British Museum worker sacked over missing items
Reports that a museum employee was sacked over missing items has triggered jibes on social media, as netizens compare the theft with imperialist history of the artefacts themselves. A senior curator at the British Museum has been sacked over missing items. Peter Higgs worked on the museum’s Greek collections,...
Current in Offbeat
Is TikTok’s burnt toast theory a solution to rising anxiety among Gen Z?
The viral concept postulates that minor inconveniences could be the universe’s way of averting a more severe catastrophe. Can this perspective alter how we perceive daily mishaps and alleviate stress? When you’ve endured a global pandemic, continue to witness the worsening effects of climate change, and are struggling to navigate...
A congressional hearing on UFOs just took place in Washington
A former intelligence officer claimed under oath that the US government is covering up its knowledge of UFOs and recovered ‘nonhuman’ biological matter. Public hearings on the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrials are actually taking place. No, this isn’t the plot of an upcoming M. Night Shyamalan movie. Conspiracists have long...
How Pear’s social experiment is combatting dating app fatigue
A new startup called Pear wants to eliminate our reliance on tech to foster romance. Its small green ring encourages singles across the globe to make organic connections. Earlier this year, we asked whether dating apps have taken the fun out of falling in love on the back of revelations...
PETA’s founder to leave behind grisly bodily gifts upon her death
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has announced her desire to leave behind a grisly set of assets upon her death. This includes a luxury handbag made from her skin, her lips to be delivered to the US president, and parts of her bowel gifted to Salt Bae. As Argentine revolutionary Che...
Why are we all so obsessed with astrology?
Astrology is booming. Driven by younger generations, countless websites and platforms now cater to the astrologically inclined. We examine why this concept has taken over the zeitgeist again – and how it might be causing problems. While it may be a laughable concept to many, astrology now permeates almost...
Fundraiser launched after floating shop sinks due to pollution
The founder of Rubber Ducky Records, Myles Greenwood, has launched a fundraising campaign after his floating independent record shop was destroyed en route to Manchester last week. Myles Greenwood turned his boat into an independent music shop and venue, housing over 2000 pieces of vinyl and recording equipment. Since October last year, the boat has been drifting through Britain’s waterways, bringing vintage vinyl and radio shows to towns and cities across...
Stanford University students create ‘Rizz GPT’ for AR glasses
People are constantly finding new uses for ChatGPT, whether recreational or professional. The latest, has seen Stanford students develop a set of AR glasses which can provide automated conversation prompts on the fly. They call it ‘Rizz GPT.’ Typical advice for an important interview or date usually encapsulates something along the lines of, ‘just relax and let your personality shine through.’ Scratch that, it’s 2023. Get AI involved. Now in its...
Is powdered beer the answer to alcohol’s carbon footprint?
A German brewery has developed powdered beer, a revolutionary new beverage that may change the way we consume alcohol forever. Instant drinks like coffee and - dare I say it - custard, have been around for years now. And while these powdered alternatives have revolutionised our daily lives, an alcoholic version wasn’t something many saw coming. But a German brewery has just developed a powder beer, which creates an instant beverage...
Is diabetes killing my sex drive?
Chronic conditions such as diabetes can have a severe impact on a person’s physical and mental health, but can they damage our ability to be intimate with our partners, as well as ourselves? My body image has drastically changed since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year. Insulin injections have made my weight yo-yo up and down and produced bruises and bumps all over my body, while my hair has...
