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Even though most people — including health-care professionals — are familiar with the term ‘blue balls,’ there is surprisingly little research on this phenomenon. (Shutterstock)
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‘Blue balls’: There’s no evidence they’re harmful, and they shouldn’t be used to pressure partners into sex

The pain of ‘blue balls’ should never be used as a coercive tactic. But almost half of study participants — mostly women and some men — reported pressure to engage sexually.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law hearing on artificial intelligence in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Governments, industry must balance AI’s ethical concerns

Strengthening democratic values in the face of AI will require coordinated international efforts between industry, government and non-governmental organizations.
Canada has a productivity problem and its economy is falling behind other developed countries as a result. What’s going on? (Shutterstock)

Canada’s lagging productivity affects us all and will take years to fix

Canada needs to improve the way we work. Improving our productivity ranking will take years, but by taking steps in education, in the private sector and in government, we can achieve national wealth.
Lake surrounding a mining site in Northern Québec. (Maxime Thomas)
Boreal Forest

The invisible effects of human activity on nature

Human activities can affect plants and have consequences for the human populations that consume them.
An Ontario Provincial Police tactical officer looks on from the top hatch of an armoured vehicle during protests against COVID-19 restrictions at the Ambassador Bridge on Feb. 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
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Canadian police are becoming more militarized

Canada’s police services are becoming increasingly militarized. This undermines the fundamental aims of policing and fosters public distrust of police.
An internally displaced person prepares a meal for her family inside an IDP camp in Benue State in northcentral Nigeria in January 2022. (AP Photo/ Chinedu Asadu)

Climate change and conflict are fuelling Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis

Two formidable forces have converged to push Nigeria’s food security to the brink: climate change, with its unpredictable weather patterns, and terrorism.
Long-term care workers shared ideas for mitigating moral distress at work, and these focused on improved communication, collaboration and support. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes.

Long-term care workers’ mental health is a shared long-term responsibility

Long-term care workers experienced mental health challenges and moral distress during the pandemic. Research shows why workplace standards and support for workers are crucial to the future of LTC.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump gives thumbs up as he watches during the first round of the LIV Golf Tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

From Trump to Smith: 4 ways populists are jeopardizing democracy

It will take a lot of strategic ingenuity to fight the rise of populism. And it will get harder to do so as politicians rig the game with rules designed to reduce voting.
The United Conservative Party demonized the NDP’s proposals for a corporate tax rate increase during the recent provincial election campaign. But Calgary-based energy companies and other corporations have capitalized on tax rate decreases, firing workers instead of investing in them. (Samson/Unsplash)
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Why we need to rewrite the script on corporate taxes

The conventional narrative on corporate tax increases relies on ‘zombie ideas’ that pander to corporate interests, harm the public interest and refuse to die.
Antimicrobial resistance is now a leading cause of death worldwide due to drug-resistant infections, including drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, pneumonia and Staph infections like the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus shown here. (NIAID, cropped from original)
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Changes to the WHO’s ‘pandemic treaty’ will leave us vulnerable to future pandemics

Drug-resistant microbes are a serious threat for future pandemics, but the new draft of the WHO’s international pandemic agreement may not include provisions for antimicrobial resistance.
Protestors march near the India Gate monument in New Delhi on May 23, demanding the resignation and arrest of the president of the wrestling federation for allegedly sexually harassing young athletes. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Far-right Hindu nationalists use digital propaganda to delegitimize India’s wrestler protests

Digitally altered images and other online propaganda are being used to silence marginalized voices and stifle protest movements.
Contrary to misconceptions, exposing children to diverse expressions of gender identity supports their natural development and fosters inclusivity. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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5 things to know about Drag Queen Story Time

Drag Queen Story Time events have faced backlash and protests recently. But contrary to misconceptions, these events can support child development and promote acceptance.
The beaver lives at the intersection of the aquatic and forest environments, so its presence increases interactions between these two ecosystems. (Shutterstock)
Boreal forest

Beavers are the undiscovered engineers of the boreal forest

Beavers are an important ecosystem engineer in the boreal forest and researchers are demystifying their secrets.
More than 70 per cent of the world’s population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. (Shutterstock)
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First vaccines were highly effective at restricting COVID-19

New analysis answers questions about the ongoing effectiveness of COVID vaccines: How well they protect against infection, hospitalization and death months after initial doses or after a booster shot.

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