Author: Andrew Rogers

This Sunday, 7 September, a blood moon—a total lunar eclipse—will be visible across much of Europe, lasting around 82 minutes, the longest since 2022. During the event, the Earth will block direct sunlight from reaching the moon, leaving only red-tinted light refracted through our atmosphere, giving the moon its “blood-red” appearance. Historically, blood moons carried strong symbolic meanings. In Babylon, China, and Central America, they were seen as ominous signs, often warning of war, death, or disaster. In contrast, some African cultures, like the Batammaliba of Togo and Benin, viewed lunar eclipses as opportunities for renewal and reconciliation, symbolically “reconciling…

Max Verstappen set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history to claim pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Red Bull driver posted a 1:18.792, averaging over 164mph, narrowly beating McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Verstappen’s performance marks a turnaround after last year’s struggles at Monza, and gives Red Bull a boost under new team principal Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner’s departure. Ferrari showed promise at their home race, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth in qualifying behind teammate Charles Leclerc, though a grid penalty drops him to 10th. Norris held off Piastri to secure second,…

A new ultrasound “helmet” could transform treatment for neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, without the need for surgery. The device can target brain regions 1,000 times smaller than standard ultrasound and may eventually replace invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS). It also shows potential for conditions such as Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, depression, chronic pain, and addiction. Unlike DBS, which requires electrodes to be implanted deep in the brain, the helmet delivers mechanical pulses non-invasively while fitted inside an MRI scanner. A study in Nature Communications demonstrated its precision on seven volunteers, targeting a region the size of a grain of rice…

Labour’s promise to end badger culling by 2029 could be achieved, but only with a major expansion of testing and vaccination, according to a government-commissioned report. Badgers are culled because they can spread bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle, a disease costing taxpayers and farmers around £150m annually. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since the cull began in 2013. Sir Charles Godfray, the report’s author, said current investment in testing and vaccination is insufficient to suppress bTB. Ministers currently face a “small chance” of meeting the government’s 2038 eradication target without a major increase in resources and urgency. “The…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has launched a drive to reintroduce lost species, including the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket and white-faced darter dragonfly, once common across Lancashire and Greater Manchester’s peat bogs. These insects depend on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost due to human activity. LWT has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation and is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the project. The trust said the species play key roles in the ecosystem: pollinating plants, breaking down plant matter, and keeping insect populations in balance. Senior nature recovery officer…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from the deadly H5N1 avian influenza before spring migration brings the virus to the region. With fewer than 250 kākāpō left, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated 10 captive birds from five endangered species, including the kākāpō, takahē, kakī, tūturuatu, and one kākāriki species. Using the H5N3 poultry vaccine, four species developed strong antibodies lasting at least six months, offering hope for protecting captive breeding populations and their wild offspring. Vaccination of wild birds is far more…

A simple two-minute cheek-swab test could identify children at risk of a potentially fatal heart condition years before traditional diagnosis methods, researchers have revealed. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is genetic and accounts for over 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. It arises from abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells, disrupting both the structure and electrical activity of the heart. Often, it develops silently and can strike without warning. Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London discovered that the same protein abnormalities can be detected in the cells lining the cheeks. This led…

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance at the Dutch Grand Prix, claiming a dominant pole-to-flag victory that extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 34 points. The 24-year-old Australian controlled the race from start to finish, even managing to stay composed through light rain and three safety-car periods. For teammate and title rival Lando Norris, the weekend ended in heartbreak. Running second and closing on Piastri with just seven laps remaining, Norris suffered a sudden oil leak that forced him to retire. The British driver was left alone on the dunes at Zandvoort, helmet on and head bowed, as…

A new large-scale analysis has found that young children in the US are often prescribed ADHD medication almost immediately after diagnosis, contrary to recommended medical guidelines. Children aged four and five who are newly diagnosed are advised to undergo six months of behavioural therapy before starting medication, but the study shows this is frequently bypassed. The research, published in JAMA Network Open and involving more than 9,700 children, found that 42.2% of young patients received ADHD medication within one month of diagnosis, while only 14.1% began treatment after the recommended six months. Dr Yair Bannett, lead author and assistant professor…

A global systematic review has revealed that the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults. The analysis found that receiving the vaccine was associated with an 18% lower risk of heart attack or stroke, with slightly lower but still significant benefits for adults over 50. The study, the first of its kind worldwide, analyzed data from 19 studies, including randomized controlled trials and observational research. Researchers suggest the protective effect could be linked to reducing inflammation caused by shingles, which is known to contribute to heart and circulatory problems. Experts have welcomed the findings but emphasized…