Understanding the sand mining crisis in India’s rivers
India's rivers are facing an alarming crisis due to rampant and often illegal sand mining, which is threatening the survival of endangered species and disrupting the delicate ecological balance of these vital waterways. Sand has become a precious commodity in India due to the burgeoning construction industry's insatiable demand. This has...
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Buzunesh Deba’s unpaid winnings expose running world’s failings
The 2014 Boston Marathon winner has been waiting on her prize money for years. But it was a stranger, not race organisers, who finally gave her what she’d earned. 8 years ago, Ethiopian runner Buzunesh Deba got the call of a lifetime. She’d won the Boston Marathon – 2 years...
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...
Venezuela the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers
The South American nation was home to six glaciers in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida mountain range, five of which have disappeared within the last century. Its only remaining one, known as La Corona, has now shrunk so much due to climate change that scientists have reclassified it as...
Understanding the sugar scandal in Nestlé’s baby food
Nestlé has found itself embroiled in a controversy surrounding the sugar content in its baby food products sold in lower and lower-middle income countries, including India. A recent investigation has uncovered a disturbing practice of adding sugar to infant cereals and milk, while keeping the products sugar-free in Nestlé's...
Saudi forces ‘told to kill’ to clear land for The Line
Plans to build a £400 billion futuristic eco-metropolis promised an epicentre of sustainability, productivity, seamless living, and leisure for nine million people. But a whistle-blower testimony for the BBC has just uncovered the grim reality of the project, which involves human rights abuses and extrajudicial murder. Remember The Line? Part...
How is coffee being affected by the climate crisis?
Already, rising temperatures are leading to lower yields and higher prices. If global heating continues to worsen, the land suitable for coffee cultivation will halve by 2050 and the plant itself could disappear entirely by the end of the century, which would have a profound impact on the 120m people worldwide whose livelihoods depend on its beans. For many, climate change remains a distant threat. Though the crisis dominates our news...
What is Earth Day and why do we mark it every year?
Earth Day takes place on the 22nd April every year, with more than 190 countries participating around the world. What is Earth Day, and why is it a big deal? This week, the world is celebrating and participating in Earth Day, a moment taken each year to consider our environmental impact and highlight the importance of sustainable living. Created in 1970 in the US, the movement was originally intended to...
Antarctic wildlife at risk of being ‘sunburnt’
The hole in the Earth’s ozone layer is remaining open for longer periods than previously observed. This is exposing penguins, seals, and other animals to heightened levels of harmful UV radiation. We know that temperatures are rising. We also know that summer months are becoming warmer and will continue to do so until we phase out fossil fuels and drastically reduce emissions. For humans, while the impacts of extreme heat can be...
Lloyd Martin to become youngest Down’s syndrome marathon runner
The 19-year-old will attempt a world record at the London Marathon this April, with his mum by his side. Lloyd Martin has wanted to run a marathon for years, according to his mum Ceri Hooper. Hooper has run many marathons herself, running London four times and even completing the race in the prestigious Boston and Chicago routes. Lloyd, her 19 year old son, has always cheered her on from the sidelines....
