UAE announces 4.5-day workweek, man-made coral reefs, return of the Mexican jaguar

Jonathan Widder | Posted on December 8, 2021 |

Building in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Rashid Khreiss / Unsplash (CC0)

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about the United Arab Emirates’ new four-and-a-half-day workweek, two scientists who are growing coral on land, and the return of the Jaguar to Mexico’s jungles.

UAE introduces four-and-a-half-day workweek

The new scheme is supposed to “boost work-life balance and enhance social wellbeing, while increasing performance to advance the UAE’s economic competitiveness”.

Source: Aljazeera

Why young Saudis could reshape the Muslim world

Saudi Arabia’s new school textbooks are moving away from teaching hate toward more religious tolerance.

Source: Christian Science Monitor

Man-made coral reefs to save aquatic wildlife

As the world’s oceans record ever-increasing temperature and acidic levels, this Bahamas-based company is working on a solution — on land.

Source: Euronews

Tree hubs’ spring up in the Netherlands to combat climate change

A Dutch foundation aims to help their country plant millions of trees — with donated saplings.

Source: The Guardian

Bug-based meat burgers to hit the food industry soon

Growing numbers of food producers are looking to diversify our sources of protein by developing meat from insects.

Source: Bloomberg

New neurologic music therapy to help rehabilitate people with brain injuries

With the aid of a combination of music and sensors, scientists are helping paralyzed people walk again.

Source: Freethink

The South Sudanese man who transitioned from refugee to game designer

In 1993, Lual Mayen’s mother trekked 250 miles to refuge with her children, giving birth to Lual on the way. Today, he designs games for peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

Source: Euronews

Chile’s burrowing parrot returns thanks to conservations measures

Conservationists celebrate sightings of the Chilean Burrowing Parrot in areas where it was once thought to be extinct. Measures adopted 35 years ago have led to an increase from 217 to nearly 4,500 animals.

Source: Mongabay

Extinction-threatened big cats make comeback to Mexico’s jungles

The North American country records a steady increase in its Jaguar population, testimony to the effectiveness of Mexico’s animal protection strategies.