The world is hooked on junk food: how big companies pull it off: Shutterstock It is almost impossible nowadays to listen to the radio, watch TV or scroll through social media without being exposed to an advertisement telling us that all we need for a little happiness and love is a sugary drink or a …
South Africa is hooked on fossil fuels: how it got here and how it can get out: South Africa's Kusile coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga. Getty images South Africa has experienced power shortages with rolling blackouts on an unprecedented scale in 2022. This state of affairs is largely due to technical failures at its ageing …
Gambling: what happens in the brain when we get hooked – and how to regain control: The brains of gambling addicts activate in specific ways. GoodIdeas/Shutterstock Many people turned to online gambling during the pandemic. And while a large proportion of us are able to gamble recreationally, without serious negative impact, the pandemic has led …
Fish hooked on meth – the consequences of freshwater pollution: Kletr/Shutterstock Around 269 million people worldwide use drugs each year. Often forgotten in this story is a problem of basic biology. What goes in must come out. Sewers are inundated with drugs that are excreted from the body, along with the broken down chemical components …
Healthcare is still hooked on single-use plastic PPE, but there are more sustainable options: AlessandroBiascioli / shutterstock COVID-19 has highlighted the staggering amount of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) that medical and healthcare facilities use on a daily basis, and the associated high costs. No one disputes the importance of keeping people well-protected in hospitals, …