Michael J. Fox at BAFTAs shows need for disability representation
The ‘Back to the Future’ actor left viewers in floods of tears after he made a surprise appearance on the BAFTAs stage. The best film award at this year’s BAFTAs received a standing ovation for two reasons. Besides the congratulatory cheers for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which nabbed the award along...
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Scientists call for greater emoji biodiversity
Emojis are now such a key part of our language that ecologists from the University of Milan believe more variation could help generate interest in lesser-known organisms - and encourage conversations around conservation. A team of ecologists from the University of Milan recently conducted the world’s most comprehensive survey on...
French top-flight football league to be renamed ‘Ligue 1 McDonald’s’
Its five-year sponsorship with Uber Eats is almost over. Next season, the top-flight of French football will be officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald’s. This is about to bring a whole new layer to the farmers’ league jokes. Following the end of its five-year sponsorship with Uber Eats, France’s top-flight domestic...
Why did LA’s graffiti artists target these downtown luxury apartments?
In the heart of Los Angeles stands three skyscrapers once destined to house luxury condominiums, a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, and more. Now, it’s completely abandoned and covered in graffiti. What happened? Since the year 2019, a trio of massive skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles have been left completely...
Why can nobody recognise this lost 1980s song?
A mysterious song snippet has been making the rounds online. Nobody seems to recognise the track or its origin. What gives? Despite the internet’s best efforts, it seems nobody can identify a mysterious 17 second song snippet that was uploaded to WatZatSong by a user called Carl92 in 2021. The...
Olivia Rodrigo launches ‘Fund 4 Good’ initiative for women
Singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has announced a new initiative called ‘Fund 4 Good’ which will work to ‘support all women, girls, and people seeking reproductive health freedom’. Olivia Rodrigo has unveiled a new initiative called ‘Fund 4 Good’ that will finance non-profit organisations championing girls’ education, supporting reproductive...
Willy Wonka-inspired Glasgow experience scam shows danger of AI
An ‘immersive’ Glasgow adventure day based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been described as a scam, after ticket-goers complained of a lacklustre experience. It’s an example of how unchecked AI advertisements can lead to serious product misrepresentation. Nearly everyone has seen or read the classic tale of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Written by Roald Dahl in 1964 and later adapted into several films starring Gene Wilder and...
Lyle’s Golden Syrup changes logo for first time since 1883
In an effort to appeal to a younger market, Lyle’s Golden Syrup has changed its logo for the first time in nearly 150 years. It’s a pivot toward flat design, a trend that continues to dominate labelling, packaging, and marketing across many industries. If you’ve ever bought Lyle’s Golden Syrup before, you’ll probably have noticed that the company’s logo has never changed. In fact, it’s been the same since...
Are these drive-in parks the ‘petrol stations’ of the future?
A new kind of refueling station has popped up in the Danish town of Sønderborg. Rather than filling up on petrol, the facility has been designed to allow drivers to ‘recharge their minds’ alongside their electric vehicles. Most petrol stations only look good when captured on a retro film camera in low lighting, but the locations where we power up our vehicles could be about to get a massive makeover. This...
Opinion – Beyoncé’s new music is a nod to country’s Black roots
The Renaissance artist surprised fans with two new country singles this week. But the genre’s cultural roots prove her latest career move makes every bit of sense. Beyoncé has been dropping country themes since the launch of Renaissance in 2021. Most notable of these has been the recurring appearance of her mirrored cowboy hat, which became an icon of the Renaissance world tour. But when she launched two country singles...
