SMR, GEN Z and Neurons Connected with Dieting

Outriders Magazine #348

Nuclear power in the UK; fossil fuels in Canada and Norway

The UK government has unveiled an ambitious plan to revitalize the construction of small nuclear power plants in England and Wales. This move can create thousands of highly skilled jobs and invigorate economic growth. These innovative energy solutions, known as small modular reactors (SMRs), are more compact and cost-effective than traditional nuclear plants. Still, they also represent a forward-thinking approach to energy generation despite producing less electricity. In the 1990s, nuclear power was a powerhouse, contributing about 25% of the UK’s electricity; today, that figure is roughly 15%.

In a striking shift, Norway’s Equinor ASA has announced it will cut its investment in renewable energy from $10 billion to $5 billion over the next two years while simultaneously ramping up oil and gas production by 10%. This decision stems from the realization that the transition to low-carbon energy is unfolding more slowly than anticipated, hindered by rising costs and a cautious approach from customers regarding long-term contracts. Meanwhile, Equinor ASA is gearing up to develop the massive North Sea oil field known as Rosebank, pressing forward with its plans despite a Scottish court’s ruling that its previous consent for development was granted improperly.

In a surprising turn of events, Quebec, which has long stood against oil and gas pipeline projects within its borders, may be reconsidering its stance in light of pressure from the new U.S. administration. The provincial government is now open to revisiting two significant energy infrastructure proposals: TC Energy Corp.’s Energy East pipeline, designed to transport Canadian crude from the west to the east, and GNL Quebec’s liquefied natural gas pipeline, along with its export terminal near Saguenay. This shift could signal a new era of energy development in the region.

The role of mathematics in practice, smartphones, and the development of speech

A study examining 1,436 Indian children working in bustling markets revealed a fascinating juxtaposition: while these children demonstrated remarkable proficiency in solving arithmetic problems on the job, they struggled with similarly complex tasks in the classroom. Conversely, children without any work experience who were enrolled in local schools excelled at abstract problem-solving; however, a mere 1% of them could tackle real-world challenges encountered in the market. The study's authors aspire that these compelling findings will inspire a transformation in school curricula, bridging the essential gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

In a related issue, preschool children's speech and language development is alarmingly declining due to excessive screen time. A revealing report from Ofcom indicates that over 25% of three- and four-year-olds own smartphones, and half of the children under 13 are engaging with social media. Health officials are advocating for a radical approach: children aged 0-2 should avoid screens entirely, while those aged 2-5 should be limited to 30 minutes daily.

Moreover, a thought-provoking study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe discovered that attempts to restrict phone usage in schools have not reduced the overall time children devote to their devices throughout the day. The researchers contend that such bans must be incorporated into a more comprehensive strategy to mitigate the negative impact of smartphones on our youth effectively.

The job market in Europe: changes in Spain and the work ethic in Germany

A troubling trend of low productivity growth in Germany casts a shadow over Europe’s largest economy. Experts highlight two key factors contributing to this issue: a limited number of working hours per week and an alarming rise in employee sick days. On average, Germans take over 20 days of sick leave each year—substantially more than their counterparts in other European Union countries. Furthermore, the typical workweek in Germany comprises just 34 hours, a notable contrast to many of its neighbours. For example, workers in France and Italy clock in an average of 36 hours, while those in Poland work around 39 hours weekly.

In a striking contrast, Spain is witnessing a remarkable turnaround in its job market, with the unemployment rate dropping below 11% for the first time since 2008. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 468,000 new jobs were created in 2024, pushing total employment to a staggering 22 million. The services sector, particularly tourism, has emerged as the driving force, accounting for nearly 90% of these new positions, while construction and industry are also experiencing robust growth. Finding employment has become notably easier for younger workers aged 16 to 25 and those over 50. Additionally, 40% of all new jobs in 2024 have been filled by individuals from outside Spain, underscoring their vital contribution to the economy's resurgence.

Amid these shifts, the Future of Jobs Report 2025 published by the World Economic Forum warns of the critical challenges ahead. It states that "skills gaps and talent shortages in the labour market are key barriers" to the success of European companies over the next five years. A striking 54% of employers foresee a growing shortage of workers—substantially higher than the global average. Among their foremost priorities, respondents stress the urgent need for "funding the retraining and upskilling" of employees, ensuring that the workforce is equipped to meet future demands.

Racism in England and the US: racial and ethnic discrimination, and its impact on health and the economy

In 2023, Black mothers in the United States faced an alarming reality: dying during the perinatal period at nearly 3.5 times the rate of their white counterparts. While overall maternal mortality rates have declined below pre-pandemic levels, the deepening racial disparities highlight the persistent impact of systemic racism and unequal access to healthcare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the report encompasses the tragic losses of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to 42 days postpartum. Last year, the maternal mortality rate for Black women tragically stood at just over 50 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In Middlesbrough, England, a community grappling with several disturbing incidents of anti-Muslim racial violence over the past year, residents express a profound concern that the root causes of this divide remain unaddressed. Muslim women, in particular, find themselves vulnerable to harassment and Islamophobia. Thankfully, they can seek refuge at Nur Fitness, an organization dedicated to creating a haven for women of colour, offering mental health workshops and vital support for victims of domestic violence.

Research conducted by the Resolution Foundation, a prominent think tank, reveals a troubling truth: ethnic minority families are forced to allocate a higher proportion of their income to housing costs compared to white British families, often living in overcrowded and substandard conditions. Black, Arab, and Bangladeshi families endure more tremendous hardships than their Indian and Chinese counterparts, spending more than twice their earnings on housing expenses compared to white British adults. The report underscores the significant influence of racial and ethnic discrimination on the affordability of housing, illuminating an urgent need for change.

Demonstrations in Bangladesh and the charges against the Vice President of the Philippines

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached on multiple charges, including conspiring to make death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., engaging in high-profile corruption, and failing to firmly condemn China's aggressive actions against Philippine forces in the disputed South China Sea. The House of Representatives voted in favour of impeachment by a margin of 215 out of 306 members, exceeding the one-third threshold required to pass the bill. The bill will now move to the 24-member Senate. Duterte could be removed from office if found guilty, making her the first vice president in Philippine history to face such charges.

In a separate event, thousands of protesters set fire to the family home of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, where she is currently in exile in India. The house, which belonged to her father and the country's founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was torched. At the same time, Hasina delivered a speech on social media urging her supporters to oppose the caretaker government. Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, fled to India in August 2024 after being ousted by a student uprising. Critics of her administration accuse Hasina of widespread human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and corruption during her authoritarian rule.

The relationship between neurons and obesity, microbes and mental health, and diet and depression

Scientists at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have discovered specialized neurons in the brains of mice that tell them to stop eating. They are a new element of the brain’s already-known feeding circuits in the brainstem. When the researchers activated them, the mice ate significantly smaller meals. The researchers say humans likely have the same neurons, and the discovery could lead to new treatments for obesity.

Experts from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute have discovered a link between human gut microbes and anxiety-related behaviours. Microbe metabolites – indoles in particular – play a direct role in regulating brain activity related to anxiety. According to the researchers, “the lack of microbes disrupts the way the brains of people with the disease function, particularly in areas that control fear and anxiety, leading to anxiety-related behaviours.” The discovery opens up the possibility of new probiotic-based therapies to improve the mental health of patients.

Research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown that diet can affect the risk of both depression and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Depressive symptoms are found to be both a risk factor for AD and a response to early memory problems. Healthy dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, potentially mitigate some of the negative impact that depressive symptoms have on changes in blood biomarkers associated with AD.

The issues of spyware and trolling scammers

The login page of the DeepSeek chatbot is shrouded in a heavily obfuscated computer script, employing sophisticated techniques to transform programs. Once decrypted, this script uncovers a troubling connection to the computer infrastructure of China Mobile, a company notably banned from operating within the United States. DeepSeek’s privacy policy openly acknowledges that it stores data on servers in the People's Republic of China, raising significant concerns. The U.S. government asserts that China Mobile has close ties to the Chinese military, adding another layer of unease. To date, neither DeepSeek nor China Mobile has responded to inquiries for comment.

In a different troubling development, spyware from the Israeli firm Paragon Solutions, renowned for its advanced surveillance capabilities, was reportedly deployed to target dozens of individuals on WhatsApp—approximately 90 people across more than 20 countries. WhatsApp has since revealed that this nefarious operation, orchestrated using Paragon Solutions' software, has been disrupted. The attack targeted journalists, leveraging malicious PDF files from WhatsApp groups to breach their security.

As online scams proliferate, one intriguing question emerges: could trolling scammers be a viable retaliatory strategy? Scammers are increasingly sophisticated, utilizing text messages and phone calls to fleece unwitting victims, which leads to staggering losses for Americans—billions of dollars each year. The Federal Trade Commission estimates a staggering $8.8 billion was lost to fraud in 2022 alone. In light of this alarming trend, Newsweek gathered insights from five experts on the implications of trolling these deceitful operators. Some argue that you might have little to lose by engaging in such tactics, provided you tread carefully, while others caution against the potential risks involved, suggesting that it may not be the safest course of action.

What does Gen Z think about politics and its influence?

Does the younger generation yearn for authoritarian leadership? Profound research by Linda Woodhead, a distinguished academic at King's College London and co-author of "Gen Z, Explained: The Art of Living in a Digital Age," uncovers a striking reality: 40% of respondents in the UK and US believe that the political system needs sweeping reforms, while a concerning 15% consider it utterly broken. This disillusionment arises from their perception of a political framework that has failed to tackle critical issues, particularly climate change.

Moreover, their frustration deepens as they experience an alarming paradox: the freedoms and voices they wield online starkly contrast with their offline encounters with state institutions.

"They are heard online the moment they get a smartphone. Yet, they feel profoundly disappointed at not receiving the same recognition and influence within traditional institutions. [...] Democracy can feel dreadfully slow and inefficient. In the older political systems, one must ascend from the local level, and by the time they are heard, they might be thirty years old. This generation, however, is unaccustomed to such delays. They carry a sense of urgency, driven by the haunting reality that the world is facing a profound crisis and that things are spiralling out of control," Woodhead passionately asserts.