Thursday, July 10, 2025

BIG Scoop

Hydrogen – net-zero saviour or fantasy?

We have all read articles from enthusiastic environmentalists and climate-conscious political leaders promoting vastly increased hydrogen use. They claim that more hydrogen production and consumption – especially green hydrogen – is essential in order to reduce fossil fuel consumption, advancing the energy transition to net zero and addressing climate change. Is hydrogen, grey or green, a technically and economically feasible replacement for fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas? How much of what we...

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...