Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Astrophysicists have detected the most energetic electrons ever recorded raining down on Earth. With trillions of times the energy of visible light, these cosmic rays seem to be coming from a powerful source relatively close to our solar system. · Earth is constantly being bombarded by cosmic radiation, most of it from our own Sun. But other sources, like quasars, supernovae and gamma ray bursts, can fire off particles at extremely high…

There’s plenty of evidence that ancient hominin species crossed paths on many occasions – but it’s never been quite as literal as a new discovery in Kenya. Paleontologists have discovered the first known example of fossil footprints left by two different species of ancient hominins on the same day. · The footprints date back 1.5 million years, left in the muddy shores of an ancient lake in what would have been a hot savannah environment. They…

ACT Local Government spokesman Cameron Luxton is urging councils across New Zealand to prioritise value-for-money in procurement, challenging what he calls “politically correct” policies. · Luxton claims that a focus on “progressive,” “diverse,” or “sustainable” outcomes undermines efficient service delivery and drives up costs for ratepayers. · “Council procurement should have one purpose: deliver quality services at the best possible value…

The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive’s appeal for reader support blamed halted taxpayer grants, which had “stopped dead,” for the site’s financial woes. · In an interview with Sean Plunket, Duncan Greive estimated The Spinoff’s taxpayer funding at “one or two million dollars.” However, journalist Graham Adams disputes this. · Adams cites NZ On Air records that show The Spinoff and its affiliates, Hex Work and Hexwork Productions, have received…

Most New Zealanders support banning young children from social media, according to a new poll. · University of Auckland researcher Dr Samantha Marsh said “So many parents have said to me that they would welcome a ban. Kids are more vulnerable to the adverse effects – and they’re more drawn to it.” she said. · The Horizon Research survey revealed that over three-quarters of respondents believe parents should ensure online safety, with 70%…

When you think of an eating disorder, chances are you picture a young girl with anorexia, or possibly bulimia. · You're not alone. Those conditions are most commonly portrayed in TV and film — and research shows the media usually depicts both as mostly affecting white women under 30. · However, binge eating disorder is a far more common condition — but is rarely talked about and is mostly misunderstood. · The condition also seems to be on the…

Kyiv is once again under threat from Russian missiles as Vladimir Putin claims to be seeking out Ukrainian "decision-making centres" to target following the use of new US and European arms on Russian territory. · It follows weeks of the war ramping up in rhetoric and fighting, as the long winter descends along the relatively stagnant eastern front. · Despite the difficulty of fighting in the conditions, both sides are attempting to reshape the…

Human beings have an emotional and psychological need to convert history into a science, for we have longed to have life and the world make sense. Yet, there are no general laws of history that can give precise measurement to human thought or action. There is for historians only the intelligible disorder of life, the fragments of which they gather, and from which they try to uncover truth, describe reality, and craft meaning. · I. The Rise and…

Even before November, the once trendy concepts of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) were already sinking. Now the election of Donald Trump all but guarantees their accelerated decline. · The DEI push gained momentum during the 2020 George Floyd riots, after being nurtured for years on most college campuses. Many companies, including Walmart, adopted its associated practices. But new research…

If you've never heard of fox nuts, you'd be forgiven for assuming that they don't sound particularly palatable. But they're actually starchy seeds harvested from an aquatic lily and are being hailed as a versatile superfood, with recent studies supporting why they've been a powerhouse in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for 3,000 years, treating everything from obesity to high cholesterol and inflammation. And no foxes are harmed in the process.…