| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the WEEK: Do we need to relearn the art of hanging out?

IN THE NEWS: Loneliness is being described as the “modern leprosy”, a debilitating personal and social problem. But what is so hard to solve about being alone? Loneliness can feel like a universal, and ubiquitous, emotion. Almost 50% of adults report feeling lonely at least some of the time in the UK, with 3.3 million […]

| Read time: 8 minute(s)

DEBATE OF THE WEEK: Is the tug-of-love over Taiwan threatening global peace?

IN THE NEWS: As China and the US compete for Taiwan’s attention, many fear that what they are actually flirting with is war. As one proverb popular in both Taiwan and China goes: “Water can make a boat float, but it can also sink it.” These days Taiwan is in particularly rough waters. The country, […]

| Read time: 10 minute(s)

This teenager cycled from Alaska to Argentina

He’d longed to go on a “crazy adventure” for years, and as Liam Garner’s high school graduation day grew closer, the teenager was more determined than ever to make his escape. An experienced cyclist, Garner, who is from Long Beach, California, had previously ridden from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and realized that he could […]

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

NASA teams with Canadian elementary school kids to test EpiPens in Space

We often tell our kids to shoot for the stars. Students at a Canadian elementary school did just that. They teamed up with NASA to see if a lifesaving drug would work in space. Their experiment was sent up in a rocket, and they made a big discovery. EpiPens used to deliver emergency treatment for […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the WEEK: Can you really change your character?

IN THE NEWS: An age-old psychological myth has been busted, as scientists gather increasing proof that we can change our personality at will. It can feel like a lottery. Are you an extrovert? Congratulations! You have a greater chance of being happy. Are you conscientious? Brilliant! You have a higher life expectancy. But people who […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

DEBATE OF THE DAY: Is predicting the future a skill we can learn?

IN THE NEWS: Is predicting the future a skill we can learn? Another disaster has shaken some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Some think we can use science to predict and prevent them. On Friday 3 February, a Dutch researcher, Frank Hoogerbeets, tweeted out a map of southern Turkey. In the caption he wrote: […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the WEEK: Should we spend more time with our friends?

IN THE NEWS: Good relationships are the secret to happiness, say scientists. But more and more people today are spending the majority of their time alone. “Lumberjacks know the secret of happiness”. It is a bold claim. But according to a survey by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, lumberjacks are some of the happiest people […]

| 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: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the Week:Will the protests succeed?

In THE NEWS: The people of China have been worn down by Covid-19 restrictions, censorship and economic woes. Now they want to take back control of their own lives. “We want to be citizens, not slaves.” That is the rallying cry of thousands of Chinese protesters who have taken to the streets in recent days. […]