized human society in the 1960s, ushering in the sexual revolution. Now, scientists are aiming to bring similar transformative effects to wildlife control. Trials are underway in the United Kingdom and other European countries to administer contraceptives to animals such as pigeons, squirrels, and wild boar. Deer and invasive parakeets are also… Continue reading Pigeons to Be Put on the Pill
