Latest Stories from Jessica
How AI can lead to verbal abuse and unhealthy attachments
Smartphone app Replika is enabling users to find companionship in artificially intelligent chatbots. But what happens when the human emotion of users gets in the way of keeping things casual? It’s getting a little too real in the world of tech right now. The recent and rapid expansion of the metaverse, together with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), have brought forward serious questions about human behaviour and...
Is a four-day work week the future of the UK?
At least thirty major companies are trialling a four-day work week without reduction in pay for their employees. Will it stick? Let’s face it, the pandemic has drastically changed the way we look at and operate within the labour force. Years of government enforced work-from-home orders have brought to light the money saved from fewer commutes, the additional hours that could be spent at home with family, and positive environmental effects...
Thriving coral reef is newly discovered off Tahiti’s coast
A pristine coral reef has been discovered in the South Pacific Ocean. It appears to be flourishing, despite the current biodiversity crisis caused by climate change. It’s almost Friday, so you know what that means? Time for some good news to catapult us into weekend mode. A massive reef made up of rose shaped corals has been found off the coast of Tahiti. Researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific...
Thousands of students walk out of classrooms amid Omicron surge
The UK might be past the height of Omicron’s presence, but across the pond, numbers are climbing steadily. Without proper protective measures in place, students of all ages are refusing to stay in classrooms. As coronavirus cases slowly fell and vaccination rates rose, students around the world have embraced a return to in-person learning after almost two years of online lessons. Remote learning has presented innumerable challenges for those involved...
Undersea volcano eruption triggers tsunami in Tonga
On Saturday, a massive explosion was heard across the south Pacific. An undersea volcano called Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai erupted violently, triggering tsunami warnings for all surrounding coastlines. This weekend, Mother Earth reminded us who’s really in control. An undersea volcano located northeast of New Zealand and southeast of Fiji erupted unexpectedly, causing magma, volcanic ash, and smoke to rise quickly from beneath the ocean’s surface. Though the geyser has been somewhat active in recent...
Opinion – Saying goodbye to travel restrictions is the right call
At risk of being blackballed in the early stages of my writing career, I’m putting forward my opinion on why travel restrictions should remain a thing of the past. If you’re still paying attention to coronavirus news two years on, you’ll know PM Boris Johnson has decided to shorten quarantine periods, scrap predeparture and day two arrival tests, and abandon new local lockdown measures all together. And while these decisions were...
Concerns about user privacy in the metaverse continue to grow
Tech giant Meta is working on body pose tracking technology, clothing that detects movement, and in-home sensor devices to enhance the metaverse experience - but has yet to outline any details of data privacy and user safety. As the digital and physical world have become increasingly interwoven, we’ve become accustomed to having our everyday habits tracked, collected, and stored as data by the world’s biggest tech companies. We wear watches that...
Sustainable desk accessory line bFRIENDS mixes practicality with style
Office furniture brand Bene has partnered with design and sustainability pioneers in both London and Amsterdam to bring us a fun, eco-friendly alternative to plastic desk organisers. Oh, the joys of being organised. It’s a quality most people strive to improve at in their day-to-day life, but without the right tools and storage, tidying up can become an endless chore – even at work. We’ve all heard the saying ‘a cluttered desk...
Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter
The legendary writer and activist passed away in 2014 and is now being paid tribute by having her image depicted on America’s brand new 25 cent coins. How can one begin to describe the late Maya Angelou? One might start with her accomplishments as an inspiring poet and novelist, whose books lifted her to fame for discussing subject matter so challenging that some have been banned in certain parts of America,...
Online scammers have earned billions through shoddy pandemic services
From unverified testing labs and fake vaccination appointments to the more recent forged COVID travel passes – the pandemic has presented endless opportunities for digital scammers to profit. Scamming, an illegal activity once limited to one’s immediate community, has been amplified by the wonders of the online world in recent years. Digital communication has enabled fraud perpetrators to operate without borders, targeting groups most vulnerable to falling for false offers and...
