Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The intersection of U.S. immigration policy and the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a major flashpoint. The feasibility of a boycott and the “ruining” of the game are subjects of intense debate among human rights groups, fans, and governing bodies. Football without fans is like a movie without a soundtrack. You can still follow the plot, and the acting (the skill) is still world-class, but you lose the emotional crescendos that make you jump out of your seat. For a World Cup—an event built on the “unity” of humanity—a lack of fans doesn’t just change the score; it changes the soul of the event. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Scotland
Critical Thinking: There is a thin line between genius and insanity
Nov. 25, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — This phrase, “There is a thin line between genius and insanity,” is a compelling and long-standing stereotype that suggests a close connection between exceptional creativity and mental illness.
While it’s a popular idea, modern research indicates that it’s an oversimplification. There isn’t a single “thin line,” but rather a complex, non-linear relationship where certain traits and genetic factors are sometimes shared between highly creative individuals and those with specific mood disorders. Continue reading
What I’ve learned from photographing (almost) every British wildflower

Montage images: Pajor Pawel/Shutterstock (background); Richard Milne (flowers)
Richard Milne, University of Edinburgh
The wildflowers of Britain include all manner of treasures – yet many people are only aware of a few, such as bluebells and foxgloves. A lot of its other flora are rare because of Britain’s location at the northern, western or even southern edges of their natural geographic – and hence climatic – ranges.
Scotland’s reputation for fine whisky
June 14, 2024 /Lifestyle/ –Scotland’s reputation for fine whisky stems from a perfect blend of factors: ideal natural resources, a long history of distillation, and unique regulations. Here’s a breakdown of why Scotland excels in this area:
How loneliness changes the way our brains process the world
Robin Kramer, University of Lincoln
If there’s one thing we as humans seem to have in common, it’s that most of us have felt lonely at one time or another. But is the pain that comes with feeling socially isolated simply a part of being human? Why does the world seem so different when we’re feeling lonely?
Recent research has begun to provide some answers. And it turns out that loneliness can affect your perception and cognition.
Is alcohol the number one cause of death?
29 August 2023 /Food and Drink/ –I n 2022, there were 1,245 alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland, compared to 1,051 drug-related deaths. This is the first time that alcohol-related deaths have been higher than drug-related deaths in Scotland.
How a 400 million year old fossil changes our understanding of mathematical patterns in nature
Sandy Hetherington, The University of Edinburgh and Holly-Anne Turner, University College Cork
If your eyes have ever been drawn to the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem, the texture of a pineapple or the scales of a pinecone, then you have unknowingly witnessed brilliant examples of mathematical patterns in nature.
The British government will block a bill passed by the Scottish parliament that makes it easier for people to change their legal gender
LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The British government will block a bill passed by the Scottish parliament that makes it easier for people to change their legal gender, its Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said on Monday, the first time it has invoked the power to veto a Scottish law.
