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Elephant trunks are quite extraordinary. They’re a versatile and sensitive tool which allows them to perform a wide range of tasks from picking up small objects to uprooting trees. They’re also essential for feeding, drinking and social interactions. Pauline Costes is studying the tip of elephant trunks and explains why her findings will continue to inspire the future development of robots.
Unfair distribution of COVID vaccines during the pandemic resulted in the deaths of more than 1.3 million people in lower-income countries. To make sure nobody is left behind in future, member states of the World Health Organization have been negotiating an international treaty. Precious Matsoso, who is involved in the talks, provides insights into what they cover and how they’re progressing.
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Pauline Costes, Sorbonne Université
New research has found that the two ‘fingers’ on the tip of an elephant’s trunk exert different forces. The finding will be used to improve the abilities of bio-inspired robots.
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Precious Matsoso, University of the Witwatersrand
The 194 member states of the WHO are negotiating a pandemic accord, only the second health accord after the 2003 convention against tobacco.
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Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, University of South Africa
The hope is for pragmatism to drive a transition process. Obsessive adherence to ideological preferences will not build national unity or a sound foreign policy.
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Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Nando Sigona and Michaela Benson argue Britain’s Rwanda plan was brought about as a result of a Brexit-made policy failure. Listen on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
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From our international editions
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Simon Mabon, Lancaster University
All-out war between Israel and Hezbollah could destabilise the whole region, says Middle East expert Simon Mabon.
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Robert Barnes, York St John University
North Korea and Russia have been allies for a long time. The relationship has its roots in the second world war and its aftermath.
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Thomas Davies, Lancaster University
Avocados are a thirsty crop with a carbon footprint that’s more than twice that of bananas.
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Milad Haghani, UNSW Sydney
Hajj has grappled with public health and safety risks such as crowd crushes and infectious diseases in the past. It’s now facing an emerging risk: climate extremes.
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