Editor's note

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is raging on, leaving more than 1000 people dead so far. This is the second biggest outbreak of the disease since the 2013 to 2016 epidemic that swept parts of West Africa. Many lessons have been learnt since then – among them a better understanding of how the disease affects survivors. Steven Yeh, Jessica Shantha and Jean-Claude Mwanza explain how they’re managing one such effect – the threat of blindness – in the DRC.

Today’s children face risks that many of us, as parents, can feel unprepared to deal with. There are apps that promise safety by letting parents track what children are doing, who they are texting or what they view online. These apps seem to be the perfect toolkit to protect kids from the dangers parents worry about. But are they? Joel Michael Reynolds, who specializes in the ethics of emerging technologies, tells you why he’s concerned these apps may cross the line from “prudent parenting into surveillance parenting.”

Ina Skosana

Health + Medicine Editor

Top Stories

A health worker looks on at an Ebola transit centre in Beni in North Kivu province, DRC. Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/EPA

Ebola survivors can lose their eyesight. What we’re doing to prevent it

Steven Yeh, Emory University; Jean-Claude Mwanza, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jessica Shantha, Emory University

Research has identified a range of health complications in Ebola survivors. These include eye complications and vision problems.

Are tracking technologies changing parenting? Trendsetter Images

Why parents should think twice about tracking apps for their kids

Joel Michael Reynolds, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Apps these days allow parents to track their children. An expert explains, why these technologies should be a reason for worry if you are a parent,

Politics + Society

How to tackle India’s sexual violence epidemic – it starts with sex education

Madhumita Pandey, Sheffield Hallam University

Young men in India mature and develop in a very male dominated environment, with little or no sex education.

The site of the Bali bombings has been a vacant lot for 16 years. It’s time to build a proper memorial

Carmen Jacques, Edith Cowan University

A land dispute has left a potential peace park at the site in doubt. Here's why a memorial that explains what happened the day of the attacks is important.

Thousands of mixed-race British babies were born in World War II – and adoption by their black American fathers was blocked

Lucy Bland, Anglia Ruskin University

This sorry tale of institutional racism represents a scandal to rival the treatment of the Windrush generation.

European elections: a beginner’s guide to the vote

Tatiana Coutto, University of Warwick

Who gets a vote and what are they voting for? Everything you need to know.

Environment + Energy

Climate change is putting even resilient and adaptable animals like baboons at risk

Isabelle Catherine Winder, Bangor University

New research suggests that even ecologically flexible baboons could be at significant risk of habitat loss and endangerment from anthropogenic climate change.

Plastic warms the planet twice as much as aviation – here’s how to make it climate-friendly

Laurie Wright, Solent University

As well as polluting our seas, plastics are warming the planet too. Urgent changes are needed to eliminate plastic's contribution to climate breakdown.

En francais

Communication des marques de luxe sur les médias sociaux : faire rêver ne suffit plus

Hajer Kefi, PSB Paris School of Business – UGEI; Daniel Maar, PSB Paris School of Business – UGEI

Le changement du marché du luxe, porté par plusieurs tendances de fond comme l’importance croissante des « millennials », contraint les marques à revoir leurs pratiques.

Surprise: manger du fromage aide à contrôler votre glycémie

Catherine Chan, University of Alberta

Plusieurs études ont prouvé que les gens qui mangent beaucoup de fromage ne risquent pas plus que les autres de développer une maladie cardiovasculaire.

En espanol

Por qué hay que buscar alternativas al glifosato

Juan Luis Aguirre, Universidad de Alcalá

Más allá del uso de maquinaria o la plantación de especies competidoras, se están desarrollando nuevos productos, como el vinagre de madera, para controlar el crecimiento de hierbas y arbustos.

Iban de farol: el alumbrado led no ha reducido la contaminación lumínica

Juan José Negro, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC)

El alto componente azul de estas luces, cada vez más presentes en el alumbrado público de pueblos y ciudades, las convierte en una potente fuente contaminante.