Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

When members of Al-Qaeda flew commercial jetliners into New York’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the idea of who was a terrorist crystallised for the world. · But, 23 years on, the reality is there is no one “kind” of terrorist.  · As security forces around the world grapple with myriad threats from all manner of groups, an essential agreement on who the opponent is becomes crucial. · An effective definition of terrorism is…

War-weary and angry, hundreds of thousands of Israelis are taking to the streets week after week, calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut a deal and bring the remaining hostages from the October 7 Hamas attack home. · Their calls remain unanswered. · These massive public demonstrations, including the largest nationwide strike in 18 months, are met with renewed conditions for any deal with Hamas and commitments to continuing the war…

When engineers first stepped inside the unremarkable, two-storey 1920s home on Wiltshire College’s campus, it looked nothing like an ecohome. “It was in a big state of disrepair,” recalls Max Waddingham, Good Energy’s operations director. “It was covered in mould, the floors were falling through. It was absolutely trashed.” · Today, the three-bedroom property couldn’t look more different. The building is surrounded by sweet chestnut trees and…

Police and customs have seized over 1.5m MDMA tablet equivalents in the first half of this year, and nearly $370m worth of powdered methamphetamine. · The isolation, demand, and tight control of the market by gangs all combine to drive up the cost, making New Zealand a prime target for international drug traffickers looking to make big money. · Detective Superintendent Greg Williams explains, “Transnational crime groups see New Zealand as a…

Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil after Indonesia, with an annual output of about 19 million tonnes. · However, this thriving industry produces substantial amounts of waste. · Each tonne of crude palm oil produced generates approximately 4 tonnes of dry palm biomass and 3.5 tonnes of palm oil mill effluent. · At palm oil mills, the oil extraction process generates palm biomass, including empty fruit bunches, mesocarp…

If you were asked to walk diagonally across a field, would you know what to do? Or what if you were offered ($23) today or double that amount in a month, would you be willing to wait? And how would you line up 10 photos of your parents if you were instructed to sort them in chronological order? Would you place them horizontally or vertically? In which direction would the timeline move? · These might seem like simple questions, but remarkably,…

The media’s portrayal of climate change often uses terms like “extreme,” “unprecedented,” and “astounding,” but these narratives may create a skewed perception of the situation. · For example, recent contrasting reports on the Atlantic’s temperature trends suggest a tendency to lean towards alarmism. · For over a year, the North Atlantic Ocean was described as “running a fever,” with sea surface temperatures hitting record highs. Reports from…

In an effort to combat the spread of Kauri dieback, a government-funded project is using mātauranga Māori – traditional Māori knowledge – to treat the iconic trees. · One of the more unconventional methods includes playing whale songs and using whale oil in an attempt to heal the infected trees. · The project, led by Dr Valance Smith, involves using “healing sounds” such as whale songs, combined with other “traditional” Māori practices , to…

A new study estimates that more than 99% of people are deficient in at least one vital nutrient, and the consequences could be more serious than just feeling sluggish. Think blindness, anaemia, and weakened bones. · Published in Lancet Global Health, the study gathered data from 31 countries to estimate global micronutrient intake. It notes the widespread deficiency of important nutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamin E, which affect…

Heman Bekele, a 15-year-old from Virginia, US, has been honoured by Time magazine for his pioneering work and research into skin cancer treatment. · Heman was four years old when he started conducting his own science experiments at home, creating concoctions with whatever he could find. At six, he was given a chemistry set for Christmas, helping Bekele to the realisation that he wanted to help the world in some way using science. · He grew up…