BIZARRE: 25 | Mind Blowing Facts

View from The Hill: Albanese lashes Hanson over attack on his mother

Anthony Albanese has hit back angrily and emotionally at Pauline Hanson for saying his late mother should not have lived in public housing for decades.

The Conversation · Sep 13

New world map makes Africa look bigger: what’s the fuss about? Cartographers explain

The UN has passed a non-binding resolution to endorse the Equal Earth Projection, a map which more fairly represents the true size of the Earth’s landmasses. The current commonly used projection, called the Mercator Projection, greatly exaggerates land towards the north and south poles, which makes Africa look much smaller.…

The Conversation · Sep 13

Africa’s climate services need local detail and knowledge, say people who use the information

Across Africa, people are restoring and managing mangroves, grazing lands and urban green areas in the face of increasing threats from climate change. Increasingly they make decisions based on climate-related information supplied by governments, funders and researchers.

The Conversation · Sep 13

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada advanced the interests of both countries

On Sept. 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Calgary with the aim of reinforcing the partnership between Ukraine and Canada.

The Conversation · Sep 11

A Swedish ghost story

Ghosts in Sweden? It sounds strange to place the supernatural in a country of health-conscious, pragmatic engineers. But even though Swedes readily accept modernity, their popular culture hints at something else.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Why do people get married these days?

The story of marriage’s declining fortunes has been gathering momentum for a while now. Divorce is commonplace, romcoms keep disappointing, and according to the 2021 census, the majority of adults in the UK are choosing, for the first time since records began, not to get married at all.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Pharmacogenomics: how your genes could help doctors choose the right medicine and dose

Two people can take the same dose of the same medicine and have very different results. One may improve, while the other gets little benefit or develops serious side effects. Part of the explanation often lies in their genes.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Why did MPs vote to reject the assisted dying bill – and what happens now?

MPs at Westminster have voted to reject the assisted dying bill, in a significant blow to those campaigning to change the law – 11 years to the day after MPs rejected a previous attempt.

The Conversation · Sep 11

How Iran draws citizens into political surveillance

Authoritarian governments have long drawn ordinary citizens into political surveillance. Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union encouraged denunciations. East Germany’s secret police service, the Stasi, embedded informants in workplaces and neighbourhoods.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Job cuts at Jaguar Land Rover show how a sensible corporate strategy is not always enough

Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to cut thousands of jobs comes after years of dealing with some extremely tough terrain in the world of car sales. Tough obstacles have included weakening demand from China, a shortage of vital semiconductors and the US slapping new tariffs on imported vehicles.

The Conversation · Sep 11