| Read time: 5 minute(s)

ORIGINS OF EARTH DAY

In the decades leading up to the first Earth Day, people were consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from either the law or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Until this point, […]

| Read time: 3 minute(s)

DEBATE OF THE DAY: Should we all learn sign language?

Amidst the endless noise and babble of modern life, hand gestures make people more attractive and powerful, says research into public speakers. One film was the clear favourite at the Oscars on Sunday night: The Power of the Dog. But when the moment came for Liza Minnelli to announce the Best Picture, the envelope contained […]

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Taiwan puppeteers look to NFT’s

A group of Taiwanese puppeteers are looking to use non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, to help bring their traditional art form into the modern era and keep it relevant for a new audience. NFTs are crypto assets representing a digital item such as an image, video, or even land in virtual worlds, with prices of some […]

| Read time: 2 minute(s)

TOO SOON TO TREAT COVID 19 LIKE FLU WARNS WHO

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is on track to infect more than half of Europeans, but it should not yet be seen as a flu-like endemic illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. It comes after Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi suggested the UK could be one of the first countries to “transition” from […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

HOW DID WE GET HERE?  Novak Djokovic intends to pursue a 10th Australian Open title as the first tennis major of the year begins on Monday. But before the Serbian player can turn his attention to breaking a 20-Grand Slam singles titles tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the world’s top-ranked men’s player must […]

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

Sea Dragon: 180-Million-Year-Old Fossil of a Giant Sea Creature Discovered in the UK

Scientists have discovered a large sea creature’s fossilised remains from the bottom of a lagoon in England. Colloquially referred to as sea dragon, it is the only most complete fossil of the ancient sea creature obtained from the UK. The remains of the ichthyosaur—large extinct marine reptiles—were found in the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. A […]

| Read time: 3 minute(s)

Explained: Does Omicron pose higher risks for infants than other variants?

Data from an area in South Africa hard-hit by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has shown a high number of hospital admissions of infants under 2 years old, raising concerns that the variant may pose risks to young children. South African scientists have said they cannot yet confirm a link between Omicron and the […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Are birds like humans?

As we learn about our feathered friends, their feats of language, memory and even artistic appreciation raise questions about how different we really are. At the end of each day, as Irene Pepperberg placed her parrot Alex back into his cage, he would bid her goodnight: “You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you.” […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

STRICTER CURBS DURING CHRISTMAS IN EUROPE

Many European countries are toughening curbs. The state of emergency announced by the Czech Republic allows the government to order restrictions on public life. Authorities there ordered bars and clubs to close down at 10 p.m., banned Christmas markets and capped attendance at cultural and sports events at 1,000 people.  Slovakia’s two-week lockdown from Thursday […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Should we all be hermits?

For 40 years Ken Smith has lived without electricity in a hand-made log cabin in the Scottish Highlands. Finally his secret is out. The Scottish Highlands are one of the most remote places. It might seem like no human being could scrape a living from the hard land and the deep lakes. But if you […]