Latest Stories from Jessica
Are AI-generated images perpetuating toxic beauty standards?
Viewing photos generated by apps like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe is no longer a novelty. Could frequent exposure to highly idealised – and unrealistic – images of human beings potentially reshape society’s beauty standards? If you’ve ever toyed around with AI photo-generating apps, you may have noticed a trend emerging – especially when asking the technology to depict realistic-looking humans. The trend I’m referring to is that all AI-generated humans seem...
UN report labels future fossil fuel ventures ‘insanity’ projects
The world’s biggest petrostates, including Saudia Arabia, the US, and the UAE are planning major expansions to fossil fuel projects. The UN has called these agendas a move of ‘insanity’ that would ‘throw humanity’s future into question.’ You know what else this world needs? A lot more carbon emissions. Well, not exactly. Not at all, actually. And yet, that seems to be the continued thought process inside the brains of leaders...
Research finds the contraceptive pill impairs part of the brain
Globally, 151 million people use contraceptive pills as a form of birth control. Scientists now say that the combined pill may affect a part of the brain in a way they did not initially realise. When it comes to caring for women’s health, many mysteries remain. This is primarily due to a lack of medical investigation throughout history, where men were overrepresented in most drug safety trials. As a result, doctors...
Museums across the UK team up to tackle the climate crisis
Last week, leaders of British museums which showcase the history of our planet pledged to do their part to preserve its future at the first-ever joint commitment for collective action against the climate crisis. It seems that climate protests happening inside the world’s most famous art museums are finally paying off. National and regional museums in the UK are uniting to address the climate crisis through collective action, with a...
UK meat consumption drops to lowest level since records began
According to a new government report, meat consumption in Britain has dropped to its lowest level since records began. It’s finally Friday, so let’s serve up some good news for the planet and national health, too. It is widely known that meat production is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. Globally, the use of cows, pigs, and other animals for food is responsible for 57 percent of agricultural...
London-based agency launches sustainably made edge styler
The beauty industry has become notorious for its single-use plastic problem, but one UK design agency is looking to change that with its reusable edge styling brush designed specifically for Black hair textures. A renowned London-based design agency, Blond, has just launched the Edge Slick – an innovative hair styling tool that marries form and function with sustainability. The beauty industry has become notorious for its contributions to single-use plastic waste....
Will protests calling for Israel’s ceasefire in Gaza work?
As Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip – and more recently the occupied West Bank – continues with intense ferocity, hundreds of people gathered at one of London’s busiest train stations to call for a ceasefire. Yesterday evening, more than 500 protesters sat inside London’s Liverpool Street station during rush hour to call for an end to Israel’s bombardment in the Gaza Strip. People were seen holding Palestinian flags, some with...
How polar bears became a controversial symbol of the climate crisis
Though the idea of polar bears ceasing to exist might motivate people to care about climate change, how accurate is this imagery in conveying a message about a global issue that affects us all? It’s International Polar Bear Week, which aims to bring awareness to a species that many of us will only ever encounter inside zoos, when watching nature documentaries, or while reading articles about climate change. Many nature publications,...
Beauty brands brace for incoming sustainable packaging regulations
As we inch closer to 2024, significant changes to packaging regulations are on the horizon for both the EU and the United Kingdom. Beauty and cosmetic companies will need to pay close attention. For too long, eco-conscious skincare lovers have felt a pang of guilt when throwing out empty plastic bottles once they’ve reached the end of their favourite products. Their guilt isn’t unfounded either, as 95 percent of all cosmetic...
Patagonia’s warmest jacket ever is made with upcycled ocean plastic
Working together with Bionic and Gore-Tex – two companies that collect ocean plastics and transform them into fabrics – Patagonia has now released its warmest and most sustainable winter jacket ever. As new environmental policies are written up globally, immense pressure has started mounting on the fashion industry to clean up its act. Hoping to shed their reputation as contributors to one of the most polluting and wasteful industries on the...
