Albania’s developing tourism industry could help stop its young people from leaving – and boost its economy: It has been more than 30 years since Albania opened its doors to tourists, but telling a friend that you’re off to Tirana or Dhërmi for a long weekend might still raise some eyebrows. Despite Albania making Lonely …
Ghana’s fishing industry has a ‘golden seaweed’ problem – how citizen science can help: The Western shores of Ghana are struggling with a seaweed influx Prosper Amihere Sargassum is a genus of brown seaweed. Over 300 species are distributed across the world in both temperate and tropical climates. The species fluitans and natans are unique …
Virgin Orbit bankruptcy: why the UK’s spaceport industry may still have a bright future: Virgin Orbit filed for bankruptcy in April 2023. T. Schneider/Shutterstock The UK’s space sector has shown a remarkable dynamism in the past few years. According to the latest official figures, the sector’s revenue grew about 5.1% in 2021, outpacing the global …
Cannabis industry plans for South Africa have stalled: how to get them moving again: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently reiterated plans to accelerate the commercialisation of hemp as well as cannabis plants. His speech setting out government’s priorities for 2023 was a reminder of a pledge in …
No Oscar nominations again for female directors: how the industry can better support diverse filmmakers: There’s an ongoing joke in our household. When I win at cards it’s luck. When my husband wins it’s skill. I often wonder if this is also how the industry perceives female film directors. And I always feel that when …
Banshees of Inisherin: how location and language have set the scene for Ireland’s vibrant film industry: From classic western films onwards, many cinematographers have made use of far flung places to transport viewers to other worlds and different times. Stories inspired by the west of Ireland have benefited from the beautiful visage that its landscape …
In the far from diverse publishing industry, sensitivity readers are vital: A sensitivity read can help authors feel confident. Andrii Kobryn/Shutterstock Publishing houses have set the cat among the pigeons. They have introduced “sensitivity readers”. Some authors are claiming this amounts to censorship. But what is the truth of this relatively new practice? Sensitivity readers …
Cornwall space launch: why launching rockets from UK soil can benefit industry and security: Virgin Orbit is launching satellites using a rocket slung under the wing of an aircraft. Virgin Orbit, Author provided Having the capability to launch satellites from UK soil has been a long time coming. The recent attempted launch from Cornwall did …
Tigers in South Africa: a farming industry exists – often for their body parts: Tigers in South Africa are being intensively farmed for commercial trade. Hristo Vladev/NurPhoto via Getty Images A tiger escaped from a residence and roamed the countryside outside Johannesburg, South Africa, for four days this month. It attacked a man and killed …
Relying on carbon capture and storage may be a dangerous trap for UK industry: Technologies which can capture carbon from power station chimneys or even directly from the air are being developed. kamilpetran/Shutterstock We are reminded of climate change all the time. Every week seemingly brings a “once in a hundred year” disaster or new …
Pelé was more than a great footballer – he revolutionised Brazil’s football industry: Brazilian football legend Pelé (1940-2022), whose death was announced in December, inspired countless fans with his skills on the pitch. But his contribution to the off-the-pitch business of football is by no means less impressive. Following his retirement from the New York …
Reviving the UK’s textile industry could help replace fast fashion with homegrown clothes, but there are barriers: Rejecting fast fashion for "homegrown" sustainable clothing. View Apart / Shutterstock The world has experienced massive disruption to supply chains in recent years as a result of the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine. This has restricted …
The UK’s water industry is broken – here’s how to fix it: As periods of drought become more common, the consequences of an ill functioning water sector will be severe. malgosia janicka/Shutterstock Prolonged periods of intense heat affected large parts of the UK and Europe this summer. These conditions forced parts of the UK into …
To reach net zero the world still needs mining. After 26 years, here’s what I’ve learned about this ‘evil’ industry: On the wooded hill above the Stan Terg lead and zinc mine in Kosovo, there is an old concrete diving platform looming over what was once an open-air swimming pool. Before the break-up of Yugoslavia, …
Fracking: if Liz Truss wants a major shale gas industry, she is 280 million years late: In some respects, the UK has been among the world’s most successful countries at taking action against climate change over the past few decades. Yet that progress could be reversed and thrown away for a few years of slightly …
The horseracing industry is ignoring what science says about whipping: Is it time to rethink whipping in horse races? Lukas Gojda/Shutterstock When the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) released its recent whip consultation report, it claimed to have consulted the science. But it insists whipping doesn’t hurt horses and fails to recommend that the racing industry …
How ‘GamerGate’ led the gaming industry to embrace more diverse and caring values: 'Cosy gaming' is having its moment. Two Pixel/Shutterstock Video game developers have always sought to “find the fun” for their audiences and to provide players with exciting worlds to escape to. However, the cost of “finding the fun” was highlighted in 2014 …
Sewage pollution: why the UK water industry is broken: David Pimborough/Shutterstock As a child swimming off the coast of south Devon in the 1960s, I believed the warm water passing through my legs was the Gulf Stream current. Now, as an adult, I realise it was actually raw sewage being discharged into the ocean. In …