Everyone knows that polar bears are dangerous. The liver of a polar bear is surely harmless though, right? Well, not exactly. Polar bear livers are packed with vitamin A – so much so that they can be fatal if consumed. Consumption of vitamin A is required to help regulate many bodily functions, but is deadly in high doses. Because their diet mainly consists of seals (which are also high in vitamin A), polar bears naturally accumulate a high concentration of vitamin A – much to the dismay of early Arctic explorers. 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