Conscious breathing can reduce anxiety and depression – tips for how to do it: Breathing is a thing we do without thinking; it keeps us alive. But there is far more to this most basic of biological functions. Conscious breathing can reduce stress, anxiety and depression and prevent insomnia. Christiane Brems, author and clinical professor …
Planning a holiday? 3 ways to reduce your carbon footprint: These holidays, planet Earth looks likely to be hotter than ever before. Research found that in 2024, global temperatures temporarily rose 1.5°C higher than the average from 1850 to 1900 – a pre-industrial time when the first global temperatures were recorded. This is a huge …
Most food waste happens at home – new research reveals the best ways to reduce it: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock The EU and UK pledged to reduce food waste, in line with the UN’s goal to halve global food waste by 2030. With most (approximately 53%) of total food waste in European countries occurring in homes, this stage …
Kenya is badly prepared for floods: four steps to reduce devastation and deaths: Floods in Kenya in April/May 2024 led to the deaths of over 250 people and caused damage estimated at 4 billion Kenya shillings (US$ 35 million). Not for the first time, Kenya’s lack of preparedness was apparent as flooding rampaged through rural …
Minimum wage for South African farm workers: study shows 2013 hike helped reduce poverty even though compliance was poor: Minimum wage policies are typically aimed at reducing poverty. Yet there is little direct evidence of this effect, especially in developing countries. And none for South Africa. In a recent paper, we consider the income, employment …
Senegal’s small scale gold miners still use poisonous mercury: how to reduce the harm: “Do not fish in these waters.” “Contains high levels of mercury.” These warnings are shown at thousands of lakes and rivers globally, as well as on numerous fish products. But eating mercury-laden fish is not the only source of mercury exposure. …
Early births – between 34 and 37 weeks – for moms with pre-eclampsia can reduce baby and mother deaths: About half a million babies die each year as a result of pre-eclampsia, an aggressive and potentially life-threatening problem in pregnancy. Approximately 46,000 women also die each year due to the disorder. The condition – a …
How new ‘consumer duty’ rules for financial products could reduce debt-related stress: Grusho Anna/Shutterstock New “consumer duty” rules introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) aim to set clear standards for the protection of financial consumers. Banks, building societies, investment and insurance firms, as well as many other types of business, are being told to …
How childcare subsidies can reduce the gap between mothers’ and fathers’ career paths – for this generation and the next: Making quality childcare more accessible will help generations of mothers. Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock More than 80% of women in England and Wales will become mothers at some point during their working lives, according to OECD figures. …
Why the impacts of climate change may make us less likely to reduce emissions: The wildfires raging across Canada’s south-eastern province of Quebec are unprecedented. A warm, dry spring allowed the tinder to accumulate and lightning storms in early June lit the match, dramatically escalating 2023’s fire season. As the smoke spread south it spawned …
Dog detectives can sniff out protected great crested newts and reduce costly construction delays: Construction projects often find themselves at odds with the great crested newt. In 2020, the then UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, referred to them as a drag on the economy, citing their presence on development sites as a cause for costly …
Poorer pupils do worse at school – here’s how to reduce the attainment gap: Juice Verve/Shutterstock Children living in relative poverty in England have worse average educational outcomes, including lower grades in exams, than other pupils. This situation is often referred to as the poverty attainment gap. Closing this gap, so that poorer students do …
Price inflation: five ways stronger UK supply chains can help reduce rising food costs: Denis Belitsky/Shutterstock Annual price inflation has recently fallen below double digits, but food costs are still rising rapidly. Official UK figures show food prices rose by 19.1% in the year to April 2023. To prevent further increases, the UK needs to …
Better bipolar diagnosis may reduce suicide rates in boys – new research: Lopolo/Shutterstock Suicide rarely happens in the absence of severe mental health problems. Research indicates that psychiatric disorders are prevalent in up to 90% of adolescents who die from suicide. In particular, what are known as affective disorders, such as major depressive disorder and …
Reusable nappies can reduce the environmental footprint of parenting – but only if they’re used with care: Disposable nappies are a major source of plastic pollution. New Africa/Shutterstock Around the world, another 45 babies are born every ten seconds. Each of these babies will require nappies that need to be changed frequently. So it’s understandable …
Air pollution is a hidden pandemic in Africa – tips on how to reduce your exposure and help combat it: Children and elderly people are vulnerable to air pollution. Photo by Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP. from www,gettyimages.com Rapid urbanisation in Africa is worsening air pollution levels. There are economic as well as health consequences. Air pollution …
War crimes trial of Hashim Thaçi, the ‘George Washington of Kosovo’, will do little to reduce tensions in the Balkans: Hashim Thaçi, the former president of Kosovo and a founding member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), has been described as “one of the key figures” in the country’s recent history. He was elected as …
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions: Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This heat is still overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels, making it an enormous source of the carbon emissions driving climate change. But you …