off-beat

Maple, Zayu, and Clutch appear fun, they are somewhat funny and they fill in the all-important role of the vibrant, playful face of the tournament. FIFA mascots have begun their antics but they truly have big shoes to fill.

Roman experimentation with recycling glass permanently changed everyday life, facilitating a vast expansion of trade and economic activity.

Unlike many pop acts before them, each member of the Spice Girls had a distinct identity: Emma Bunton as Baby Spice, Geri Halliwell as Ginger Spice, Victoria Beckham as Posh Spice, Mel B (Melanie Brown) as Scary Spice and Melanie C (Melanie Chisholm) as Sporty Spice.

June is Pride Month, celebrated the world over by LGBTQIA+ individuals as a reclamation of strength. But there’s a much longer history to this emotion. The circumstances of “pride” change over time, and the way this emotion is felt is directly tied to the social, cultural and political reality of different eras, and different places.

While today she is primarily remembered for her highly sexualised, glamorous star image, behind the stylish facade lay a hardworking, politically engaged woman who recognised and struggled against the inequities of the American society that both adored and denigrated her.

Globally, scientists estimate 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises are killed each year due to entanglement or incidental capture (bycatch).

Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies have nearly doubled globally since the 1960s, averaging about 1.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per year in the 2010s. That’s roughly equal to the annual emissions of 239 million cars.

Curiosity drives entomophagy in adults, while disgust hinders it.

Puppet shows have become resilient tools of resistance, support and relief for the people of war-torn Ukraine.

These are unfortunate examples of how AI can lead to mistreatment of people because of technical flaws as well as misplaced human faith in the technology’s supposed objectivity.

Unsustainable harvesting of Mediterranean orchids is pushing wild populations toward extinction. If the trend persists, orchid blooms may become a rare sight not just across the eastern Mediterranean region, but parts of Asia as well. Protecting these blooms requires a shift in cultivation practices and global coordination.

Landing on the Moon can disturb its environment. Unlike Earth, the Moon has no biodiversity, climate as we typically think of it, or oceans. But it does have its own active environment. While the Moon may seem unchanging and indestructible, it is surprisingly sensitive to human activity.