They say all good things take time, and this surely is the case when it comes to apple breeding, as it can take over 25 years to develop a new apple variety. Recently, new gene-editing tools like CRISPR have demonstrated their potential to improve plant breeding by allowing us to efficiently edit genes to create […]
My research interests branch into a few areas, but my main focus is on behaviour-altering parasites. These are parasites which alter their host’s behaviour in a way that benefits the parasite’s survival and reproduction, often utterly controlling their behaviour and turning them into ‘zombies’. What I’m often asked when I discuss it is about humans, […]
In this blog, I will finally dive into the negative consequences that have been linked with gaming disorder, including the consequences associated with physical and mental health. Check out my second and third blogs to understand more about gaming disorder, including what it is and the potential benefits of gaming. Physical health In terms of […]
In my last blog, I wrote about the unequal burden of the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis that stems from the inappropriately managed outsourced production of antibiotics. Today I will shift focus to the next contributor of AMR, the antibiotic prescription practice in primary health care settings. Although the contribution by the primary health care […]
For video game enthusiasts, 2021 brings an important anniversary: September marks the tenth anniversary of the release of Dark Souls, the cult-classic that spawned not only two sequels but also a new genre of interactive storytelling, the “Souls-like” game. Admittedly, with “only” 27 million copies cumulatively sold over the entire trilogy, the Dark Souls series […]
The largest mafia trial in Italy’s history is ongoing, with 355 accused on trial for various offences, from membership and collusion with the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate to arms trafficking and murder. In a recent CBC article and radio episode, Megan Williams clearly outlines how the community environment of the Calabria region in Italy has allowed […]
I decided that I wanted to study political sociology on November 8th, 2016—the night of the U.S. presidential election. I wanted to understand everything: what was happening, how we’d arrived at that moment, and, most importantly, how to move forward from it. I’m not an American citizen, but, like many others, I could see new […]
It is now commonplace to describe countries facing protracted civil conflict, degrading levels of poverty and inequality, or economic or political collapse as failed states. But how do we gauge or measure such fragility? The Fragile States Index, compiled annually by the US-based Fund for Peace, examines the risk of countries becoming “failed states” by […]
Last month, the website Epicurious announced it would no longer publish recipes that include beef in their ingredient list “in an effort to encourage more sustainable cooking.” Specifically, the website cites the greenhouse gas emissions associated with beef production as the reason for cutting beef from its recipes. Alongside other recent trends like the rise […]
Investing emotionally in others can be both rewarding and exhausting. I find that even if I have an incredibly positive day full of laughter and moments of deep human connection the sheer volume of personal interactions can leave me feeling worn-out. Researchers Powers & Myers write on the concept of “emotional labour” and the ways […]