New study finds drug testing sites make festivals safer
A survey analysed 250,000 festival attendees, examining the impacts of drug-checking provisions. It found that drug use did not go up, but instead festivals were safer overall. A new study by The Loop and Liverpool University suggests that drug testing facilities at festivals ensure a safer environment, with no...
Current in Offbeat
Opinion – politicians should stop trying to be celebrities
Constant media coverage kickstarted the personalisation of politics, where leaders aren’t seen as representatives but more as ‘personalities’ that the public tries to know, relate to, and measure their own values against. Is this damaging? Yesterday, the wiser half of Britain collectively scoffed and eye-rolled after learning that its former...
This lamp is made from just three recycled orange peels
One of the key challenges humanity faces is finding ways to turn ‘waste’ into items that are both functional and attractive to use. A design studio in Italy is utilising the country’s most popular fruit to create eco-friendly homeware. On the third day, God said: ‘let there be light.’ Not...
Researchers create solar powered cyborg cockroaches
The idea of using cockroaches to help search and rescue missions has been in development for quite some time. Now, Japanese researchers have implemented solar cells into an electronic backpack which can be mounted onto real cockroaches. Some scientific research projects are so off-the-wall it’s hard to believe they’re actually...
Wind turbines may soon be recycled into gummy bears
Researchers at Michigan State University have created a new composite resin for wind turbine blades that allows them to be recycled into a variety of new items, including sweets. Next time you drive past your local wind farm, you may be looking at a future bag of gummy bears....
PETA calls for a sex strike against meat-eating men
The German branch of the non-profit organisation is facing criticism for controversially trying to convince carnivorous males to switch to being vegan with a bedroom ban. Of the many things we can do to reduce our carbon footprints, switching to a plant-based diet is pretty high up in terms of...
Corona’s sustainable island pushes the meaning of eco-tourism
Registration is now open for a full-blown ‘Corona Island’ retreat launching next year off the coast of Colombia. It is entirely plastic free, focuses on reconnecting with nature, and holds sustainability as a core value. Okay, so we’ll try our best not to make this article read like PR, but this retreat just so happens to combine three of our favourite things: sun, sustainability, and last but not least, beer. Off...
The Samsung ‘Balance Mouse’ runs away if you overwork
Samsung has developed a one of a kind computer mouse that will scurry away if you begin to overwork. It’s a neat idea that reflects the modern desire for a more pronounced work/life balance. If you’re one of the remaining few who refuse to punch out when the working day is over, you could do with this quirky contraption. Samsung may be developing an office accessory that takes human agency completely...
Automated chess robot breaks finger of seven-year-old challenger
A small child had their finger broken by a robot during a chess game at the Moscow Open, according to Russian media. Should we be wary of potentially dangerous automation? For most, an innocuous game of chess does not come with the potential for violence, much less a broken bone or limb. That’s apparently not the case at the Moscow Open this year, however. According to Russian media, a seven-year-old...
Five healthy alternatives to popular breakfast dishes
Looking for something to swap out for your usual breakfast choices? Here’s a quick guide to get you started. After 2 years of chaos, Covid-19 has not completely disappeared, with experts asserting that new waves of infection will reoccur on an annual basis. This seems like the perfect time to improve your physical and mental health, and what better way to do so than through eating healthier breakfasts? Here’s a few...
