Latest Stories from Sofia
Compassion fatigue: is Gen Z numb to tragedy?
In the age of 24-hour news, we’ve never been more aware of the appalling events taking place across the globe every day. Faced with ceaseless negative content that no longer seems to shock or arouse indignation the way it used to, are we gradually losing our capacity to react? Unless you’ve mastered the art of switching off and are consequently one of the few with a below-average screen time (people...
Are VR ‘trips’ a sober alternative to psychedelic therapy?
Despite the evermore ubiquitous recognition of hallucinogenic drugs’ promising medical potential, they aren’t for everyone. With this in mind, researchers have begun investigating other methods of treating mental illness through altered states of consciousness, with technology at the helm. As I’m sure you’re likely aware, hallucinogenic drugs have been steadily permeating mainstream media in recent years, thanks to their promising medical potential. Social media feeds for
Spain to allow menstrual leave in European first
A sweeping reform bill is updating the country’s policies on reproductive health. If passed, it would grant women struggling with their periods paid time off every single month. For those of us who menstruate, it’s not uncommon that we often feel conditioned to accept that debilitating pain is normal, nay something we should pay no attention to. In fact, ask anyone with a regular period about this, and I’m sure...
‘Make do and mend’ is the hottest new eco-friendly trend
Gen Z, the very demographic most devoted to throwaway fashion, understands the importance of wearing an article of clothing many times to justify its environmental cost. For this reason, the repair revolution – an integral part of the industry’s push for sustainability – is well underway. Resale, rental, regeneration – you name it. In 2022, there’s no shortage of ways for the style-obsessed among us to ensure we’re being as...
Netflix’s editorial division hit with layoffs
Four months ago, the streaming service ‘aggressively’ recruited a small army of journalists – primarily women and people of colour – to run its new fan site, Tudum. This week, it abruptly axed a significant portion of those hires. After posting disastrous results for its March quarter – the loss of 200,000 subscribers after having only seen sustained growth since 2011 – Netflix has reportedly laid off...
The potential fall of Roe v Wade explained
A leaked Supreme Court document shows that a right-leaning majority is prepared to overturn the landmark ruling which made access to safe and legal abortions a constitutional right in the US. On Monday, Politico published a leaked Supreme Court document showing that a majority of the right-leaning court is prepared to overturn 1973’s landmark Roe v Wade decision, thereby nullifying the constitutional right to abortion on the federal level. Having originally...
The rise of anti-hustle culture
Many of us have emerged from the pandemic questioning why we so eagerly continue to worship at the altar of busyness. Exhausted, overwhelmed, and on the brink of total collapse, the concept of slow living has never seemed more appealing. Is it me or does it feel like there’s a brewing backlash against hustle culture? Triggered by Molly-Mae’s controversial ‘we all have the same...
Where is the UK’s waste really going?
According to Greenpeace, more than half of the country’s discarded plastic is being dumped and burned abroad. Campaigners are calling for the government to take control of the problem. Though the UK government claims to be a world leader in tackling plastic pollution, Greenpeace has just released a new short-film suggesting otherwise. ‘Wasteminster’ - as its aptly titled - draws attention to the UK government’s hypocritical approach to recycling and...
Luxury fashion looks into developing lab-grown fur
Livestock-free replacements for conventional animal-based materials are all the rage these days. That’s why LVMH is attempting to create a plastic-free, sustainable alternative to fur using keratin, the main protein in hair. Big news in the luxury arena: high fashion that’s suitable for vegans. Yep, you heard that right, the designer side of the industry is starting to make bids towards adopting more eco-friendly practices, with LVMH leading the charge. Trust...
UK government unveils Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan
The £81 million scheme aims to prioritise prevention, better support victims, and build a stronger system against an issue that impacted 2.3 million people last year alone. In the last year, around 2.3 million people in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse, with around one in five of the UK’s reported homicides during that time allegedly related to this form of violence specifically. The issue is thought to have...









