Latest Stories from Flo
How did Mississippi transform its education system?
One of the poorest US states has steadily transformed its education system since 2013, in what many have dubbed ‘the Mississippi miracle’. In 2013, Mississippi recorded some of the lowest numbers when it came to children’s reading ability. But through a global pandemic, which hit education nationwide, the state (one of the poorest in the US), has pulled off what some have dubbed ‘the Mississippi miracle’. Moving from the bottom of...
What Love Is Blind US reveals about the politics of fitness
Countless studies cite a correlation between gym-going and conservative ideology. So when did exercise get so political? On the most recent US season of Love is Blind, a gym-obsessed contestant named Chris told his new fiancée Jess that he wasn’t physically attracted to her. This revelation would be abhorrently hurtful in any case, but Chris’ reasoning was what most shocked viewers: he didn’t fancy Jess because she didn’t ‘do pilates...
Does Ye deserve forgiveness?
A new album and three-night headline show suggest the rapper formerly known as Kanye West has emerged from his wrongdoings unscathed. When Ye announced his twelfth studio album, ‘Bully’, over a year ago, few fans held their breath. The artist has become one of the most contentious figures in modern pop culture. Controversy seems to be the raison d'être for a man who is constantly reinventing himself. Ye’s many eras have...
Daryl Hannah, Ryan Murphy, and the ethics of the biopic
Where do we draw the line when it comes to on-screen depictions of real people? Ryan Murphy could never be labelled a people pleaser. Most of his projects flagrantly piss off at least one demographic, and if not outright offensive to some fraction of society they’re usually critiqued on the basis of quality. But that hasn’t stopped him dominating the past decade of TV. We love to hate Mr. Murphy and...
What’s up with all the dramatic AI fruit slop?
TikTok mini-dramas featuring anthropomorphic fruits have taken the internet by storm. Should we be concerned? AI has birthed some seriously strange phenomena. Whether it’s Victoria Beckham break dancing at her son’s wedding, or a video of the Gaza strip showered in gold casinos thanks to Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s entrepreneurial input (yep, that one did actually happen – and yep, the President of the United States did share it on...
The ‘manosphere’ thrives on attention, but can we afford to ignore it?
Louis Theroux’s manosphere documentary has raised questions about how we tackle a toxic community that spreads in the shadows and thrives in the spotlight. It was only a matter of time before Louis Theroux shuffled into frame and imparted his gauche two cents on the manosphere. The documentarian is beloved for his awkward silences, an approach that has allowed him to carve out a hefty filmography of deep-dives into some...
How pistachios became a pawn in the US battle with Iran
Noticed pistachios everywhere recently? It’s no coincidence. Their rise is part of a years-long rivalry between the US and Iran that holds new weight in the face of war. You’ll have heard of Dubai chocolate. The viral dessert has had TikTok under its kadayif covered thumb for over a year. You may even have tried your hand at making it – a simple recipe comprised of chocolate, tahini, shredded filo dough...
Kent meningitis outbreak identified as less-targeted strain
Staff and students at the University of Kent were devastated by a fatal outbreak of meningitis last week, which left two people dead and more than 10 hospitalised. The incident has thrown a community into chaos, as students begin to worry about those they’ve come into contact with and University staff try to manage the outbreak. Hundreds of young people have since begun queuing for antibiotics, while in-person exams...
There are microplastics in women’s ovaries now
Researchers are still exploring how the discovery could impact fertility. Microplastics were found in human ovaries for the first time last June. Yet the news largely flew under the radar. Perhaps this reflects our collective desensitisation to all plastic-based health warnings. After all, when you consider how embedded the material has become in our lives, it’s easy to feel helpless. Why spend time worrying about something that’s quite literally become a...
How effective is medical AI? It’s complicated
Some healthcare professionals believe artificial intelligence will buy them more time with patients. Others fear it puts jobs, and lives, at risk. In a recent episode of The Pitt, a viral TV show about the inner-workings of a Pittsburgh hospital, overworked doctors battled a new antagonist: AI. An attending physician tells her staff that the technology can cut their time spent on charting results by 80%, buying them more time to...
