How balls of blackworms avoid the knotty step
Thousands of them can disperse in thousandths of a secondMANY ANIMALS find safety in herds, colonies, schools or swarms. But few species opt for the technique of the stringy, water-dwelling blackworm Lumbriculus variegatus, a creature that at a few centimetres in length is far longer than it is wide. In trying times, for instance when…
Why 15,000-year-old art might have been displayed in firelight
THE BRITISH MUSEUM has in its care more than 8m artefacts. Visitors can see a mere 80,000 of them or so on display at any one time. Partly that is a blunt matter of space and variety. Few museums can display all they have and many cycle through their collections to give visitors new experiences…
A surprise sacking at China Merchants Bank frightens investors
CHINA MERCHANTS BANK has always stood out from the pack. It was founded by a former communist guerrilla in 1987 as China’s first commercial lender with a corporate-shareholding structure. It is part of a group with ties to a Qing dynasty project that sought in the 19th century to build an indigenous steam-powered shipping industry…
New research spells out the benefits of diverse supply chains
Apr 23rd 2022 | WASHINGTON, DCOVER THE quarter-century before the pandemic, global manufacturing was transformed by the emergence of complex supply chains, through which firms could efficiently produce all sorts of goods at low cost and enormous scale. The pandemic put these supply chains through the wringer, causing wild swings in demand while forcing repeated…
North Korea’s day of celebration reveals little to celebrate
Kim Jong Un unveils luxury apartments as his people confront food shortagesTHE ANNIVERSARY of Kim Il Sung’s birth, on April 15th, is often an exuberant affair in North Korea. This year’s tribute to the country’s founder was no exception. Civilians, many dressed in traditional costume, danced in choreographed crowds in the centre of Pyongyang, the…
Indian cows (and buffaloes) are going online
A new breed of startups wants to formalise cattle tradingSIX COWS munch on dry grass in a barn in Vajeghar, a village some five hours from Mumbai. Ajay Shilimkar, a dairy farmer, beams as he introduces them to your correspondent. One, named Laali, is his most recent acquisition. “She listens to what I say. I…
Jordan’s troubled king and his bothersome brother
Rivalry within the royal family is threatening the kingdom’s stabilityAFTER 23 YEARS on the throne, King Abdullah looks tired, aloof and despairing of his kingdom. While his counterparts in the Gulf unveil grand visions, he sounds short of ideas: his favourite way to tackle a problem is to create a committee. As more Arab states…
Making money from Nelson Mandela’s name
A boutique hotel and NFTs are the latest examples of Madiba’s lucrative legacyONE ROOM is named “Rolihlahla”, his forename at birth. Another is “46664”, his prison number on Robben Island. A third is “Madiba”, his clan name. And the most luxurious suite? That is simply “Mr President”.Listen to this story.Enjoy more audio and podcasts on…
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Listen to this story.Enjoy more audio and podcasts on iOS or Android.Your browser does not support the element.Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskHaving built a stake in Twitter, then being offered and rejecting a seat on its board, Elon Musk proposed taking the company private with a $43bn bid. In…
Business
Listen to this story.Enjoy more audio and podcasts on iOS or Android.Your browser does not support the element.Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskAmerica’s annual rate of inflation as measured by the official consumer-price index jumped again in March to 8.5%, from 7.9% in February. Inflation is being fuelled by surging…