Author: Andrew Rogers

Scientists in the US have successfully created human eggs from skin cells, a pioneering advance that could one day transform fertility treatment. The early-stage work, led by Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University, offers hope for women who have lost their eggs through age, illness or chemotherapy, and even same-sex male couples who wish to have genetically related children. Using a technique adapted from the cloning process that produced Dolly the sheep in the 1990s, the researchers removed the nucleus from female skin cells and inserted it into donor eggs that had had their own nuclei removed.…

New Zealand’s only falcon, the threatened kārearea, has been voted bird of the year in the country’s beloved annual competition. Known for its speed – reaching up to 200km/h when diving on prey – the kārearea beat out 72 other contenders in what organisers described as a rare scandal-free contest. The small tawny raptor, with its piercing dark eyes and sharp talons, is the nation’s only remaining endemic bird of prey and plays a vital role in ecosystems as a top aerial hunter. Yet its population of just 5,000 to 8,000 remains under pressure from predators such as cats, stoats…

In supermarkets across 2025, pastel-coloured cans of “functional drinks” promise calm, focus, and energy. With ingredients like ashwagandha, lion’s mane mushroom, L-theanine, magnesium, and CBD, these beverages are marketed as quick fixes for stress and mental wellbeing. Their popularity has soared, with the global market projected to hit €212bn by 2030, driven by a broader shift away from alcohol among young people. “These products fit perfectly into today’s wellness culture,” said Nicolle Cucco, a registered dietitian, pointing to rising stress levels, clever branding, and social media as key drivers. While some studies suggest ashwagandha and L-theanine may reduce stress or…

Jennifer Lawrence became the youngest recipient of the Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where she used her platform to warn that “our freedom of speech is under attack in America.” The 35-year-old Oscar winner presented her new film Kill Me Love, which she also produced, and encouraged young filmmakers to persist in their craft: “Learn, go to casting tests, keep trying. But above all, watching films is very important.” Reflecting on women’s roles in Hollywood, she praised creators like Greta Gerwig for broadening perspectives: “When we are given the opportunity, the world benefits, because more stories are…

Early clinical results from Cambridge University have raised hopes for a new class of therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), after researchers found that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine could partially repair nervous system damage. The CCMR Two trial tested metformin, widely used for type 2 diabetes, alongside the antihistamine clemastine in 70 people with relapsing MS. Over six months, patients on the drug combination showed improvements in nerve signal speeds compared with those on a placebo, suggesting some remyelination — repair of the fatty coatings that protect nerve fibres. While the effect was small – just a…

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to new research from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, tracked around 500,000 women who received their first mammogram invitation between 1991 and 2020, following them for up to 25 years. It found that almost one in three (32%) did not attend their first screening. Those who skipped the appointment were less likely to attend future screenings, more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and had higher mortality rates. Over 25 years, breast…

The world’s oceans have crossed a dangerous acidity threshold, failing a key planetary health check for the first time, scientists warn. According to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, rising ocean acidity caused by fossil fuel emissions has pushed marine ecosystems beyond safe limits. This marks the seventh of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed, alongside climate change, deforestation, and freshwater depletion. The 2025 Planetary Health Check reports ocean surface pH has dropped by 0.1 units since the industrial era, a 30-40% rise in acidity. This threatens coral reefs, Arctic ecosystems, and shell-forming species such as molluscs, oysters, and clams,…

Amazon will shut all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening its first outlet in London. Five of the locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market shops, the US organic grocery chain that Amazon acquired in 2017. The Fresh stores, launched in 2021, offered cashierless shopping using cameras, sensors and an app to charge customers automatically when they left. But the format failed to catch on after demand for contactless shopping fell post-pandemic, leaving Amazon unable to compete with Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Amazon has not confirmed how many staff will be affected…

Vodafone franchisees warned in 2020 that commission cuts were affecting their mental health, four years before a group of 62 launched a £120m high court claim. A survey of 119 franchisees revealed stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and low trust in the company. The claim alleges Vodafone “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of small business owners, some of whom reported personal debts over £100,000 and suicidal thoughts. Vodafone says it “strongly refutes” the allegations and describes the case as a “commercial dispute,” while also launching a fourth investigation into its franchising division.

European leaders are advancing plans to establish a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern frontier, a project driven by concerns over Russian drone activity. The initiative, backed by the Baltic states and supported by Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, aims to strengthen EU and NATO air defence capabilities. At the core of the project is Eirshield, a multilayered anti-drone system developed by Estonian company DefSecIntel and Latvian firm Origin Robotics. Eirshield combines radars, cameras, radio-frequency detectors, and AI to automatically detect, track, and neutralise hostile drones. Interception methods include signal jamming, direct engagement by counter-drones, or gun systems. The…