Supplements for Menopause: Here’s What the Evidence Actually Says
Supplements such as magnesium, lion’s mane, creatine and collagen are heavily marketed for menopause relief, but scientific support varies. Clinical trials show magnesium can aid sleep and reduce anxiety, while lion’s mane’s mood benefits are inconclusive and lack menopause‑specific data. Creatine appears to improve strength and sleep in perimenopausal women, though post‑menopausal gains are modest. Collagen supplementation modestly increases bone density and joint comfort, yet overall evidence remains limited.
Why some Countries Give Away Free Electricity and Even Pay Consumers to Use It
Rising solar and wind generation in Germany, Australia and other markets is creating periods where supply far exceeds demand, prompting wholesale electricity prices to plunge into negative territory and even become free for consumers on flexible tariffs. In 2024, Europe...
What Mandelson Vetting Row Reveals About Escalating Tensions Between Ministers and Civil Servants
The Starmer government’s decision to sack Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins after Peter Mandelson failed a security vetting for an ambassadorial posting has ignited a sharp clash between ministers and civil servants. The episode follows years of growing...
Joan Eardley: ‘She Would Set up Her Canvas on the Shore and Paint in the Lashing Wind and Rain Like...
The National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two is showcasing "Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting" until June 28, featuring more than 30 of the post‑war Scottish artist’s works. The show juxtaposes Eardley’s gritty Glasgow street scenes and atmospheric Catterline seascapes with...
The Duolingo Taxi Test – Could Being Rude to the Driver Cost You Your Dream Job?
Duolingo recently piloted a "taxi test" that evaluates senior‑level candidates based on how they treat the driver en route to an interview. A candidate who impressed on paper was rejected after the hiring team learned he was rude to the...
Ban on Phones in Schools: Support for Headteachers or Unnecessary Legislation?
The UK government announced a statutory ban on mobile phones in English schools, turning existing guidance into law. Research shows roughly 90% of secondary schools and almost all primary schools already restrict phone use, so the legislation largely codifies current...
Foreign Companies Are Making Billions Off Australia’s Gas. It’s Time that Changed
Australia’s gas export boom has generated roughly A$149 billion (≈US$98 billion) in profits for multinational firms over the past four years, yet tax contributions remain minimal. A parliamentary inquiry is pushing a 25% export tax that could raise about A$17 billion (≈US$11 billion) annually...
‘No Accountability, No Checks and Balances, No Responsibility’: How Indigenous Peoples Think About AI
The Relational Futures project surveyed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to capture their first qualitative baselines on artificial intelligence. Participants voiced deep mistrust, warning that AI can exacerbate existing inequities in welfare, health and aged‑care systems such as the...
Why Eating Disorder Recovery Is About More than What You Eat or Weigh
A recent study of 234 adults with eating disorders reveals a stark gap between clinical definitions of recovery and patients' own sense of progress. While only 22.6% met traditional symptom‑based criteria, 52.1% described personal recovery, citing self‑acceptance, hope and stronger...
We Designed the Turf for Soccer’s Biggest World Cup Ever – Here’s How We Created the Same Playing Experience Across...
Researchers from the University of Tennessee and Michigan State University have engineered a hybrid turf system for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ensuring consistent playing conditions across 16 stadiums in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The solution uses sod grown...
Young Africans Will Inherit a Climate Crisis: How Kids in Sierra Leone Are Getting Ready
Researchers and youth leaders in Bo, Sierra Leone, launched a Youth Climate Science Hub to equip secondary‑school students (ages 10‑19) with climate adaptation knowledge and leadership skills. The low‑cost, school‑based program reached about 100 students—over half girls—through two phases of...
Why the Ceasefire in Lebanon Is Unlikely to Change Much on the Ground
A ten‑day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has been brokered, but Hezbollah has not confirmed participation, leaving the truce’s durability in doubt. The Lebanese government, already strained by over a million displaced citizens, hopes the pause will enable it to...
Iran’s AI Memes Are Reaching People Who Don’t Follow the News – and Winning the Propaganda War
Iran’s state‑linked Explosive Media has deployed AI‑generated Lego‑style videos with rap soundtracks, amassing billions of views since February. Dubbed “slopaganda,” the clips blend disinformation and antisemitic tropes with humor, targeting users who avoid traditional news. By mimicking the tone of...
How Accelerating Evolution Could Help Corals Survive Future Heatwaves – New Study
A new eight‑year study of captive‑bred corals in Palau shows that assisted evolution—specifically selective breeding—can markedly increase heat‑wave tolerance without compromising growth, energy reserves, or reproduction. Quantitative‑genetics tools revealed strong genetic merit for heat tolerance and no detectable negative genetic...
What Does the Geelong Refinery Fire Reveal About Australia’s Fuel Supplies?
Late Wednesday a fire broke out at Viva Energy's Geelong refinery in Corio, believed to be caused by equipment failure. The plant, which can process up to 120,000 barrels per day and supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel and...