Restoration: How Rivers ‘Should Look’ In Nature

The Guardian – The quintessential image of a river you might recognize from post cards and paintings – nice and straight with a tidy riverbank – is not actually how it is supposed to look.

It’s the result of centuries of industrial and agricultural development. And it’s become a problem, exacerbating the impact of both extreme flooding and extreme drought. Josh Toussaint-Strauss looks into how so many rivers ended up this way, and how river restoration is helping to reestablish biodiversity and combat some of the effects of the climate crisis.

Previews: The Economist Magazine- January 28, 2023

The Economist Magazine- January 28, 2023 issue:

The humbling of Goldman Sachs

The struggle to reinvent a firm trapped by its own mythology

China is trying to win over Westerners and private firms

But Xi Jinping is unlikely to change

What makes Germany’s Leopard 2 tank the best fit for Ukraine?

It is easier to run than America’s Abrams—and in plentiful supply in Europe

Winter 2023 Views: Malbun Resort In Liechtenstein

The steep slopes at the end of the Malbun valley in Liechtenstein surround the little resort of Malbun (1600 m) like an arena. The small scale of this little mountain village and the traffic-calming measures in the centre of the village make Malbun a particularly family-friendly resort. The children’s entertainment programme “Malbun Rascals” keeps children happy during high season.

At one time, Malbun belonged to the ghosts in winter – it says so in a number of documents from earlier times. Today, the ghosts have been driven out, and Malbun has made a name for itself as a popular, snow-safe and family-friendly winter sports centre. With two chair-lifts, four T-bars and a drag lift, there is access to 23 km of easy slopes rising to 2000 m. There’s a fun park for snowboarders, and also, of course, a winter sports school.

Filmed on January 12, 2023 by: Jeka Kinloff

News: Germany & U.S. Send Tanks To Ukraine, Pence Classified Documents

The reaction in Germany to Olaf Scholz’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Plus: classified documents are found at the home of Mike Pence, North Korea goes into lockdown and conceptual artist Marina Abramović on her work at the Bangkok Biennale.

Front Page: The New York Times – January 26, 2023

Image

How Biden Reluctantly Agreed to Send Tanks to Ukraine

The decision unlocked a flow of heavy arms from Europe and inched the United States and its NATO allies closer to direct conflict with Russia.

2023’s Biggest, Most Unusual Race Centers on Abortion and Democracy

The election for a swing seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has huge policy stakes for the battleground state. Cash is pouring in, and some of the candidates have shed any pretense of judicial neutrality.

Amid a Plague of Shootings, Bystanders Become Heroes

Civilians, armed or not, have put their bodies on the line to stop gunmen. But in a nation trained to “Run, Hide, Fight,” many say it should never have come to that.

In U.K. Cost-of-Living Crisis, Some Workers Struggle to Feed Children

As inflation hits the pockets of families who already had little to spare, food banks say they are getting much busier and seeing more people with jobs.

Research Preview: Nature Magazine- January 26, 2023

Volume 613 Issue 7945

nature Magazine – January 26, 2023 issue:

The water crisis is worsening. Researchers must tackle it together

It’s unacceptable that millions living in poverty still lack access to safe water and basic sanitation. Nature Water will help researchers to find a way forward.

Dainty eater: black hole consumes a star bit by bit

Repeating bursts of X-rays lead scientists to a black hole that eats in spurts.

ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: many scientists disapprove

At least four articles credit the AI tool as a co-author, as publishers scramble to regulate its use.

Previews: The Guardian Weekly – January 27, 2023

Old world – Inside the 27 January Guardian Weekly | Population | The  Guardian

The Guardian Weekly – January 27, 2023 Issue:

It’s an age-old question: how should nations around the world adjust to their elderly societies? Japan has faced such realities for a while now, but the challenges are becoming increasingly common across the developed world where families are getting smaller, and people are living longer.

Even India – which will soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country – is now seeing an older demographic become more prevalent in some states. The countries of sub-Saharan Africa, meanwhile, look most likely to enjoy the benefits of a younger population as the century progresses. For the Guardian Weekly magazine’s big story this week, Emma Graham-Harrison and Justin McCurry assess what ageing populations hold in store for the world. And Verna Yu reports on the reasons why many young people in China seem reluctant to start families.

Island Views: A Tour Of São Miguel In The Azores

DW Travel (January 25, 2023) – Hot thermal springs, ocean wildlife, evergreen nature: @dhruvrathee and his wife Juli visit the Azores – more precisely, the archipelago’s largest and most populated island São Miguel. Discover the green island in the Atlantic Ocean with Dhruv and Juli.

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:43 São Miguel 01:17 Hydrangeas 01:46 Miradouros 02:25 Furnas 03:11 Terra Nostra Garden 04:18 Caldeira Velha 04:46 Ponta da Ferraria 05:20 Lagoa do Fogo 05:47 Salto do Prego 06:08 Pineapple Plantation, Ponta Delgada 07:34 Swimming with dolphins 08:35 Weather on the Azores

They take a tour on a pineapple plantation, try Azorean delicacies, enjoy the stunning nature on a hiking trip, swim with dolphins and much more. Do you know to which county the Azores belongs to? The episode premieres on Wednesday January 25 at 3 p.m. CET/7:30 p.m. IST! Dhruv will be in the chat to answer all your questions about his trip!

Books: TLS/Times Literary Supplement- Jan 27, 2023

Image

Times Literary Supplement (January 27, 2023) @TheTLS , featuring @TimParksauthor on Italo Calvino; @15thcgossipgirl on the Wife of Bath; @NshShulman on Prince Harry; Fredrik Logevall on Jefferson the writer; @lejhouston on queer poetry; @RSmythFreelance on Ronald Blythe – and more.

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious