We live in a populist age – but who are 'the people'?
Aug 13, 2018 14:34 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Populism is seemingly sweeping the globe, threatening the established status quo. Optimistically, it promises to bring about much needed change to what appears to be a corrupt political and economic order. More ominously,...
Belo Monte: there is nothing green or sustainable about these mega-dams
Aug 13, 2018 14:33 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
There are few dams in the world that capture the imagination as much as Belo Monte, built on the Big Bend of the Xingu river in the Brazilian Amazon. Its construction has involved an army of 25,000 workers working round...
UK wildfires: prevention is more than a fire service issue
Aug 13, 2018 14:33 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
The huge moorland fires at Saddleworth and Winter Hill in northwest England have shown just how serious a problem wildfires can be in the UK. Now the fires are out, it is time to look at how such catastrophes can be...
Treating depressed children: how will history judge us?
Aug 13, 2018 14:33 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health
An investigative report by the BBC recently found that the number of antidepressants prescribed to children in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland has risen 24% over the past three years. Drugs may not be the most...
Bribery and buying favours: why Uganda's MPs want longer terms
Aug 13, 2018 14:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Ugandas Constitutional Court has removed the constitutional age-limit for presidential candidacy. It was previously 75. As a result, President Yoweri Museveni who has been in office since 1986 and is 73 years old can now...
South Africans differ on land reform. But there needs to be a meeting of minds
Aug 13, 2018 14:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
President Cyril Ramaphosas late night announcement that the government was going to push ahead with implementing a decision taken by the African National Congress (ANC) at its national conference last year to expropriate...
How biobanks can help improve the integrity of scientific research
Aug 13, 2018 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science
Biobanks are repositories which receive, store, process and disseminate specimens. These include DNA derived from humans and animals; bacterial strains; and environmental samples like plants and soil. Biobanks also provide...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects