After a chaotic 45 days in office, Liz Truss has stepped down as the UK’s shortest-serving prime minister. Plus: Nigeria prepares for elections, a flick through the day’s papers, and the latest business news.
Monthly Archives: October 2022
Front Page: The New York Times – October 21, 2022
Liz Truss Resigns After 6 Chaotic Weeks, Igniting New Leadership Fight
The beleaguered British prime minister relinquished her office after just 44 days of political and economic tumult, the shortest tenure in British history.
How Taiwan’s ‘Adorable’ and Ambitious Diplomacy Aims to Keep the Island Safe
Even as China’s threats on reunification grow more pointed, most recently at the Communist Party congress, Taiwan is working creatively to bolster its alliances.
‘It Was Horror’: Ukrainians Share Grim Tales of Russian Occupation
With Russian soldiers pushed out of parts of the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian investigators have been overwhelmed with accounts of detentions, torture and missing relatives, as well as collaboration and property theft.
EYE HEALTH: THE SIGNS AND DIAGNOSIS OF CATARACTS
Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:10 What are cataracts? 0:43 What are the warning signs of cataracts? 2:44 How are cataracts diagnosed? 3:04 Talk to your eye doctor
Research Preview: Science Magazine – Oct 21, 2022
Science Magazine – Butterfly wing patterns are mosaics of colored scales. According to new research, ancient and deeply conserved multifunctional gene regulatory elements play a crucial role in creating these diverse patterns.
Heart risks fuel debate over COVID-19 boosters
With benefits unclear, some scientists question new round of shots for young people
Brazil’s election is a cliffhanger for scientists
Second Bolsonaro term could be “final nail” for science and environment
How the Black Death left its mark on immune system genes
Study of DNA from medieval victims and survivors finds gene that helped protect people from deadly pathogen
Has a new dawn arrived for space-based solar power?
Better technology and falling launch costs revive interest in a science-fiction technology
Archaeology: Neolithic Village Of Ba’ja In Jordan
is a famous archaeological site. It was one of the world’s first known settlements, founded some 9,000 years ago. The site has produced magnificent finds including an ancient necklace made of 2,500 beads. What prompted our Neolithic ancestors to settle down? Why did they change their nomadic, hunter-gatherer lives so radically?
As is so often the case in archaeology, it is tombs that tell us the most, while also raising new questions. One of the most magnificent finds at the Ba’ja archaeological site is the richly furnished tomb of a young girl. In 2018, as the excavation team was about to depart, beads emerged from beneath the slab of a nondescript tomb. The team kept working until they finally recovered around 2,500 beads.
Further research showed the beads belonged to an elaborately crafted necklace that had been buried with the girl. The team affectionately christened her Jamila, “the beautiful one.” Jamila’s necklace is a sensation, and has been put on display at the new Petra Museum. There, the entire history of the country is presented, beginning with Ba’ja and humankind’s decision to leave behind the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Along with other finds from Ba’ja, Jamila’s finely wrought necklace calls into question much of what we thought we knew about the Stone Age. In recent decades, the burial site in Jordan has helped us see Neolithic people through different eyes. One thing seems clear: They were able to invest time in aesthetics, jewelry and furnishings because their food supply was secure.
Travel & Culture Guides: ‘Why We Love Spain’ (2022)
editors have consistently begged to visit over the years as they attempt to understand its wholesome hidden depths. Here are 10 things that have us hankering for more.
Ecology: Planting Trees To Cool Scotland’s Rivers
the twin climate and biodiversity crises – reducing flooding, improving river health and restoring the ecosystem. We’re working in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to plant and restore river woodland for people and wildlife.
In Scotland, this particularly means fish. Salmon, to be exact. Whole upland river catchments devoid of trees are seeing Scotland’s rivers warm to a point that could see salmon disappear in just 20 years. These fish need clean, cold water to thrive, and river woodland is the way to return it to them. The Woodland Trust is working across river catchments to expand native woodland alongside rivers and burns.
Trees provide shade and cover for young salmon and trout, stabilize riverbanks, slow the flow of water downstream and create wildlife corridors. A key part of this work involves working with landowners to plant and restore river woodland on their land, advising on the initial planting and empowering them to monitor their river woods into the future.
Foreign Affairs: The U.S. Vs China Military Bases (WSJ)
Top New Yorker Cartoons
Previews: History Today Magazine – November 2022
Tutankhamun in the Flesh
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 reopened arguments about the presumed race of the ancient Egyptians.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s Second Act
After the death of her husband in 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt left the White House and embarked upon a new career as ‘First Lady of the World’.
‘The Vote is of the People’
Brazilian democracy is young, hard-won and under threat. As the country goes to the polls, its history reminds us that the right to vote is not a given.
Women, Life, Freedom
Iranian women have always been present in national uprisings, but this time they are leading them.
Boomers Daily 