Oxybenzone is a common sunscreen ingredient that gives sunscreen its protective powers against UV light. However, this very same chemical turns deadly after attaching to sugars found in anemones and corals and then being exposed to UV light. It essentially metabolises into the opposite of a sunscreen in these conditions; it destroys and kills cells, especially those without protective algae like bleached coral reefs. While oxybenzone is harmful to coral reefs, the true extent of its damage is still being studied. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
