Smoking cannabis can alter a person's DNA, causing mutations that expose a user to serious illnesses, experts have warned. Furthermore, the heightened risk is not exclusive to the marijuana user, a study has shown. The disease-causing mutations are passed on to their children, and several future generations, it has emerged. Though the link between cannabis and severe illnesses, such as cancer, has previously been documented, how this occurs and the implications for future generations was not well understood. Smoking cannabis can alter a person's DNA, causing mutations that expose a user to serious illnesses, experts have warned. The disease-causing mutations…

With the world’s population expected to exceed nine billion by 2050, scientists are working to develop new ways to meet rising global demand for food, energy and water without increasing the strain on natural resources. Organizations including theWorld Bank and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization are calling for more innovation to address the links between these sectors, often referred to as the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus. Nanotechnology – designing ultrasmall particles – is now emerging as a promising way to promote plant growth and development. This idea is part of the evolving science of precision agriculture, in which farmers use…

Charles Adisa The most significant problem that African nations face is lack of leadership. Normally, Leadership should be an intentional conscious effort to attend to the people's needs and aspirations. But in Africa, even though many of those that are thrust into the position of leadership mean well, they lack the capacity to lead and meet the people/s hopes and aspirations. Apart from lack of adequate preparation for leadership, one other notable factor that has inhibited good leadership among African leaders is the seemingly non-existent structures for research and information management in the society. Hence, many well-meaning leaders often do…

Every year, the Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank, releases its annual global Prosperity Index, a huge survey that ranks the most prosperous countries in the world. The amount of money a country has is one factor of prosperity, but the Legatum Institute considers more than that in its ranking. The organisation compares 89 variables to come up with its list. These variables include traditional indicators like per capita gross domestic product and the number of people in full-time work as well as more interesting figures such as the number of secure internet servers a country has and how well…