Latest Stories from Jessica
The challenges and opportunities of a growing global population
Before the year is up, the global human population is expected to surpass the 8 billion mark. Along with it will come environmental challenges, but also an opportunity to diversify the global economy. The United Nations global population projection estimates we will reach a global population of 8 billion people by November of this year, with that number increasing to 10 billion by 2080. Surpassing the 8 billion mark is...
Study reveals five countries owe over $6 trillion in climate damages
With economic figures quantified in a new report, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters could finally be held accountable for the environmental damage they’ve inflicted upon the poorest regions. It’s no secret that the climate crisis has been primarily fuelled by the world’s wealthiest nations. These countries have historically reaped the economic and social benefits of destroying entire ecosystems to obtain limited natural resources such as oil and gas, while...
Will limits on Faroe Islands whale hunt numbers work?
Campaigners believe government-initiated caps on the number of white-sided dolphins allowed to be slaughtered at Grindadráp will not be sufficient for safeguarding local pods. Global attitudes towards whaling have shifted massively over the last few decades, with a majority of political leaders and citizens believing that cetaceans should be protected under international conservation laws. Despite this, the World Population Review reports that three countries continue to hunt whales for profit...
Ecovado offers a solution to our unsustainable avocado obsession
A graduate student at London’s Central Saint Martins has developed an environmentally friendly alternative to avocados that’ll fulfil our breakfast cravings while being kinder to the planet. Maybe if we all stopped buying avocado toast, we’d have enough money to afford a house someday – right? Well, that seems to be the resounding message whenever Gen Z and Millennials complain about the rising cost of living. While blaming our...
Scientists believe ‘space bubbles’ could help ease climate change
Researchers at MIT are advancing a concept to slow or potentially reverse climate change. It involves placing massive silicon bubbles at the direct point between the sun and our planet. Admittedly, this concept is a little wacky, but when we hear that research in the field of solar geoengineering is advancing to help stop climate change… it’s something we’ve got to look into. Last week, a group of scientists at MIT...
Innovative ‘sand battery’ is green energy’s beacon of hope
Two young engineers have succeeded in using sand to store energy from wind and solar by creating a novel battery capable of supplying power all year round. When you think of batteries, you probably think of lithium. If you’re old enough to remember when one started corroding inside your CD player or GameBoy, the idea of using batteries might bring back some sad childhood memories. Lithium batteries don’t hold much energy...
When will we finally close the door on toxic body trends?
While the body positivity movement has never been stronger, an almost overnight rejection of the BBL trend signals that we haven’t completely let go of ever-changing standards for women’s bodies. Few things change faster than society’s view of the ideal woman’s body type, and despite ‘body trends’ being highly problematic, the constant ebb and flow of which shapes and sizes are deemed desirable remains a sad reality. A look at women...
NASA plans to send swimming robots to habitable ocean worlds
Most nearby planets thought to be habitable are completely covered in water. With many taking years to get to, NASA has secured funding for a project that will help us get a look into their depths. As humans come to grips with the possibility of one day living on another planet, whether willingly or out of necessity, space experts are wasting no time trying to locate our options. Mars is –...
Farfetch launches sustainability tool with Good on You
Luxury fashion brands can now access a tool called Good Measures to secure a sustainability rating on the Farfetch website. The goal is to increase transparency on the environmental impact of the industry while incentivising brands to improve their practices. Now more than ever, the fashion sector is under immense pressure to sharpen its sustainability practices. With fast fashion giants like SHEIN and Fashion Nova generating more than enough waste to...
Drug that increases human lifespan to 200 years is in the works
Taken in pill form, the drug would eliminate cells in the human body that are responsible for advancing the ageing process – potentially doubling our lifespan. But is this desirable? Are you ready to live an additional hundred years? British computational biologist Dr Andrew Steele has published a new book on the longevity of human life, arguing it is entirely feasible for us to live well beyond a single century with...
