Why are female politicians more often targeted with violence? New findings confirm depressing suspicions: Shutterstock/Gannvector Despite some progress, women remain seriously underrepresented in politics globally. As of 2023, women held only 26% of parliamentary seats and 15.8% of the positions as heads of state or government. My new research with colleagues raises one possible factor …
Mauritius sea sponge produces chemicals that can kill liver cancer cells – findings are a positive first step: For thousands of years, medicines have been developed from natural sources – mostly from plants. In recent decades, though, drug hunters have been looking at the immense diversity of marine organisms as potential sources of new medicines. …
The Johnson/Truss debacle of 2022 made people more afraid of starting businesses – new findings: The UK picked a bad year to have a political crisis in 2022. The markets were already jittery because the global economy was struggling to recover from COVID. The war in Ukraine drove up energy costs, leading to high inflation and …
Kenya’s population: 5 key findings in the past 20 years of research: Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Like many countries on the African continent, Kenya’s population is growing – fast. The country’s population was 8.1 million in 1963; today it stands at about 55 million people. More people have moved into urban areas too. …
COVID’s ongoing toll on university students’ mental health – new findings: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock Even before the pandemic, university students were at high risk of developing mental health problems. Transitioning to adulthood is already a period of heightened vulnerability, and for students, this can be combined with added stressors such as living away from home, financial hardship …
COVID origins debate: what to make of new findings linking the virus to raccoon dogs: Voodison328/Shutterstock The origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, has long been a topic of heated debate. While many believe SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans from an animal at Wuhan’s Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, others have argued the virus was …
Builders are making thumping profits by over-charging for new homes – new findings: Fables of the construction. Pirhani/Shutterstock Welcome to the UK, where affordable housing can often feel like an oxymoron. The average national house price is £294,000, but someone earning the average annual salary of £33,000 can expect to borrow no more than £140,000, …
Kenyan prisoners on death row weren’t deterred by the threat of the death penalty: new research findings: Kenya last executed a prisoner in 1987 but continues to hand down the death sentence. Getty Images Kenya’s last execution of a prisoner was in 1987. But the country still hosts a death row population of nearly 600. …
Ethnic minority workers earn much less than white counterparts within the same firm – new findings: Same role, different wage. AllGo, CC BY-SA Ethnic minorities make up an ever larger share of the UK workforce. Where just over 6% of all workers were from minority backgrounds 20 years ago, now it’s nearly 14%. Yet employees …
COVID vaccines are linked to heavier periods for many – new findings from large study: FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock COVID has affected countless aspects of our lives. For many people who menstruate, one of the pandemic’s effects has been on periods. People have reported changes to their menstrual cycles after having COVID, from the timing of their period, …
‘Wine time Friday’ and invites for 200: five of the most interesting findings from Sue Gray’s partygate report: Boris Johnson takes questions from the press over partygate. Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA After months of delay and speculation, civil servant Sue Gray has published her report into Downing Street parties. It does not make for comfortable …
LGBT rights in eastern Europe: explaining financial benefits makes a big difference to people’s views – new findings: Across eastern Europe, it’s still very difficult to pass laws and policies designed to advance LGBT inclusion. With LGBT+ History Month underway, some Ukrainians are worried that their country’s fragile progress in LGBT rights will be set …
We studied the sounds of mosquitoes’ mating rituals – our findings could help fight malaria: mycteria/Shutterstock In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that almost half the world’s population was at risk of malaria, while some 627,000 people died from the disease. Although a malaria vaccine may soon be available (the WHO recommended one …
A new species of early human? Why we should be cautious about new fossil footprint findings: Dawid A. Iurino for THOR, Author provided A collection of fossil footprints at Laetoli in Northern Tanzania, preserved in volcanic ash and dated to 3.66 million years ago, are still yielding surprises almost 45 years after their discovery. Based …
My findings about the sanitation conditions in Nigeria’s Ile-Ife point to a bad situation: Governments must provide adequate sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. IUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images Most Nigerians don’t have access to basic facilities such as water supply, toilets, drains and solid waste disposal. In fact, access to basic sanitation is declining. The …
COVID-19 lockdowns and contraception: unexpected findings in four African countries: Women's need for contraception and contraceptive use must be an ongoing priority. Jonathan Torgovnik for The Hewlett Foundation/Reportage by Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sexual and reproductive health needs of women across contexts. To curb the spread of disease across sub-Saharan Africa, …
South Africa in the news: State capture inquiry to make findings against Guptas and Zuma, despite their no-shows: Judge Raymond Zondo will make findings on the Gupta family, who are at the heart of state capture, as well as on former president Jacob Zuma based on the evidence before the Commission of Inquiry into …: …
Turning findings into policy: six tips for researchers: Scientists and advocates around the world are in support of evidence-based, science-informed public policies. Joseph Gruber/Shutterstock There has been tremendous growth in the number of studies on sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa in the past two decades. Notably, there has been an increase in research …