Wastewater is a valuable source of information - Africa's scientists need to use it to find drug-resistant bacteria

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Wastewater is a valuable source of information - Africa's scientists need to use it to find drug-resistant bacteria   Executive Dean: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda People often think of wastewater as serving no purpose. But it can be a valuable source of information. Wastewater is increasingly recognised as a significant environmental reservoir for antimicrobial resistance – a growing global public health threat. Continued here

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ChatGPT and other generative AI could foster science denial and misunderstanding - here's how you can be on alert   Now you have another option: You can pose your question to ChatGPT or another generative artificial intelligence platform and quickly receive a succinct response in paragraph form.ChatGPT does not search the internet the way Google does. Instead, it generates responses to queries by predicting likely word combinations from a massive amalgam of available online information. Continued here

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Biodegradable plastic in clothing doesn't break down nearly as quickly as hoped - new research   Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Over 100 million tonnes of plastic enters the environment each year, with more than 10 million tonnes ending up in our oceans. These plastics break down into harmful microplastic particles so small they can be consumed by wildlife.We all recognise discarded bottles and bags as plastic waste. But the synthetic fibres that are woven into our clothing – polyester, nylon, acrylic and others – are equally problematic. Every year, more than 60 million tonnes of plastic fabric is produced, a considerable amount of which ultimately finds it way to landfill. Continued here

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Why people reward innate talent over hard work   In almost every discipline, success comes from a combination of talent and grit. But if you listen to most famous figures describe their life journeys, you’ll soon hear them waxing lyrical about their hard graft, while strangely downplaying the role of their innate abilities.Thomas Edison may be the most often quoted, with his claim that “genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”, but many other variations exist. Just consider Octavia Butler’s advice for new writers. “Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it. If you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter. As habit is more dependable than inspiration, continued learning is more dependable than talent.” The Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo also emphasises the blood, sweat and tears that went into his training. “Talent without work is nothing,” he said, when asked about the secrets of his success on the pitch. Continued here

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How China is increasing its influence in central Asia as part of global plans to offer an alternative to the west   As G7 leaders were preparing for their recent summit in Japan, China’s president Xi Jinping hosted his central Asian counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Central Asia is critical to China’s attempts to build an alternative to the US-led liberal order that is unquestionably dominated by Beijing and in which Russia will, at best, be a junior partner. Continued here

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It's time to leave the Paleo Diet in the past: Recent studies have failed to support its claims   The Paleo Diet urges us to mimic our prehistoric ancestors’ food choices. In practice, this means eschewing dairy products, cereals, pulses and processed sugar, and consuming vegetables, fruit, nuts, pasture-raised meat and wild-caught seafood instead.The Paleo Diet’s proponents contend that by eating this way, we will lose weight and reduce our risk of chronic diseases. Continued here

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How drag as an art form sashayed from the underground and strutted into the mainstream   Recent protests against drag queen story hours are the latest in a series of actions targeting the increased prominence of displays of LGBTIQ+ culture in the public arena. But drag artists have been strutting their stuff in speakeasies, cabarets and films for a long time now. Continued here

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Laws targeting protesters are being rushed through state parliaments. But they are often poorly designed and sometimes, unconstitutional   Across Australia, climate activists are testing the limits of what counts as lawful protest, in addition to the patience of commuters as their actions shut down roads or disrupt businesses. Authorities are responding with new police powers and increasingly harsh new penalties. The speed at which these new laws are made and their impact on the right to protest are alarming. Continued here

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Why profits, not pay, have caused the cost of living crisis   The Bank of England accompanied its most recent UK interest rate hike – the 12th in a row – with a warning that UK price inflation is likely to be higher for longer than expected due to soaring food costs. The bank has been hiking rates since December 2021 to try to stop a sharp rise in the cost of living. And while the rate of inflation dropped significantly in April, at 8.7% it remains well above the UK’s 2% target.Many reasons have been given for recent price inflation: central banks have “printed” too much money, wars in other countries have pushed up energy prices. The current government and the governor of the Bank of England believe that wage increases cause inflation. Continued here

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Good Leadership Is About Asking Good Questions   Especially when they find themselves in the midst of crisis and uncertainty, leaders should ask powerful and inspiring questions. Asking questions well can put you on the path to solving intractable problems and will also help you connect with others and, counterintuitively, to earn their trust. Those questions should be big in scope: What new opportunities have emerged that we don’t want to miss? How might we use new technologies to change our business model? And you should involve others in answering those questions —employees, stakeholders, and even customers. Doing so can not only help you generate better answers, it can also help you to change your organization’s culture. Continued here

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Peace in Sudan depends on justice for the Darfur genocide   I asked the pilot to deviate from our approved flight path and go low over Darfur. It was 2003 and I was the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sudan investigating reports of violence. What I saw was a genocide unfolding on my watch.This was a decade after the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which I also witnessed first hand, and where we had sworn “never again”. But here I was in Darfur watching village upon village burning. Continued here

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Babies crawl, scoot and shuffle when learning to move. Here's what to watch for if you're worried   Charmaine is registered as an Occupational Therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.Charmaine Bernie is a trainer in Occupational Performance Coaching, Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance, and pathways to autism diagnosis. Early gross motor (or whole body) movements such as crawling and walking are exciting developments and clear markers for parents watching their child’s development. But what happens when a milestone isn’t reached, or the movement itself isn’t what a parent is expecting? Continued here

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Tina Turner had a history of high blood pressure and kidney disease. Here's how one leads to the other   Legendary singer Tina Turner, who died this week at the age of 83 after a long illness, has written about her history of high blood pressure and kidney disease, leading to a kidney transplant.Turner should be applauded for her willingness to share her medical history to publicise the importance of looking after your kidneys, just months before she died. Continued here

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As governments shirk their responsibilities, non-profits are more important than ever   You’ve likely walked past that non-profit youth centre or literacy program in your neighborhood countless times. You’ve probably never needed to make use of it and never given it a second thought. But on your next stroll, take a moment to consider the work that organization does, the challenges it faces and the vast benefits it brings to your community. Continued here

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Turkey's Erdogan took a page from US presidents and boosted reelection campaign by claiming to have killed a terrorist   When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed credit on April 30, 2023, for killing Islamic State group leader Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi in Syria, it may not have been simply a straightforward announcement of victory over the leader of a terrorist group. History suggests the operation against al-Qurashi could have been an effort to boost Erdoğan’s reelection campaign. Continued here

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Africa's Russia-Ukraine peace mission: what can it achieve?   University of the Witwatersrand provides support as a hosting partner of The Conversation AFRICA.South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead an initiative of six African heads of state to explore an end to the year-long Russia-Ukraine war. The announcement followed his phone calls with both Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky. The mission is expected to take place in June. Continued here

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Vatican centralizes investigations on claims of Virgin Mary apparitions - but local Catholics have always had a say   The Vatican recently announced its plan to set up an “observatory” at one of its several academic institutions, the Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis, to investigate claims of apparitions and other mystical phenomena attributed to the Virgin Mary. As a scholar of global Christianity whose first book focused on apparitions and miracles of Mary in the modern Philippines, I’ve spent years studying the ins and outs of how the Catholic Church authenticates apparitions and the impact of these decisions on devotion to the Virgin Mary. I believe that the creation of this office signals a major shift in how apparitions of Mary have been evaluated and authenticated in modern times. Continued here

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The Israeli Minister Who Is Defending Elon Musk   Amichai Chikli championed the billionaire when his tweets were criticized for anti-Semitic overtones. I asked Chikli why.When Elon Musk tweeted that the Jewish financier George Soros “hates humanity” and “wants to erode the very fabric of civilization,” he drew international condemnation. Musk’s outburst was “not just distressing,” but “dangerous,” Jonathan Greenblatt, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, said on Twitter. “It will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result.” Later that day, Israel’s foreign ministry tweeted, “The phrase ‘The Jews’ spiked today on the list of topics trending on Twitter following a tweet with antisemitic overtones by none other than the owner and CEO of the social network, Elon Musk.” Continued here

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The UK public sector is already using AI more than you realise - without oversight it's impossible to understand the risks   The UK government is keen to embed AI in its day-to-day operations and set out a national strategy to do just that in 2021. The aim, according to the strategy, is to “lead from the front and set an example in the safe and ethical deployment of AI”. AI is not without risks, particularly when it comes to individual rights and discrimination. These are risks the government is aware of, but a recent policy white paper shows the government is reluctant to increase AI regulation. It is difficult to imagine how “safe and ethical deployment” can be achieved without this. Continued here

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Research: Being Funny Can Pay Off More for Women Than Men   The stereotype that “women aren’t funny” pervades pop culture. But is it true? The authors analyzed more than 2,400 TED and TEDx talks, as well as more than 200 startup pitches, and found that female speakers who used more humor were more popular and perceived as more influential and inspiring than both less-funny women and comparably-funny men. They suggest that this is because humor conveys both warmth and competence, thus helping female presenters break free from the warmth-competence double bind that so often keeps women from exerting influence in professional settings. Of course, humor won’t be effective in every setting — and jokes that work well for one speaker in one context may not be as effective in another. But when done right, the authors’ research demonstrates the power of humor to overcome bias against women and help them succeed in public arenas. Continued here

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China's hypersonic missiles threaten US power in the Pacific - an aerospace engineer explains how the weapons work and the unique threats they pose   China’s newest hypersonic missile, the DF-27, can fly as far as Hawaii, penetrate U.S. missile defenses and pose a particular threat to U.S. aircraft carriers, according to news reports of an assessment from the Pentagon.This shift in the balance of power highlights how the next-generation hypersonic missiles that China, Russia and the U.S. are developing pose a significant threat to global security. I am an aerospace engineer who studies space and defense systems, including hypersonic systems. These new systems pose an important challenge due to their maneuverability all along their trajectory. Because their flight paths can change as they travel, defending against these missiles requires tracking them throughout their flight. Continued here

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Tackling sexual misconduct in the NHS will require education and empowerment - not just words   Many were shocked by the recent revelation that more than 35,000 incidents of sexual misconduct, ranging from abusive remarks to rape, occurred in the NHS over the five years to 2022. Nearly 21,000 incidents involved patients abusing staff, almost 7,500 were cases where patients had abused other patients, and more than 3,000 involved staff abusing patients. There were 902 alleged incidents of staff abusing other staff. Continued here

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Batteries are the environmental Achilles heel of electric vehicles -   Dean of School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology Electric vehicle advocates say the cars ultimately have a smaller carbon footprint than their fossil-fuelled counterparts and could resolve our energy concerns for good. Well, fair enough, but questions arise when we dig into the inner layers of electrical vehicles and see how sustainable their components are. In fact, the batteries that power electric vehicles may also be their Achilles heel. Continued here

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The future is uncertain for our last old-growth boreal forests   Écologie et aménagement forestiers, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) Driving along the Trans-Canada Highway, with its endless succession of spruce, aspen, fir and birch trees, it’s easy to assume that our country is bursting with forests. Continued here

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Happy birthday, Buddha! Why the founder of Buddhism has so many different birthdays around the world   When Siddhartha Gautama was born, he was clearly no ordinary infant. According to Buddhist texts, he raised his hand to the skies and declared, “In the heavens above and below the heavens, I am the world’s most honored one. I will free all beings from birth, old age, sickness, and death.” Then the remarkable baby is believed to have received a first bath: streams of water poured by the gods Brahma and Indra – or flowing from two dragon kings’ mouths, depending on the legend. This cleansing consecrated the Buddha-to-be as holy, signaling that even the gods recognized him as worthy of veneration. Continued here

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'We haven't been taught about sex': teens talk about how to fix school sex education   Last week, the Albanese government announced an expert panel to support relationships and sexuality education in Australian schools. The group is lead by the head of anti-violence organisation Our Watch, Patty Kinnersly, and includes consent advocate Chanel Contos. It will do a “rapid review” into consent and respectful relationships programs to identify “opportunities for improvement”. Continued here

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Price inflation: five ways stronger UK supply chains can help reduce rising food costs   Annual price inflation has recently fallen below double digits, but food costs are still rising rapidly. Official UK figures show food prices rose by 19.1% in the year to April 2023.To prevent further increases, the UK needs to face up to the deep and fundamental relationship between the rising cost of food and how it is supplied nationally. Continued here

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Corruption in South Africa: former CEO's explosive book exposes how state power utility was destroyed   Keith Gottschalk is a member of the African National Congress, but writes this review in his professional capacity as a political scientist.University of Western Cape provides support as a hosting partner of The Conversation AFRICA. Continued here

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The 100 greatest children's books of all time   Over the years, BBC Culture has conducted major polls of film and TV critics, experts and industry figures from around the world to decide on the greatest films and TV shows in a particular category: you may have seen our 100 greatest TV shows of the 21st Century in 2021, for example, or our 100 greatest films directed by women list in 2019. However, for this year's poll, we felt we needed to finally turn our attention to another art form so deeply embedded in all our lives – books. And there is no variety of books more embedded in them than children's literature – after all, whatever our pastimes as we grow older, many of us share in the joy of reading at a young age, in and out of school.Read more about BBC Culture's 100 greatest children's books:–The 100 greatest children’s books–Why Where the Wild Things Are is the greatest children’s book– The 20 greatest children’s books– The 21st Century’s greatest children’s books– Who voted? Continued here

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Balancing Valued Tradition With Innovation   Sooner or later, most successful companies face the challenge of updating a cherished old product. Make no changes, and you risk becoming irrelevant to new customers. Change too much, and you may alienate your most loyal customers.So how do you leverage a historically strong brand with sensitivity to heterogeneous customer preferences? To explore this question, we studied Italian opera companies, which face this dilemma every season. Many of the best-loved operas in the repertoire are more than 150 years old, and the most devoted operagoers have fairly traditional tastes. However, if opera companies hew to their preferences, they may limit their cultural relevance and fail to develop new audiences.Our analysis of ticket sales for 2,627 Italian opera productions from 1989 to 2011, and interviews with 15 artistic directors of opera houses, yielded some insights into successfully managing the tension between tradition and innovation that can be applied by anyone with a beloved product they need to update. Continued here