Do our names push us towards certain jobs?
MBI / Alamy Stock Photo Do names lock us into a professional path, or do we have more free will than that? (Credit: Alamy) Baker, Barber, Butcher, Painter: why we want to see our own selves reflected in what we do for a living. A proctologist called Dr Butts, a pastry chef called Baker – […]
Norway’s icy marvel of engineering
Mike MacEacheran Features correspondent Mike MacEacheran (Credit: Mike MacEacheran) To understand life at the top of the world, you only need to meet the Norwegians who live along the E69, the world’s northernmost highway. Mike MacEacheran (Credit: Mike MacEacheran) Not long after Ingunn Utsi had created a fresh set of footprints to her cabin, snow […]
The country that brought yoghurt to the world
Madhvi Ramani Features correspondent Madhvi Ramani Bulgaria played a vital role in turning yoghurt into the popular product we know today (Credit: Madhvi Ramani) Not only is the history of yoghurt tied to Bulgaria, but Bulgaria’s history and identity can be traced through its production. In Bulgaria, yoghurt is everywhere. You’ll find it dolloped on […]
The Norwegian town the world tried to erase
Mike MacEacheran Features correspondent James D. Morgan/Getty Images The warm waters around the town supported a rich fishing industry (Credit: James D. Morgan/Getty Images) For centuries, this arctic Norwegian port has been at the mercy of Mother Nature and man, and yet has risen from the ashes with a deep and defiant response. Much farther […]
Ontario’s forgotten ghost town
Sarah Hewitt Features correspondent Sarah Hewitt Once the end point of the main rail line connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, Depot Harbour is now disappearing back into the forest. Sarah Hewitt A black bear scrambled out of the underbrush and lumbered across Old Tracks Road, pausing for a brief moment before disappearing into […]
How firms move to secret offices amid Covid-19
Chris Baraniuk Features correspondent Sungard AS From 9/11 to coronavirus, big emergencies call for big responses – like how some firms move to secret empty offices in undisclosed locations to stay safe. Some people call them “ghost offices”. These are buildings in suburbs and secure locations that are kept quietly on standby – for years […]
The psychology of panic buying
Getty Images Amid the coronavirus outbreak, people are flocking to supermarkets worldwide – but are they simply preparing, or irrationally panicking? Last Saturday afternoon, Kristina Moy decided to swing by her local supermarket in the US city of Seattle to pick up some weekly groceries and supplies for her son’s upcoming baseball tournament. What started […]
The ‘smart’ baby technology raising today’s children
Nicholas Mancall-Bitel Features correspondent Owlet Baby Care Baby monitors are a growing category of ‘smart’ tech that are projected to exceed $1.6bn in global sales by 2025 (Credit: Owlet Baby Care) A new wave of millennial parents are adopting ‘smart’ technology for their babies. It is a new type of parenting that has turned nurseries […]
The US state that gives residents $1,000 each year
Cody Liska Features correspondent Michael Downey Each year, Alaska sends each resident a cheque in the mail. Cody Liska explains why. Video by Michael Downey. Michael Downey From the fur trade to fisheries to gold mining to oil, Alaska’s economy has always been entwined with its natural resources. But reliance on oil has left the […]
Will empty middle seats help social distancing on planes?
John Walton Features correspondent Alamy Some airlines are looking to keep middle seats open for social distancing, but the proper distance requires many more empty seats (Credit: Alamy) Some airlines are planning to fly with middle seats empty to help passengers social distance. But will it work – and can they afford it? As more […]