December 1, 2022 - 'Earth's empty quarter': many Pacific nations now have falling populations

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'Earth's empty quarter': many Pacific nations now have falling populations In 1989, distinguished Australian geographer Gerard Ward wrote that the Pacific was emptying out. As people on smaller islands left to seek opportunity elsewhere, the region risked becoming Earth’s empty quarter. He wrote: Perhaps 100 years hence, almost all of the descendants of today’s Polynesian or Micronesian islanders will live in Auckland, Sydney, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Occasionally they may recall that their ancestors once lived on tiny Pacific islands … set in an empty ocean. Continued here

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China's 'white paper' protest movement echoes freedom struggles across Asia and the world If there was a single trigger for the “white paper” uprising that has been sweeping China over the past few days, it was events in Ürümchi, the capital of Xinjiang province. Xinjiang’s lockdown has been the most severe in China, with many residents unable to leave their homes for nearly four months. When ten or more residents, mostly Uyghur Muslims, were barred from escaping a blaze, their apartment block became a death trap. The doors, it is said, had been externally bolted. Within hours, rallies and candlelit vigils for the Ürümchi victims were held in cities across China. To evade censure, protesters developed creative techniques involving irony and strategic ambiguity. Continued here

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Could the Netherlands crack the secret of language learning using this approach? From the UK government’s latest post-Brexit language-learning reforms to France’s eternal debates over the supposed linguistic inadequacy of its youth, governments regularly scratch their heads over how to improve how languages are taught. While the Netherlands discussed a major reform of curriculum and examinations as early as 1968, the current courses are seen by many as no longer preparing students well enough for the modern world. The baccalaureate exams do not test students’ actual skills and knowledge so much as their ability to strategically answer multiple-choice questions. Continued here

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Combating violence against women: what Europe needs to do Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, 45% of women worldwide have reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of violence, a 2021 UN Women report found. Around 70% said they thought that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common, and 60% felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened. The situation is no less severe in Europe, where countering gender-based violence against women (GBVAW) has been a high priority for the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. With International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women taking place on 25 November, it is important to take stock of EU legislation on fighting GBVAW and at what has – or has not – to be done to push member states to take real action to eradicate the phenomenon. Continued here

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Janusz Walus and parole for prisoners serving life sentences in South Africa: the weaknesses of the court's decision University of Western Cape provides support as a hosting partner of The Conversation AFRICA. The murder of Chris Hani, a South African liberation struggle hero, by Janusz Walus on 10 April 1993 almost derailed the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy. Now, almost 30 years later, the constitutional court has ruled that Walus (69) must be released on parole. The move has been met with anger by many in the country, including some in the governing African National Congress alliance. Law professor Jamil Mujuzi explains the country’s parole system for prisoners on life sentence, and what he considers to be the weaknesses and strengths of the court’s decision. Continued here

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The (unjustly forgotten) genius of pianist Clara Haskil Profesora Contratada Doctora de la UCLM. Miembro del Centro de Investigación y Documentación Musical (CIDoM)-Unidad Asocida al CSIC. Especialista en música del cine español y mujeres músicas de los siglos XIX y XX., Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha Many of the women who pursued careers in music during the turbulent 20th century led extraordinarily complex and exciting lives. As well as confronting the stereotypes that women artists have long faced, they often lived and worked in the midst of war. Despite their accomplishments, their names are not always known by the general public. Romanian pianist Clara Haskil is one of them. Continued here

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Egg shortage: a nutritionist on the best egg alternatives Eggs are currently in short supply, with shops and supermarkets limiting their sales. The main cause of this shortage has been blamed on the avian (bird) flu which has risen to a record number of cases. However, egg producers are also reporting that the egg shortage is due to the unprecedented level of inflation and spiralling costs driven by global events. Those following a vegan lifestyle and people who follow some religions, such as Hinduism and Jainism do not eat eggs as they are not viewed as strictly vegetarian. So there are already plenty of egg alternatives out there. Continued here

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Brazil's iconic football shirt was a symbol of Bolsonaro – here's how the World Cup is changing that Like many extremist and authoritarian leaders before him, outgoing Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro seized on national symbols during his rise to power and tried to make them his own. The national football shirt is a case in point. For years many Brazilians avoided wearing the famous yellow shirt because of its association with Bolsonaro and far-right politics. Continued here

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Walking backwards has a surprising number of health benefits Walking doesn’t require any special equipment or gym memberships, and best of all, it’s completely free. For most of us, walking is something we do automatically. It doesn’t require conscious effort, so many of us fail to remember the benefits of walking for health. But what happens if we stop walking on auto-pilot and start challenging our brains and bodies by walking backwards? Not only does this change of direction demand more of our attention, but it may also bring additional health benefits. Physical activity doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you’re regularly active or not, even a brisk ten-minute daily walk can deliver a host of health benefits and can count towards the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week. Continued here

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Ancient DNA from the teeth of 14th-century Ashkenazi Jews in Germany already included genetic variations common in modern Jews About two-thirds of Jews today – or about 10 million people – are Ashkenazi, referring to a recent origin from Eastern and Central Europe. They reside mostly in the United States and Israel. Ashkenazi Jews carry a particularly high burden of disease-causing genetic mutations, such as those in the BRCA1 gene associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This genetic burden suggests that the population was shaped by what geneticists call a founder event or a bottleneck. In other words, a small number of foremothers and forefathers contributed much of the modern gene pool. As the population grew and the descendants of these founders had many children, disease mutations that were carried by the few founders became widespread. Continued here

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Black and minoritised ethnic communities at disproportionate risk of homelessness in the UK In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a heightened awareness of ethnic inequality in the UK. Despite some recent studies on housing conditions in the context of the pandemic, little attention has been paid to how racial inequality and homelessness intersect. Even before the current cost of living and energy crises, homelessness across the board was on the rise. Since 2009, the growing housing crisis has resulted in increases in most measures of homelessness. England in particular has seen numbers rise, even though special provision during the pandemic did temporarily bring some measures down. Continued here

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Why corporate diversity statements are backfiring — Podcast Equity, diversity, inclusion are buzzwords that may evoke social change, but for some they conjure empty promises on a glossy corporate brochure or statement at the bottom of a job listing. In 2020, when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, worldwide protests against anti-Black police brutality prompted corporations to rush to address racism. They put out statements of solidarity and in some cases, affirmations of their commitment to anti-racism in the workplace. Continued here

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Recently found 'Neanderthal footprints' in the South of Spain could be 275,000 years old profesor titular del departamento de Geodinámica y Paleontología, Universidad de Huelva Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro Continued here

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New grant will fund The Conversation partnership on critical research into COVID recovery, net zero, cities and levelling up and inequality IPPO has already assessed the impact of school closures on pupils, parents and carers; explored how we can better manage the growing global mental health crisis that was exacerbated by the pandemic, and improved governments’ understanding of the role played by volunteers during emergencies. Working closely with the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) at Cardiff University, the University of Glasgow, Queen University Belfast, and the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), the next iteration of IPPO will also establish how the four UK nations can work together and learn from each other when it comes to putting evidence into practice. Continued here

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Being the 'only one' at work and the decades long fight against anti-Black racism The global call to address systemic racism following the police murder of George Floyd resulted in a push for diversity hires. In Canada, organizations signed pledges and created strategies to combat racism and discrimination. I call this moment and the waves of performative actions and virtue signaling that ensued, the Negro-Apocalypse. Continued here

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What COVID has taught us about sharing our emotions – and why now's a good time to share again Although they were only two-and-a-half years ago, the first months of the COVID pandemic and ensuing lockdowns seem like a distant past. We have – perhaps intentionally – let fade our memories of 5 kilometre-radius travel restrictions, long lines at testing locations, work from home mandates, remote schooling, and border closures. We seem to just not talk about it anymore. Continued here

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Viktor Orbán’s controversial ‘Greater Hungary’ scarf explained A recent football match between Hungary and Greece – two countries that didn’t even qualify for the World Cup – would have been quickly forgotten were it not for the sartorial choices made by one of the spectators. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán was in attendance, sporting a scarf with a provocative design that has triggered tensions with other world leaders. The scarf depicted a map of Hungary but with the borders it had before the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, the peace agreement that ended the first world war. As part of this agreement, Hungary ceded land to neighbours Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Continued here

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Mysterious fluid from ant pupae helps feed colony Ant larvae metamorphose into adults by pupating. It was assumed that these inert pupae don’t play a role in the wider ant colony, but a team of researchers have found that they actually secrete a fluid that is consumed by both adult ants and larvae. This fluid is rich in proteins and metabolites, and appears to be an important source of larval nutrition. These secretions have now been seen in the pupae of multiple ant species, suggesting it is an evolutionary ancient behaviour. Ancient chefs made bitter plants taste better by soaking and grinding, and an electric fishing-hook attachment that reduces accidental catches of sharks and rays. Continued here

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Pregnancy is a genetic battlefield – how conflicts of interest pit mom's and dad's genes against each other Baby showers. Babymoons. Baby-arrival parties. There are many opportunities to celebrate the 40-week transition to parenthood. Often, these celebrations implicitly assume that pregnancy is cooperative and mutually beneficial to both the parent and the fetus. But this belief obscures a more interesting truth about pregnancy – the mother and the fetus may not be peacefully coexisting in the same body at all. However, even though genetic conflict is normal during pregnancy, it can play a role in pregnancy complications and developmental disorders when left unchecked. Continued here

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Mother mouse’s high-fat diet changes her son’s brain Pregnant mice that eat fatty chow give birth to male mice with unusual brain chemistry. Credit: Tom McHugh/Science Photo Library A mother’s high-fat diet during pregnancy can alter her offspring’s behaviour well into adulthood, at least in mice1. Continued here

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Nurses’ strike is about more than pay – it’s about ensuring good care For the first time its 106-year history, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the UK’s largest nursing union, has voted to take strike action. Nurses in the UK have been on strike before and achieved change, but the scale of this strike is extraordinary. This dispute, like many forms of industrial action, centres on pay. The salaries of registered nurses and nursing support workers have fallen in real terms by almost 20% in the past ten years. But this dispute is about more than just pay. Continued here

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Who is Jimmy Lai? The Hong Kong newspaper owner's upcoming show trial is symbolic of the struggle with the mainland and its values Non-resident Fellow, Center for Asian Law, Georgetown University; PhD in Law, SOAS, University of London Amid the widespread anti-zero-COVID protests in mainland China, political and judicial persecution in Hong Kong continues in the criminal court, where key pro-democracy figures and journalists are facing national security trials that could result in life in jail. Continued here

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Western leaders are divided over the future of relations with China European Council president Charles Michel heads to Beijing on December 1, the latest in a procession of western leaders to seek an audience with Xi Jinping, in a year when the Chinese president has cemented his position as the country’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Xi met more than 20 heads of government earlier in 2022 at the Beijing Olympics, but most of these did not represent democracies. The visit of Michel, a senior European politician, will focus attention on western attitudes to China’s increasingly assertive geopolitical stance. And it is likely to highlight deep divisions in the west over how to deal with Beijing. Continued here

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Yahoo is betting on a clickbait powerhouse - The Hustle Yahoo and its yodel ruled the late ‘90s internet — but in the years since, it’s seen ups, downs, and a whole lot of acquisitions. So, what’s next? Taboola provides “chumbox” ads, the array of sponsored clickbait found across news sites. It will now take over native advertising across Yahoo’s brands. Continued here

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Oath Keepers convictions shed light on the limits of free speech – and the threat posed by militias The verdicts in a high-profile, monthslong trial of Oath Keepers militia members were, as one defense lawyer acknowledged, “a mixed bag.” Leader Stewart Rhodes was found guilty on Nov. 29, 2022, of the most serious charge – seditious conspiracy – for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and was acquitted on two other related charges. One of Rhodes’ four co-defendants, Kelly Meggs, was also convicted of seditious conspiracy. All five on trial were found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, namely Congress’ certification on Jan. 6, 2021, of the 2020 presidential election results. Continued here

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Tesla’s wide-open road is getting cramped - The Hustle For years, Tesla has enjoyed a majority share of the US electric vehicle market with little competition. While the company’s done a great job using its first-mover advantage to expand its lineup, charging network, and factories, this period of nearly unchallenged growth is rapidly closing. Continued here

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Structure-based design of bitopic ligands for the µ-opioid receptor - Nature Nature (2022)Cite this article We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply. Continued here

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Two broadly conserved families of polyprenyl-phosphate transporters - Nature Nature (2022)Cite this article We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply. Continued here

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Where Mauna Loa’s lava is coming from – and why Hawaii’s volcanoes are different from most Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began sending up fountains of glowing rock and spilling lava from fissures as its first eruption in nearly four decades began on Nov. 27, 2022. We asked Gabi Laske, a geophysicist at the University of California-San Diego who led one of the first projects to map the deep plumbing that feeds the Hawaiian Islands’ volcanoes, to explain. Continued here

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What's a polycule? An expert on polyamory explains With the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the media shined a spotlight on the personal lives of founder Sam Bankman-Fried and his inner circle. It turns out that Bankman-Fried, his on-and-off girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, who served as CEO of FTX subsidiary Alameda and others involved in the company have dabbled in polyamory. Polyamorous relationships are a form consensual non-monogamy in which partners seek out multiple romantic or sexual relationships. Continued here

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Pupating ants make milk — and scientists only just noticed For the first time, researchers have observed ants secreting a milk-like fluid that nourishes others in the colony. The research, published in Nature on 30 November1, reveals that as pupae — an otherwise inactive developmental stage — ants produce a nutrient-rich fluid that is consumed by both adults and larvae. Continued here

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COVID deepened inequalities in HIV treatment: what we learnt in Nigeria The 2022 World AIDS Day theme is Equalize. The reason for this focus is that HIV reflects economic and social inequity. People with low socio-economic status are worst affected by the epidemic. Also, the worst impacts of the HIV epidemic are found in the least developed countries and the most impoverished neighbourhoods. In West Africa, the proportion of people living on less than $1.90 a day jumped from 2.3% in 2020 to 2.9% in 2021 and more than 25 million across the region are struggling to meet their basic food needs. Continued here

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The UK train that shouldn't exist Blea Moor is a lonely spot. From the gritstone crag at the moor's summit, the fells of the Yorkshire Dales National Park billow out to all directions, their flanks fern-green and windswept. Located in northern England, the park has many focal points, but the remote moor is not one of them; save for the passage of a few hardy walkers, it sees little activity. The breeze blows cold up here. One hundred and fifty metres underground, however, there's a tale to be told. In the 1870s, a tunnel was built beneath the moor. It was as straight as an arrow, as dark as a mine and stretched for almost 1.5 miles. The gangs on the task used handpicks and dynamite to scrabble their way through the earth – an arduous, airless job that took them four years and required seven construction shafts to be sunk into the bedrock from above. Continued here

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Ready ore not, here comes a copper shortage - The Hustle New anxiety just dropped: we’re running out of copper — and that’s a big problem, not just because it means fewer lucky pennies. Per Fortune, we need copper to build things like water pipes, computers, and phones. Not to mention electric vehicles, and solar and wind power infrastructure. Continued here

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Undecaprenyl phosphate translocases confer conditional microbial fitness - Nature Nature (2022)Cite this article We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply. Continued here