A nice Bikini Beach image: I may not be a good volleyball player, but I can sure make it look good … Image by Ed Yourdon Note: for reasons that make no sense to me at all, this photo was published as an illustration in an undated (Jan 2010) Squidoo blog titled "Nayantara." It was …
Have hybrid coronaviruses already been made? We simply don’t know for sure, and that’s a problem: At the end of 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly added “chimeric viruses” – viruses that contain genetic material derived from two or more distinct viruses – to its list of most dangerous pathogens. …
Want to impress on Valentine’s Day? Then make sure to wear red: Shutterstock Sexual attractiveness is a preoccupation that clings to us throughout our daily lives. Today’s social media obsession with perfect beauty makes being attractive and feeling attractive seem all the more important. Being attractive feels crucial for increasing one’s chances of romantic relationships. …
South Africa in the news: We are sure of qualifying ahead of Ghana, says South Africa coach Hugo Broos: The head coach of the South Africa male football national team, Hugo Broos has stressed that he is confident his outfit will qualify to the playoff round of the qualifiers to the 2022 FIFA World Cup …
Smart labels and allergy sensors – how to make sure the future of food is ethical: Supermarkets could soon display smart packaging, raising potential issues around data privacy and bias. Piqsels Imagine you’re shopping in your local supermarket. You pull out an app on your phone and scan a product. Instantly, it flashes with a …
The climate crisis affects everyone – here’s how to make sure discussions aren’t dominated by white men: City-level climate talks are often dominated by those who carry social privilege. UNFCCC/Flickr Governments across the world are facing increasing pressure to keep rising global temperatures below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels: the threshold that scientists advise is necessary …
Charging ahead: how to make sure the electric vehicle transition is sustainable and just: Without proper planning, an influx of electric vehicles could cause problems for the economy and our energy supply. Joenomias/Pixabay Electric vehicles (EVs) are hitting the roads in ever greater numbers. Global EV sales were up by 168% in the first half …
Chocolate – a new way to make sure your favourite bar is an ethical treat: Shutterstock/ivan_kislitsin Chocolate has a special place in many of our lives. It is widely seen as an affordable and essentially harmless treat – a food of comfort, celebration and joy. But those bars, cakes and Easter eggs are also part …
Gas boiler ban: how to make sure everyone can afford low-carbon heating: Africa Studio/Shutterstock Most of us only think about central heating when it stops working or when the fuel bills arrive. So reports of an impending ban on gas boilers in the UK – and news that green alternatives such as heat pumps can …
South African law is failing to make sure that ‘shadow directors’ are held accountable: Shutterstock South Africa has become notorious for corruption in many of its state-owned entities. In particular there’s been mounting evidence that utilities such as Eskom, which supplies power, and South African Airways were ‘captured’ when a small group of people influenced …
Four ways to make sure your passwords are safe and easy to remember: Many still make their passwords too simple. Shutterstock/Vitalii Vodolazskyi For more than 15 years, there have been various predictions from tech leaders about the death of passwords. Bill Gates predicted it back in 2004 and Microsoft have predicted it for 2021. There …
Gambling: a sure bet? The global challenges facing young people: The global growth of gambling has led to tensions about what role it can and should play in our societies. In Kenya, the rise of online sports betting highlights broader social issues – with disillusioned youth using it as a way to fund themselves through …
South Africa in the news: England coach Eddie Jones sure players are still with him: Apart from a stirring 23-20 victory over France, it has been a dismal two months for England who have entered full reverse since the 2019 World Cup when they lost to South Africa in the final. “We …: “South Africa” …
Lockdown critics are sure the costs outweigh the health benefits – here’s why they’re wrong: Jam Travels/Shutterstock As the UK reports its worst excess deaths since the second world war and the NHS is stretched to breaking point, critics of lockdowns have largely gone quiet. Despite this, previous experience shows that we’re never far from …
Is a vegan diet healthier? Five reasons why we can’t tell for sure: Vegan diets are becoming increasingly popular. RONEDYA/ Shutterstock While there are many reasons why a person may choose to go vegan, health is often cited as a popular motive. But although vegan diets are often touted as being “healthier” in the media, …
Oxford vaccine results are in: now we need to make sure it is used – here’s how: The Oxford vaccine – developed in partnership with AstraZeneca – stops 70% of people developing COVID symptoms. And, depending on how the doses are given, may even protect up to 90% of people. This follows recent announcements from …
South Africa in the news: Tau called up for international game, but it is not sure whether he wi: OTHER Percy Tau and Lukas Nmecha have received an invitation to join their national team. But it is not certain whether Tau will actually travel to South Africa. According to Het Nieuwsblad, Belgian …: “South Africa” …
Gravitational waves: astronomers spot a black hole so massive they weren’t sure it could exist: Artist impression of merging black holes. Mark Myers, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) One of the greatest things about being an astrophysicist is that you keep discovering things you didn’t think were possible. Now the Laser …