Latest Stories from Jessica
Keke Palmer gives her audience a beauty standards reality check
After a makeup-free photo was posted of her online, Keke Palmer was hit with a wave of hateful comments about her appearance. Her response to the criticism should be a wake-up call for how we measure beauty today and how we value women in general. The internet is a ruthless place. Nobody knows this better than female celebrities. Any indications of ageing, weight gain, or trivial flaws seen in photos online...
The cost-of-living crisis is sparking a rise in sex workers
A UK organisation has flagged that the number of women turning to sex work in order to cope with the cost-of-living crisis is rising. Its services operates in numerous cities across the country, advising women on how to remain safe at work and how to stay within the lines of the law. With the growing popularity of adult content-sharing platforms such as OnlyFans, the definition of sex work has expanded...
McDonald’s introduces reusable packaging in Europe
The world’s favourite fast-food chain has launched reusable packaging in France. After an image of the new packaging went viral online, customers are expressing both excitement and concern. Could this be the future of the McDonald’s experience globally? Take a Saturday morning walk through any city centre and you’re bound to spot McDonald’s carry bags, cups, and cardboard containers littered on the streets or pouring out of public bins. As our...
New report links global fashion consumption to inequality
A new fashion report by Berlin’s Hot or Cool Institute presents data on how fashion consumption exposes global inequalities, reveals how many outfits we really need in our closets, and makes suggestions for improving sustainability within consumer behaviour. Whether you already live by the advice of sustainable fashion advocates or not, there’s no denying that making simple changes to our shopping habits will play a significant role in fighting the...
How major oil firms will try to block the world’s first plastic pollution treaty
Global leaders are meeting this week to secure the world’s first global plastic pollution treaty, but big oil companies have major stakes in continuing to produce virgin plastics. There’s sure to be major pushback. The fossil fuel industry is starting to lose its monopoly on the global energy sector. Renewables are being embraced worldwide, electric vehicles are becoming cheaper, and innovation aimed at storing green power continues to find success. Knowing...
Study shows coronavirus can have long-term effects on the brain
Researchers have found differences in the frontal lobe and brainstem of recovered COVID-19 patients when compared to healthy people. These changes are linked to issues such as anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and other cognitive abnormalities. Feeling out of whack despite finally testing negative for COVID? A recent small study may have just discovered why. With millions of people reporting symptoms of long COVID, doctors everywhere are trying to figure out how...
Milan Design Week showcases innovative biofilm breakthrough
At the world’s most important design event, Dutch designer Lionne van Deursen presented an innovative biofilm made from yeast. The eco-material could one day replace pesky plastic films that are notoriously difficult to recycle. Phasing out plastics is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. With 9 billion tons of the stuff produced over the last seventy years, we’ve created a mess so difficult to eradicate that plastic can...
Marine biologists are optimising fishing practices in Europe
Oceanologists are using their knowledge to help fishermen increase their income while improving the sustainability of their catches. If implemented across Europe, it could transform the fishing industry in the Mediterranean. Though there’s been a lot of talk about unsustainable fishing in recent years, it’s important to remember that all fishermen are not created equal. Amongst the most problematic are industrial-sized fishing organisations and large fleets of trawling vessels, which obliterate...
Is egg freezing really a golden ticket to delaying parenthood?
The option for women to freeze their eggs is now regularly recommended by doctors, promoted in popular culture, and marketed to the masses via social media advertisements. But should we be wary of depending on its success? A new world record was broken last month, with two twin babies born from human embryos frozen over 30 years ago. The embryos had been stored inside liquid nitrogen at -128C back in 1992....
Coral reef projects receive a major boost in funding
The forests of the ocean are suffering. Warming waters are causing ocean acidification and coral bleaching. Meanwhile, overfishing practices are causing the subsequent collapse of entire ecosystems. Bolstered funding from COP27 is aiming to slow – and hopefully reverse – the process. When we think about nature's ecosystems, coral reefs are often the last to come to mind. With almost 60 percent of the world’s population living in metropolitan cities,...
