Latest Stories from Jamie
Asteroid mining start-up to raise funds through NFTs
There are several ambitious space initiatives in the works as we speak, and many of them have one thing common: theyโre attempting to raise seed funding through NFTs. ExLabs hopes a crypto injection will facilitate its asteroid mining explorations. Since the turn of the year, a host of space start-ups have jumped on the NFT bandwagon to raise money in novel ways. Weโve had MoonDAO, which wants to go from...
Burger King to ban โforever chemicalsโ from its packaging
The fast food consortium in charge of Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes has announced a global ban on toxic โforever chemicalsโ from all restaurant packaging by 2025. Those of us who occasionally indulge in fast food โdiningโ know what weโre getting into, right? Did you know though, that its not just the risk attached to a lack of nutrients or high sodium content we need to be concerned with. Itโs...
Online volunteers hunt for evidence of Russian war crimes
In Ukraine, civilian accounts of atrocities carried out by the Russian military continue to emerge. Online volunteers around the globe are now building dossiers of purported โwar crimesโ for potential convictions once the gunfire ceases. While our present obsession with tech and social media certainly has its drawbacks, it is conducive to creating a stronger feeling of democracy. Wherever unlawful persecution or atrocities are taking place in plain sight, with platforms...
Starbucks to phase out its disposable cups entirely by 2025
For better or worse, Starbucks has transformed coffee culture forever. Its logo is instantly recognisable globally, but at the cost of becoming a โubiquitousโ symbol of single-use waste. The enterprise is now aiming to phase out its disposable cups entirely by 2025. If youโre feeling a twinge of guilt for that pumpkin spiced latte phase you go through every Autumn, donโt beat yourself up. Weโre all victims of mainstream coffee...
NFT platforms tipped to disrupt the music industry
As popular streaming services like Spotify continue to take the lionโs share of revenue away from music artists, NFTs may help them regain control over their enterprises in the near future. In the future, the ability to listen to your favourite artists may depend on you finally wrapping your heads around NFTs. Sorry, but itโs for a good cause. If you keep up with any sort of industry news, youโll already...
Heatwaves at both Earthโs poles alarm climate researchers
Over the weekend, temperatures at both the Earthโs poles soared to between 30C and 40C higher than expected levels. If this becomes the norm, researchers are seriously concerned about an abrupt climate breakdown. At this time of year, the Antarctic should be rapidly cooling after its summer while the Arctic gradually emerges from its winter months. Instead, both poles are experiencing โunprecedentedโ heatwaves that have climate researchers on high alert. Over...
Lax US gun laws are massively impacting its island territories
Mainland gun laws are seriously impacting offshore US territories, particularly Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In both, homicide rates are astronomically high and growing, and the majority of cases are traced back to firearms trafficked from states like Florida and Texas. Despite having relatively strict firearm laws, US territories like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have far higher gun death rates than any mainland state. How can that...
ClientEarth goes after Shell executives directly with lawsuit
Itโs been less than a year since gas giant Shell lost a landmark climate case in the Netherlands, and itโs once again facing serious legal action. This time, however, its company executives are being directly confronted, not the conglomerate. A change of tact is clearly required to get fossil fuel companies to listen. While hidden behind the guise of sprawling multinationals, what better way to remind executives of their personal...
Hacktivists up the ante in โcyberwarโ against Russia
Hacktivist groups are continuing to punish Russia with a multi-pronged digital assault. Last week, decentralised groups released some 820GB of sensitive files, crashed the Moscow Stock Exchange website, and hijacked live Russian TV broadcasts. Whether you cheered or rolled your eyes at its declaration of โcyberwar,โ the rogue hacker outfit Anonymous has returned to make trouble for Russia. Back in late February, Ukraineโs deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the formation...
Twitterโs new โTorโ service can circumvent state internet censorship
In regions where Twitter is partially or completely restricted, a new โTorโ service could soon allow people to circumvent censorship measures. This wonโt be well received by certain government figures, but is a big win for online democracy. Twitter claims this move had been in the works since 2014, but the timing seems awful convenient. This week, the social media giant has announced plans to launch a version of Twitter that...