Ibogaine, Lakshadweep and an application to help those imprisoned
#307 Outriders Magazine
Oil and gas extraction vs environment and human health protection
In Italy's Polesine region, plans to resume methane drilling threaten subsiding land between the Po River Delta and the Adriatic Sea. The Italian government has lifted the ban on gas exploration in this area that has been in force since 1961, and the scenario assumes new drilling in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Polesine. It sparks protests from residents, ecologists and local politicians who fear further collapse of their areas. In addition, its biodiversity is the highest in Italy: there are 400 species of birds, lagoons, and marshes.
The authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are planning new oil and gas drilling throughout the country. The 27 plots for sale are estimated to contain 22 billion barrels of oil. Drilling is limited to a small area along the Atlantic Ocean and in the ocean itself. But communities, human rights groups and environmentalist associations warn that drilling will harm the environment and population health. Moreover, more than 12 mining plots for sale are located in protected wild areas.
Shell plc is planning to leave Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, but communities in the region are demanding that the energy company clean up after itself before it leaves. Farmers say decades of oil exploration have destroyed farms, lakes and rivers, and fields are failing to produce crops. Oil spills caused by theft, vandalism and the company's operational difficulties are also a problem. According to environmentalists, before withdrawing from Nigeria, Shell plc should ensure the safe dismantling of the infrastructure.
Jellyfish protein in forensics and DNA extraction after fires
Scientists are studying brain injuries caused by domestic violence. Approx. ⅓ of women report having experienced severe physical violence from a partner, and most of them have suffered at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms often resemble those seen in athletes or military personnel. However, the brains of domestic violence victims were more likely to show signs of hypoxia and changes in blood vessels. Experts hope that the research will help identify patients who have experienced violence but are afraid to talk about it.
Scientists from the University of Bath, among others, have developed a forensic spray using the GFP protein found in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. Thanks to this, fingerprints can be detected in approximately 10 seconds. The dye contained in the spray can speed up forensic investigations and increase their effectiveness. It is also water-soluble and has low toxicity. Traditional forensic methods use toxic powders that can damage DNA-based evidence or environmentally harmful petrochemical solvents.
According to American researchers, the technique developed to extract DNA from Ice Age megafauna (e.g., woolly mammoths) can identify heavily burned human remains. It allows for the amplification of shorter DNA fragments, which makes it worthwhile in massive fires. So far, scientists have extracted functional DNA from bones exposed to temperatures of 200 to 250°C. Between 350 and 550°C, the DNA concentration decreases rapidly.
Egypt, Cuba and Argentina's fight against the economic crisis
In response to inflation and the decline in the purchasing power of the Egyptian pound in relation to the dollar, the inhabitants of Egypt are looking for a safe place to invest their assets, so they trade in gold, real estate and cars. The Egyptian authorities increased the aid agreement with the International Monetary Fund to stimulate the economy from USD 3 billion to USD 8-10 billion. They also agreed with the United Arab Emirates worth USD 35 billion for constructing a new city and the development of tourism on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. Moreover, Egypt implemented the most significant interest rate increase in its history (by 600 basis points), allowing the Egyptian pound to weaken by more than 38% through devaluation.
The Cuban government has turned to the World Food Program for food aid, and so far, 144 tons of skimmed milk powder have arrived in Cuba. There is also a lack of wheat flour for baking bread and fuel for electricity production. Cuba, like Egypt, is struggling with a shortage of foreign currency, which prevents it from purchasing food on external markets.
In Argentina, the poverty rate at the beginning of this year reached 57%, and millions of people are struggling with triple-digit inflation and the sharp devaluation of the peso that occurred in December last year. Moreover, according to Agustin Salvi, a poverty researcher at Universidad Católica Argentina, "the country's social security system is weakening." At the same time, since President Javier Milei took office in December last year, Argentines have deposited more than $2.3 billion in local dollar-denominated bank accounts, reflecting optimism about government reforms.
The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip
European officials, food safety experts, and industry representatives recently gathered in Brussels to discuss potential solutions to a looming food crisis in Europe. The pandemic has created several challenges, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, disruptions to shipping routes and supply chains, and unpredictable and extreme weather conditions. Sadly, in 2022, weather and climatic events in Europe have already caused losses in agriculture, amounting to over EUR 50 billion. Experts warn that the outbreak of pan-European riots related to food shortages is becoming increasingly likely.
The Sudanese civil war has left at least 25 million people in Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad at risk of food insecurity, and humanitarian aid in the region has reached a "critical point." According to the World Food Program (WFP), this situation threatens to cause "the world's worst hunger crisis."
Although several countries, including France, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the US, and Jordan, have dropped more than 20 aid into the Gaza Strip recently, residents report that this assistance falls short of basic needs. According to Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, "Airdrops are expensive, random, and usually result in the wrong people receiving help." The WFP also notes that airdrops should only be used as a "last resort" when other, more effective options fail. Furthermore, airdrops are seven times more expensive than ground assistance.
Ibogaine, counting butterflies, menopause and depressive disorders
Scientists studying ibogaine, a psychedelic substance, report its possible therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the small studies conducted so far, where opioid addicts were given ibogaine, from ⅓ to ⅔ of people from the study group were cured. However, the psychedelic can cause fatal heart rhythm disturbances, making some researchers sceptical of its potential as a widely available addiction treatment.
Counting butterflies can help you fight anxiety. Researchers from Butterfly Conservation and the University of Derby in the UK found that such activity can reduce feelings of anxiety by 10%. A survey was conducted among people who participated in the insect counting they organised in 2022. It shows that the overall level of anxiety among respondents decreased, and spending more time closer to nature can be highly beneficial for overall well-being.
Until now, it was common to perceive menopause as a factor that typically increases the risk of mental disorders. Now, an international team of scientists, based on the analysis of the results of research carried out so far, challenges this view. They found that the increased likelihood of depression during menopause occurs mainly in people at risk who have previously suffered from this or other mental disorders and those who, for example, frequently encounter stressful events.
Hybrid work, pay raises and the AI revolution in the labour market
According to the results of a yet unreviewed experiment at Trip.com, those employed in a hybrid work model were happier and less likely to leave the company than those who worked only in the office, and the overall productivity of both groups was the same. Meanwhile, a series of studies, for example, on call centre employees and IT specialists, showed that fully remote employees are usually approximately 10-20% less productive. According to researchers from the University of Oxford, academic teams working in the same place make more breakthrough discoveries and are more creative. This study analyzed 20 million scientific articles and 4 million patent applications.
Generation Z no longer intends to work at home - only 11% of those surveyed by Seramount declare their willingness to work entirely remotely. Among older employees, 34% of respondents would like to work exclusively from home. Meanwhile, according to the American Staffing Association (ASA) and Harris Poll, 66% of Generation Z representatives intend to ask for a raise in 2024. The same intention is shared by 67% of Generation Y, 51% of Generation X and 42% of Baby Boomers, who are trying to keep up with the growing living costs.
True to the principle that "AI won't replace you at work, but someone who knows how to use it can," almost half of the senior managers surveyed by Deloitte said their companies are training and upskilling employees to prepare to integrate artificial intelligence in the workplace, acquire other companies already using AI tools and recruit for positions focused on artificial intelligence.
India, China and Pakistan: rivalry for the Maldives and Kashmir
India and China compete for the small but strategically important Maldives, offering infrastructure investments and financial resources. China needs a military presence in the Arabian Sea to secure access to oil from the Persian Gulf. India considers the Maldives as its sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean and wants to ensure that the Maldives do not become friends with China. However, they have just signed an agreement on "military assistance" with the Maldives, and by the will of the Maldivians, Indian soldiers are to leave the archipelago. At the same time, the Indian Navy intends to build a base on Minicoy, the southernmost island of the Lakshadives archipelago, which lies approximately 130 km north of the Maldives.
Indian authorities detained a shipment of equipment from China intended for Pakistan that, according to them, could help develop Pakistan's nuclear and ballistic missile program. The payload is to contain advanced computer numerical machines. Pakistan criticized India's actions, adding that the cargo was intended only for commercial purposes. Tensions between these countries are primarily focused on the border region of Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just made his first official visit to Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, since India stripped the disputed region of its semi-autonomy in 2019 and took direct control over it. Muslims primarily inhabit the territory, and many of them strongly support independence or merger with Pakistan.
Help in hopeless situations: football in the Gaza Strip and Nigerian courts
The creators of the Nigerian app Gavel use technology and a network of volunteers to enable people to access pro bono legal services and give them a chance in the face of the country's dysfunctional and corrupt justice system. In Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2022, Nigeria ranked 150th out of 180 countries, and in 2023, 69% out of almost 78,000 prisoners in Nigeria were people on remand. That's why Gavel focuses on poor victims of injustice and uses an online platform to connect prisoners with 200 volunteer lawyers eager to help. According to Gavel's representatives, the organization has already helped free over 5,000 temporarily arrested prisoners.
Despite the war, football in the Gaza Strip still means life. Previously, during a period of relative peace, the biggest soccer matches in the world caused local streets to become empty. Now, groups of children are still kicking the ball in the squares, and fans, regardless of whether they use radios, battery-powered TVs or phones, try to follow the results of their favourite European teams despite poor Internet connections and communication interruptions. Additionally, at this year's Asian Cup, the Palestinian national team achieved historic success by reaching the ⅛-finals of the tournament for the first time, bringing pride and joy to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. "Soccer distracts from the bombings that seem never to end and from the realities of this brutal war," say Palestinians.