insert_link Opinion Pieces US election: does it matter who is the vice-presidential pick? In Tim Walz’s case, yes By David Hastings Dunn, University of Birmingham The fanfare and publicity surrounding Tim Walz for his first fortnight as Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential pick has sparked renewed interest as to whether the second person on the ticket makes any difference when it comes to the result of the election. The conventional wisdom on the role and significance of the US vice-presidential office – in the words of Franklin […] todayAugust 14, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Is Africa Becoming a New Battlefront in the Russia-Ukraine War? By Damilola Banjo, via PassBlue Ukraine’s military intelligence recently claimed to have had a role in the massive ambush coordinated with Tuareg rebels that killed Russian troops operating alongside Malian armed forces in Mali, the Francophone West African country. The assertion has sparked fears that parts of Africa might become a proxy war zone for Russia and Ukraine. As the war in Ukraine continues, President Volodymyr Zelensky is […] todayAugust 14, 2024 14
insert_link Health / Medical Black hairy, strawberry and geographic – what the state of your tongue can say about your health sruilk/Shutterstock By Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol One of my grandmother’s favourite things to cook was cold pressed ox tongue, though it’s a tradition that I don’t really feel the need to continue. Have you ever seen one? Not only is it colossal, but requires a lot of faff in scrubbing, cooking and pressing, as well as removing a thick layer of skin on top before you eat […] todayAugust 14, 2024 12
insert_link Environment Can nations ever get artisanal gold mining right? By Aimee Gabay, via Mongabay Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a pillar of stability and opportunity for at least 16 million people worldwide, particularly in rural, impoverished communities. But with these pros also come cons. Given the serious contamination and environmental degradation associated with it, nations around the world are pushing for more sustainable laws and regulations. The question remains for policymakers, however: Can policymakers ever get it right? […] todayAugust 14, 2024 49
Environment Animal apocalypse: Deadly bird flu infects hundreds of species pole-to-pole Brown skuas and south polar skuas, two gull-like species that nest in Antarctica, are sometimes called the “pirates of the Southern seas.” These migratory seabirds are fierce, competitive predators that hunt or scavenge anything, from eggs and adult birds to seafood, mammals or garbage. “They’re really tough animals — and they’re dying,” says Antonio Quesada, director of the Spanish Polar Committee. He gravely recounts why this season’s field […] todayAugust 13, 2024 75
Local From jellyfish to basking shark, we’re developing 100 new signs to deepen deaf people’s connection with the ocean New British sign language terms will cover marine creatures like this jellyfish. JDScuba/Shutterstock By Audrey Cameron, The University of Edinburgh For deaf people including schoolchildren, teachers and scientists, talking about marine species like the shortfin mako shark, loggerhead turtle and tiny phytoplankton usually means spelling out each term letter by letter. The lack of specific British Sign Language (BSL) signs for many marine species and concepts has made it […] todayAugust 13, 2024 13
insert_link Environment Réunion is a tropical island getaway – our climate study shows that it could attract more tourists during European summers The town of Cilaos is just one of many draws for visitors to Réunion. Balate Dorin By Ariel Sarah Prinsloo, University of the Witwatersrand and Jennifer Fitchett, University of the Witwatersrand You’re scrolling through Instagram, only half paying attention to your friends’ updates, when a photo of a beautiful, pristine beach grabs your eye. Somebody you know is lounging on that very beach – and suddenly you want to […] todayAugust 13, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Mpox cases are soaring in Africa – what must be done to prevent a global pandemic By Cheryl Walter, University of Hull Alarmed by the surge in mpox cases, the Africa Centres for Disease Control has taken the unprecedented step of declaring the outbreak sweeping through African countries a continental public health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also meeting to decide whether to trigger its highest global alert level over the epidemic. These moves come after a virulent strain of the disease […] todayAugust 13, 2024 27
insert_link World Gaza war: 75 years after signing of the Geneva Conventions, Israel’s deadly attack on a Palestinian school shows their limitations By Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, University of Bristol Gaza is reeling after a missile strike launched by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted a building and mosque within a school complex in Gaza City on August 10. The Israeli military said the school was operating as a Hamas command and control post, but the buildings were reportedly also sheltering more than 6,000 displaced people. Palestinian authorities have stated that the attack […] todayAugust 13, 2024 13
