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Measles Is Becoming So Common That Treatments May Soon Be Needed
Measles cases in the US have hit a 35-year high, driven by falling vaccination rates and large outbreaks in states including South Carolina and Utah. In response, a small number of biotech firms and academic researchers have begun developing treatments for the disease, something that was previously seen as unnecessary given how effective vaccination has…
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Tragedy as body found at South Yorkshire bar and hotel
A body has been found at the Fitzwilliam Arms bar and hotel in Parkgate, Rotherham, after emergency services were called to the venue. The discovery has prompted a response from the authorities, though the article does not provide further details about the person or circumstances. The Fitzwilliam Arms is on Taylors Lane in Parkgate, South…
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Bill Oddie, Goodies star and wildlife broadcaster, dies at 85
Bill Oddie, the writer, comedian and conservationist who found fame with comedy group The Goodies before becoming one of Britain’s best-known wildlife broadcasters, has died aged 85. He later presented BBC series including Springwatch and Autumnwatch, using the platform to campaign for conservation and environmental protection, work his agent, David Foster, said would “never be…
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Glitched into empty space: why video games are obsessed with the Backrooms
The success of the 2026 horror film Backrooms, an A24 release that has become a box office sensation, has drawn renewed attention to its origins in video game culture, specifically the practice of “noclipping” – exploiting glitches to pass through walls and floors into areas never meant to be seen by players. This phenomenon, which…
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America’s tipping culture has gone from rewarding service to fee insanity
This opinion piece argues that American tipping culture has shifted from a voluntary reward for good service into an increasingly mandatory system of fees and prompts that consumers resent. The author contrasts old-school tipping, seen as a genuine expression of appreciation for individual effort, with today’s practice of digital payment screens prompting customers to tip…
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A Dairy Story review – giving cows and calves a happier life through progressive farming
This review covers A Dairy Story, a Scottish documentary about Rainton Farm in Dumfries and Galloway, where owners David and Wilma Finlay pioneer “cow-and-calf” dairy farming by letting calves stay with their mothers for five to six months rather than separating them shortly after birth. The film argues that this progressive approach, believed to be…
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Volunteer scheme credited with changing man’s life
A Shropshire employability programme has been credited with transforming the life of a 27-year-old man from Shawbury who lost his catering job during the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Reynolds began volunteering at Fordhall Farm in Market Drayton nine months ago after being referred by his Jobcentre work coach while struggling with his mental health, confidence and…
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‘Off the scale’ haul of nitrous oxide cans found
A litter-picking group in Peterborough collected 82 discarded nitrous oxide canisters in a single day, describing the haul as “off the scale” and far above the usual three to twelve typically found in a session. The find, made near Norman Road Car Park, underscores continuing concerns about the misuse of the gas, which was reclassified…
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The nature reserve where ‘magical’ glow worms thrive
Benfield Hill Nature Reserve near Hove has emerged as a key stronghold for glow worms, with conservationists spotting 60 glowing females in a single evening during the current summer breeding season. Volunteers from the Benfield Wildlife and Conservation Group have been managing the chalk grassland, notably leaving patches of grass longer so females can climb…
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Littering fines draw in almost £100k across county
Littering fines have brought in almost £100,000 for councils across Cambridgeshire since the start of 2023, according to figures obtained by the BBC through Freedom of Information requests. The data shows a stark disparity in enforcement between local authorities, with Cambridge City Council responsible for the vast majority of penalties issued, prompting calls for other…