Why many countries have prosecuted former leaders
By James D. Long Et Al
A Manhattan jury on May 30, 2024 convicted former President Donald Trump on charges he falsified business records related to the cover-up of his relationship with a porn star.
While this trial is now over, Trump still...
International study cap: How some private companies are marketing tech and AI solutions
By Lisa Ruth Brunner
How do universities and colleges decide who to admit? Given the earnings advantage of a post-secondary degree both globally and in Canada, this is an important social mobility question.
While the answer varies from one...
‘Cape of Storms’ – climate researchers explain Cape Town’s recent extreme weather
By Sabina Abba Omar Et Al
A severe storm hit South Africas Western Cape province between 6 and 9 April 2024, with extreme winds gusting at up to 135km/h. The storm left a trail of destruction across Cape Town and surrounding areas at least 1,500...
What are nootropics and do they really boost your brain?
By Nenad Naumovski Et Al
Humans have long been searching for a magic elixir to make us smarter, and improve our focus and memory. This includes traditional Chinese medicine used thousands of years ago to improve cognitive function.
Now we have...
Tonga’s volcanic eruption could cause unusual weather for the rest of the decade, new study shows
By Martin Jucker
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai (Hunga Tonga for short) erupted on January 15 2022 in the Pacific Kingdom of Tonga. It created a tsunami which triggered warnings across the entire Pacific basin, and sent sound waves around the...
Carbon credits are useful for stabilizing the climate, but are they used effectively?
By Patrick Faubert Et Al
To have any chance of achieving the goal adopted in the Paris Agreement of stabilizing the global climate at less than 1.5C above the pre-industrial average, humanity would have to become carbon neutral between 2050 and...
Alberta’s voter ID law is a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist
By Jared Wesley Et Al
Many Alberta voters may be stripped of the right to vote if a controversial law passes as expected. Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, is part of a larger suite of bills designed to clamp down on...
The oil and gas industry has been lying about global warming for decades — accountability is long overdue
By Gordon McBean
The science is clear: the planet is warming at an alarming rate and we need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
For decades, effective actions have lagged behind the needs of the moment. The 2022...
What does AI mean for Australian democracy? And what can we do about it?
By Zoe Jay Hawkins
Last week, the head of Australias election regulator warned the organisation does not possess the legislative tools or internal technical capability to deter, detect or adequately deal with false AI-generated content...
Apple’s 2022 decision to exclude Holocaust sites from its Memories feature raised red flags about memory management
By Chrys Vilvang
In April 2022, Apple came under scrutiny when the Photos app was discovered to have blocked photos taken at sites related to the Holocaust. A team of journalists at the tech website 9to5Mac were analyzing an iPhone beta...
Iran: who will be the next supreme leader?
By Arshin Adib-Moghaddam
The recent death of Irans president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash will not only trigger new presidential elections. Many commentators believe that Raisi was slated to become the next supreme leader of Iran.
This...
What role England’s mayors have to play in the general election
By Alex Nurse
One of the least spoken about shifts in English politics over the last decade is the move towards mayors. Starting with the establishment of the Mayor of London by Tony Blair in 2000, successive Conservative governments...
Could South Korea become a model for tackling illegal tiger trade?
By Joshua Elves-Powell
The illegal wildlife trade is one of the greatest threats to all Asian big cats tigers, leopards, snow leopards and Asiatic lions, as well as lesser-known species including clouded leopards and the Asiatic cheetah. For...
Why are organisational cover-ups so common?
By Anthony Montgomery
The TV dramatisation of the UK Horizon Post Office scandal evoked outrage and disbelief. However, as another example of dysfunctional organisational behaviour, it was expected rather than exceptional.
The Post Office...
Democracy in Africa: digital voting technology and social media can be a force for good – and bad
By Maxwell Maseko
Its a bumper year for elections on the continent: by the end of 2024, 20 countries ought to have gone to the polls to vote in national elections. A handful of others are also scheduled to conduct local-level elections. As...
Iran’s intervention in Sudan’s civil war advances its geopolitical goals − but not without risks
By Eric Lob
Irans role in funding and arming proxy groups in the Middle East has been well documented and has gotten extra attention since the Hamas-led attack in Israel in October 2023. Similarly, Tehrans arms shipments to Russia are...
How the ‘model minority’ myth harms Asian Americans
By Eddy Ng
May is Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month, a time when Americans celebrate the profound contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders a group that is commonly abbreviated as AAPI to U.S. society. Its also...
For American Jews, interfaith weddings are a new normal – and creatively weave both traditions together
By Samira Mehta
More than 10 years ago, I attended a college friends wedding in New York City.
My friend is Muslim, her husband Jewish. They were married under a Jewish wedding canopy made from the grooms bar mitzvah prayer shawl ...
How extreme weather will affect the insurance and energy sectors
By Matthew Wright4 Et Al
When Storm Isha hit Northern Ireland and northern Britain in January 2024, wind gusts of almost 100mph caused widespread damage to property. This strong extra-tropical cyclone also influenced both the insurance and energy...
Rethinking roads as public spaces – what NZ cities can learn from Barcelona’s ‘superblock’ urban design
By Simon Kingham Et Al
New Zealand is one of the most car-centric countries in the world. With the exception of the capital Wellington, New Zealand cities have some of the highest rates of car ownership globally.
In central Auckland, roads...
How the Middle Ages are being revisited through Indigenous perspectives
By Brenna Duperron
The seemingly fantastical world of the Middle Ages has held western popular culture in fascination since (at least) its nostalgic reimagining by Victorian antiquarians.
European medieval imagery or narratives, partly...
Who really was Mona Lisa? More than 500 years on, there’s good reason to think we got it wrong
By Darius von Guttner Sporzyns
In the pantheon of Renaissance art, Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa stands as an unrivalled icon. This half-length portrait is more than just an artistic masterpiece; it embodies the allure of an era marked by unparalleled...
How do I keep my fruit, veggies and herbs fresh longer? Are there any ‘hacks’?
By Senaka Ranadheera
We all know fresh produce is good for us, but fruit, vegetables and herbs have a tendency to perish quickly if left uneaten.
This is because even after harvesting, produce from living plants tends to continue its...
Cost of living: if you can’t afford as much fresh produce, are canned veggies or frozen fruit just as good?
By Evangeline Mantzioris
The cost of living crisis is affecting how we spend our money. For many people, this means tightening the budget on the weekly supermarket shop.
One victim may be fresh fruit and vegetables. Data from the Australian...
South Africans go to the polls to choose a new government: what’s different this time
By Dirk Kotze
South Africas seventh general election since democracy in 1994, set for 29 May 2024, takes place under circumstances different from any other election in the history of the nation. Some view the hotly contested national...
Your smartphone might be linked to crocodile attacks in Indonesia. Here’s how
By Brandon Michael Sideleau
Whats the connection between your smartphone and crocodile attacks? Its quite straightforward.
Smartphones need tin, which is often mined illegally in Indonesia. When illegal tin mines are abandoned, they fill with...
Noise-cancelling headphones, earplugs and earmuffs – do they really help neurodivergent people?
By Kitty-Rose Foley
Noise can make it hard to concentrate, especially for people who are extra sensitive to it.
Neurodivergent people (such as those who are autistic or have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD) can experience...
No mullets, no mohawks, no ‘awkwardly contrasting colours’: what are school policies on hair and why do they matter so much?
By Kayla Mildren
A Queensland dad recently took his four-year-old son out of the Gold Coasts A.B. Paterson College because the school had ordered the boy to cut his long hair.
Like other private schools, we have a uniform policy, school...
Spectator racism is still rife in Australia’s major football codes
By Keith Parry Et Al
The annual Indigenous rounds in the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
These events highlight the contributions of Indigenous...
Horn of Africa droughts: how a network of groundwater bores could help – study
By Bradley Hiller
The Horn of Africa recently suffered its worst drought in almost half a century, and its sixth failed rainfall season in a row.
Fifty million people were directly affected and 100 million more were indirectly affected....
British Columbia needs a unified response to respond to the biodiversity crisis
By Jennifer Sunday Et Al
From massive kelp forests to monumental old-growth on land, British Columbias biodiversity which is unrivalled in Canada provides an array of cultural, economic, social and other benefits. B.C.s wide-ranging ecological...
Cyberflashing is a form of gendered sexual violence that must be taken seriously
By Dianne Lalonde
Sexting sending sexually suggestive or explicit messages and images is now a widespread practice, and can be a healthy way to express and explore sexuality. However, there is a need to distinguish between consensual...
Why are grocery bills so high?
By Philip A Loring Et Al
Rising food costs are squeezing Canadians around the country. Nearly everyone is feeling the pinch, and its not just an inconvenience high food prices are a major threat to food security for many Canadians. Understanding...
Can marketing classes teach sustainability? 4 key insights
By Brooke Klassen
Young adults have an important role to play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Adopted by all UN member nations, the SDGs offer a frame for an ambitious plan to transform our...
Decriminalization failures show half measures are not enough to address drug use problems and the opioid crisis
By Andrew Hathaway
Ottawas recent rejection of the City of Torontos request to decriminalize possession of controlled drugs is the latest shoe to drop in the resurgence of conservative anti-drug sentiment sweeping the country, and...
If an asteroid hit Earth and all the humans died, would the dinosaurs come back?
By Eloise Stevens
Many, many years ago dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Six-year-old Aga knows that a meteorite wiped them out… but could another meteorite bring them back?
You can read a print version of this story...
Top economists take a modest view of the budget, and doubt inflation will fall as planned
By Peter Martin1
Asked to grade Treasurer Jim Chalmers third budget on his own criteria of delivering on inflation in the near term and then growth in the medium term, most of the 49 leading economists surveyed by the Economic Society of...
Louisiana set to reclassify abortion pills as controlled, dangerous substances − here’s what that means
By Jamie Rowen Et Al
Louisianas Legislature approved a bill on May 23, 2024, that would reclassify two abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, as controlled, dangerous substances. Both pills have a long history of safe and effective use...
What the economic data told Rishi Sunak about the best date for a general election
By John Bryson
The announcement of July 4 for the UK general election took many by surprise. A key question is why it was called then when it did not have to be? The decision to call an election is always a gamble there is perhaps no...
The surge in hydroelectric dams is driving massive biodiversity loss
By Josie South Et Al
Around the world, free-flowing natural rivers are being fragmented by dams, weirs and other barriers. Its one of the biggest, yet least acknowledged, causes of biodiversity loss worldwide.
River fragmentation is a key...
Election 2024: the stakes are higher than they appear, so quality information is essential
By Laura Hood
With the UK heading for an election on July 4, it can feel like the result is pre-ordained. Labour has maintained a decisive poll lead for over a year and nothing Rishi Sunak does appears to shift the dial.
But below...
What to watch for in Trump trial’s closing arguments
By Jules Epstein
After more than four weeks of often sordid testimony, accusations of lying and even a warning from Judge Juan M. Merchan to a witness to stop giving him the side-eye, lawyers in the hush-money case involving former...
Depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder linked with ancient viral DNA in our genome – new research
By Rodrigo Duarte Et Al
Around 8% of human DNA is made up of genetic sequences acquired from ancient viruses. These sequences, known as human endogenous retroviruses (or Hervs), date back hundreds of thousands to millions of years with some even...
Haiti: first Kenyan police arrive to help tackle gang violence – but the prospects for success are slim
By Amalendu Misra
An advance team of Kenyan special forces police have arrived in the troubled Caribbean nation of Haiti. They are part of a larger UN-backed support mission tasked with establishing order, pushing back the advances of...
Does ‘whining’ really make you happier? A therapist gives his verdict
By Ray O'Neill
A problem shared is a problem halved. Research by Age UK shows that only 29% of adults share their worries, but of these 36% feel brighter as a result; 26% feel relief having confided in someone, and 8% feel that the...
GB News’s first election – how the new channel could affect broadcast coverage of the campaigns
By Stephen Cushion
The prime ministers announcement of a snap summer election in the UK caught many people by surprise. But broadcasters and the media regulator have been preparing for some time. Ofcom faces the challenge of monitoring how...
Scrapping FA Cup replays has upset smaller clubs, but they could still win from being matched against the top sides
By Mark Middling
Football fans delight in historic moments enjoyed by their club. Exeter City supporters for example, will have fond memories of the FA Cup third round match their team played on the wintry afternoon of January 8...
Putin’s designs on a Baltic island are leading Sweden to prepare for war
By Natasha Lindstaedt
Gotland has been a popular holiday destination for decades, but recently Swedish commander-in-chief, Mikael Bydén, claimed that Russian president Vladmir Putin has his eyes on the island. Concern was further ramped...
What is a secular state? How South Africa has tried to separate religion and politics
By Calvin D. Ullrich
The shifting relationship between state and religion has historically been a contested space, and the focus of much scholarship. It is important for observers to understand this unstable boundary, so that neither political...
Colorado takes a new – and likely more effective – approach to the housing crisis
By Brian J. Connolly
In recent years, Colorado has been a poster child for the U.S. housing crisis. Previously a relatively affordable state, it has seen home prices increase nearly sixfold over the past three decades, outstripping even...
