World Visualized

Why cotton is draining global water supplies more than we realise

Cotton is one of the world’s most familiar materials, worn daily and found in everything from shirts to bed sheets. But behind this comfort lies a high environmental cost, as producing just 1 kilogram of cotton requires about 10,000 litres of water.

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Deaths inside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities are often debated in political terms, yet across administrations, people have continued to die while in government custody, raising persistent questions about medical care, oversight, and the use of detention itself.

In some regions, unresolved conflicts are solidifying into prolonged humanitarian emergencies, while in others, long-standing tensions are at risk of flaring up again under political pressure or regional strain.

Since the 11 September 2001 attacks, US air power has been used repeatedly across multiple regions under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The map summarises where airstrikes, drone strikes or missile attacks were carried out, but the underlying record shows continuity rather than exception.

The world’s most expensive Fabergé eggs: A legacy of luxury and imperial artistry

In 1885, Tsar Alexander III of Russia sparked a royal tradition that would become one of the most opulent and iconic legacies in the history of art.

More than a treat: Why your go-to drink could be a sugar overdose

A single 500 ml McDonald’s strawberry milkshake contains 56g of sugar (around 14 sugar cubes), while a 330ml can of Coca-Cola packs in 36g (about 9 cubes). Even 250ml of Red Bull and 440ml of Drench juice contain 28g (7 cubes) each.

Names in different cultures around the world serve as a strong means of identification. They can quickly reveal a person's origin, country, or ethnic group, regardless of their location.