Global study reveals widespread burning of plastic for heating and cooking
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Jan-2026 06:11 ET (8-Jan-2026 11:11 GMT/UTC)
A new Curtin University-led study has shed new light on the widespread number of households in developing countries burning plastic as an everyday energy source, uncovering serious international health, social equality and environmental concerns.
Up to 75% of Australian women report concerns about their body image after giving birth, with many feeling intense pressure to “bounce back” to their pre-pregnancy shape, a pressure that can even trigger eating disorders for the first time. The study shows these struggles are not just personal but are influenced by partners, families, and cultural expectations.
A University of Oregon researcher has now found using a phone to document live events can lead to social penalties, even affecting relationships between friends.
Research from the University of Chicago shows that increases in evictions are associated with higher rates of gun violence and disrupt social cohesion in neighborhoods.
Researchers have identified traces of plant poison from the South African plant gifbol on Stone Age arrowheads – the oldest known arrow poison in the world to date. The discovery, published in the scientific journal Science Advances, shows that 60,000 years ago, people in southern Africa had already developed advanced knowledge of toxic substances and how they could be used for hunting.