Latest Stories from Charlie
Shell ordered to reduce emissions by 45% before 2030
The company calls the order ‘disappointing’ but it could be a landmark order that forces big polluters to radically change their practices for the better. Oil firm Royal Dutch Shell has been told it must cut back on its carbon emissions by 45% within the next nine years. It could have big implications for the future of fossil fuels and may help to make huge polluters accountable for their actions....
Vocal synthesiser project Solaris begins crowdfunding
AI technology project Solaris is entering its crowdfunding stage, providing further evidence that the industry is about to be altered significantly. Ever wanted a singer for your new instrumental but lack the funds or contacts to hire someone? If you fit into that oddly specific niche than you may want to check out this new crowdfunding campaign launched by Eclipsed Sounds for its project titled Solaris. Using automated sounds Solaris is...
Snapchat to shift further into ecommerce with AR features
It looks like Snapchat is headed down the same path as Instagram with its newly announced features intended to boost ecommerce opportunities. Long time Instagram users may remember when it decided to introduce a bunch of new features last year - for better or worse - that promoted shopping and ecommerce from inside the app. Now, in an unsurprising move, Snapchat wants in on the ecommerce hype. Last week it...
Climate change could shift American Alligator’s sex ratio
Our warming planet could alter the sex ratios of some reptile species, shifting their populations to be either entirely male or female. There are a ton of consequences to climate change, nearly all of them detrimental to our wellbeing and way of life. Whether it’s damaged coral reefs, rising sea levels, or altered ecosystems, pretty much all of them will have long-lasting, permanent effects on our planet. One alteration to...
Light Phone II removes social apps to reduce anxiety
The Light Phone II removes all social media apps to give users a minimal, stripped back experience that reduces user anxiety and encourages time away from your screen. If you’re sick of endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, you may want to check out the ‘Light Phone II’, a minimalist smartphone developed by two ex-Google employees that’s designed to alleviate anxiety and reduce your phone usage. You won’t be getting fancy...
Student-run CSRN launches First Steps Programme
Bristol-based CSRN has announced a new pilot scheme to help sixth form students get a taste of the consultancy industry, offering project opportunities with social change organisations. Are you interested in consultancy and looking for new connections and opportunities to get a foot through the door in a tough industry? Bristol’s CSRN organisation took that phrase quite literally with its new ‘First Steps Programme’, an initiative organised with consultancy company Q5....
TikTok testing out new Gen Z recruiting tool
TikTok is reportedly testing out a beta version of its new recruiting tool for Gen Z, which does away with normal CVs. Could this lead to wider change across the board? Who said TikTok was a waste of time? If, like us, you spent far too much of your lockdown limbo endlessly scrolling through TikTok videos, you may feel a little better knowing it’s currently testing out tools to make your...
Children’s therapy service Magic Canvas unveils new look
Magic Canvas is a start-up that offers art resources and practices to help children process their emotions and understand major life events, and is available to anyone. Design agency Magpie has just unveiled its new identity branding for London-based mental health start-up Magic Canvas. Magic Canvas offers art therapy and resources to ‘help children to express themselves,’ with one hour sessions that explore past, present, and future life events. You...
Why you need to know about ClimateScience Olympiad
ClimateScience Olympiad is in search of brand new climate change solutions and is offering $10,000 USD to the best entries. Reckon you’ve got the brain power to get involved? Fancy yourself an academic whiz kid? Do you have the answers to our pressing climate crisis questions and problems? If you’re confident you’ve got a bright sustainability idea that needs hearing, you’ll want to check out ClimateScience Olympiad, a brand new...
Demand for peat-free houseplants grows in 2021
Houseplants are a huge hit with Millennials and Gen Z but usually contain peat, a soil-like substance that is terrible for the environment. Luckily alternatives are finally gaining traction. If you’ve ventured into somebody else’s home in the last year outside of lockdowns, it’s highly likely you’ve seen at least a few houseplants scattered about. Purchasing plants designed for interior spaces has become a huge industry - in 2018 sales grew...
