Latest Stories from Jamie
Cosmologists convene to question accepted view of the universe
Some of the worldβs top cosmologists are meeting at Londonβs Royal Society to scrutinise an accepted theory on the universeβs formation. The view, formed in 1922, suggests that the universe is a vast, even expanse with no notable features. Weβre floating on a rock in a vast cosmic expanse, that much is a given. Exactly what that expanse looks like when zoomed out beyond the range of planets, stars, and...
Landmark climate change case won in EU human rights court
In what could prove to be a major breakthrough for civil efforts against climate change, a group of senior Swiss women have won a case in the EU Court of Human Rights affirming that human-exacerbated heatwaves are putting their lives at risk. The very first case ever registered at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg has concluded with a landmark civil victory. Late last month, a group of senior...
57 companies linked to 80% of GHG emissions since 2016
A report from the Carbon Majors Database reveals that a mere 57 companies have been responsible for 80% of global GHG emissions since 2016. Disclaimer: This update is not intended to create a sense of nihilism or apathy regarding attitudes towards civil action and the mitigation of climate change. We prefer to pontificate that transparency is the key to ultimately holding offenders responsible. So, with that in mind, letβs bear witness...
Facebook allegedly shared user messages with Netflix for a decade
In a shady bid to better tailor content for its subscribers, Netflix has allegedly been peering at our private messages on Facebook β get this, for as long as a decade. Facebook is back in court, again. The charges levelled at parent company Meta follows a long rap sheet of previous data privacy and anti-trust violations. On this occasion, however, the social enterprise is one of two defendants. The lawsuit, filed...
Thailand to legalise same-sex marriage imminently
After an overwhelming majority vote in parliament, Thailand is poised to become the third Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage. In the coming months Thailand will officially become the first nation in south-east Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Rapturous applause broke out following the announcement in parliament on Wednesday, with 400 of 415 lawmakers from the lower house voting for the billβs instatement. Danuphorn Punnakanta, president of the committee that devised the...
Spotify testing freemium e-learning video courses
E-learning video courses are Spotifyβs next offering as the service pushes for better subscriber retention and growth. Third parties like Skillshare and BBC Maestro are on board and a freemium model will generate new revenue β if people take to the idea. Remember when Spotify was purely a music streaming service? Those days are well and truly done. Diversifying business is the name of the game for Daniel Ek and co....
YouTube launches #WomenofYouTube mentorships for Shorts creators
YouTube has announced a new #WomenofYouTube mentorship program which will foster collaboration between female creators on the platformβs Shorts feature. As we celebrate Womenβs History Month, YouTube is looking ahead to the future and ways in which it can further elevate its female creator base. At the forefront of this mission is a new #WomenofYouTube mentorship program, which will become a key pillar for the next phase of Stories. This community-based...
Independent football regulation is worth celebrating in the UK
Following a fan-led review in 2021, the UK government announced plans to appoint an independent football regulator to oversee Englandβs top five leagues. That bill was introduced in parliament this week. A landmark bill has been introduced in UK parliament this week confirming the creation of an independent regulator with the power to govern Englandβs top five leagues. As the English football pyramid strives for boundless profit margins, fans have...
GDC 2024 begins with keynote on diversity and inclusivity
Old habits die hard in the business of game development, and industry figureheads are making a point of calling for more inclusivity at this yearβs conference and beyond. The annual Game Development Conference kicked off yesterday, and thousands will be attending to partake in the weekβs round-tables, lectures, tutorials, and award shows. Setting the tone for the rest of the expo, the keynote for 2024 opened with a session about...
The Muslim community is striving for a green Ramadan
Muslim communities continue to rally around themes of social change, embracing the link between Ramadan and eco consciousness. The latest, is limiting plastic waste. Muslims around the globe are currently observing Ramadan: a holy month in which members of the faith endeavour to purify themselves against excess and materialism. In keeping with these intrinsic values, mosques internationally are striving to combat arguably the worst ecological scourge of consumerism over the last...
