Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel) published, on December 9, 2020, a scientific study in the journal Nature entitled “The global mass produced by man exceeds all living biomass”. From the summary, a sentence clearly situates the subject: “We find that the Earth is exactly at a point of intersection. By 2020, anthropogenic mass, which recently doubled […] … learn more→
On Earth, the mass of the artificial now equals the mass of the living
How superfast charging batteries can help sell the transition to electric vehicles
Israeli company StoreDot recently announced it can now mass produce electric vehicle batteries that can be fully charged in just five minutes. “The bottleneck to extra-fast charging is no longer the battery,” claimed the firm’s chief executive. But is this fast-charging battery really a gamechanger? And if so: exactly how? Electric vehicle charging speeds […] … learn more→
Universities have thrived despite past disruptions and could grow even stronger after COVID-19
In the past century, universities have risen to occupy a central place in the knowledge economy, from fostering innovation to attracting promising international students and researchers, and being an anchor for regional and national economic development. Universities are integral to public policy. Never before have institutions of higher education been so influential and powerful in the lives of families, communities […] … learn more→
Pencils or keyboards: does the writing gesture change our relationship to the world?
To begin with, I will invite the readers of these lines to pick up a pen and write on a piece of paper “What does the writing hand do?” », That is, to experience writing intentionally and consciously of the gesture. It is very likely that, just like the more or less willing students to whom […] … learn more→
How history textbooks will deal with the US Capitol attack
How soon can we expect this attack to be included in history textbooks? Wendy L. Wall, professor of 20th-century American history at Binghamton University The unprecedented nature of this attack, combined with the widespread sense that it marks a historical turning point, ensures that it will appear in textbooks as soon as publishing turnaround times allow. In […] … learn more→
Reading groups/journal clubs are a good idea
There’s a lot written about the benefits of academic writing groups, writing rooms and writing retreats. But not so much about academic reading groups. And yet, they can be just as beneficial. Being in a reading group puts you in the company of others working with texts. It takes you away from reading as a […] … learn more→
Spanish students, an international example of adaptation to an interconnected and globalized world
The word “Pisa” sounds like the Italian city with the leaning tower. But for teachers it is also synonymous with international comparisons of student academic performance. The “culprit” is the OECD. For two decades, it has used PISA as an acronym for its International Performance Assessment Program – Program for International Student Assessment , in English – which assesses the reading, […] … learn more→
Taking on community roles is critical for universities’ local profiles
I’d gone into a secondary school in Bradford to talk about the challenges facing our planet and the implications for future careers. Talk turned quickly to dream jobs and that meant lots of aspiring footballers and social media celebrities. There was a notable exception, though: a quiet lad sitting at the back of the classroom […] … learn more→
‘Early warning’ systems in schools can be dangerous in the hands of law enforcement
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students are getting lower grades and inconsistently attending classes. For students in one Florida county, low grades and absenteeism may put them at risk of being labeled by law enforcement as potential criminals. The Tampa Bay Times reported in late 2020 that the Pasco Sheriff’s Office uses student data to identify young people […] … learn more→
Back to school: how to help your teen get enough sleep
When the holidays end, barring a fresh outbreak of COVID-19, teenagers across Australia will head back to school. Some will bounce out of bed well before the alarm goes off, excited to start a new school year, but many others will drag themselves to the shower or reach for caffeine to shake themselves awake. Many […] … learn more→