Paul Romer and William Nordhaus – why they won the 2018 'economics Nobel'

Oct 09, 2018 13:01 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

William Nordhaus and Paul Romer have been awarded the 2018 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences (colloquially known as the economics Nobel). Both are macroeconomists dealing with long-run dynamics big questions of...

How African American folklore saved the cultural memory and history of slaves

Oct 09, 2018 13:01 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

All over the world, community stories, customs and beliefs have been passed down from generation to generation. This folkore is used by elders to teach family and friends about their collective cultural past. And for...

No black scientist has ever won a Nobel – that’s bad for science, and bad for society

Oct 09, 2018 13:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

Many in the scientific world are celebrating the fact that two women received this years Nobel prizes in physics and chemistry. Donna Strickland and Frances Arnold are only the 20th and 21st female scientists to be...

Brazil: can its poorest region call a halt to Jair Bolsonaro's dangerous politics?

Oct 09, 2018 13:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

As was widely predicted, Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate of the Social Liberal Party, won the first round of the Brazilian presidential election, with just over 46% of the vote. But because he didnt win a clear...

Protecting marine areas seem a good idea – but they may have insidious political effects

Oct 09, 2018 13:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Zones of ocean known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are all the rage. They have no single or agreed definition, but essentially they are areas of sea in which human activity is restricted or prohibited in order to...

IPCC 1.5℃ report: here's what the climate science says

Oct 09, 2018 12:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

The worlds climate scientists have spoken: if we want to limit human-induced global warming to 1.5℃ we probably can. But it will be tough, given where were starting from. Thats the conclusion of a new report by the UNs...

'Disillusioned' Brazilians choose Bolsonaro, Haddad after a tense and violent campaign

Oct 09, 2018 12:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

After a tense, violent and polarized campaign, Brazilians have voted to advance two candidates from opposite sides of the ideological spectrum to a presidential runoff on Oct. 28. Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right congressman...