BIG Scoop
Mind-blowing, fact-filled story that you need to read
Cull to action – why an ostrich herd was eradicated and how government trust issues ballooned
In a remote farm in the Canadian province of British Columbia, a flock of ostriches survived an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, sparking a year-long battle over science, policy, and survival. An ordeal that featured widespread mistrust of public health authorities, economic trade pressures, and unexpected U.S. interventions, culminated in a controversial cull that divided a nation. Universal Ostrich Farms (UOF), located in Edgewood, B.C., and operated by Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski since the mid-1990s,...
Heat pumps and energy transition – one size never fits all
People these days tell many stories about energy and the 21st century energy transition. Some promote or are at least enthralled by the merits of a particular technology. For example: “Wind, water, and solar can power the world by 2050” “Geothermal technology is improving and can provide 20% of electricity by 2030” “Renewables and battery storage (BESS) can power any grid” “There is enough naturally occurring hydrogen in the ground to power humanity...
White genocide or social progress? Peering beneath the surface of U.S./South Africa discord
A law meant to correct historical injustice in South Africa became a subject of misinformation earning Africa’s biggest economy a damning indictment from the United States’ highest office. With the two countries’ biggest trade agreement having expired last month, will South Africa be able to explain its way out of the predicament? Will the Trump administration reverse its position? On May 21, President Donald Trump held an hour-long press conference with South African President Cyril...
Examining the history of Africa’s AIDS fight
The United States government’s withdrawal of President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) funding earlier this year has left budget deficits in countries across the Sub-Sahara. The program has been crucial in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on the African continent. Since its inception in 2003, the U.S. government has invested over $100 billion in HIV/AIDS response globally, reportedly saving over 25 million lives, preventing new infections, and supporting countries with...
Examination of house prices confirms that market size matters
Sometimes when one dives into the data, there are assumptions about anticipated findings that are completely overturned by the raw numbers. On other occasions – as is the case on this project – the data confirms the original assumptions, but provides clarification and deeper understanding. It is unlikely to surprise anyone to learn that house prices in larger cities are typically more expensive than in smaller cities. It is widely known that your average homebuyer...
U.S. agencies on high alert for cyber attacks as midterm elections approach
As much of the western world anxiously awaits the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8, political rhetoric and irresponsible media coverage are amping up. While ill-informed (or ill-intentioned) media reporters and editors continue to use phrasing such as "baseless", "bogus" and "false claims" – and perhaps the favourite: "conspiracy theories" – to describe any insinuation that it is possible that a U.S. election could be tampered with significantly, sensible humans are simply hoping for a fair...