Opinion – AFCON’s fossil fuel affiliation will further damage Africa
As the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in the Ivory Coast, yet another tournament will ultimately serve to fill the pockets of those already destroying the continent. While the self-confessed obsessed (like myself) will happily take all the football we can get, at times there is a bigger picture...
Current in Change
Bottled water contains as many as 250,000 plastic nanoparticles
Scanning bottled water with a newly invented electron microscope, scientists have discovered an alarming number of plastic nanoparticles floating inside. These virtually invisible particles pose a risk to human health once ingested. Plastic is here, plastic is there, plastic is everywhere. Yep, even inside you. Those startled by the recent news...
Women added to committee for COP29 after gender bias backlash
Last week, Azerbaijan’s president announced an all-male panel for the global climate summit, which the country will host in December. This decision was immediately condemned by campaigners as regressive, sparking an inclusivity U-turn. On January 15, the president of Azerbaijan announced that the organising committee for the COP29 global...
EU Commission reintroduces wolf hunting following farmer pressure
A proposal to lower the conservation status of wolves in the EU has ignited questions on the equilibrium between environmental preservation and economic considerations. In mid-December, the European Union proposed to demote the wolf's status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ under the Berne Convention. Many criticized this decision for its...
Camera manufacturer Canon donates equipment to coral reef lab
Leveraging the mission to save coral reef species, Canon has donated high-end image capturing equipment to London-based Coral Spawning Lab. Though virtually all life on Earth is under threat from climate change, the most fragile ecosystems by far are coral reefs. Hoping to ensure their future survival, laboratories around the world...
Scientists believe they have discovered the age ceiling for humans
Though human life expectancy has risen – and some people are attempting to ‘live forever’ – Dutch scientists believe they have figured out the ultimate ‘ceiling’ of the human lifespan. Radical improvements to medical care, nutrition, and overall living conditions have all contributed to lengthening the average human lifespan. During the...
African bishops stand against Pope Francis’ same-sex blessings
Last month, Pope Francis allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, signaling a move towards inclusivity within the Roman Catholic Church. However, African bishops' strong opposition highlights a clash between the Vatican's evolving stance and entrenched cultural norms on the continent. In December, Pope Francis made an announcement on the highly controversial topic of LGBTQ+ blessings in church through an official statement released by the Vatican. The historic decision to allow...
British Sign Language will now be taught as a GCSE subject
The introduction of BSL to the UK education system is a vital step towards a more inclusive society. After a 12-week consultation with the deaf and hearing communities, the Department of Education has announced that British Sign Language (BSL) will be introduced as a GCSE option from September 2025. The government’s new plan is an attempt to boost inclusivity in schools and give would-be signers useful life skills. A BSL GCSE will...
Drug consumption rooms could save thousands of British lives
The world’s largest review of drug consumption rooms reveals that they are integral to harm-reduction and could slash the transmission of fatal diseases. In addition, they may help reduce pressure on ambulance callouts and the burden on UK hospitals.
Data published by the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales has risen for the eleventh year in a row, with
Climate change is impacting babies’ birth weight
According to a new study, exposure to cold or heat stress, particularly in the latter stages of pregnancy, leads to children being too large or too small for their gestational age. Last year was the hottest on record by an enormous margin, with the Earth 1.48°C warmer than pre-industrial levels and dangerously close to the 1.5°C limit set during the 2015 Paris Agreement. In 2023, the average...
