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While I wasn’t lucky enough to be an early investor in bitcoin, it’s been interesting to watch the cryptocurrency move from an unknown, to a punchline, to the mainstream. El Salvador has now taken this one step further, becoming the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.
This could be a blessing for the majority of the country’s citizens who don’t have a bank account, as well as the many people who rely on money sent from family abroad, as it will simplify and speed up the transfer of funds. The move has already inspired other Latin American politicians to throw their support behind similar policies, but there are several downsides, like the cryptocurrency’s notorious volatility and environmental impact, that adopters should keep in mind.
Should El Salvador wish to offset the carbon emissions from its new currency, it needs to find a more effective method than simply planting lots of trees. While reforestation seems like a noble effort, it turns out many carbon-centric ‘green’ policies are actually causing damage to the world’s forests. And don’t run off just yet: we also have a piece on the potential dangers of ultramarathon running – and how it can be done safely.
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Avery Anapol
Commissioning Editor
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El Salvador is likely to become the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender.
Momentum Fotograh/Shutterstock
David Coker, University of Westminster
El Salvador has become the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. This is a noble idea, but unworkable in the long term.
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Forests are not just carbon ‘warehouses’ they are extraordinary ecosystems supporting a diverse range of birds, animals and plants.
Jessica Vian
Jessica Enara Vian, University of Strathclyde
Carbon has overshadowed forests in climate policies, leading to practices that appear green but actually harm forests.
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The Badwater Ultra-marathon bills itself as the world’s toughest, covering 217 km from Death Valley National Park to Mount Whitney, California
REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonREUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Lindsay Bottoms, University of Hertfordshire
The deadly toll of last month's mountain race in Gansu province, China, has shaken competitors and fans alike. But is the sport dangerous?
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Business + Economy
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Michael James Boland, University College Cork
Corporations need to weigh up significant risks against wider benefits.
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Tchéhouali Destiny, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
In the war to secure exclusive content, the ability to invest in the acquisition or production of original content has become crucial ammunition.
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Janina Steinmetz, City, University of London
Is there a place for speedy grocery delivery startups in a post-COVID world? That depends on consumer habit.
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Steve Schifferes, City, University of London
After the acrimony of the Trump years, we can expect a very different feel to the latest G7 summit.
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Environment + Energy
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Jeff Kettle, University of Glasgow
How much energy does the internet use, and - given recent technological advances - could it ever run on renewable energy alone?
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James Bell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Rob McAllen, University College Cork; Valerio Micaroni, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
In Lough Hyne's shallows, animals and plants thrive that would otherwise be found in the ocean's depths.
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Science + Technology
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Zoë Pounder, University of Westminster
People with aphantasia, when asked to form an image in their minds, will report they cannot "see" anything.
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David S. Wall, University of Leeds
The centralisation of internet infrastructure leaves swathes of the online world vulnerable to sudden outages.
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Health + Medicine
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Salvatore Papa, University of Leeds; Concetta Bubici, Brunel University London
Promising results in mice show this rare form of cancer could be treated using the same drugs already used against one type of leukaemia.
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Subhash Pokhrel, Brunel University London
Despite calls to use them, traditional cost-benefit calculations haven't featured in the UK's lockdown decisions.
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Politics + Society
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Victoria Honeyman, University of Leeds
Some big names are lining up to attack the government over a broken manifesto pledge.
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Featured events
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Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF10 3BA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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Online Oxford Martin School Event, Online, Oxfordshire, N/A, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Oxford
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Online, Birmingham, Warwickshire, B15 2TT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Birmingham
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University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
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