Turning debt into forests: the finance tool making a comeback
There’s huge scope for debt-for-nature swaps to help protect forests in Indonesia. bumi.akasha/Shutterstock In 2023, Ecuador struck an unusual deal. Instead of simply paying back its debts, it refinanced part of them on better terms and promised to spend the savings protecting the Galápagos Islands. This type of transaction, known as a debt-for-nature swap, is […]
School is an important place for teens to learn about gender equality – but research overlooks it
antoniodiaz/Shutterstock In adolescence, beliefs about fairness, equality and social roles are still taking shape. This includes teens’ views about gender – whether they support gender equality and their beliefs about gender roles in society. Someone’s “gender attitudes” are how disposed they are to support gender equality. When this support is negative, we refer to it […]
Greece’s new laws crack down on art fakes and forgeries – an expert in the market for shady art explains why they might backfire
The art market is riddled with fakes and forgeries. Yet in most countries, those trading in genuine masterpieces are left to their own devices when it comes to monitoring art sales – creating their own ways to flag problematic objects and verify the authenticity of others. New art laws in Greece, however, suggest the country […]
Cubans living abroad now hold the key to their country’s uncertain future
Since the early days of Cuba’s 1950s revolution – which overthrew the US-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and replaced it with a socialist government led by Fidel Castro – the Cuban diaspora have played a large role in determining the island nation’s economic and political landscape. The first wave of predominantly wealthy, white Cuban emigrants […]
As Nasa’s Artemis II Moon mission ends, a new adventure for humanity beckons
The Artemis II mission to the Moon is a voyage unlike any other in more than half a century. As the first crewed lunar flight since 1972, Artemis II marks the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship with the Moon. Nasa’s goal is to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. As […]
The UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in the world
Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock The UK government is planning to make it significantly harder for migrants to obtain permanent residence. If the proposals go ahead, the UK would become more restrictive than most other high-income democracies. In the case of refugees it would create a situation that is arguably without precedent among peer countries. The UK’s home […]
Steroid injections for joint pain: everything you need to know about using them
Steroid injections offer a rapid, effective way of reducing joint pain. crystal light/ Shutterstock Osteoarthritis affects around 600 million people globally. It causes pain, stiffness and reduced joint function – most commonly in the knees, hands and hips. There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis. Many people manage the condition through exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, […]
Feeling distracted? How hobbies can help you find ‘flow state’ and save your brain
Raev Denis/Shutterstock We live in what has been called the “distraction economy”: an environment full of triggers that are engineered to demand our attention at every turn. The result is often fragmented attention, loss of focus and sometimes even increased rumination and anxiety. Becoming fully absorbed in an activity is rare. Think of a time […]
South Africa’s farmers aren’t yet replacing chemical fertilisers with sustainable alternatives – this is why
Green bean plants in one of the small-scale farms in Phiring village, South Africa. Mokgadi Hlongwane, CC BY-NC-ND The growing use of toxic agricultural chemicals including fertilisers is also driving a scaling up of sustainable agrochemical alternatives. In South Africa, I’ve been exploring why small-scale farmers resist switching to these more cost-effective and environmentally friendly […]
Five tips to make your memory work more effectively
ImageFlow/Shutterstock As a researcher investigating how electric brain stimulation can improve people’s powers of recollection, I’m often asked how memory works – and what we can do to use it more effectively. Happily, decades of research have given us some clear answers to both questions. Memory essentially operates in three stages, with different brain regions […]