Latest Stories from Sofia
Scientists may have just discovered a breakthrough treatment for HIV
A mixed-race woman appears to be the third person ever to be cured of the virus with a new approach that holds the potential for curing more people of racially diverse backgrounds. Globally, 37.7 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2020 (according to WHO). In Africa, it affects nearly 1 in 25 adults, with the region alone accounting for more than two-thirds of that staggering worldwide...
Plant-based fashion is finally having its moment
A major shift in clothing manufacture is underway, fronted by a surge in the number of brands experimenting with next-generation ‘livestock-free’ replacements for conventional animal-based materials. It’s common knowledge that fast fashion has long-dominated the style landscape, for the affordable and straightforward way in which it enables consumers to keep up with continually fluctuating trends. However, unlike the rapid nature of these fads – which come and go as quickly as...
TikTok set to ban all content that promotes disordered eating
The app has announced major changes to its community guidelines in an effort to protect the wellbeing of users who may be vulnerable to videos glorifying unhealthy behaviour. A little over a year ago, TikTok began investigating videos promoting starvation following reports that potentially harmful pro-weight-loss accounts were still available in search results. Today, the viral video-sharing platform that’s wildly popular amongst young people (60% of its users...
WWF report calls for an urgent plan to decarbonise farming
British farmers must reduce their production of meat and dairy by a third in the next decade if scientific advice on limiting greenhouse gas emissions is to be met. A major report by the World Wide Fund for Nature has said that farming needs to be at the forefront of the UK government’s plans to hit its net zero targets and tackle the climate crisis. This is because livestock are...
Why Boots cutting the cost of emergency contraception is a victory
After years of campaigning by healthcare bodies and MPs to end the ‘grossly sexist surcharge,’ the British pharmacy chain has finally lowered the price of the morning after pill. On Black Friday last year, British pharmacy chain Boots slashed the cost of emergency contraception, giving it a 50 per cent discount. The deal, which was brought to people’s attention by a tweet and unsurprisingly met...
UK football is facing calls to tackle gender-based violence
Two of the sport’s most powerful bodies have received an open letter urging them to take action after numerous high-profile players have been arrested for domestic and sexual abuse. In January, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and making threats to kill after allegations against him went viral on social media. Alarmingly, his case is only the latest to emerge, and a...
Could prescribed park visits aid our mental health?
Canadian healthcare practitioners are now allowed to prescribe patients a year-long pass to the country’s national parks in a bid to improve their mental and physical health. If you’ve struggled or are currently struggling with mental health issues, I know what you’re thinking: when has a medical professional suggesting you ‘go for a walk’ ever actually improved your situation? Well, while tales of this may certainly be considered meme-worthy on...
BSL to become a legally recognised language in the UK
The UK government has backed a bill to make BSL a legally recognised language, a move that the British Deaf Association says will give deaf people equal access to education and public services. A bill that would make British Sign Language (BSL) a legally recognised language in the UK and help deaf people play a more prominent role in society has received government backing. The proposed law was...
Beauty brands are advocating for the redefinition of Black
MAC Cosmetics, e.l.f, and Morphe are just some of those involved with a campaign that’s seeking to shift perceptions about what it means to be Black. In 2020, the pressing question of ‘how can I help’ was one that dominated social media well into the following year. It came on the back of protests across the globe which not only called for an end to police brutality and justice for George...
Influencers may soon have to label digitally-altered images
To combat the rise of eating disorders and body confidence issues post-pandemic, a proposed bill in the UK is calling for commercial photos featuring retouched bodies to be labelled as such. Last February, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that social media influencers had to begin disclosing when using a beauty filter to endorse products, namely those exaggerating the results cosmetics or skincare being sold by brands were capable...










