Author: Andrew Rogers

Ryanair has said it could be forced to cancel up to 600 flights a day next week, potentially affecting as many as 100,000 passengers, during strikes by French air traffic controllers. The country’s largest ATC union, SNCTA, has called for walkouts from 7–10 October, reducing capacity across western European skies. Routes from the UK to France, Spain, Italy and Greece are expected to be hardest hit, as many of them pass through French airspace. Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, renewed his criticism of the EU’s handling of ATC strikes, arguing that overflights – flights not landing in France – should…

Autism should not be viewed as a single condition with a unified cause, according to new research suggesting that people diagnosed in early childhood have different genetic profiles from those diagnosed later in life. The international study, drawing on genetic data from more than 45,000 autistic individuals in Europe and the US, found that early-diagnosed cases, typically before age six, were more likely to show social and behavioural difficulties from early childhood that then remained stable. In contrast, those diagnosed later, usually after the age of 10, were more likely to experience increasing difficulties during adolescence and had a higher…

Scientists in the US have created human eggs from skin cells in early-stage research that could one day transform fertility treatment. The Oregon Health and Science University team used skin cell nuclei placed into donor eggs with their own nuclei removed, adapting cloning methods that famously created Dolly the sheep. After fertilisation, the researchers triggered the eggs to shed excess chromosomes, leaving 23 to pair with those from sperm. While the process worked in principle, most embryos had abnormal chromosome pairings and failed to develop normally. Out of 82 eggs created, fewer than 10% reached the early stage used in…

New Zealand’s fastest bird, the kārearea falcon, has claimed the country’s 2025 Bird of the Year title in a drama-free edition of the famously quirky competition. Capable of reaching speeds of 200km/h in pursuit of prey, the kārearea is New Zealand’s only endemic falcon and a vital aerial predator. With only 5,000–8,000 left in the wild, they are classified as threatened and face dangers from predators such as cats, stoats and hedgehogs, along with habitat loss and collisions with power lines or nets. “The kārearea is just a stunning bird,” said Emma Blackburn, chair of the Karearea Falcon Trust. “It’s…

From pastel-coloured cans promising calm and focus to mushroom- and herb-infused blends, functional beverages have become a wellness staple. Brands like TRIP and Huel lead a global market projected to hit €212bn by 2030, fuelled by younger consumers shifting away from alcohol. These drinks often feature ingredients such as ashwagandha, lion’s mane mushrooms, magnesium, or L-theanine. Research shows some promise – particularly for stress and focus – but evidence is mixed and, in some cases, limited. “Magnesium, for example, only helps if you’re deficient,” noted dietitian Nicolle Cucco. The hype has also led to controversy. In July, UK regulators banned…

Jennifer Lawrence became the youngest performer to receive the Donostia Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, honoured for a career that already includes an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a global fan base. At 35, she reflected on her path while presenting her new film Kill Me Love, where she also served as producer. “It’s a huge honour,” Lawrence said, before voicing concern about cultural freedoms in the United States. “Our freedom of speech is under attack in America, including in the world of film, where we realise that we are all connected and need empathy and freedom.”…

Early findings from a Cambridge-led clinical trial suggest that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine can help repair nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The CCMR Two trial tested metformin alongside clemastine, an antihistamine previously shown to encourage myelin repair, in 70 patients with relapsing MS. After six months, electrical tests revealed improved nerve function, though the effect was too small for patients to notice in their symptoms. “I feel like we’re at this precipice of a new class of therapies for MS and that’s why this is exciting,” said Dr Nick Cunniffe, the neurologist leading…

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment have a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, a major new study has revealed. Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute analysed data from about 500,000 women invited to their first screening between 1991 and 2020, tracking them for up to 25 years. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study found that 32% did not attend their first mammogram. Those who skipped it were more likely to miss subsequent appointments, be diagnosed with advanced cancer, and ultimately face a breast cancer mortality rate of 9.9 deaths per 1,000 women, compared…

The world’s oceans have crossed a dangerous threshold for acidity, according to the latest Planetary Health Check by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Scientists say the rise in acidity, driven by fossil fuel emissions, now threatens marine ecosystems and food security. Since the industrial era, ocean surface pH has dropped by about 0.1 units, a 30-40% increase in acidity. This reduces calcium carbonate, vital for corals, molluscs, and shell-building organisms. Cold-water corals, tropical reefs, and Arctic marine life are especially vulnerable. The disruption at the bottom of the food chain endangers species from oysters to whales, with serious…

Amazon will close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening the first outlet in London. Five of the shops will be converted into Whole Foods Market stores, the US organic grocery chain Amazon bought in 2017. The Fresh stores, launched in 2021, used cameras and sensors to let customers walk out without visiting a till, with charges processed through an app. The idea struggled to gain traction after the pandemic, failing to compete with established rivals such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Amazon did not reveal how many staff will be affected but…