Declining soil health is a global concern – here’s how AI could help

| Insights & Views

One-third of the Earths land surface is already degraded. The UN estimates that more than 2.6 billion people are harmed by land degradation, with countries losing up to US$10.6 trillion (7.8 trillion) a year because of...

The Inca string code that reveals Peru’s climate history

| Insights & Views

Five centuries ago, the Incas ruled the western half of South America with the help of a unique form of writing based on coloured and knotted cords. These strings, called khipus, recorded major events, tracked economic...

Lower revenues, pricier loans: how flooding in Europe affects firms and the financial system they depend on

| Insights & Views

In Europe, the fastest-warming continent, the intensification of extreme weather events and changes in precipitation patterns have led to widespread and catastrophic flooding. Last year, storms and flooding affected an...

South Africa’s cricket team just made history: how the ‘chokers’ became world champions

| Insights & Views

When Kyle Verreynne hit the winning runs at the home of cricket (Lords Cricket Ground in London) on 14 June, South Africa erupted in celebration. The Proteas had just claimed their first major cricket tournament in...

G20 countries could produce enough renewable energy for the whole world – what needs to happen

| Insights & Views

The worlds most developed economies have also burnt the most oil and coal (fossil fuels) over the years, causing the most climate change damage. Preventing further climate change means a global fossil fuel phase-out must...

China’s support for Mali’s military carries risks: researcher outlines what they are

| Insights & Views

Mali, a landlocked Sahelian nation of 25 million people, has faced significant instability since 2012, marked by terrorism, state neglect and armed conflicts. That year a Tuareg rebellion started in northern Mali and...

‘Active breaks’ can combat the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle, but what kind of exercise is best?

| Insights & Views

Technological advances and the habits of modern life have drastically reduced levels of physical activity around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) now warns that inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are one of...