A wood’s hardness is a measure of how much force it can take before becoming dented, and many of the world’s hardest woods come from tropical trees. Generally, trees have harder woods the closer they are to the equator; however, these are also long-living, slow-growing species. Their slow growth rate coupled with an increasing demand for hardwoods for flooring and furniture has made them endangered. For example, it’s estimated that 85% of Argentina’s quebracho trees (considered the hardest in the world) have been cut down within the last century.
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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