Reusable containers aren’t always better for the environment than disposable ones – new research: The environmental footprint of reusable containers may not be as light as we think. Marco Verch/Flickr, CC BY-SA We are facing a waste crisis, with landfills across the world at full capacity and mountains of “recycled” waste dumped in developing countries. …
COVID: the reason cases are rising among the double vaccinated – it’s not because vaccines aren’t working: Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, has announced that 40% of people admitted to hospital with COVID in the UK have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. At first glance, this rings very serious alarm …
Plans for ministers who aren’t in parliament raise concerns for UK democracy – constitutional expert: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the weekly PMQs session in the House of Commons where he can be challenged by members of parliament Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament The UK prime minister currently chooses his or her ministers from membership of …
Ghana’s farmers aren’t all seeing the fruits of a Green Revolution: Ghana's Green Revolution has not been as successful as portrayed. Wikimedia Commons/Flickr, CC BY-SA Global businesses, donors and governments have each pursued a Green Revolution agenda in Africa, Asia and South America since the 1960s. Its aim was, in theory, to produce more food, …
Hiking workouts aren’t just good for your body – they’re good for your mind too: Hiking uses more energy than a regular walk in the park does. Olga Danylenko/ Shutterstock Before COVID-19, the popularity of hiking was on a downward slope in both adults and children. But its popularity has spiked during the pandemic, seeing …
Kenya’s civil service is ageing, but adjustments aren’t being made: Shutterstock The demographic profiles of countries like Kenya, where a high percentage of people are young, would suggest that it’s swiftly renewing its workforce with fresh talent. But this doesn’t seem to be the case. We conducted a study in a public sector organisation three …
Why Nigerian small businesses aren’t using the full power of social media: Entrepreneurs at this popular Lagos cane furniture market could do a lot more for their business with the use of social media. Photo by Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images Around the world, the use of social media continues to grow and to …
Malawi’s farm subsidies aren’t helping women: but there are solutions: Input subsidies aren't helping women like Malawian farmer Grace Stenala. Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images Smallholder agriculture is the backbone of food security in many sub-Saharan African households. And women, in particular, play a central role in putting food on the table. However, there is …
There aren’t enough trees in the world to offset society’s carbon emissions – and there never will be: A tropical rainforest in South America. Shutterstock/BorneoRimbawan One morning in 2009, I sat on a creaky bus winding its way up a mountainside in central Costa Rica, light-headed from diesel fumes as I clutched my many suitcases. …
People living in African urban settings do a lot of walking: but their cities aren’t walkable: People walking next to traffic in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. Photo by Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images Walking remains the main modeof transport in many sub-Saharan African cities, especially among low-income residents in informal settlements. Yet, it is well …
South Africa in the news: Key African Central Banks Aren’t Rushing to Raise Interest Rates: Central banks in some of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest economies may be more concerned about the impact of a potential third wave of coronavirus infections and a slow rollout of vaccines than …: “South Africa” – BingNews England’s new approach push …
Day and night aren’t equal length on an equinox – here’s why: Sunset. Shutterstock/Delcroix Romain Winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere are both coming to an end. That means the days and nights are becoming roughly equal in length, and the path the Sun traces across the sky is changing. …
Energy storage technology is accelerating – but grids aren’t ready for the transition: Thanks in part to the pandemic-induced economic slowdown and the collapse of coal and triumph of wind power over the last decade, a new analysis suggests the UK is halfway to meeting its net zero greenhouse gas emissions target. The ultimate goal …
Why, 31 years after independence, Namibians aren’t in a festive mood: Hundreds of Namibians protested against growing gender-based violence in October 2020. The Afrikaans wording on the placard says 'We are tired'. Hildegard Titus/AFPvia Getty Images) Namibia celebrates its 31st independence day this month. But Namibians are not in a festive mood. A 2019 survey …
Why efforts to clean up charcoal production in sub-Saharan Africa aren’t working: Charcoal is an essential fuel for most parts of sub-Saharan Africa AnandievanZyl/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Charcoal is an essential source of domestic fuel in many sub-Saharan African countries. Overall, the region produces 65% of the world’s charcoal, with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana being …
Temperature scanners aren’t good at telling who has COVID-19 – here’s how to fix that: winnievinzence/Shutterstock During the pandemic, the chances are that as you enter an airport or doctor’s surgery, someone will point an infrared thermometer at your forehead in order to assess your temperature. Your skin temperature is being measured to try to …
If control measures are stopping flu in its tracks, why aren’t they stopping coronavirus?: As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, other respiratory illnesses have been unusually quiet this year. Fears of a dangerous influenza and COVID-19 “syndemic” have come to pass as influenza cases reached some of the lowest rates ever observed. The near absence of …
Uganda’s Batwa community are vulnerable to climate change, but aren’t involved in adaptation decisions: The Batwa community are believed to be one of the original inhabitants of the Equatorial Forest in the Great Lakes Region. Uganda’s Batwa community are highly vulnerable; they don’t own much land and often don’t have access to capital. They were …