Doctors urged not to rely on BMI to assess health
The American Medical Association is no longer recommending the use of body mass index as a measure of weight, after years of controversy and criticism around the metric. The scales are formally shifting on body mass index (BMI), a measurement that’s been the source of much scorn in recent years. Invented...
Current in News
New York becomes latest city to be slowly sinking
Apparently, New York City is slowly sinking under its own weight. But given that the climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise and coastal erosion to worsen all while urban development increases, should we be surprised? Over the weekend, news broke that New York City is sinking under the...
‘Oceans’ reveals worst polluted beaches in the UK
UK beaches are riddled with plastic pollution. Toilet paper company Oceans has discovered the top worst affected beaches and are campaigning to spread awareness. There are 5000 pieces of plastic & 150 plastic bottles for each mile on UK beaches, while 88% of the sea's surface is polluted by...
WHO declares Benin and Mali trachoma-free
Trachoma has plagued poor communities across the globe for centuries. This week, the World Health Organization declared both Benin and Mali to have eradicated the disease, joining four other African nations in eliminating the problem fully. The profound consequences of trachoma on communities have been extensively documented. Recently, a collaborative...
Could mushrooms eventually replace polystyrene?
A Ukrainian startup has successfully developed a 100% biodegradable and extremely lightweight packaging alternative made from mycelium roots that fully decomposes in just a month. If you’re familiar with my writing, by now I’m sure you’re well aware of my deep-rooted obsession with all things mycelium. This is pretty understandable, given...
New study reveals that menstrual misinformation is on the rise
According to research published this month by period tracking app Flo Health, there exist prominent gaps in the knowledge women have about their own bodies. While women’s health has undergone a generational culture shift in recent years, prompting more open discourse around historically stigmatised concerns regarding our wombs, it’s still...
What Uber’s new flight service means for travel
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, recently announced its expansion into the world of flights. While this move may seem like a turning point in travel convenience, it raises concerns about environmental impact. Nearly all of us, especially those living in the UK’s bigger cities, will have had a run-in with Uber. Launched in 2009, the platform was an overhaul in travel, allowing users to move from A to B with an ease...
Why have India’s top wrestlers taken to the streets in protest?
India’s Olympic-level wrestlers have recently been leading a demonstration in New Delhi as an act of protest. This movement, which started with MP Brij Bhushan being accused of sexual assault, is scheduled to end only after his arrest. With powerful stakeholders involved, the victims await justice and an acceptable probe. TW: This article contains mentions of sexual harassment. With the Paris Olympics soon approaching, we have seen athletes from across the...
Hundreds killed in DRC floods and landslides
More than 400 people have been died and about 5,000 are missing after intense flooding and landslides hit the DRC last week. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been prone to floods and landslides for many years, with the frequency and severity of these natural disasters increasing in recent years due to climate change. The nation is currently facing devastating floods which have killed more than 400 people, displacing thousands...
New Zealand unveils its biggest emissions reduction plan in history
Set to involve transitioning from coal to renewable electricity at the country’s major steel plant, the project will – according to the government – be equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road. As we inch closer towards the 1.5°C temperature threshold, countries across the globe are finding themselves hard-pressed to adapt, and fast. New Zealand, which has long been considered a ‘safe haven from the climate...
