Pan’s Labyrinth at 20: a powerful, symbolic tribute to Spanish resilience in the face of fascism
This autumn marks the 20th anniversary of Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro’s elaborate and deeply sorrowful film about a young girl caught between two dangerous worlds in rural Spain in 1944. The film tells the story of Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), who finds herself shifting between the “real” above-ground world half a decade after the end […]
England needs 120% of normal rainfall to come out of drought this winter – storms won’t fix that yet
Storm Austen and Storm Boelo swept across the UK in quick succession. Rain lashed windows, river levels rose and the clocks went back. It feels like winter has arrived all at once. Yet most of England and Wales are still in drought. Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Sussex are in severe drought, the […]
What brain scans can reveal, and why they don’t always explain symptoms
An MRI scan can show changes in the brain’s structure, but the findings don’t always explain a person’s symptoms. Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock In 2007, researchers in the Netherlands scanned the brains of 2,000 people aged 45 and over who were going about their ordinary lives. Seven in every 100 had signs of a stroke they never knew […]
Scientists map a distant planet’s atmosphere for the first time – and it’s lopsided
When scientists study exoplanets, planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, they often lack three-dimensional information. For example, general mathematical relationships are used to estimate a planet’s radius, even though that distance may be different depending on where it is measured. Similar principles apply to measuring the atmosphere of an exoplanet, which often blurs all […]
Werewolf mice, ghostly frogs and cockroach zombies: the animal versions of our Halloween horrors
These ghost-like glass frogs live in Central and South America. Lukas Gogh/Shutterstock Around this time of year, elaborate decorations featuring ghosts, vampires, zombies, witches and werewolves adorn front doors, gardens and shop windows across the country. But you may be surprised to hear that in the animal world, there are many real-life creatures with similar […]
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 […]