Latest Stories from Jessica
New manifesto prioritises social welfare in plan to achieve carbon cuts
Multiple government strategies for creating a low-carbon Britain have failed. A new manifesto hopes to break the pattern. One of the UK’s biggest carbon emissions comes from heating homes. It is responsible for 14 percent of all greenhouse gases released in the nation, a number that has barely changed over the last decade. In line with Boris Johnson’s ‘build back greener’ plan, a government budget of £1.5bn was offered to households...
Experts brand heatwaves as dangerous as wildfires
Heat exposure is a silent killer that claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year. As global temperatures rise, awareness is key. During recent heatwave seasons, wildfires have dominated the news. Videos of large flames engulfing landscapes around the world are a reminder of the danger that fast-spreading fires pose to nature, wildlife, homes, and communities. However, the prolonged heat exposure that causes these fires remains a silent threat to humans,...
Euros 2020 final confirms racism is very much alive in UK
Several players from England's national football team are being bombarded with racial abuse after a difficult loss at Wembley Stadium. On Sunday night, 31 million people watched from across the nation as the winner of the Euro 2020 final was decided in a penalty shootout. Within minutes of England’s loss, racist abuse began appearing on the social media pages of the Black English players who took the deciding penalties. Overnight in...
Argentina becomes the first country to ban salmon farming
Bad for the environment and bad for you. Could one country’s ban on salmon farming set an example for others? The global appetite for salmon is insatiable. As high protein diets become the norm thanks to health conscious trends like the keto diet, and Western takes on Japanese sushi make raw fish more palatable for the masses, this vitamin-rich food has become a dinnertime staple for many. However, wild salmon populations are...
Scientists call for global ban on virgin plastics by 2040
Plastic production has increased rapidly over the last sixty years, finding a permanent home in our oceans. Biologists say the only way out is to halt its use completely. The convenience, cleanliness, and cost-effective production of plastic is what lead to a widespread demand for the material. Paradoxically, plastic has caused a massive inconvenience for us today (understatement of the year), by littering our environments and sparking costly research and design...
Mangroves – the coastal forests fighting climate change
Some of the world’s biggest carbon sinks can be found scattered along tropical coastlines. Mangrove forests straddle the category of both land and sea plants, growing on the shores of the tropical and subtropical regions. They make up less than 1% of the planet’s forests, yet they support a thriving ecosystem and are essential for the protection of our planet in more ways than we appreciate. You may have heard the phrase,...
Ocean architects reimagine floating homes of the future
As sea levels rise, homes on the water may be the only option for those living in coastal areas. Luckily, many architects are up to the challenge. The Climate Central Estimate reports that globally, 275 million people currently live in areas that will be flooded if we reach a global temperature increase of three degrees Celsius. Ocean-based homes are being explored as feasible solutions to polluted cities and rising sea levels. Wojciech...
Black TikTok creators on strike points to a wider cultural issue
The app’s most famous dances have come from Black creators who rarely receive recognition for their creativity. To prove a point, they’ve stopped posting content. Megan Thee Stallion’s new single, ‘Thot Shit’, is a track that sounds like it was manufactured for TikTok choreography. Yet, two weeks after its release, a viral dance on the platform has yet to emerge. The creatively underwhelming clips attached to the song’s audio on TikTok...
Could algorithms alter the way we find new musical talent?
Over 25 million creators now use SoundCloud. With so much music available, are algorithms the solution to finding the next pop sensation? Algorithms are now accepted as an integral part of the digital world. They determine what pops up on our social media feeds, allocate tailored advertisements, and are useful in solving our most complex problems. The music industry is having a tough time navigating these new, uncharted digital waters, however. Where...
V&A stands firm on true history of its colonial artefacts
The Victoria and Albert Museum, based in central London, has emphasised its responsibility to tell the true history of the origins of its collection of artefacts. You may already be aware that a large majority of the V&A Museum’s permanent collections include items that were looted by British forces during the colonial era. However, the preservation of controversially acquired artefacts and commemorative statues only came under intense widespread scrutiny during the...
