7 h. ago Ranked, the 10 most likely ways the world will end: From supervolcanoes to nuclear war, experts say these are the deadliest threats to humanity

From asteroids the size of football stadiums to nuclear war and man-made pandemics, it can seem as if humankind is in constant danger of being wiped out - and, in many ways, it is.

Events

58 h. ago More than 17 million people in Yemen are going hungry, including over 1 million children, UN says

More than 17 million people in conflict-torn Yemen are going hungry, including over one million children under the age of five who are suffering from “life-threatening acute malnutrition,” the U.N. humanitarian chief says

Politics

3 d. ago Deadly floods could be new normal as Trump guts federal agencies, experts warn

Cuts and chaos instigated by Trump come as threat from extreme weather grows due to human-caused climate crisisThe deadly Texas floods could signal a new norm in the US, as Donald Trump and his allies dismantle crucial federal agencies that help states prepare and respond to extreme weather and other hazards, experts warn.More than 100 are dead and dozens more remain missing after flash floods in the parched area known as Texas Hill Country swept away entire holiday camps and homes on Friday night – in what appears to have been another unremarkable storm that stalled before dumping huge quantities of rain over a short period of time, a phenomena that has becoming increasingly common as the planet warms. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago ‘Even if we stop drinking we will be exposed’: A French region has banned tap water. Is it a warning for the rest of Europe?

Forever chemicals have polluted the water supply of 60,000 people, threatening human health, wildlife and the wider ecosystem. But activists say this is just the tip of the Pfas icebergOne quiet Saturday night, Sandra Wiedemann was curled up on the sofa when a story broke on TV news: the water coming from her tap could be poisoning her. The 36-year-old, who is breastfeeding her six-month-old son Côme, lives in the quiet French commune of Buschwiller in Saint-Louis, near the Swiss city of Basel. Perched on a hill not far from the Swiss and German borders, it feels like a safe place to raise a child – spacious houses are surrounded by manicured gardens, framed by the wild Jura mountains.But as she watched the news, this safety felt threatened: Wiedemann and her family use tap water every day, for drinking, brushing her teeth, showering, cooking and washing vegetables. Now, she learned that chemicals she had never heard of were lurking in her body, on her skin, potentially harming her ...

Events

2 w. ago On r/collapse, people are ‘kept abreast of the latest doom’. Its moderators say it’s not for everyone

A subreddit tracking apocalyptic news in a calm, logical way comforts users who believe the end times are nowThe threat of nuclear war, genocide in Gaza, ChatGPT reducing human cognitive ability, another summer of record heat. Every day brings a torrent of unimaginable horror. It used to be weeks between disasters, now we’re lucky to get hours.For many, the only sane solution is to stop reading the news altogether – advice often shared by therapists, self-help books and even newspaper articles. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago UK households urged to spray £1 kitchen ingredient wasps simply detest

Wasps can sting a number of times when they feel threatened leaving painful marks on humans - but there's a way to keep them at bay and it's not going to break the bank

Economics

3 w. ago Pope goes to war with psycho AI chatbots as they threaten youngsters and 'humanity'

Pope Leo warned that artificial intelligence could harm the development of young people. The Pontiff, the first American to hold the position, has identified AI as one of the most dangerous threats facing humanity

Events

3 w. ago ‘Ayahuasca tourism’ is a blight on Indigenous peoples and our environment | Nina Gualinga and Eli Virkina

The popularity of ‘healing’ through psychedelics is fueling exploitation of Indigenous peoples and threatening biodiversity in EcuadorIn the world of the Ecuadorian Amazon, humans, plants and animals are relatives, and ancient stories reflect real ecological relationships and Indigenous knowledge rooted in profound connections to the land. But one of those connections – ceremonial medicine known as hayakwaska – is now marketed as a mystical shortcut to healing and enlightenment. Behind the scenes of these “healing retreats” lies a deeper story of cultural erasure, linguistic distortion and ongoing colonisation masked as wellness.The global popularity of “ayahuasca” has given rise to a new form of spiritual tourism that romanticises and distorts Indigenous cultures. This growing industry fuels the exoticisation of Indigenous peoples, turning our languages, practices and identities into consumable fantasies for outsiders. Sacred rituals are stripped of context, spiritual roles are com...

Politics

3 w. ago Why nuclear war, not the climate crisis, is humanity’s biggest threat, according to one author

Mark Lynas has spent decades pushing for action on climate emissions but now says nuclear war is even greater threat Climate breakdown is usually held up as the biggest, most urgent threat humans pose to the future of the planet today.But what if there was another, greater, human-made threat that could snuff out not only human civilisation, but practically the entire biosphere, in the blink of an eye? Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Warning over hidden danger in compost that rots lungs and kills

A fungus that thrives in compost is posing an increasing threat to human health because of climate change, experts have warned, and it can rapidly adapt, becoming resistant to drugs

Events