SHOCKING: 26 - What They Never Told You

Millions across UK to receive texts warning of air pollution in their area

Environmental Secretary Angela Eagle said the government wants people to have ‘clear, reliable information’ about air pollution

The Independent UK · Aug 26

In 2018, a laboratory was launched to the International Space Station to study ultra-cold quantum gases in the microgravity environment

In 2018, a laboratory was launched to the International Space Station to study ultra-cold quantum gases in the microgravity environment. NASA’s Cold Atom Lab uses lasers to cool atoms near absolute zero. The facility allows scientists to study quantum phenomena, produce Bose-Einstein condensates in orbit and examine how atoms behave…

The Economic Times · Aug 26

Scientists discover a huge freshwater reservoir beneath the Great Salt Lake in Utah with the help of air drones

A large freshwater reservoir appears to be hiding beneath the eastern edge of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, according to a 2026 study published in Scientific Reports . Researchers used an airborne electromagnetic survey to look beneath the lake’s salty surface. They found a broad layer that behaves differently from the…

The Times of India · Aug 26

In 1997, University of Florida spent 10 years developing a mosquito “diet pill.” Today, larvae fed the hormone-treated algae starve within 72 hours, offering an eco-friendly way to fight disease-carrying pests

A University of Florida scientist developed a mosquito "diet pill" using a digestive hormone. This hormone is delivered through algae, which mosquito larvae consume and then cannot digest food. Mosquitoes ingesting the treated algae die within seventy-two hours from starvation. The synthesized hormone and algae are inexpensive and fade from…

The Economic Times · Aug 26

A New Zealand sailor spent years living alone on a remote Cook Islands atoll across three separate stays; a year after his final stay ended, Suwarrow was declared a national park

Suwarrow atoll, once the secluded refuge of hermit Tom Neale, has transformed into the Cook Islands' inaugural conservation sanctuary. After Neale spent sixteen years in seclusion on Anchorage Island, the atoll was designated as a national park and bird haven. This vital area now protects critical seabird nesting grounds and…

The Times of India · Aug 26

In the 1970s, Britain imported North American signal crayfish for farms; they escaped, bred in huge numbers and now infest rivers across England, Wales and Scotland, carrying a plague deadly to native crayfish

In the 1970s, British aquaculture businesses imported North American signal crayfish to stock farms, hoping to build a profitable new freshwater fishery. But the plan backfired: the hardy invaders escaped into rivers, multiplied rapidly and spread across England, Wales and Scotland. Today they dominate many waterways and carry crayfish plague,…

The Times of India · Aug 26

Conservation success as barn owl chicks thrive in Northern Ireland

Ulster Wildlife experts identified two barn owl breeding pairs in County Fermanagh who have successfully reared five chicks each. The arrival of ten healthy chicks marks a boost for the species, which has fewer than 30 breeding pairs remaining in Northern Ireland. Barn owls remain red-listed in Ireland due to…

The Independent UK · Aug 26

How to create a video game world using Blender and Photoshop

Cyril Yong Zhou outlines his approach to putting together stylised interactive environments.

Creative Bloq · Aug 26

In the 1940s, a New York handyman began expanding a cabin with railroad ties and cast-off objects; it grew into a seven-storey labyrinth with around 35 caverns and alcoves

Clarence Schmidt sculpted an extraordinary artistic realm on a New York mountainside; his House of Mirrors evolved from a modest cabin into an expansive creation. By ingeniously repurposing various discarded items into architectural features, Schmidt built a remarkable yet delicate masterpiece. Sadly, a devastating fire consumed it, leaving only records…

The Times of India · Aug 26

Why is scrapping ships in Bangladesh so deadly?

Ship scrapping in Bangladesh is labor-intensive and hazardous work for thousands. International safety rules exist, but weak enforcement causes deadly accidents. A recent toxic gas leak killed ten workers, highlighting implementation gaps. While some blame worker negligence, unions point to company and agency failures. Improved monitoring and automation are needed…

The Economic Times · Aug 26