The fast, furious, and brutally short life of an African male lion

S19

The fast, furious, and brutally short life of an African male lion     The death of a lion in Kenya’s picturesque savannas rarely tugs at people’s hearts, even in a country where wildlife tourism is a key pillar of the nation’s economy. But when one of the most tracked male lions in Kenya’s famous Masaai Mara was killed on 24 July 2023 the world took notice. Known as Jesse, he was killed during a fight with a coalition of three male lions from a rival pride, drawing attention to the brutally risky and dangerous lives of male lions.Lions are organised in family groups known as a pride. Each pride is comprised of several related lionesses. One or more adult male lions will also be present. In the public imagination, male lions are better known by their popularised image as kings of the jungle. Their bravery, strength, and size (only tigers are larger) fits this profile. Continued here

S30

Taylor Swift tickets are pricey, but fans get a blockbuster show and intimate connection with their idol     The ticket scramble for Taylor Swift’s latest tour has caused such a furore that even the likes of Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman have weighed in on it.The shows on the Eras tour, which runs until August 2024, are undoubtedly expensive. And the sales process has been chaotic. On the day tickets went on sale in the US, the Ticketmaster website crashed – the company had prepared itself for 1.5 million fans, only to find that 15 million logged on. Continued here

S8

Women get far more migraines than men - a neurologist explains why, and what brings relief     A migraine is far more than just a headache – it’s a debilitating disorder of the nervous system. People who have migraines experience severe throbbing or pulsating pain, typically on one side of the head. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light or sound. An attack may last for hours or days, and to ease the suffering, some people spend time isolated in dark, quiet rooms. Continued here

S13

Researchers dig deep underground in hopes of finally observing dark matter     Physicists like me don’t fully understand what makes up about 83% of the matter of the universe — something we call “dark matter.” But with a tank full of xenon buried nearly a mile under South Dakota, we might one day be able to measure what dark matter really is.In the typical model, dark matter accounts for most of the gravitational attraction in the universe, providing the glue that allows structures like galaxies, including our own Milky Way, to form. As the solar system orbits around the center of the Milky Way, Earth moves through a dark matter halo, which makes up most of the matter in our galaxy. Continued here

S11

Donald Trump's right - he is getting special treatment, far better than most other criminal defendants     Former President Donald Trump often complains that he is being treated unfairly by the prosecutors charging him with crimes.Trump is now the subject of three federal and state criminal cases – and it is true that he is being treated unlike other criminal defendants. Continued here

S18

Kenya is going digital to boost tax revenue - there are lessons to learn from other African countries     Postdoctoral Fellow, International Centre for Tax and Development, Institute of Development Studies Many African tax authorities have weak capacity to raise revenue. From 1990 to 2020, sub-Saharan African countries on average collected only about 12%-15% of GDP as taxes, a much lower share than the 33.5% in OECD economies. Continued here

S16

The heroic effort to save Florida's coral reef from devastating ocean heat     Armed with scrub brushes, young scuba divers took to the waters of Florida’s Alligator Reef in late July to try to help corals struggling to survive 2023’s extraordinary marine heat wave. They carefully scraped away harmful algae and predators impinging on staghorn fragments, under the supervision and training of interns from Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education, or I.CARE.Normally, I.CARE’s volunteer divers would be transplanting corals to waters off the Florida Keys this time of year, as part of a national effort to restore the Florida Reef. But this year, everything is going in reverse. Continued here

S6

Planet of the Bass: How a ridiculous Eurodance parody song became the most addictive song of the summer     "All of the dream, how does it mean?" This is the existential question posed by Ms Biljana Electronica on Planet of the Bass, the addictive Eurodance parody that is fast becoming a song of the summer. Flanked by rapped imperatives from DJ Crazy Times – "let's go, everybody go!" – the effect is not just hilarious, but also irresistibly nostalgic."For many, Eurodance is intrinsically linked to summer," says Connor Gotto, editor of Retropop magazine. He points out that several classics of the 1990s genre, including Whigfield's party anthem Saturday Night, became hits in the UK "after they were brought back by Brits who first heard them on holiday in [continental] Europe". The genre's integral elements – euphoric choruses, pounding beats and gloriously unrestrained vocals, whether rapped or sung – evoke balmy dance floors from Málaga in Spain to Mykonos in Greece. Continued here

S32

Deadly wildfires burn across Maui - it's a reminder of the growing risk to communities that once seemed safe     Wildfires, pushed by powerful winds, raced through Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 8 and 9, 2023, leaving a charred and smoldering landscape across the tourist town of about 13,000 residents that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. At least 36 people died, Maui County officials said. Others were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after going into the ocean to escape the flames.Fires were still burning on Aug. 10, both in Maui’s tourist-filled west coast and farther inland, as well as on the Big Island of Hawaii. Dry grasses and strong winds, influenced by Hurricane Dora passing far to the south, heightened the fire risk. Continued here

S4

When a job raises red flags immediately, should workers cut and run?     Nicole noticed a red flag within hours of starting her new job at a Miami-based boutique PR firm in 2022. The CEO didn’t bother introducing her to clients on her first-ever company Zoom call; he dominated the conversation, leaving no room for other employees to speak. Nicole tried to carry on but was shocked on her second day when the CEO swore at a colleague in the middle of a team meeting.On day three, Nicole worked up the courage to ask that colleague if outbursts like that were normal. “She said, ‘That’s just how he is’,” recalls Nicole, who is in her mid-20s. “Everyone’s scared of him.” Continued here

S26

Don't risk the health of your eyes this summer - how to correctly choose sunglasses and avoid swimming pool infections     Directora y Profesora Adjunta del Grado en Óptica y Optometría, Universidad CEU San Pablo At this time of year many of us are enjoying or about to enjoy holidays – day trips, the beach, the mountains, a change of scene. Continued here

S20

Women's World Cup: why are there so few female coaches in football?     The enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the Women’s World Cup – fielding a record 32 teams – shows that women’s football is in a healthier state than ever.According to the FA’s women’s and girls’ football strategy update, across all levels the number of registered female players in England increased by 17% between October 2021 and 2022, while there was a 30% increase in the number of female teams. The number of female referees has increased by 21%, and female coaches have risen by a whopping 75%. Continued here

S10

Through space and rhyme: How hip-hop uses Afrofuturism to take listeners on journeys of empowerment     It is perhaps only natural, as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, that people look to the genre’s future. But for some rappers, the future has always been part of the story.Ever since August 1973, hip-hop artists have turned to Afrofuturism – a mix of science fiction, politics and liberating fantasy – to inform their lyrics and their look. Continued here

S17

Air travel is in a rut - is there any hope of recapturing the romance of flying?     Director of Public Scholarship, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Amelia Earhart broke a transcontinental speed record 90 years ago, in July 1933, by flying her signature red Lockheed Vega from Los Angeles to New Jersey in just 17 hours, seven and a half minutes. Earlier that year, Earhart had flown as an observer on a Northwest Airways winter flight across the U.S., testing the possibilities of a “Northern Transcontinental” route. Continued here

S5

France's illustrious blue 'Breton lobster'     "On Channel Three, they said the wind was coming from the east. On Channel Two, they said it was coming from the west. So, Cédric… what do you say?"Lobster fisherman Cédric Delacour smiled at the driver, a retired fisherman himself, idling alongside the port of Omonville, in the Normandy region of northern France. But to this question posed almost like a riddle, Delacour offered no response. Indeed, over the next few hours, he would prove to be a man of few words – understandable, perhaps, seeing as he spends most of his days alone on the water in search of spider crabs, brown crabs and the illustrious "Breton lobster," a term that makes the proud Norman baulk. Continued here

S36

Oppenheimer has an epic, layered soundtrack - but its real power is in the silence     Christopher Nolan’s biopic on the theoretical scientist Robert Oppenheimer, who became known as the “father of the atomic bomb”, has an epic soundtrack. We follow Oppenheimer’s early work in Europe, establishing the Los Alamos lab, the creation of the atomic bombs released on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, his later activism against nuclear development and its repercussions in his later life. Continued here

S9

Despite giving students chances to cheat, unsupervised online exams gauge student learning comparably to in-person exams     Students don’t have to be supervised during online exams. That’s because unsupervised online exams can accurately assess student learning, according to our study published in July 2023 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Our data set comprised nearly 2,000 students from a public university in the Midwest. We analyzed exam scores from the first half of the spring semester of 2020, when tests were administered in person, and the second half, when the pandemic forced schools to shift online. This enabled us to compare how students performed on in-person exams versus online exams taught by the same instructor in the same course. Continued here

S3

Thriving in the New World of Work     Our summer special report helps leaders gain a comprehensive view of risks, learn how to overcome market disrupters, and manage the analytical tools that provide predictive insight for decision-making.Our summer special report helps leaders gain a comprehensive view of risks, learn how to overcome market disrupters, and manage the analytical tools that provide predictive insight for decision-making.A presenter at MIT SMR’s symposium on the future of work answers attendees’ questions about the risks of pessimism, the difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem, and how to build resilience. Continued here

S44

Incremental environmental change can be as hazardous as a sudden shock - managing these 'slow-burning' risks is vital     Deputy Director - Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland Associate Director, Policy and International Relations at Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland Continued here

S35

Canadians are unprepared for natural hazards. Here's what we can do about it     Over the last year, Canada has made important progress toward making it easier for people to determine if they’re at risk from natural hazard disasters. But many people across the country still lack awareness about the risks they face and the steps they can take to prepare for them. The summer of 2023 has been marked by record-breaking wildfires, floods and heat waves across Canada. Continued here

S7

Word from The Hill: Voice proponents and opponents draw succour from heritage backdown; ALP toughens Palestine policy to placate party; more questions follow Lehrmann inquiry     As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team.In this podcast Michelle and politics + society editor Amanda Dunn discuss the announcement from Western Australian Premier Roger Cook that a controversial cultural heritage law would be overturned, with the former legislation reinstated with amendments. The law was put in place after mining giant Rio Tinto blew up the Juukan Gorge, a sacred place for First Australians. Continued here

S15

AI can help forecast air quality, but freak events like 2023's summer of wildfire smoke require traditional methods too     Wildfire smoke from Canada’s extreme fire season has left a lot of people thinking about air quality and wondering what to expect in the days ahead.All air contains gaseous compounds and small particles. But as air quality gets worse, these gases and particles can trigger asthma and exacerbate heart and respiratory problems as they enter the nose, throat and lungs and even circulate in the bloodstream. When wildfire smoke turned New York City’s skies orange in early June 2023, emergency room visits for asthma doubled. Continued here

S21

The Post Office scandal is possibly the largest miscarriage of justice in UK history - and it's not over yet     The Post Office scandal involves miscarriages of justice involving hundreds of innocent people who were wrongly convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting. It has been going on for over 20 years, with the Post Office accused of a cover up after it repeatedly failed to disclose key evidence.The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and court cases have heard that at least 60 subpostmasters have died without seeing justice or compensation, and at least four took their own lives. Continued here

S33

Divorce and separation can have significant impacts on business and political leaders     The announcement that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau are separating has sparked widespread discussions across the nation.This situation has placed the prime minister in a new role as a separated parent, raising questions about the political implications of separations and divorces among public figures. Continued here

S34

From Oppenheimer to Milton Friedman: how the Cold War battle of economic ideas shaped our world     Is Oppenheimer a movie for our time, reminding us of the tensions, dangers and conflicts of the old Cold War while a new one threatens to break out? The film certainly chimes with today’s big power conflicts (the US and China), renewed concern about nuclear weapons (Russia’s threats over Ukraine), and current ideological tensions between democratic and autocratic systems. Continued here

S29

Sending UK asylum seekers to Ascension Island is a legal non-starter - if the government really is planning to do it     Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou consults to the Council of Europe on their Human Rights Programmes. As part of attempts to prevent people crossing the English Channel in small boats, the UK government has been briefing the press that it is considering sending arrivals to Ascension Island – a remote piece of land in the Atlantic Ocean inhabited by fewer than 900 people. This idea was originally mooted in 2021 and dropped on the grounds that it was unworkable. Continued here

S12

Babies almost all try crawling to get from Point A to Point B, but CDC says it's not a useful developmental milestone     Infant milestones can be a source both of pride and anxiety for a new parent. Baby’s firsts – first tooth, first steps, first word – are moments of joy that many parents immediately compare with charts listing “normal” age ranges for each achievement to occur.For a pediatrician, these milestones are useful indicators of typical or atypical development. When they occur outside that normal range, it might be time to look for some underlying cause, which could enable early detection and intervention if something’s amiss. Continued here

S37

What are your rights as an Airbnb renter in Australia? A law expert answers 6 common questions     Airbnb has revolutionised the short-stay industry. Launched in 2008, it now eclipses the world’s biggest hotel chains. In Australia alone there are about 100,000 listed properties.But in dealing with both a digital platform and a private owner (or “host”, in Airbnb-speak), your legal rights as a renter (or “guest”) can be unclear – at least without reading lengthy terms and conditions. Continued here

S14

A brief illustrated guide to 'scissors congruence' - an ancient geometric idea that's still fueling cutting-edge mathematical research     In math class, you probably learned how to compute the area of lots of different shapes by memorizing algebraic formulas. Remember “base x height” for rectangles and “½ base x height” for triangles? Or “𝜋 x radius²” for circles?Modern mathematicians refer to Euclid’s concept of “having equal area” as “being scissors congruent.” This idea, based on cutting up shapes and pasting them back together in different ways, has inspired interesting mathematics beyond just computing areas of triangles and squares. The story of scissors congruence demonstrates how classical problems in geometry can find new life in the strange world of abstract modern math. Continued here

S2

Are You Failing to Prepare the Next Generation of C-Suite Leaders? - SPONSOR CONTENT FROM DAGGERWING     For many people leaders, that’s been the mantra for the past three years. “Let’s just get through this moment in time, focus on the short-term solutions for our immediate needs, and when things go back to normal, we’ll deal with all the issues we’ve been putting on the backburner.” Continued here