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The Sahara used to be a lush, green expanse where hippos and giraffe thrived and early human pastoralists grazed domestic animals. Today it is the largest hot desert on the planet, and one of the world’s most extreme environments.
What happened? David K Wright’s new research provides a clue. It’s possible that human activity pushed the region to an environmental tipping point through something known as the “ecology of fear”. And the same thing could happen again today.
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David K Wright, Seoul National University
The world's biggest desert used to be green, lush and full of hippos. A new theory suggests humans could have tipped the environment over the edge.
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Arts + Culture
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Gabrielle Hosein, The University of the West Indies: St. Augustine Campus
Some deride a Carnival trend in which women revel in the streets wearing swimsuits and feather boas. But to feminists, 'bikini mas' is a highly political act.
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Politics + Society
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Phelim Kine, City University of New York
After a short suspension of anti-drug operations, President Rodrigo Duterte has resumed his bloody war.
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Mercy Muendo, Mount Kenya University
The idea behind much of Kenya’s legislation enacted by the colonialists was to separate whites from other races. So why are these laws still on the books?
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David Whyte, University of Liverpool; Stefanie Khoury, University of Liverpool
The UN Human Rights Council needs to be aware of some profound contradictions in human rights law as it applies to corporations.
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Environment + Energy
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Terry Hughes, James Cook University; Barry Hart, Monash University; Karen Hussey, The University of Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is bleaching again. Without greater action on climate change and water quality, its World Heritage status could be listed as "in danger".
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