Latest Stories from Sofia
Opinion – rebranding diet culture is keeping us hooked on thinness
The toxic behaviours we’ve turned to in the past to ‘get skinny’ are supposedly out and wellness is in. But while the ‘clean eating’ revolution is touted as being all about ‘health,’ weight loss is still very much the subliminal message and ‘lifestyle changes’ are often just disordered habits in sheep’s clothing. I was in a secondhand book store recently when a section caught my eye. Across multiple shelves, I...
Were Just Stop Oil’s protesting tactics effective?
In 2022, Just Stop Oil made headlines after two of its members threw soup over a Van Gogh painting. In the following weeks, the internet was divided over the activists’ radical means of drawing attention to the climate crisis, some calling it ‘alienating,’ others ‘justified.’ In 2022, controversy sparked when two young activists threw tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London. ‘What is worth more, art,...
Yungblud launches music festival to shake up the ‘too expensive’ industry
Fighting for a new world that ‘represents love, unity, and equality for all,’ the acclaimed singer has announced Bludfest, which offers cheap, and even free, entry to people from all backgrounds. The aim is to set a precedent that music is for everybody, not just the few who can afford it. To his fans, Yungblud is the voice of Gen Z. And although his music may not be to...
Study suggests women are better at sport during their period
Female athletes have long had to contend with the lack of attention to what role their menstrual cycles plays in their athletic performance. Recent research is seeking to shine a new light on this. Though, over the years, strides have been taken to address sports inequality, one thing in particular remains woefully overlooked: the effect of the menstrual cycle on women’s athletic performance. Due to the prevailing taboo...
Coldplay cut carbon emissions by 59 per cent on world tour
Three years ago, the band pledged to put on one of the greenest tours in history. In light of updates that they’ve exceeded their climate change target by almost 10 per cent, they’re being praised as ‘setting a new standard’ for eco-conscious approaches to live music. In 2019, world-famous artist Chris Martin vowed never to tour again unless it was done sustainably and with a positive impact. Coldplay’s frontman has...
Our avocado obsession is fuelling organised crime
While it’s well-known that global consumption of the fruit is wreaking havoc on the planet, many are blind to how it’s affecting those working tirelessly to meet ever-increasing demand. As with other foods that have become trendy or widely used, intensive production bears a heavy human impact. These days, it’s pretty rare to come across somebody who isn’t a raging fan of avocados. Thanks to the popularity of cruelty-free diets –...
Clover Hogan criticised for saying tech won’t solve the climate crisis
Yesterday, in a series of tweets, the Gen Z environmental activist branded the belief in ‘shiny, silver bullet solutions’ to the crisis as the most insidious form of climate denial. This has been met with intense backlash from not only users, but the CEO of Tesla and X himself, Elon Musk. Yesterday, Gen Z environmental activist Clover Hogan, known for her non-profit educational movement Force of Nature,...
Scientists theorise that the Earth may be an intelligent entity
Pointing to evidence that fungi is communicating underground to suggest that large-scale networks of life could ‘form a vast, invisible planetary intelligence,’ a group of astrobiologists are asking the thought-provoking question: if a planet like Earth can be ‘alive,’ can it also have a mind of its own? ‘Conventionally, intelligence is seen as a property of individuals. However, it is also known to be a property of collectives,’ reads the...
Can psychedelics treat physical pain?
Sufferers of chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and cluster headaches have been raving about their ‘life-saving’ experiences with hallucinogenic drugs. Now, scientists are exploring the use of LSD and psilocybin in pain management. In light of new findings that psychedelic drugs could transform mental health, scientists and researchers are persisting with their dedication to change our attitudes towards the medical potential of these once heavily frowned-upon compounds. Simply put, their benefits are...
Apple unveils new accessibility features including eye-tracking
In a positive step forward for disability awareness, Apple’s latest updates will make navigation easier via eye-tracking. Its software will also be available to a wider range of users. Coinciding with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple has announced several new updates specifically designed for people with physical disabilities. These will include eye-tracking, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts. ‘We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives,’