| Read time: 6 minute(s)

‘Carbon bomb’: What is the Willow project and why has Joe Biden approved it?

The United States has approved a major oil-drilling project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope – a move that environmentalists have slammed as a “betrayal.” The ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project will produce an estimated 160,000 barrels of oil per day over the next 30 years. Burning this oil will produce 260 million tons of carbon dioxide, […]

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

New museum in Mexico spotlights endangered axolotl salamander

A new museum and conservation center dedicated to Mexico’s critically endangered axolotl salamander is highlighting the amphibian’s remarkable story that has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike. With an impressive ability to heal itself, the axolotl (pronounced ah-sho-LO-tul) salamanders were showcased in the exhibit, which opened on Saturday, at Mexico City’s Chapultepec […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the Day: Is inequality destroying planet earth?

THE NEWS: The world’s most powerful people were gathered in Switzerland. Some hoped to persuade them to clamp down on the top 1%. It is thought that Mansa Musa, emperor of Mali, was the richest man in history. In 1324, on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he brought so much gold with him that the value […]

| Read time: 3 minute(s)

World’s Longest Train: Swiss Rail Company creates World Record

The Rhaetian Railway company, in Switzerland, has claimed the world record for the longest passenger train. The train ran a 1.9-kilometer-long or 1.2-mile-long carrier composed of 100 coaches along the Albula/Bernina route from Preda to Bergün, according to an Associated Press report.  The train ran on the scenic route which is famous for having 22 […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

Introducing the world’s first floating city.

Construction is underway in the Maldives for a floating city to house 20,000 people – a trailblazing solution to rising sea levels and an overcrowded capital city. In a turquoise lagoon in the Maldives, a floating city is beginning to take shape. Consisting of houses, restaurants, shops, a school and a hospital, the futuristic feat […]

| Read time: 9 minute(s)

Asteroid’s path altered in NASA’s first test of planetary defense.

The spacecraft NASA deliberately crashed into an asteroid last month succeeded in nudging the rocky moonlet from its natural path into a faster orbit, marking the first time humanity has altered the motion of a celestial body, the U.S. space agency announced on Tuesday. The $330 million proof-of-concept mission, which was seven years in development, […]

| Read time: 9 minute(s)

Capitalism Redefined: Patagonia Founder gives away the company to fight climate change

A half century after founding the outdoor apparel maker Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, the eccentric rock climber who became a reluctant billionaire with his unconventional spin on capitalism, has given the company away. Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Mr. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, […]

| Read time: 7 minute(s)

Debate of the Week: Is it right to turn bugs into food?

Companies aiming to sell them as snacks are rapidly expanding, and claim they could end global food shortages while protecting the environment. Imagine it’s the year 2031. Ella could not believe her luck. She was celebrating her birthday at 2031’s Restaurant of the Year. There was carpaccio of caterpillar, bluebottle paté, woodlouse tempura. What should […]

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

Droughts cause problems around the world

This summer has brought extreme heat and droughts to places around the world. The droughts are leading to serious problems, including shortages of food and energy, problems with transportation, and price increases. The effects of the droughts are likely to be felt for years. From Africa to Europe to the US to China, record temperatures […]

| Read time: 2 minute(s)

What went right this week

Solar-powered cargo bikes arrived Cargo bikes were already the quickest way to transport goods across a city, according to a study published last year. Little wonder they are being touted as the future of urban transport. Now they have even more of a competitive advantage thanks to two German companies, which have developed lightweight solar […]