SYED ZAIN UMAR

Does gravity create reality? A shocking path to a theory of everything

on May 25, 2026 at 4:00 pm

A rewrite of quantum mechanics that includes the force of gravity could finally achieve one of physicists’ biggest goals and reveal the ultimate fuzziness of time

Mars astronauts may do laundry by blasting clothes with a plasma beam

on May 25, 2026 at 9:00 am

There is currently no good way for astronauts in space to do laundry, but researchers may have finally come up with one: a bright purple jet of microbe-killing plasma

Why your brain needs plenty of “Aha!” moments

on May 25, 2026 at 9:00 am

In the age of AI, instant answers to our questions are readily available. But columnist Helen Thomson finds that continuing to encourage those delicious flashes of insight that come from your own thoughts may be beneficial both for your everyday life and your long-term brain health

Mercury may have gained all of its unexpected water in a single day

on May 22, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Despite being the closest planet to the sun, Mercury has thick deposits of ice at its poles, and now we may understand the events that formed them over just one Mercurian day

Experimental mRNA vaccine may protect against multiple Ebola viruses

on May 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm

Tests with rodents suggest an mRNA vaccine in development offers protection against three strains of Ebola virus, including the one behind the current crisis

Political anger affects the body differently to other forms of anger

on May 22, 2026 at 2:00 pm

We all feel emotions like anger and disgust from time to time, but they seem to cause stronger bodily sensations when they’re politically induced

Australia is battling its largest diphtheria outbreak in living memory

on May 22, 2026 at 12:00 pm

Vaccine misinformation, nurse and doctor shortages and crowded living arrangements may be behind soaring rates of diphtheria in remote Indigenous communities in Australia

How ageing on Earth mimics the effects of space travel

on May 22, 2026 at 9:00 am

Life on the International Space Station may feel distant, but columnist Graham Lawton finds that studying how astronauts experience accelerated ageing could help us fight similar effects on Earth related to sedentary lifestyles, disrupted circadian rhythms and social isolation

Mathematicians stunned by AI’s biggest breakthrough in mathematics yet

on May 21, 2026 at 4:13 pm

Artificial intelligence built by OpenAI has cracked a decades-old conjecture by Paul Erdős, which mathematicians have hailed as a monumental moment for AI in mathematics

Epic dreaming is leaving people exhausted and distressed

on May 21, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Some people experience vivid, incessant dreams that leave them feeling exhausted the next day, with researchers calling for this “epic dreaming” to be classed as a sleep disorder

Women’s better memories may delay Alzheimer’s diagnosis by years

on May 21, 2026 at 12:00 pm

Women appear cognitively normal for almost three years longer than men after their brains start to develop Alzheimer’s disease, making it harder to diagnose and preventing early treatment

Women’s body temperature rises from age 18 to 42 but we don’t know why

on May 20, 2026 at 7:00 pm

Women experience a steady rise in body temperature from their teens to midlife, which may be useful for monitoring ageing and overall health

Photos reveal unexpected details from the world’s first atomic test

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Previously classified photos and documents show the scientific work that went into the world’s first atomic test in 1945 – a test that, just weeks later, would see nuclear bombs dropped in Japan

How a visit to Stonehenge reminded me of deep time

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

On a visit to the UK, Sydney-based reporter James Woodford visited an archaeological site that was on his bucket list – and experienced a very special moment as the sun set

Can we harness quantum effects to create a new kind of healthcare?

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Experiments hint that quantum mechanisms are vital to the machinery of life. Now researchers are exploring if these effects help to explain the success of an array of puzzling health treatments

New Scientist recommends a devastating account of farming honeybees

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Jennie Durant’s Bitter Honey is a great exposé of the true cost of industrially farming US honeybees, finds Thomas Lewton. But the book’s grim figures of bee death alone may not prompt deep change – how about seeing them as fellow creatures?

Shiver me timbers: Do we have to worry about space pirates now?

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Feedback goes down a “moon warfare” rabbit hole and discovers that some forward-thinkers are making plans to counteract as-yet-hypothetical pirates in space

PMOS shows us why many scientific terms need to be renamed

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Like covid-19 and mpox before it, the decision to relabel PCOS as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome is a welcome one – and reveals why a name is never just a name

This is the most underrated sci-fi film franchise of the 21st century

on May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

There’s unexpected news of a fifth movie for one of the most underrated sci-fi reboots. Hurray, says New Scientist film columnist Bethan Ackerley

Putting CO2 into rocks and getting hydrogen out is climate double win

on May 20, 2026 at 5:00 pm

Storing carbon dioxide in rocks while producing hydrogen from them – and perhaps even geothermal power too – could be a double win on the climate front, and several groups are trying to make it happen

American Music Awards 2026: Complete list of winners

on May 26, 2026 at 4:24 am

American Music Awards 2026: Complete list of winnersThe 2026 American Music Awards took place on Monday, May 25 night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.This marked 52nd ceremony of the music awards show Created by Dick Clark in 1974.It is one of the world’s largest…

BTS’ ‘Swim’ scored major win at 2026 American Music Award

on May 26, 2026 at 3:35 am

BTS’ ‘Swim’ scored major win at American Music Award​K-pop boy band BTS just marked their first win at the American Music Awards as their fifth studio album, ARIRANG’s lead track, SWIM was crowned Best Song of the Summer.​The boyband, also known as the Bangtan Boys, beat Taylor Swift’s…

Here’s why Nicolas Cage respects ‘Madden’ director David O. Russell

on May 26, 2026 at 3:12 am

Here’s why Nicolas Cage respects ‘Madden’ director David O. RussellAfter turning down roles in top-notch filmmakers’ films such as Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen, and Paul Thomas Anderson, Nicolas Cage is struggling in his career.The New York Times interviewed the 62-year-old American actor…

Karol G lives ‘legend moment’ in her career at 2026 AMAs

on May 26, 2026 at 2:37 am

Karol G lives ‘legend moment’ in her career at 2026 AMAsKarol G recently revealed how music helped her find purpose in life in an acceptance speech at the 52nd American Music Awards.On Monday, May 25, John Legend awarded the 35-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter with the International Artist…

Penelope Cruz talks about shocking brain aneurism diagnosis

on May 26, 2026 at 1:52 am

Penelope Cruz is touching upon the time she had to brave through the news of a brain aneurism.The 52-year-old actress revealed she thought she was going to die when she was told she could have a fatal condition while preparing to film night scenes for “The Black Ball”“And then…

Linda Perry criticizes Billie Joe Armstrong for ghosting her before major career move

on May 25, 2026 at 10:11 pm

Linda Perry criticizes Billie Joe Armstrong for ghosting her before major career moveLinda Perry recently reminisced about the time when Green Day did not respond to her after she was about to produce their follow-up to American Idiot.While chatting with NME, the 61-year-old American…

‘Euphoria’ creator explains brutal finale twist

on May 25, 2026 at 7:18 pm

‘Euphoria’ creator explains brutal finale twistEuphoria season 3 left fans shocked with brutal twist!As the controversial character Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi met the horrifying end, the creator of the show Sam Levinson explained the decision.Spoiler alert: the character died after being…

Leo Woodall opens up about ‘boyhood dream’ of landing role in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’

on May 25, 2026 at 7:03 pm

Leo Woodall opens up about ‘boyhood dream’ of landing role in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’Leo Woodall is calling his casting in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum a “boyhood dream.”The actor recently spoke about becoming part of the famous fantasy franchise while attending the…

‘The Bachelor’ couple Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar reflect on first year of marriage

on May 25, 2026 at 6:47 pm

‘The Bachelor’ stars Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar reflect on first year of marriageZach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar are celebrating one year of marriage after tying the knot in 2025.The couple, who met during season 27 of The Bachelor in 2023, marked their first wedding anniversary with…

Jennifer Aniston learned a costar had never seen ‘Friends’

on May 25, 2026 at 6:43 pm

Jennifer Aniston learned a costar had never seen ‘Friends’Lisa Ann Walter shared a surprising confession she made to Jennifer Aniston while filming Bruce Almighty.During her appearance on Kristin Davis’ podcast Are You A Charlotte?, Walter admitted there are several iconic television series she…

‘Where’s My Husband’ hitmaker Raye ready for Hollywood with first-ever film: Details inside

on May 25, 2026 at 6:10 pm

Raye is set to make her acting debut in a new London-based crime drama called Lineage.The 28-year award-winning singer will be joined on screen with Isabelle Huppert in the upcoming film from French director Yann Demange, known for projects including Top Boy.The film is described as a modern crime…

Sophie Rain’s bizarre claim leaves NBA fans guessing the player

on May 25, 2026 at 6:03 pm

Social media star Sophie Rain dropped a bombshell by claiming a basketball player asked her for a sexual favor in return for “a bag.”Speaking to TMZ, she refused to reveal the player’s name. Rain, who went viral in late 2024 after announcing she earned US$43 million in her first…

Lisa Kudrow secretly helped nervous young actor on ‘Friends’

on May 25, 2026 at 5:54 pm

Lisa Kudrow secretly helped nervous young actor on ‘Friends’Craig Robinson looked back on a memorable act of kindness from Lisa Kudrow.During his early days on Friends, Craig shared that Lisa stepped in when he felt nervous on the set.Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the actor recalled filming…

‘Love Island’ star Ronnie Vint puts end to years of hairline jokes with new look

on May 25, 2026 at 5:43 pm

‘Love Island’ star Ronnie Vint puts end to years of hairline jokes with new lookRonnie Vint has debuted a new hairline following his recent hair transplant in response to years of online bullying over his appearance.The 29-year-old footballer and former Love Island contestant dropped a new photo…

Bianca Censori unveils dramatic makeover on Kanye West date night

on May 25, 2026 at 5:13 pm

Bianca Censori shows new look with a late-night date with Kanye WestBianca Censori has a history of shocking the public with provocative outfits.However, in the latest appearance, onlookers were yet again stunned, but not with her dressing.Instead, it was her dramatic blonde makeover.She unveiled…

Paul Rudd talks about his life before acting

on May 25, 2026 at 5:06 pm

Paul Rudd talks about his life before actingPaul Rudd reflected on his life before acting.At the advanced screening of his new movie, Power Ballad, the actor opened up about working as a DJ before he became a Hollywood star.Rudd said, “I was in school. I could work on the weekends — Bat…

Dakota Johnson ‘forgiven’ for ‘downfall’ interview with Ellen DeGeneres

on May 25, 2026 at 4:31 pm

Nearly seven years ago, Dakota Johnson’s infamous 2019 interview with Ellen DeGeneres still circulates online. Some fans make jokes about it, while others say they can forgive the Fifty Shades of Grey actress for the disastrous failure of Madame Web. Some people, especially…

Kimberly Williams-Paisley reveals two-word secret behind her 23-year marriage to Brad Paisley

on May 25, 2026 at 3:20 pm

Kimberly Williams-Paisley reveals two-word secret behind her 23-year marriage to Brad PaisleyKimberly Williams-Paisley says the secret to her long marriage with country star Brad Paisley is simply not leaving.The 54-year-old actress recently opened up about her relationship during a recent…

Paramount’s copyright crackdown on Stephen Colbert’s Eminem episode sparks backlash

on May 25, 2026 at 2:43 pm

Stephen Colbert hosted the public access show Only in Monroe with Jack White, Jeff Daniels, and Eminem one day after CBS ended “The Late Show”. Detroit rapper Eminem appeared on tape as the “fire marshal” who approves setting fire to remnants of the set that Colbert, White…

Michael Jackson’s friend Diana Ross breaks silence on new biopic

on May 25, 2026 at 1:51 pm

Michael Jackson’s friend Diana Ross breaks silence on new biopicDiana Ross, a close friend of Michael Jackson has reportedly reacted to the new biopic.It has been revealed that Queen of Motown has reportedly refused to watch the late icon’s biopic.With the new biopic Michael making headlines…

‘I’m throwing everything at it’: one young man’s search for a job in Britain’s ‘worklessness capital’

by Tom Levitt in Grimsby on May 26, 2026 at 5:00 am

High unemployment and a lack of support mean life can be tough in Grimsby, but 19-year-old Cohen is determined to make the best of life in this coastal townIt’s mid-afternoon in the Lincolnshire seaside town of Cleethorpes and Cohen is sitting in the back seat of a car putting on an Easter bunny outfit. A group of teenagers nearby stare in amusement. Cohen isn’t fazed. He is hoping we can take some new photographs that he can use to advertise his mascot business for the upcoming holidays.Cohen, 19, lives with his parents a couple of miles down the road in neighbouring Grimsby and set up Co Co Mascots last year as one of his many attempts to find work. People can hire him in one of the outfits for birthday parties, events and doorstep surprises for children. He’s done a few paid gigs so far, which has been a boost for his confidence, he says, but what he really wants is a permanent job.Cohen, who is looking for a permanent job, makes money as a mascot at birthday parties and events Continue reading…

Heatwaves are becoming the norm. This is what Britain will look like in the year 2052 | Bill McGuire

by Bill McGuire on May 26, 2026 at 5:00 am

People sleep outside because their houses are too hot to inhabit, water is scarce and supermarkets are for the wealthyIf you think the temperature uncomfortable today, let me take you to the last day of July 2052, the rays of the climbing sun reveal a city still sweltering in the residual heat of the day before. From the air, London resembles a colossal refugee camp. Streets, gardens and parks are teeming with tents and cobbled-together shelters, within which the city’s residents have spent another uncomfortable night away from the heat traps that their houses and flats have become. After six days when the temperature peaked at about 40C, another scorcher is on the way.Half-hearted attempts to upgrade insulation across the country’s housing stock ran out of steam and cash decades earlier, and most homes still have few barriers to the infiltrating heat. Almost all the country’s electricity is now from renewables, which has brought the cost down, but the relentless onslaught of extreme weather has driven an ever-deepening economic depression across the world. Many now have air conditioning, but can’t afford to run it. Continue reading…

UK security services helped devise act that gave amnesty over Troubles killings

by Cormac Kehoe and Haroon Siddique on May 26, 2026 at 5:00 am

Revelation that policing and state agency figures were in secret policymaking group angers victims’ groupsThe British security services were involved in formulating the controversial Legacy Act, which offered an amnesty to soldiers and paramilitiaries despite MI5’s role in many killings during the Northern Ireland Troubles, it can be revealed.The presence of policing and state agency figures among a secret policymaking group involved in devising the act – a fact established through an investigation by Belfast-based newsletter the Detail and shared with the Guardian – has angered victims’ groups already critical of the legislation. Continue reading…

Saint Levant: the pop star from Gaza caught between passionate fandom and bitter disapproval

by Nesrine Malik on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

His detractors say he shouldn’t be making pop music in times of war and destruction. His millions of fans say he has given them permission to celebrate their culture and their causeThe first time I heard a song by Saint Levant, only three years ago, was in a world that does not exist any more. Gaza’s buildings were intact, as were its schools and roads and markets and mosques. My home city of Khartoum in Sudan was standing, as it had for centuries. Back then, I could scroll for fun, not in dread. I could stumble, say, in late 2022, upon an arresting clip on TikTok of a song by an Arab artist with a pun for a name; Saint Levant, a play on Saint Laurent – the icon of western style had been Arabised in homage to the Middle East’s Levant region.I began to see the same song all over my social media. In the video, Saint Levant, then 22, is in a white vest and brown trousers. A gold pendant chain dangles on his chest, a tattoo encircles his left arm. He starts by rapping in English, telling the woman he is wooing that “he’s not toxic, he’s broken baby”. And then, the twist, as he switches to Arabic, then French, then English again. Like a wholesome boy next door, he tells her to send his regards to her grandmother and her brother. Then says that he wants to make her forget about her ex, he wants her overthinking all her texts, he wants the neighbours to hear her yell. “Lover boy Levant is back in the building,” he declared. Continue reading…

I stopped checking the weather forecast – and got a series of wonderful surprises

by Amy Fleming on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

Like so many Britons, I usually consult a weather app before venturing out of the house – and often cancel plans if I don’t like what I see. Here’s what happened when I went cold turkey for a weekWhen I heard on the radio that more than half of British people would consider cancelling an outing if they saw a 40% chance of rain all day on their weather app, I felt seen. I, too, am a slave to my app. Not that I would ever make a decision based on one whole-day percentage. I pore over three-hourly breakdowns for chances of rain versus minutes of sunshine. If rain is on the cards, I check the probable millimetres. Less than one? I may well throw caution to the wind. Speaking of which, wind speed and direction must also be considered, along with overall and “feels like” temperatures. For the cherry on top, I’ll compare notes with a loved one’s app if they use a different one, quietly mistrusting theirs, and simmering in silent rage if theirs wins.I’ll admit, though, that my compulsion to check my app (I long ago chose WeatherPro, which I knew nothing about, but liked its layout and name) is borderline neurotic; I fret over probabilities and outfit appropriateness, when I could simply step outside for real-time hyper-local accuracy. I can lose procrastinatory hours consulting long-range forecasts, or checking the weather in Melbourne (where my sister lives) and holiday destinations I have no immediate plans to visit. Continue reading…

UK consumers likely to face higher prices ‘for many months to come’

by Rob Davies on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

Data shows even if Iran war ends, shop price inflation on rise, while only 16% of firms left unscathed by conflictHigher prices could persist over the summer even if ceasefire talks between the US and Iran bear fruit, consumers have been warned, with economic shock waves likely to be felt “for many months to come”.Disruption to global shipping, coupled with soaring prices for energy and raw materials, have driven up costs for UK companies, with the impact already filtering through to prices paid at the tills, according to fresh inflation figures. Continue reading…

Indians protest over ‘forever chemicals’ after relocation of scandal-hit Italian factory

by Gianluca Liva and Marta Frigerio on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

Lack of Pfas regulations raised in parliament after Guardian revealed former Miteni plant bought by Indian companyProtests over the production of cancer-linked Pfas chemicals have spread across India, after an investigation revealed that an Italian factory shut down due to an environmental scandal was bought by an Indian company and partly rebuilt.At the end of last year, the Guardian revealed that the former Miteni plant in Vicenza had been acquired by the Indian company Laxmi Organic Industries. The factory produced Pfas and was shut down in 2018 after being linked to one of Italy’s worst environmental contamination scandals. Continue reading…

Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences to begin in Newry

by Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

Former DUP leader faces charges spanning 21 years in case that triggered political earthquake in Northern IrelandThe trial of former Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences is set to begin in a case that triggered a political earthquake in Northern Ireland.Donaldson, 63, is charged with rape, gross indecency and other sexual offences spanning 21 years. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault and will be subject to a trial of facts. Continue reading…

Abortion regret is a myth. Irish women don’t need laws to make them ‘reflect’ on their choices | Roe McDermott

by Roe McDermott on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

More people regret knee surgery than abortion. So why is the patriarchy still scaring us with lifelong torment?Ireland’s parliament, the Dáil, voted down a reproductive rights amendment bill this month that would have abolished the country’s mandatory three-day waiting period for access to an abortion. Supporters of the unsuccessful reform bill, tabled by the Social Democrats, argued that the delay serves no medical purpose.As the bill moved through political debate and media coverage, those defending the requirement to wait three days from the time of requesting an abortion before care can be accessed barely attempted to argue otherwise, instead structuring their opposition to reform around the idea that women cannot be trusted to know what they want. The waiting period, which is not required in most European countries, was repeatedly described as “a cooling off” period; time to “reflect”, “reconsider”, “rethink”. Supporters of the status quo spoke extensively of wanting to save women from feelings of regret. Continue reading…

‘I’m an absolute gurner. I’m worried’: The Archers stars on their flower power stage show

by Felicity Cloake on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

The hallowed radio show is celebrating 75 glorious years – by stepping out of the studio and on to the stage. We sent the Guardian’s food writer (and Ambridge obsessive) along to meet her heroes and find out moreI’m very careful not to betray my true levels of excitement when I speak to The Archers actor Susie Riddell, before a nationwide theatre tour to mark the rural radio drama’s 75th anniversary. I may be an Ambridge superfan but I still don’t want to scare the horses (nor indeed the cows, pigs or sheep). Riddell’s character Tracy Horrobin (who will be appearing with husband, Jazzer, local lush Lilian and cravat-wearing criminal Brian) is not one to hold back however: “It’s like a dream come true for me too!” she confides, slipping easily into broad Borsetshire. “I never thought I’d see the day that I was interviewed by the Guardian. I’ve seen it in the Bull!”The Bull, for the uninitiated, is a half-timbered pub on the village green offering ale, artisanal food and, it seems, copies of the Guardian. It’s a thrilling thought: I briefly entertain the idea of rock star turned vegan baker turned wedding caterer turned pub chef Fallon sitting in the snug, poring over my pie recipes in the Guardian. But it’s stretching credibility to believe an old-fashioned village boozer would find room for any reading material more substantial than Farmers Weekly. Riddell concedes the point. “Maybe Helen left it behind?” Continue reading…

US strikes Iran missile sites and mine laying vessels as Trump’s promised peace deal remains elusive

by Jonathan Yerushalmy on May 26, 2026 at 3:28 am

Negotiators from Iran travelled to Qatar on Monday, with the fate of the country’s nuclear programme and access to frozen assets under discussionMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US has launched strikes on southern Iran in a test of the seven-week long ceasefire, as both sides played down hopes for an imminent peace deal even as negotiators from Tehran began new talks in Qatar.US forces targeted missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines, US central command (Centcom) said on Tuesday, but stressed that the strikes did not indicate the ceasefire with Iran was over. Continue reading…

Relentless Knicks sweep Cavaliers and return to NBA finals for first time since 1999

by Tom Lutz on May 26, 2026 at 3:01 am

Knicks ease to victory in Game 4 of Eastern finalsNew York aiming for first championship since 1973The New York Knicks are back in the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 after another overwhelming victory completed a 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.The Knicks are in ruthless form as they attempt to win their first NBA championship since 1973. They also swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs. While their path to the finals in their Eastern Conference has been smooth they will face a stiff test to claim the NBA title. They will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with very few flaws, or the San Antonio Spurs, led by 7ft 4in superstar Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs-Thunder series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 on Tuesday night. Continue reading…

Sonny Rollins, colossus of jazz saxophone, dies aged 95

by Ben Beaumont-Thomas on May 26, 2026 at 2:01 am

One of the last stars of the bebop generation, Rollins was an genius of melodic invention and improvisation, working with Davis, Monk, Coltrane and othersSonny Rollins interview from 2022: ‘I was so close to the sky. It was spiritual’Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time, has died aged 95.His death was announced on his website on Monday, “with deep sorrow and profound love”. His publicist Terri Hinte also confirmed the news. Continue reading…

Ozzy Osbourne AI avatar will be ‘so tasteful’, Jack Osbourne says after fan backlash

by Sian Cain on May 26, 2026 at 1:40 am

Lifesize avatar of former Black Sabbath frontman will be created by tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram A year after his death, Ozzy Osbourne is set to be recreated as a lifesized AI-powered avatar, his family have announced – but fans aren’t entirely happy.The late rocker’s son Jack and his wife, Sharon, announced on 20 May at Licensing Expo, an event for brands in Las Vegas, that the family had partnered with tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram to create an Ozzy Osbourne avatar. Continue reading…

Ukraine war briefing: Russia pressures US to clear way for attacks on Kyiv

by Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies on May 26, 2026 at 12:53 am

Sergei Lavrov tells Marco Rubio that Washington should evacuate its embassy because Moscow is planning ‘systematic strikes’. What we know on day 1,553Sergei Lavrov pressured the US to evacuate staff from its embassy in Kyiv during a phone call with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Monday. Russia has threatened “systematic strikes” on the capital and demanded that foreigners leave. The Ukrainian foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, urged Kyiv’s allies not to give in to “Russian blackmail”. Katarina Mathernova, the head of the EU mission in Kyiv, said the 27-nation bloc was “not going anywhere”. Mathernova said: “Russia wants fear, panic, isolation of Ukraine. It will not work. The EU is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are staying with Ukraine.” On Tuesday, Rubio told reporters that Russia had “sent a notice to all the embassies”, not just the US one.In Kyiv, rescuers tackled the aftermath of Sunday’s strikes, which authorities said killed at least four people and injured 91. More than 70 foreign diplomats paid their respects to the victims of the strikes, visiting the heavily damaged neighbourhood of Lukyanivka. Agence France-Presse reported that Kyiv residents returned to their normal routines on Monday – sunbathing on terraces, playing in the streets, sitting at cafes – with some saying they had become desensitised after more than four years of war.“We’re used to it,” said Roman, a 36-year-old firefighter who helped clear the ruins from one of many destroyed buildings. “Emotions take a back seat,” he said as behind him a young man stepped over a heap of charred debris, taking care not to spill his latte macchiato. On one street, children played metres from the site of a Russian strike. “Watch out for glass!” one woman shouted at them.After one coffee shop was damage by a strike, dozens of Kyiv residents flocked to support the business, queueing up to make orders despite the damage. The owner, Yevgen Prusak, became a minor social media celebrity after serving hot drinks to rescuers through the blown-out windows of his shop. “Yesterday I thought I was going to close for good,” said Prusak, the 35-year-old owner of Hogo cafe. But seeing customers come back, “I understood who I’m working for”.Among the buildings damaged was the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a small college that specialises in liberal arts. Mykola, 17, and Maksym, 18, came to class despite the attack. “We don’t give this so much meaning. Life is not stopping,” said Mykola. “It affects sleep the most,” said Mykola. “I’ve gotten used to it, but before, at the beginning, it was downright stressful.” Continue reading…

‘My head spins with the heat’: India’s gig workers battle exhaustion amid soaring temperatures

by Aakash Hassan in Delhi on May 26, 2026 at 12:18 am

Cities across south and south-east Asia are becoming places where informal workers can no longer recover from the heatBy the time Jalaj Jha begins getting ready for work each morning, he already feels drained. Awakening in a cramped room in Delhi, with no ventilation except a rattling fan pushing hot air around, the 24-year-old gig worker has ahead of him a 12-hour shift delivering groceries.“I barely sleep three or four hours in this heat,” Jha said, wiping dust off his motorbike, which he uses for deliveries. “I wake up exhausted. It feels like my body is pulling me down.” Continue reading…

‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK

by Dan Milmo, Priya Bharadia and Josh Taylor on May 25, 2026 at 11:01 pm

Campaigners, teenagers, legislators and experts give their opinions on the government’s social media consultation Change is coming for social media platforms. The UK government’s consultation on improving online safety for children will result in some form of action being taken against big tech. Even before the deadline for submissions has passed, ministers have pledged to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s or restrictions on “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling.There is overwhelming pressure from safety campaigners and MPs for a further crackdown on social media platforms, despite the introduction of the Online Safety Act, which requires tech firms to shield children from harmful content. The deadline for contributions is Tuesday night and the government has promised to act swiftly. Continue reading…

Home favourite Monfils bows out of French Open for last time after 21 years of thrills

by Tumaini Carayol at Roland Garros on May 25, 2026 at 11:01 pm

39-year-old beaten 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 by Hugo GastonStan Wawrinka also loses in first round to Jesper de JongNinety minutes into Gaël Monfils’ dernière danse in the city of his birth, it seemed like nothing could stop the inevitable. Monfils looked every milli­second of his 39 years of age as he was thoroughly outplayed for two sets. A forgettable ending to his love story with Roland Garros.Over the past 21 years, though, forgettable would be the very last way to describe his presence at this event. He has been the architect of so many delirious days and nights in Paris, a magnet for drama, spectacle and unfettered joy. It came as no surprise to see Monfils, an iconic showman, fight with everything he had, dragging himself back into a messy, turbulent contest before he was overcome physically by his own significant efforts. Continue reading…

Nurseries in England charging extra fees to cover funding gap, campaigners say

by Kevin Rawlinson on May 25, 2026 at 9:30 pm

Head of Early Years Alliance says additional charges paid by parents represent ‘cross-subsidy’Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours, with some paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies, campaigners have said.The comments came as the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asked the competition watchdog to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encountered when trying to access government-funded childcare. Continue reading…

Guardiola’s farewell bash: old faces, rock stars and a surprise from Khadija Shaw

by Jamie Jackson on May 25, 2026 at 9:03 pm

Former players and Noel Gallagher saluted the departing manager while Khadija Shaw revealed she is staying with Manchester CityHow to top Pep Guardiola’s tearful farewell after Sunday’s final match leading Manchester City against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium?Simple: 24 hours later sell out the Co-op Live next door, that can hold up to 23,500, and move the dial to jubilation and put on a ticker-tape showered show for the departing Catalan that followed the men’s, women’s and youth team’s bus parade in blazing sunshine from the Northern Quarter. Continue reading…

STAT+: Eli Lilly says Verve’s gene editor lowers cholesterol levels in early study

by Jason Mast on May 25, 2026 at 12:45 pm

Eli Lilly said Monday that a high dose of its gene-editing therapy reduced cholesterol levels by 62% in participants in a clinical trial.

Opinion: How the perimenopause movement is hurting women

by Torie Bosch on May 23, 2026 at 11:00 am

“There’s a whole industry that seems to have sprung up”: Two experts on the people profiting from the rise of the perimenopause movement.

STAT+: Congress slashed Medicaid funding to providers. The Trump administration wants to cut even further

by Tara Bannow on May 22, 2026 at 5:19 pm

The Trump administration disclosed plans to reduce state directed payments even more, setting up a probable showdown with provider groups.

STAT+: EU and US advisers split over AstraZeneca breast cancer drug 

by Meghana Keshavan on May 22, 2026 at 1:40 pm

Merck-Kelun ADC outperforms Keytruda in trial, a closely watched Parkinson’s drug fails, and more biotech news from The Readout

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Parkinson’s drug setback, a Merck lung cancer therapy, and more

by Ed Silverman on May 22, 2026 at 1:29 pm

Biogen and Denali said their experimental Parkinson’s therapy failed to slow the degenerative brain disorder in a randomized trial

A CDC page on mpox caught in political crosshairs

by Theresa Gaffney on May 22, 2026 at 1:14 pm

Seed oil panic, how STIs spread, and more health news from Morning Rounds

STAT+: Longevity startup Retro Biosciences says latest fundraising values it at $1.8 billion

by Allison DeAngelis on May 22, 2026 at 11:00 am

Retro Biosciences, the longevity startup backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has raised more money at a $1.8 billion valuation, it announced Friday.

A federal office of men’s health has never been closer, yet it’s likely still years away

by Annalisa Merelli on May 22, 2026 at 10:00 am

Supporters worry that a men’s health office created by the Trump administration risks being dismantled by a future Democratic president

STAT+: Genentech is soliciting research that can be used to blunt pharma reforms in Washington

by Ed Silverman on May 22, 2026 at 8:30 am

How a pharma company is soliciting research that can be used to blunt pharma proposed reforms in Washington.

Opinion: Check-in and intake at the doctor’s office are perfect for AI

by Risa Jampel on May 22, 2026 at 8:30 am

This skeptic of AI in medicine sees one place where it could be valuable.

Opinion: The seed oil panic is hurting my cardiac patients

by Cole Hanson on May 22, 2026 at 8:30 am

“My patients are replacing olive oil with beef tallow, even if they don’t tell me during cardiac rehab,” writes a clinical dietitian.

Mass General Brigham says it is saving more lives. Some doctors aren’t so sure.

by Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe on May 22, 2026 at 2:27 am

The company behind the analytics, Vizient, touts MGH’s increasing hospice enrollment to improved mortality performance.

STAT+: Closely watched experimental Parkinson’s drug fails key clinical trial

by Jason Mast and Matthew Herper on May 21, 2026 at 11:39 pm

Biogen and Denali Therapeutics said a closely watched experimental therapy for Parkinson’s disease failed to slow the degenerative brain disorder in a randomized trial.

STAT+: 3 burning questions senators had for the NIH director

by Anil Oza on May 21, 2026 at 9:06 pm

Besides showing skepticism on the budget, senators grilled the NIH director about a leadership vacuum, two viral outbreaks, and the pace of funding.

STAT+: Merck-Kelun lung cancer drug cut risk of tumor progression by 65%, ASCO abstract shows

by Adam Feuerstein on May 21, 2026 at 9:00 pm

A type of targeted chemotherapy developed by China-based Kelun-Biotech and licensed to Merck cut the risk of tumor progression by 65% in patients with lung cancer, according to Phase 3…

Guarding biotech from China and big bets in longevity

by Allison DeAngelis, Elaine Chen, and Adam Feuerstein on May 21, 2026 at 6:53 pm

On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” the hosts discuss STAT’s Breakthrough Summit West, where powerful leaders from health care and science rubbed shoulders. They share some of the…

STAT+: RFK Jr.’s screen time warning

by John Wilkerson on May 21, 2026 at 4:43 pm

RFK Jr. is urging limits on how much screen time kids get, in a new government advisory.

STAT+: Immunovant shares surge on arthritis trial data

by Meghana Keshavan on May 21, 2026 at 4:27 pm

Trial results for Lilly’s “triple-G” drug, FDA’s leadership purge leaves chaos, and more biotech news from The Readout

STAT+: Acting head of NIH’s infectious disease institute reported to have stepped down

by Helen Branswell and Anil Oza on May 21, 2026 at 2:48 pm

Jeffery Taubenberger, the acting head of the NIAID, the NIH’s infectious disease institute, is reported to have stepped down.

STAT+: Elevance executive ordered to testify in Medicare Advantage fraud case

by Bob Herman on May 21, 2026 at 2:33 pm

The DOJ alleges Elevance fraudulently billed the government for inaccurate medical diagnoses.

Melting Mountain Ice Is Bringing Ancient Secrets to the Surface. Archaeologists Are Racing to Find the Artifacts Before They’re Lost to Time

on May 21, 2026 at 6:52 pm

In Norway’s highest mountains, experts are scouring perilous terrain for pieces of the past, long stored in mint condition in ice patches. As temperatures rise across the world, glacial archaeologists must find the emerging artifacts before they degrade forever

Does the Experience of Beauty Show Up in the Brain? With Electrodes and a Museum Collection of Artifacts, These Neuroscientists Aim to Find Out

on May 15, 2026 at 11:30 am

Researchers are tracing the brain and body’s response to aesthetic expression in search of a scientific value to art

Pregnancy Changes Mothers’ Brains. These Recent Discoveries Are Showing Us How

on May 9, 2026 at 12:23 am

“Baby brain” isn’t the deficit it’s stereotyped to be, research suggests. Neural adaptations during pregnancy can prime soon-to-be-moms to become more attuned to their children and enhance social cognition

David Attenborough Has Inspired Countless Scientists. To Mark His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Living Things They’ve Named After Him

on May 7, 2026 at 8:07 pm

Researchers around the planet grew up watching documentaries hosted by the English broadcaster and naturalist, which sparked their love of the natural world. Now, their discoveries become tributes to his legacy

Nearly Half of Italy’s Wolves Are Part Dog Now, Thanks to Hybridization. Is That a Threat to the Species?

on May 6, 2026 at 11:30 am

Wolf-dog hybrids are growing far more common in Italy, raising scientists’ concerns for the future of the wolves

Cancer Survivors Are Living Longer but Still Have Complex Needs. That’s Why Doctors and Advocates Want Post-Treatment Care Plans

on April 29, 2026 at 11:30 am

Survivors have a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease, pain, insomnia, psychosocial distress and new cancers. Many, patient advocates say, are not receiving adequate long-term care

Butterflies Are in Dramatic Decline Across North America. A Close Look at the Western Monarch Shows Why

on April 24, 2026 at 3:42 pm

Pesticides, habitat loss and climate change have taken their toll on the beloved insects. But the experts working with them still find hope for their future

Camera Traps Reveal Iberian Lynxes Soaking Their Prey, a First-Ever Discovery Among Carnivores

on April 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm

Scientists speculate that the wild cats are trying to improve hydration or ease their cubs’ transition to solid food. The finding points to resilience in one of the world’s most endangered felines

Ancient Humans Mastered Fire. Now, Burning Fossil Fuels and Blazing Landscapes Threaten to ‘Undo the World’

on April 16, 2026 at 11:00 am

Intensifying wildfires across the continent are spewing air pollution, putting human health at risk, particularly Americans living with chronic illnesses

The Hell Creek Formation Is North America’s Legendary Boneyard. See the Top Five Discoveries Found in the Iconic Fossil Bed

on April 15, 2026 at 11:30 am

From preserved plants to T. rex, the material found in these Late Cretaceous rocks has resulted in countless breakthroughs for paleontologists

What Lies Beyond Artemis 2? These Other Missions Are Setting Their Sights on the Moon This Year—and on a Future With Humans in Space

on April 9, 2026 at 2:02 pm

As the historic lunar flyby comes to a close, space companies and nations around the world are also shooting for the moon. Upcoming landings aim to change the landscape of space exploration

Hear From a Wildlife Photographer’s Dramatic Glimpse Into the Dwindling World of the Cascade Red Fox

on April 9, 2026 at 10:15 am

Gretchen Kay Stuart has chronicled the work of a small team of biologists who are trying to keep a little known and breathtakingly beautiful endangered species from disappearing

Earth’s Smells Are Disappearing Because of Climate Change, and It’s a Vast Cultural Loss

on April 8, 2026 at 12:57 pm

A triple threat of pollution, extinction and warming temperatures is altering the way the planet smells. Scientists are only beginning to understand the stakes for humans

The La Brea Tar Pits Have Been Sucking in Visitors for Millennia. Paleontologists Are Still Finding Out What Lies Within the Ooze

on April 7, 2026 at 11:00 am

In Los Angeles, scientists are delighted to decode one of the richest fossil records on Earth

The Endangered Proboscis Monkey Is Easily Identifiable By One Physical Trait: Its Supersized Schnoz

on April 6, 2026 at 12:00 pm

When you see this primate’s nose, you know you’re in Borneo, where efforts are underway to restore its habitat

Purple Martins Rely on Human ‘Landlords’ to Provide Nest Boxes Each Spring. Can That Dynamic Last?

on April 3, 2026 at 12:33 pm

The large swallows have nested alongside human settlements for centuries. Now, the birds’ breeding success depends on caretakers who are beginning to age out of the role

Spectators Flocked to the Artemis 2 Launch to Witness History Being Made. One Awed Viewer Called It ‘the Best Thing Ever’

on April 2, 2026 at 4:38 pm

Wednesday evening, a human mission to the moon lifted off for the first time in more than 50 years. These 13 photographs capture what it was like to experience the moment

Cascade Red Foxes Are Notoriously Reclusive. So How Did This Photographer Capture These Stunning Images of the Endangered Species?

on March 31, 2026 at 11:00 am

Even the scientists who study the animals rarely see them except on camera. But Gretchen Kay Stuart spent a season documenting them up close

Was Spinosaurus Really a ‘Hell Heron’? Digging Into the Star of Netflix’s ‘The Dinosaurs’

on March 30, 2026 at 11:30 am

With an incredible sail and heavy bones that might have acted as ballast, Spinosaurus seems primed for snatching fish. The creature has long captivated the public, from its early mysteries to the recent discovery of a new species

Fish Traps Have Been Banned on the Columbia River for Nearly a Century. Could Bringing Them Back Help Save Salmon?

on March 27, 2026 at 11:30 am

A new experiment is testing the commercial success of fish traps in Washington and Oregon. Even as some conservationists embrace the technique, its return has reopened old wounds among local fishers

‘I’m throwing everything at it’: one young man’s search for a job in Britain’s ‘worklessness capital’

by Tom Levitt in Grimsby on May 26, 2026 at 5:00 am

High unemployment and a lack of support mean life can be tough in Grimsby, but 19-year-old Cohen is determined to make the best of life in this coastal townIt’s mid-afternoon in the Lincolnshire seaside town of Cleethorpes and Cohen is sitting in the back seat of a car putting on an Easter bunny outfit. A group of teenagers nearby stare in amusement. Cohen isn’t fazed. He is hoping we can take some new photographs that he can use to advertise his mascot business for the upcoming holidays.Cohen, 19, lives with his parents a couple of miles down the road in neighbouring Grimsby and set up Co Co Mascots last year as one of his many attempts to find work. People can hire him in one of the outfits for birthday parties, events and doorstep surprises for children. He’s done a few paid gigs so far, which has been a boost for his confidence, he says, but what he really wants is a permanent job.Cohen, who is looking for a permanent job, makes money as a mascot at birthday parties and events Continue reading…

Heatwaves are becoming the norm. This is what Britain will look like in the year 2052 | Bill McGuire

by Bill McGuire on May 26, 2026 at 5:00 am

People sleep outside because their houses are too hot to inhabit, water is scarce and supermarkets are for the wealthyIf you think the temperature uncomfortable today, let me take you to the last day of July 2052, the rays of the climbing sun reveal a city still sweltering in the residual heat of the day before. From the air, London resembles a colossal refugee camp. Streets, gardens and parks are teeming with tents and cobbled-together shelters, within which the city’s residents have spent another uncomfortable night away from the heat traps that their houses and flats have become. After six days when the temperature peaked at about 40C, another scorcher is on the way.Half-hearted attempts to upgrade insulation across the country’s housing stock ran out of steam and cash decades earlier, and most homes still have few barriers to the infiltrating heat. Almost all the country’s electricity is now from renewables, which has brought the cost down, but the relentless onslaught of extreme weather has driven an ever-deepening economic depression across the world. Many now have air conditioning, but can’t afford to run it. Continue reading…

BHP ‘laughing’ at Australia’s key climate policy while pocketing hundreds of millions in tax breaks, Pocock says

by Christopher Knaus, Adam Morton and Dan Jervis-Bardy on May 26, 2026 at 4:46 am

Outrage as leaked documents reveal mining giant’s backsliding on commitments to slash emissionsAdam Morton: Big Mining gets a $4bn tax break to use fossil fuel. It’s a strange way to tackle emissionsRead more from the BHP files investigation hereGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe independent senator David Pocock says leaked BHP documents show that the mining giant is “laughing” at Australia’s key climate policy while pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars through a generous diesel tax break.An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to by the Guardian and the ABC show BHP has scrapped a project to significantly reduce global emissions, delayed vast renewables projects in the Pilbara and war-gamed options to push the electrification of its polluting diesel truck and train fleets into the next two decades. Continue reading…

Indians protest over ‘forever chemicals’ after relocation of scandal-hit Italian factory

by Gianluca Liva and Marta Frigerio on May 26, 2026 at 4:00 am

Lack of Pfas regulations raised in parliament after Guardian revealed former Miteni plant bought by Indian companyProtests over the production of cancer-linked Pfas chemicals have spread across India, after an investigation revealed that an Italian factory shut down due to an environmental scandal was bought by an Indian company and partly rebuilt.At the end of last year, the Guardian revealed that the former Miteni plant in Vicenza had been acquired by the Indian company Laxmi Organic Industries. The factory produced Pfas and was shut down in 2018 after being linked to one of Italy’s worst environmental contamination scandals. Continue reading…

Power bills to fall by up to 10% from July as renewables and batteries soar across Australia

by Australian Associated Press and Petra Stock on May 26, 2026 at 12:16 am

Australia now a top-three global player in batteries, and renewable energy met nearly half of the nation’s power in 2025Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEnergy bills for households and small businesses will fall by up to 10% from July across parts of the eastern states, as a new industry survey shows record levels of renewables and batteries in the power grid.Households in New South Wales and south-east Queensland on standing electricity plans – known as the “default market offer” – can expect prices to fall between 3.4% and 10.7% compared to last year, according to the Australian Energy Regulator’s final offer for 2026-27. Some could save up to $155 per year. While, South Australian households on a flat rate could expect an increase of 1.4%. Continue reading…

Record May highs sweep across France as extreme heat hits western Europe

by Jon Henley in Paris and Sam Jones in Madrid on May 25, 2026 at 10:06 pm

Mercury in Spain also climbs to well above normal with weather event set to continue for several more daysMore than 350 French towns have recorded their highest-ever temperatures for May as France and the UK set national heat records amid an extreme early-summer heat event that could see the mercury rise to 40C in parts of Spain by the end of the week.The UK’s Met Office said the country’s all-time record for May was broken when a temperature of 34.8C was recorded at London’s Kew Gardens. Continue reading…

Heatwave hell: are soaring temperatures the new normal? – The Latest

by Presented by Lucy Hough with Helena Horton ; producer Nada Smiljanic ; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin ; lead producer Zoe Hitch on May 25, 2026 at 4:34 pm

The UK is experiencing record-breaking temperatures in an unprecedented May heatwave, while large parts of Europe are also facing blistering conditions. As the climate crisis makes extreme heat more likely, are we prepared?Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian reporter Helena Horton. Continue reading…

A Louisiana state senator helped secure Meta’s largest datacenter. Then he sold the land beside it

by Garrett Hazelwood on May 25, 2026 at 12:00 pm

Jay Morris denies experts’ claims that he violated ethics rules over land deals near the site of Meta’s Hyperion datacenterThis story is from Floodlight, a non-profit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate actionFor more than two years, John “Jay” Morris, a Louisiana state senator, helped pave the way for Meta to build one of the world’s largest datacenters, called Hyperion, in Richland Parish. Continue reading…

Why Michigan is emerging as one of America’s worst-hit climate states

by Stephen Starr in Ann Arbor, Michigan on May 25, 2026 at 11:00 am

The state saw 33 tornadoes last year and severe flooding as researchers say links to climate change are undeniableThe tornado hit west Ann Arbor at 1.45am on 15 April, passing through Veterans Memorial park, where it knocked several mature oak trees and ripped up baseball field fences before setting its sights on a local ice rink.“It came up through the parking lot and, in that time, the pressure differential between the tornado and the air inside the rink collapsed the wall,” said Scott Spooner, a manager at Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation. Continue reading…

Australian taxpayers subsidise Big Mining’s use of fossil fuel to the tune of $4bn a year. It’s a strange way to tackle emissions | Adam Morton

by Adam Morton on May 25, 2026 at 10:30 am

Given the scale of its contribution to global heating, the world’s biggest miner has a duty to invest heavily in solutions that could have a global impactRevealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate pushRead more from the BHP files investigation hereSign up for Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereThe revelation that BHP cancelled and delayed commitments to act on the climate crisis should be a wake-up call.It matters in its own right: millions of tonnes of additional heat-trapping pollution will go into the atmosphere, adding to climate harm and making Australia’s climate targets that much harder to reach.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading…

BHP files: leaked memo shows miner backtracking on key climate projects in Australia – video

by Presented by Christopher Knaus and Adam Morton ; graphics by Ellen Wishart ; produced and edited by Lisa Favazzo ; executive producer is Michael Kalenderian ; investigations editor is Marni Cordell on May 25, 2026 at 10:30 am

The world’s biggest miner has halted or delayed projects to cut vast amounts of emissions and has quietly war-gamed options to stall major climate investments in its Western Australian iron ore operations into the next two decades, according to documents leaked to the Guardian and ABC’s Four Corners. In a statement, BHP said its progress towards net zero emissions was dependent on technological shifts in trucks, trains and dozers, which were not yet ready to be deployed.Revealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate pushRead more from the BHP files investigation here Continue reading…

Overheated chemical tank in southern California ‘will fail’, EPA chief says

by Gloria Oladipo and agencies on May 24, 2026 at 7:36 pm

Lee Zeldin says ‘low-volume release’ of flammable chemicals is most likely amid fears of explosion at Orange county facility near DisneylandGovernment officials in Orange county, California, have warned that an overheated chemical tank “will fail” and could result in a chemical explosion in the area, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator said on Sunday.“We’re being told that the tank will fail, but there are different scenarios as to what that means,” Lee Zeldin, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman with no prior experience in environmental policy, was chosen by Trump as the head of the EPA. Continue reading…

‘Bringing the boys back home’: how mountain bongos Maue, Fitz, Kudu and Bon64 made their way back to Kenya

by Victoria Wanjohi. Pictures by Anthony Ochieng Onyango on May 24, 2026 at 9:00 am

Staff at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy are overseeing the repatriation of ‘the shiest antelope’ from western zoos to their native east African country“We are bringing the boys home,” says Ngenoh Erick Kibet, a wildlife officer at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, as a cargo plane carrying four mountain bongo touches down on a wet runway at Jomo Kenyatta international airport.The operation is the culmination of two weeks spent in Czechia, a first flight for Kibet, and a decades-long collective effort to rescue a species on the edge of extinction.The 100th bongo calf was recently born at the conservancy Continue reading…

This US island is home to flora found nowhere else. Now, a wildfire threatens extinction

by Roque Planas on May 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm

Firefighters are racing to douse flames on California’s Santa Rosa Island as experts express concern for unique habitatOn the south-eastern corner of Santa Rosa Island lies a grove of a few thousand Torrey pine trees, some of them more than 250 years old. The only other place on earth where these gnarled pines exist is in San Diego county, but biologists classify the two groves as different subspecies. So when a rare wildfire broke out on Santa Rosa Island late last week, firefighters raced to keep it from spreading into the grove, where it threatened to consign the island’s Torrey pines to extinction.So far, they appear to be succeeding – even as the 18,000-acre fire has torched nearly one-third of the island’s surface. But biologists who have studied Santa Rosa Island’s unique ecology are watching anxiously as the fire continues to burn a part of the island that is home to six plants found nowhere else on the planet. Continue reading…

California: 40,000 people ordered to evacuate over chemical leak fears

by Roque Planas on May 23, 2026 at 6:46 am

Authorities in Orange county say tank holding methyl methacrylate ‘actively in crisis’ and urge residents to leaveAuthorities in Orange county, California, have ordered the evacuation of 40,000 people over concerns about a chemical leak that threatened spillage or an explosion.The problem arose on Thursday at a facility owned by GKN Aerospace in the city of Garden Grove, where a storage tank holding methyl methacrylate began off-gassing and threatened to fail. The chemical, which is highly flammable, is used to fabricate resins and plastics. Continue reading…

The Guardian view on Britain’s coming energy shock: mini-measures won’t suffice | Editorial

by Editorial on May 22, 2026 at 4:59 pm

Consumer giveaways may soften the blow from the the war on Iran. But Britain’s vulnerability demands deeper state intervention and a faster transitionRachel Reeves’s announcement of a series of cost of living measures this week shows a government trying to prove it still has agency and relevance. The VAT cuts on summer attractions such as theme parks and soft-play centres, free bus rides for the under-16s in England and reduced import tariffs on food are politically useful, but they do not fundamentally alter the UK’s exposure to imported energy shocks. This is a mini-budget, with the emphasis on the mini. The inflationary impact of the Iran crisis, however, will be substantial. That is why the chancellor is moving into crisis-management mode with industrial resilience funds and thinly veiled threats to tax profiteers. But it is unlikely to be enough.The repercussions from the closure of the strait of Hormuz are reviving the need for more radical state fiscal intervention. Ms Reeves moved pre-emptively because the energy regulator is next week expected to announce that energy bills are likely to rise by £209 to £1,850 a year for a typical dual-fuel household from July. That is ​an increase of 13% on the current £1,641 ​annual bill. It will be a direct hit to household disposable incomes – and Labour’s central political claim that the cost of living crisis is easing on its watch. Worse may still be to come. If households absorb a summer rise in bills and then face costs rising again before winter, the government risks a return to the levels of financial anxiety felt after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading…

Why an immense marine heatwave off the US west coast has alarmed scientists

by Eric Holthaus on May 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm

What does a surge in ocean temperatures, compounded with El Niño, bode for the summer?An enormous marine heatwave off the US west coast is ringing alarm bells among ocean and atmospheric scientists as new data shows its ecological and environmental effects are intensifying.The unusual area of warm water has persisted since peaking in size during September 2025 and still stretches thousands of miles from the California coastline – more than halfway across the Pacific – affecting a vast triangle-shaped region of oceanic habitats from Hawaii to British Columbia and southward to Mexico. Continue reading…

The week in wildlife: a lurking leopard, a lucky fox and a wily coyote

by Joanna Ruck on May 22, 2026 at 7:00 am

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading…

One Nation says it’s the only party in Australia to question climate science. It should ask itself why | Temperature Check

by Graham Readfearn on May 21, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Climate change denial has become untenable yet Hanson’s party digs in – with conspiracy theories, cherrypicking and claims that are easy to refuteFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAs the populist rightwing One Nation surges in the polls, its position on climate change is fixed firmly on the denial of decades of evidence showing the planet, and Australia, are getting hotter.The science linking the burning of fossil fuels to rising temperatures is 130 years old and, as the evidence has stacked up, Australians are feeling it with increasing weather extremes. Continue reading…

Trump’s EPA to roll back refrigerant rule for grocery stores in push it claims will lower prices

by Associated Press on May 21, 2026 at 2:34 pm

EPA is loosening Biden-era rule that requires US businesses to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipmentThe Trump administration is set to loosen a federal rule that requires grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment, in what officials say is a push to lower grocery costs.The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, said the Biden-era rule imposes costly restrictions that limit the type of refrigerants US businesses and families can use. Continue reading…

This is my island

by Aeon Video on May 25, 2026 at 10:01 am

Life on this small, off-the-grid island offers closeness to land and community for those willing, and able, to work for it- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Can ecosystems malfunction?

by John Drake on May 25, 2026 at 10:00 am

We are told the natural world is ‘breaking down’. But forests don’t work like airplanes or human hearts- by John DrakeRead on Aeon

Being small

by Tom Wooldridge on May 22, 2026 at 10:00 am

Nobody quite recovers from being a child: the asymmetry of power between parents and children always leaves a trace- by Tom WooldridgeRead on Aeon

Aloha ʻāina

by Aeon Video on May 21, 2026 at 10:01 am

It’s marketed as a holiday destination, but the true meaning of Hawai’i lies in the connections between land and people- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Make immigration boring

by Alan Manning on May 21, 2026 at 10:00 am

The fiercest political battle of our age needs less moral drama and more hard thinking about numbers and fair tradeoffs- by Alan ManningRead on Aeon

Looking for a donkey

by Aeon Video on May 20, 2026 at 10:01 am

After two arrests and a national uproar, why is it so tricky to find the donkey once likened to Venezuela’s president?- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Maritime China

by Ron Po on May 19, 2026 at 10:00 am

Far from turning its back on the sea, the fate of Qing China was tied as much to tides and storms as to cavalry and walls- by Ron PoRead on Aeon

How death came to Earth

by Aeon Video on May 18, 2026 at 10:01 am

Why must humans die? According to an ancient Indian folktale, death first came to Earth through an ill-fated love affair- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Mathematics is out there

by Steve Nadis on May 18, 2026 at 10:00 am

Sergiu Klainerman spent years proving that black holes won’t fly apart; and arguing that maths is not a human invention- by Steve NadisRead on Aeon

Gen Z but two centuries ago

by Emily Herring on May 15, 2026 at 10:00 am

A generation of young people with ‘full hearts in an empty world’ sought hope in the face of insurmountable malaise- by Emily HerringRead on Aeon

Silvesterchlausen

by Aeon Video on May 14, 2026 at 10:01 am

‘We’re not sure what it means or how it started’ – the enigmatic ritual that has existed in Switzerland for centuries- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Rights require money

by Attiya Waris on May 14, 2026 at 10:00 am

Talk as much as you like about human rights, nothing will change until the architecture of global finance is reformed- by Attiya WarisRead on Aeon

Idle warriors

by Aeon Video on May 13, 2026 at 10:01 am

How a public health initiative to reduce air pollution has created ‘full-time citizen complainants’ who patrol the city- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Beneath our human shallows

by James Dinneen on May 12, 2026 at 10:00 am

We need a new imagination for the whole Earth, linking the power of the deep planet with the vitality of the surface- by James DinneenRead on Aeon

Classroom 4

by Aeon Video on May 11, 2026 at 10:01 am

In this award-winning short, inmates and college students explore the history of incarceration from inside a US prison- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

Children are apprentices

by Niklas Serning & Nina Lyon on May 11, 2026 at 10:00 am

The emotional and practical skills of adulthood can only be learned from (appropriate) levels of discomfort and stress- by Niklas Serning & Nina LyonRead on Aeon

The prophet in your pocket

by Carissa Véliz on May 8, 2026 at 10:00 am

Things have jobs: pillows are made for comfort, scissors are sharp, and digital devices are made to track your every move- by Carissa VélizRead on Aeon

Nature’s hardware store: building the future with biology

by Aeon Video on May 7, 2026 at 10:01 am

What if the tools for sustainable space exploration could be found in cellular life on Earth? A NASA astrobiologist explains- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon

The origins of Indians

by Kiran Kumbhar on May 7, 2026 at 10:00 am

Genetic studies support what historians have argued for decades: ancient India was a place of migration and mixture- by Kiran KumbharRead on Aeon

Sarnevesht (Daughter)

by Aeon Video on May 6, 2026 at 10:01 am

In rural Iran, Sahar faces a stark choice: stay at home to look after her father, or go to the city to pursue her education- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon