Latest Stories from Sofia
German startup makes biodegradable tampons from seaweed
Plastic period products are the fifth most common source of waste washing up on beaches across Europe. Seeking to tackle this is Vyld, by utilising one of the planet’s greatest untapped resources. Although disposable tampons and pads are extremely commonplace, 80 per cent of women don’t realise that the majority of their period products aren’t made with compostable materials. In fact, given that manufacturers aren’t usually required to...
New report uncovers a dramatic rise in FGM cases worldwide
According to recent data released by UNICEF, the number of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation has increased by 15 per cent in the past eight years, showing that the pace of progress remains woefully off track to meet the SDG of ending the practice by 2030. More than 230 million women and girls around the world have now undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), according to a...
Exclusive – in conversation with Daphne Frias and Selina Leem
We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight both the climate justice activists’ insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future. Daphne Frias is a Latina climate justice activist, disability awareness advocate, and storyteller born and raised in West Harlem, NYC. As a freelance organiser, she spends her time speaking at various colleges, summits,...
Exclusive – in conversation with Disha Ravi and Natalie Cooper
We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight both the climate justice activist’s and the evolutionary biologist’s insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future. Disha Ravi is a climate justice activist, storyteller, and one of the founders of Fridays For Future India. Part of the organisation’s Most Affected Peoples and Areas wing, her...
Exclusive – in conversation with Larissa Pinto Moraes
We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight the Brazilian activist’s insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future. Climate justice activist Larissa Pinto Moraes is the Executive Director of Engajamundo, a Brazilian youth-led organisation dedicated to fostering awareness among young Brazilians about their socio-environmental impact and encouraging them to take part in their...
Opinion – Viral beauty trends on TikTok have gone too far
Social media is adept at consistently making us question whether or not our appearance meets an extremely high standard, all while continuing to shove algorithmic ‘sameness’ down our throats. Isn’t it time we stopped letting the Internet dictate the way we perceive our facial anatomy? Ever since TikTok took over during the pandemic, it’s bolstered the influence of already-problematic beauty standards, bringing a slew of hugely unattainable ideals with it. Whether...
Natural History Museum relaunches Generation Hope: Act for the Planet
Between 7-10 February, the NHM will be hosting a series of free events curated in partnership with scientists and young people from around the world to drive positive change for a global future. On a mission to ‘create advocates that are informed, confident, and motivated to make wise decisions, get involved, and use their influence and actions to drive positive change for the planet’s future,’ the Natural History Museum's annual...
How ‘money dysmorphia’ is driving Gen Z into debt
Recent research has revealed that almost half of young people today are obsessed with the idea of being rich because they’re comparing themselves to wealthy social media influencers. And, in an attempt to keep up, they’re making poor financial decisions and spending far beyond their means. According to recent research from Qualtrics, almost half of young people today are obsessed with the idea of being rich. Findings show...
Opinion – the Mia Goth debate is toxic stan culture exemplified
The actress is being sued by an extra who alleges she ‘intentionally’ kicked him in the head on set. In response, a sub-section of her fanbase has dismissed the assault accusations with trivialising language, highlighting the problematic nature of out-of-control para-social relationships. During the last few years, Mia Goth has cemented her position as the ‘It Girl’ of horror, widely obsessed-over for her leading roles in Pearl, X, and...
A stark ideological divide is emerging globally among Gen Z
New research has revealed that the demographic is increasingly split on political issues, with young men becoming more conservative and young women becoming more progressive. Something unexpected is happening between Gen Z men and women. Over the past decade, numerous studies measuring public opinion have uncovered that notoriously progressive young people are growing more and more divided by gender on a host of key social and political issues, including drug addiction,...