Blog Archives

Just Stop Oil: do radical protests turn the public away from a cause? Here’s the evidence

Just Stop Oil: do radical protests turn the public away from a cause? Here’s the evidence

Members of the protest group Just Stop Oil recently threw soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in the National Gallery in London. The action once again triggered debate about what kinds of protest are most effective. After a quick clean of the glass, the painting was back on display. But critics argued that the real damage had been […] … learn more→

Will the metaverse upset the bonds of friendship among young people?

Will the metaverse upset the bonds of friendship among young people?

Adolescence corresponds to a period of profound changes, both biologically and socially, during which the young person gradually detaches himself from his family of origin and builds a more personal world, separated from his parents, by integrating a new group: the group of peers, bringing together his friends. According to the 2020 Find Your Tribe study, 46% of […] … learn more→

The power of swearing: how obscene words influence your mind, body and relationships

The power of swearing: how obscene words influence your mind, body and relationships

Swearing was long dismissed as a topic of serious research because it was assumed to be simply a sign of aggression, weak language proficiency or even low intelligence. We now have quite a lot of evidence that challenges this view, prompting us to reconsider the nature – and power – of swearing. Whether we are fans of […] … learn more→

Miguel, decent work and the importance of guidance

Miguel, decent work and the importance of guidance

Miguel lives in Argentina, he is 22 years old. School has always cost him and he hasn’t finished high school yet. He dreamed of being a footballer, he tried but it couldn’t be. He works fewer days than he would like and the money he earns is not enough. He lives for the day, he doesn’t know if tomorrow […] … learn more→

“Quiet quitting”: Beyond buzz , what “quiet quitting” reveals

“Quiet quitting”: Beyond buzz , what “quiet quitting” reveals

Last September, the Gallup polling institute suggested that 50% of full-time or part-time employees over the age of 18 in the United States would be “quiet quits”, which would designate people who ” don’t outdo themselves at work and just live up to their job description. Immediately, the term “quiet quitting” imposed itself in the public debate […] … learn more→

The dark web down under: what’s driving the rise and rise of NZ’s ‘Tor Market’ for illegal drugs?

The dark web down under: what’s driving the rise and rise of NZ’s ‘Tor Market’ for illegal drugs?

New Zealand is generally proud of being a world leader, but there’s one claim that might not be universally admired: being home to the longest running English-language market for illegal drugs on the so-called “darknet”. Known as “Tor Market”, it has been active since March 2018 and has outlived several larger and better known operations […] … learn more→

Child marriage comes with a heavy cost for young girls in Africa – but there’s one clear way out

Child marriage comes with a heavy cost for young girls in Africa – but there’s one clear way out

650 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday. That’s one of the startling figures contained in a 2021 UNICEF report about child marriage. Africa’s sub-Saharan region is home to nine of the ten countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world. Ingrained traditions and cultural practices typically entrench such early marriages. […] … learn more→

Jane Goodall joins Barbie’s ‘inspiring women’ series: the strange evolution of an iconic doll

Jane Goodall joins Barbie’s ‘inspiring women’ series: the strange evolution of an iconic doll

In news many probably never expected to see, no-frills, outdoorsy, animal behaviour expert and conservation activist Jane Goodall has become a Barbie doll (accompanied by her famous chimpanzee, David Greybeard). As the latest member of toymaker Mattel’s “Barbie Inspiring Women Series” honouring historical and contemporary heroines, she joins aviator Amelia Earhart, NASA mathematician and physicist Katherine Johnson and […] … learn more→

‘Suburban living did turn women into robots’: why feminist horror novel The Stepford Wives is still relevant, 50 years on

‘Suburban living did turn women into robots’: why feminist horror novel The Stepford Wives is still relevant, 50 years on

On August 26 1970, 50,000 women marched down Fifth Avenue in New York City in a Women’s Strike. Organised by feminist activist Betty Friedan, the march highlighted the fact women still performed the vast majority of domestic work. The Women’s Liberation Movement wanted many things in 1970, but one of the most important was freedom from […] … learn more→

How to deal with the increase in cases of antisocial behavior in adolescents

How to deal with the increase in cases of antisocial behavior in adolescents

There are more and more cases of children and adolescents who show aggressive behavior, instability and who commit crimes. Coping with this situation requires taking into account different risk factors that affect each person differently. Factors related to unfavorable social environments, inappropriate family educational styles or mental health problems draw a complex scenario that calls for interdisciplinary […] … learn more→