The way a sperm tail moves can be explained by mathematics worked out by Alan Turing: SciePro / Shutterstock Alan Turing might be best known for his work helping to crack Germany’s “Enigma” communications code during the second world war. But he also came up with a theory where patterns can form just through chemical …
What the new Assassin’s Creed game tells us about ninth-century Baghdad – from the art historian who worked on the game: Detail from a 15th century manuscript recounting the siege of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258. Wikimedia Gamers the world over will be familiar with the incredibly detailed historic cityscapes the Assassin’s Creed franchise …
I’ve worked in precarious jobs for more than 10 years – here’s what unions should do to support migrant workers: As I rush to clean everything before the sink overfills with plates and pans, I am confronted, yet again, with the brutality of my working conditions. My feet and legs throb and ache from sole …
Flood warning expert: I worked on UK’s emergency mobile broadcast – here’s what we learn from tests like these: At 3pm on April 23, an unusual warning sound was emitted from millions of phones across the UK. This was the first test of the government’s national emergency alert system, which will eventually be used to warn …
Injectable HIV prevention drug shows promise: we worked out how much South Africa should pay for it: Remembering to take a pill every day can be a barrier to good adherence. Daniel Born/The Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an HIV prevention method. It is taken by people who are HIV negative, so that …
70 years of data suggest the Conservatives will suffer a big defeat at the next election — here’s how I worked it out: With the UK’s new prime minister in office, it looks like the political turmoil of the last few months is likely to ease, at least for the time being. Rishi Sunak and …
YouTube: how a team of scientists worked to inoculate a million users against misinformation: The amount of information online is overwhelming. Shyntartanya From the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine, misinformation is rife worldwide. Many tools have been designed to help people spot misinformation. The problem with most of them is how hard they …
Why Kenya’s experiment in giving local governments the power to manage food security hasn’t worked: A boy carries water in one of Kenya's arid regions that has been gripped by drought. Dong Jianghui/Xinhua via Getty Images The ability of Kenya’s 47 county governments to manage food security has been met with various challenges. These have …
Here’s why you don’t need to feel sore after a workout to know it’s worked: Delayed onset muscle soreness – better known as DOMS – is a common experience for many who exercise. Branislav Nenin/ Shutterstock “No pain, no gain” is a commonly used expression when it comes to getting in shape. It may also …
Uganda study shows text messages can boost tax compliance: here’s what worked: Text messages were found to work in increasing tax compliance in Uganda. Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images Every government needs money to fund its political, social and economic duties. Much of what they spend is …
How the US and UK worked together to recolonise the Chagos Islands and evict Chagossians: Citizens of the Indian Ocean island of Chagos at the High Court in London. Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images On 15 February 2022 the Mauritian flag was raised on two Indian Ocean atolls, Peros Banos and Salomon, both belonging …
Celebrity diets and food fads have been around for centuries – and some of them even worked: The word diet originates from the Greek dieta meaning to live normally. However, nowadays it mostly refers to restricting food to help weight loss rather than a way to enjoy food and health. Throughout history diets have come …
Zero COVID worked for some countries – but high vaccine coverage is now key: Firefighters conducting disinfection at the Terminal 3 of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo Since the start of the pandemic, several countries have adopted a zero-COVID strategy, aiming to eradicate COVID within their borders. Faced with the highly …
Standard responses to road accidents haven’t worked in Ghana: here are some alternatives: There are calls to declare road accidents a public health scare in Ghana Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Road traffic accidents remain a major public health and development challenge in Ghana. They are among the top 10 causes of deaths, draining 2.54% of …
COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I’ve worked out the science and how to spot it: Can you really fake a covid test with soft drinks? K321/Shutterstock Children are always going to find cunning ways to bunk off school, and the latest trick is to fake a positive COVID-19 lateral …
Why efforts by Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to help cocoa farmers haven’t worked: West African cocoa farmers are largely poor despite the value of their crop Irene Scott/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A cocoa pricing agreement designed to protect farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana from destitution is being circumvented by multinationals, the main buyers of …
South Africa in the news: Struggle stalwart worked to uplift his community: He also worked closely with Dube in establishing the Joint Residents Association that included residents from Lamontville and Chesterville. Majozi assisted Dube in leading a rent boycott campaign …: “South Africa” – BingNews From the president’s desk: We will overcome the challenges posed …
Insights into why Uganda’s strategy to create jobs for young people hasn’t fully worked: Young people constitute over 77% of Uganda's population EPA/YANNICK TYLLE Uganda’s pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, continues to face harassment and arrest in Uganda. This is clearly because he has amassed a popular following of young …