Although fires raze through swathes of forest, life still perseveres; there are several species of bacteria and fungi that thrive despite the high heat. Scientists will be examining these hardy species to figure out what traits they have that allows them to survive in bushfires. However, they do have a few clues about these traits. One of these traits may be the ability to eat the nitrogen contained in charcoal and wax from burnt wood and leaves, making a bountiful food source after a fire. 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
