Graphene at 20: still no sign of the promised space elevator, but here’s how this wonder material is quietly changing the world: High Level Specialist Twenty years ago this October, two physicists at the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, published a groundbreaking paper on the “electric field effect in atomically thin carbon …
The Gambia may allow female genital mutilation again – another sign of a global trend eroding women’s rights: The Gambia’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) since 2015 is under threat. Proposed changes before parliament could permit medicalised female genital cutting and allow it for consenting adults. This potential reversal has thrust the country into …
Ukraine recap: western divisions an ominous sign for Kyiv as the aid funding tap begins to dry up: For the past week or so it has felt as if Ukraine’s fate is more likely to be decided in Washington and Brussels than on the battlefield as US president Joe Biden struggles to get his US$ …
King Charles in Kenya: despite past tensions, the visit is a sign of a strong relationship with Britain: King Charles’ visit to Kenya this week is the British monarch’s first to a Commonwealth nation since his coronation in September 2022. The visit comes during the country’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. By choosing Kenya, …
Wild animals that survive limb loss are astonishing – and a sign of the havoc humans are wreaking on nature: Estharix/Shutterstock It might seem astounding that a wild animal could survive a limb amputation and still thrive in the wild but videos from social media and research show this may be more common than people …
How we’re using evidence to tackle net zero, slow economy and new hybrid working – sign up for Conversation partnership events and reports: Shutterstock Civil servants around the world are wrestling with a vast web of incredibly complex social problems. From meeting net zero targets in cash-strapped economies, with often low levels of political support, …
Rising methane could be a sign that Earth’s climate is part-way through a ‘termination-level transition’: Soaring wetland emissions of methane reflect those which accompanied previous abrupt changes in Earth's climate. I. Noyan Yilmaz/Shutterstock Since 2006, the amount of heat-trapping methane in Earth’s atmosphere has been rising fast and, unlike the rise in carbon dioxide (CO?), …
Kenya’s political dialogue is a welcome sign of democracy at work – if both sides understand their roles: Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja coalition in Kenya. Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images Since Kenya’s presidential election in August 2022, the new government has been in conflict with the opposition. In democratic systems, …
Sign language is now official in South Africa – how this will help education in schools for the Deaf: Universities have a role to play in equipping future teachers of the Deaf by teaching sign language. Wits University South African Sign Language is set to become the country’s 12th official language. Parliament approved a constitutional …
Ukraine war: offensive use of satellite tech a sign of how conflict is increasingly moving into space: Harvepino/Nasa/Shutterstock As Ukraine’s counteroffensive got underway, there were credible reports of advances into territory previously occupied by Russian troops. Each day brings news of small gains, a village liberated here and a village liberated there. But Ukraine’s military …
Measles and whooping cough outbreaks in South Africa: a sign of low vaccination coverage, experts warn: Caregivers are conflicted about vaccinating their children. Shutterstock The concentrated global effort to use vaccination as a public health intervention began in 1974. Since then, vaccination has changed our lives. Worldwide, in the decades 2000-2020, childhood vaccination led to …
Senegal’s internet shutdowns are another sign of a democracy in peril: Protestors gather in Madrid to demand justice and democracy in Senegal. Photo by Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images Senegal’s government began blocking several digital platforms – including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube – in certain areas on 1 June. Days later, it …
Sign language is set to become South Africa’s 12th official language after a long fight for recognition: Deaf students at the Khulani Special School learning sign language. Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images Sign language is on its way to become the 12th official language in South Africa after parliament recently agreed to amend the constitution …
Outer space: Rwanda and Nigeria sign an accord for more responsible exploration – why this matters: NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System rocket, with the Orion capsule attached, launches at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images In 2020, the United States announced a framework for the …
People with personality disorders are more likely to sign up for psychology studies – here’s why that’s a problem: solarseven/Shutterstock Many psychological studies rely on participants to give up their time to take part in experiments or complete questionnaires. They take part because they get paid or because they are required to as part of …
Sue Gray quitting to work for Keir Starmer does cause problems for the civil service – it’s also a sign she thinks he’s heading for government: The last few years of drama at Westminster have set the bar pretty high for shock and surprise, but the sudden departure from government of Sue Gray, second permanent …
Multiparty democracy is in trouble in South Africa – collapsing coalitions are a sure sign: Mpho Phalatse was toppled as mayor of Johannesburg following a no-confidence vote in September. A high court reinstated her. Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images via Getty Images South Africa’s 28-year-old, continuously transforming multiparty democracy was reminded of its own fragility when, in …
Sign Documents Online with Electronic Signatures: Introduction to electronic signatures Electronic signatures are an important part of modern business. They can help make your company more efficient and secure, but they can also be confusing and expensive. In this guide, we’ll help you understand what electronic signatures are, how they work, and why it’s …