Budget 2026: experts on what John Healey’s ‘breathing space’ plan means for households
It was a “breathing space” budget from Chancellor John Healey. In the absence of big surprises or bold change, Healey’s trade-off appears to be small reliefs now in exchange for “fresh hope” in the future. Here’s what our experts made of the chancellor’s first budget. Targeted help with energy costs as bills keep rising Jonquil […]
The risk of Atlantic current collapse is missing from almost all national climate plans – new study
The system of currents that keeps north-western Europe relatively mild is already weakening. (Illustration shows Atlantic surface currents and eddies, with arrows showing the Amoc’s warm northward surface flow and cold southward return flow at depth.) Brenden Jongman / NASA and NOAA data / Amoc pathways added schematically Icelandic government officials recently met to discuss […]
Drones could help weather forecasters more accurately predict winter storms
Drones are starting to be used help experts predict winter storms more accurately. 1000 words/Shutterstock Weather drones are being tested to help update forecasts of extreme weather more quickly, and could help us prepare earlier for upcoming winter storms. With an unprecedented El Niño increasing the chance of storms and wet weather in Europe this […]
Five ways to find your personal style outside of trends and algorithms
Chay Tee/Shutterstock Fashion is currently trapped in a hyper-accelerated trend loop. Every week there’s a new “core” or “maxxing” style to contend with – such as balletcore or whimsymaxxing. They zoom in and out of our cultural consciousness with alarming speed. These fads are so numerous that we can be confounded with choice, so oddly […]
Vocational GCSEs: an evolution of existing technical learning for 14-year-olds in England
Irene Miller/Shutterstock Teenagers in England will be able to take GCSEs in vocational subjects – that could include digital tech and building and construction – from September 2029. These qualifications will be taken in schools by 14-16-year-olds, with the subjects decided in consultation with regional and local leaders. The new policy also includes a requirement […]
EU’s new Arctic strategy signals shift in its geopolitical mindset
Security is the dominant feature of the EU’s new Arctic strategy. dotshock / Shutterstock The EU recently presented its latest Arctic strategy. It is the bloc’s fifth such strategy since 2008 and the first to be published since 2021, a few months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This conflict has disrupted Arctic […]
Primetime: in this taut morally complex thriller, ambition, entertainment and justice collide
Director Lance Oppenheim creates a grim and grubby world in Primetime, steeped in the sweat and compromised ambitions of its characters. But below the film’s grimy surface is a sharp examination of the personal and professional concessions people make in pursuit of success. Inspired by real events, Primetime follows American television presenter Chris Hansen (Robert […]
Autistic children come to A&E in mental health crisis from as young as eight
Kmpzzz/Shutterstock Research consistently shows that autistic people face higher risks of mental health difficulties and are more likely to think about or attempt suicide than the general population. For example, a 2014 study found that up to 66% of those surveyed had had suicidal thoughts (compared to 20% of non-autistic adults) and up to 35% […]
The hydrogen atom: the raw material of the universe barely exists on Earth – now we’ve made it in a flask
James Webb Space Telescope/NASA, CC BY-SA What do you see when you look up at the night sky? While everyone may have a different answer, the truth is that almost everything out there is hydrogen. The first element in the periodic table is by far the most abundant substance in the cosmos. It’s the fuel […]
What is artificial general intelligence – and is it already here?
OpenAI’s president, Greg Brockman, recently suggested that its advanced model, known as GPT-6 Astra, could mark the arrival of something called artificial general intelligence, or AGI. If AI itself is often defined as the ability to simulate human intelligence, OpenAI defines AGI as an AI system that outperforms humans at most economically valuable work – […]