White Lotus: ‘the show’s depiction of sibling sexual behaviour is incredibly harmful’ – expert opinion: This article contains spoilers for season three of The White Lotus The White Lotus is a show where a lot of sex happens and many taboos are explored. For instance, in episode seven the impact on one character of watching …
Smokers have a higher level of harmful bacteria in the mouth – new study: A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 8 million people die annually from smoking related complications. Despite efforts by governments and various organisations to create awareness about the dangers, around 1.3 billion people still use some form …
Diverse gut microbiomes give better protection against harmful bugs – now we know why: Helena Nechaeva/Shutterstock In the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that a gut full of friendly microbes (the microbiome) is vital for our good health. It has also become clear that a healthy microbiome is one with a diverse population …
Around a million children in the UK are living in destitution – with harmful consequences for their development: spixel/Shutterstock Millions of people in the UK are unable to meet their most basic physical needs: to stay warm, dry, clean and fed. This is known as destitution. Recent analysis from charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) …
Shouting at children linked to depression – but defining what counts as verbal abuse is what will help prevent harmful parenting: fasphotographic/Shutterstock A recent research paper has found that verbal abuse of children, including shouting at them and calling them names, is linked to low mood, drug abuse and delinquency (antisocial behaviour). The authors of …
Dirty tea towels are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria – here’s how to clean them properly: Yep, when you've finished, both of those need to go in the wash. pexels/karolina grabowska Kitchens can harbour all sorts of germs and bacteria. These can arrive via humans, pets, uncooked food or even plants, meaning that a high …
Rust out: why boredom at work can be harmful and what employers can do about it: The rise of technology has left many people feeling bored. Minerva Studio/Shutterstock We all know that high levels of stress in the workplace can lead to burnout. But less attention is given to long periods of intense boredom, sometimes …
Child labour on farms in Africa: it’s important to make a distinction between what’s harmful, and what isn’t: Many children help out on family farms in Africa Nana Kofi Acquah/Flickr Children across the vast expanse of rural Africa hoe, dig, plant, carry, tend livestock, cook, scrub, care for their siblings, and undertake many other farm …
8 billion people: why trying to control the population is often futile – and harmful: Varavin88 / Shutterstock The world’s population is expected to hit 8 billion people on November 15, according to the UN. Already this has prompted worry about whether there will be enough food, water and energy to support our growing population. …
What is cultural appropriation and why is it so harmful?: Album artwork for Mount Ninji And Da Nice Time Kid. Zef Recordz/Die Antwoord Die Antwoord is a South African band that uses hip-hop music to create a style it calls “zef”. Since it first appeared in 2009, Die Antwoord has been criticised for cultural appropriation …
Cape Town’s caracals are exposed to harmful ‘forever chemicals’ through their diet: Caracals feed mainly on native, wild species. Jacque Smit If you live near or have visited Cape Town’s urban edge – where urban and natural areas meet – you may have been lucky enough to spot a caracal. These adaptable, medium-sized wild cats …
How soaring inflation can be particularly harmful for young people: Shutterstock/SpeedKingz Inflation rates have become almost impossible to ignore. In the UK, inflation has soared in recent months, now reaching 9% – the highest rate for 40 years. The Bank of England expects it to rise to 10% this year and for the economy to …
Lessons from the global South on how to counter harmful information: Disinformation is particularly rife during elections. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images The large-scale contamination of the public sphere by rumours, hate speech, dangerous conspiracy theories and orchestrated deception campaigns is causing widespread concern around the world. These ills are collectively referred to as “information disorder” …
Sports betting: how in-play betting features could be leading to harmful gambling – new research: Wpadington/Shutterstock With the rapid convergence of the gambling and technology spheres over recent years, sports betting has become more accessible, more customisable and more complex. Gone are the days where punters were limited to betting on the winner or loser …
To engage LGBTQ+ people in data collection, we need to look at its harmful history: STILLFX / Shutterstock In the 1950s, the UK government formed a committee to investigate fears of a homosexual “problem” in Britain. This was partly sparked by a series of scandals, including the exposure of a Soviet spy ring of homosexual …
‘Don’t say gay’ bill: Florida should learn from the harmful legacy of Britain’s section 28: BearFotos / Shutterstock Florida lawmakers have passed a bill that would bar teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The parental rights in education bill, labelled the “don’t say gay” bill by critics, would also prevent …
COVID misinformation is a health risk – tech companies need to remove harmful content not tweak their algorithms: file404/Shutterstock Many worldwide have now caught COVID. But during the pandemic many more are likely to have encountered something else that’s been spreading virally: misinformation. False information has plagued the COVID response, erroneously convincing people that the …
South Africa in the news: Stop harmful travel curbs, says South Africa: DAKAR — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that the world needed to resist unjustified and unscientific COVID-19 travel restrictions that mostly hurt developing nations.: “South Africa” – BingNews The Latest: S. Africa doctor sees mild symptoms from omicron: He also …