Malaria-resistant microbe discovered, chalking up forgotten flora, Uzbekistan recognises stateless citizens

| Posted on May 6, 2020 |

Photo: Adina Voicu / Pixabay (CC0)

In this issue of Squirrel News, we have a microbe discovered in Kenya that is completely effective in blocking the infection of malaria in mosquitoes, a movement to highlight the diversity and importance of forgotten flora in Europe’s pavements, and a landmark law in Uzbekistan is passed as over 50,000 stateless people are recognised as citizens.

Microbe discovered that’s 100% effective against malaria

Findings from a study in Kenya show that all mosquitos carrying this particular microbe were protected from infection, leading to enormous potential.

Source: Al Jazeera

A movement for forgotten flora is spreading across Europe in an unconventional manner

Drawing attention to the importance and diversity of weeds aand wild flowers, rebel botanists are chalking the names of downtrodden flora.

Source: The Guardian

Uzbekistan passes landmark law to make over 50,000 stateless people citizens

The UN has hailed it as a “huge development”, hoping it will set a precedent for other countries with large stateless populations.

Source: Thomas Reuters Foundation News

Women use VR in Singapore to help combat sexual harassment

The ‘Girl, Talk’ project is empowering women by helping them through virtual scenarios so they feel better equipped when faced with commonplace harassment.

Source: Taipei Times

Poop could provide valuable insight into the rate of COVID-19 in a particular community

Wastewater analysis has taken off across the globe in a quest to better understand the true scale of infection.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Queer solidarity: How Berlin’s LGBTIQA+ community network have had to move online

Solidarity prevails as community centres have been forced to close, making counselling and support networks more difficult to maintain.

Source: DW

World’s largest solar plant projected to power 160,000 households

The Al Dhafra project in Abu Dhabi is expected to reduce UAE’s emissions to the equivalent of removing 720,000 cars from the roads.

Source: Euronews

First brown bear sighted in northern Spain in over 150 years

Years of conservation work have allowed the region to once again become habitable for brown bears.