At this year’s Mabel Strickland Memorial Lecture, international negotiator and mediator Nomi Bar-Yaacov argued that democracies are entering a period in which the crisis extends beyond censorship or attacks on journalists alone. As wars multiply, trust in institutions weakens, and information becomes increasingly mediated through algorithmic systems, the deeper problem may be that societies are losing their ability to agree on what is true in the first place.
Continue reading
While olive oil production generates vast amounts of nutrient-rich waste, approximately 98% of the antioxidant-rich phenolics in olives are lost during oil extraction. To combat rapid degradation, the OliveGREEN team is exploring a novel strategy using sulphur dioxide and enzymes to stabilise olive pomace. THINK speaks with Dr Frederick Lia to learn why saving this discarded byproduct makes a difference.
Continue reading
Academic libraries are often framed as quiet repositories of knowledge, but their influence runs deeper. As student mental health concerns intensify, these spaces are emerging as critical environments for connection, comfort, and care. Beyond books and databases, the design, atmosphere, and activities of a library can shape how students feel, cope, and belong within the wider university experience.
Continue reading
A prosthetic limb is always a work in progress. Even after fitting and adjustments, the body keeps changing. Weight shifts. New pressure points show up. A socket that feels fine one month might cause irritation the next. For many people, comfort relies on a device that cannot sense what is happening.
Continue reading
With the advent of large language models, large collections of text are more crucial than ever nowadays, and PDFs are abundant and important sources of Maltese text. But how do you reliably extract clean Maltese text, given all the challenges with doing so? The NOMOCRAT project seeks to do just that – extract Maltese text while leaving out errors.
Continue reading
As Malta’s cannabis sector continues to develop, understanding plant health risks is becoming increasingly important. This study provides the first structured insight into the presence of Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) in local cultivations, offering practical guidance for growers and contributing to long-term industry sustainability.
Continue reading
When systems stop working in the interest and favour of all, staying quiet can feel impossible. Across Malta, many young people are beginning to step forward because something inside them refuses to remain silent when faced with injustice. THINK meets with two young activists to learn why, despite everything, they choose to keep going.
Continue reading
Residential battery storage systems are an excellent tool for homeowners to increase renewable energy self-consumption. However, their role becomes truly meaningful during a grid outage. While mainstream battery storage inverters now commonly offer an Emergency Power Supply to support critical loads, a key question remains: how does maintaining this ‘backup readiness’ actually impact the long-term efficiency and day-to-day operation of the system?
Continue reading
Students are already using Artificial Intelligence, so what should libraries do about it? Drawing on research and observation at the University of Malta Library, this intern-led article investigates how students actually use AI, and whether library services are keeping pace. It ultimately reframes the conversation: not what libraries can build, but what users truly need.
Continue reading
HUMS marked the conferment of an honorary doctorate on Dr Andrè Callus by inviting him to discuss his activism in detail, shedding light not only on his background but also on the meaning behind the activism. The unique and personal insights offered by Callus illuminate the context within which one of Malta’s leading NGOs operates, and what has made it a success.
Continue reading