Science & Earth
→ NewsHinkley Point C receives second reactor pressure vessel
The second reactor pressure vessel for Hinkley Point C has been delivered to the site after transport from France; the plant is due to open in 2031.
Roman villa discovered under Margam Country Park in Wales.
A Swansea University team found what is reported as the largest Roman villa yet recorded in Wales — a 572-square-metre building with surrounding fortifications — during geophysical surveys at Margam Country Park as part of a community heritage project.
Death cap mushrooms kill three and hospitalize dozens in California.
California officials report three deaths and 35 cases of wild mushroom poisoning this season linked to death cap mushrooms.
UK households urged to have a torch and at least three days of food
The Met Office has issued yellow snow and ice warnings for large parts of the UK this weekend, and officials have advised households to gather essential supplies including a torch and at least three days' worth of food.
Flood alerts remain in place across parts of the UK after Storm Goretti
Flood alerts and warnings continue in parts of Scotland, the Midlands and the south after Storm Goretti, while thousands of homes still face power outages or limited water supply.
Met Office issues yellow snow and ice warning for 51 areas for 13 hours
The Met Office issued a yellow snow and ice warning covering 51 areas from 2am to 3pm on Sunday; separate ice warnings remain in force across other parts of the UK.
UK travellers face more checks and costs for 2026 holidays
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out unevenly and will introduce biometric checks for visits to the Schengen area, and travel-related costs and border procedures are rising ahead of 2026.
Aldi dehumidifier arrives to help dry laundry and reduce mould
Aldi has started selling a Midi Dehumidifier in UK stores as part of its winter SpecialBuy range, priced at £89.99, and the appliance is reported to remove up to 12 litres of water a day with a 2-litre tank.
Great white shark attack in 1963 injured diver Rodney Fox
In December 1963 a great white shark attacked 23-year-old diver Rodney Fox at Aldinga Beach; he survived serious injuries and later became a prominent figure in shark research and conservation.
Lagos reshapes its coastline through widespread sand dredging
Officials say they have closed unpermitted dredging sites and strengthened monitoring; dredging continues and is reshaping the Lagos lagoon while fishermen report shrinking catches.
Australian PM visits bushfire-ravaged towns as 300 structures are reported destroyed
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Victorian towns hit by bushfires, while authorities reported about 300 structures destroyed and roughly 350,000 hectares burned; a state of disaster remains in place.
Avalanche in Washington State kills two snowmobilers
Officials say an avalanche near Longs Pass in Kittitas County on Friday buried four snowmobilers; two men died and two were rescued.
Queensland weather: state braces for heavy rain and floods after ex‑Tropical Cyclone Koji
Ex‑Tropical Cyclone Koji was downgraded to a tropical low after crossing Queensland's far north, and authorities warn heavy rain and flood risk will continue over the next 24–48 hours.
Sudden thaw and heavy rain cause flooding across parts of Scotland
A rapid thaw after heavy snow, combined with heavy rain and strong winds, has led to flooding and transport disruption in parts of Scotland. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 12 flood alerts and three flood warnings.
Flood risk in Scotland rises as snowmelt and heavy rain increase warnings
SEPA has three flood warnings and 12 flood alerts after a weekend of poor weather, and the Met Office has yellow wind and rain warnings for north‑west Scotland.
Met Office issues flood warnings across nine Scottish areas
The Met Office has issued flood warnings for nine areas of Scotland with up to 110mm of rain forecast, and yellow rain alerts cover parts of northern and southwest Scotland.
Families enjoy snow and sledging after Storm Goretti
Families took sledges to the North York Moors National Park after Storm Goretti, while Met Office amber and yellow warnings remained in parts of Scotland and northern England.
British red deer could face the same fate as red squirrels
A study of deer on Scottish estates found invasive sika deer increased while native red deer declined, and researchers warn this pattern could mirror past losses of red squirrels.
Snow forecast maps show blizzards across 14 counties
The Met Office has issued an amber warning as WXCHARTS maps show snow arriving from 6am on Sunday across much of the UK, with forecasts suggesting up to 45cm in parts of northern Scotland.
Man found dead after tree falls on caravan during Storm Goretti
A man in his 50s was found dead in a caravan after a tree fell on it in the Mawgan area of Helston; police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and next of kin have been informed.
Google removes some AI summaries after health information errors
Google removed AI Overviews for certain liver-test queries after a Guardian investigation found they gave inaccurate health information; Google says it is reviewing and updating summaries while health groups remain concerned.
Met Office issues danger-to-life wind warning for 11 areas for 15 hours
The Met Office has issued a danger-to-life wind warning for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland covering 11 areas from 9pm this evening until midday on Monday; a separate yellow rain warning for parts of Scotland warns of heavy rain and flood risk.
Underused UK train journey between Sheffield and Filey offers 75 miles of scenery for £4
The direct Sheffield–Filey service runs about 75 miles and takes roughly two and a half hours, with Split My Fare reporting return fares as low as £4 when booked early and higher prices if booked later. The route passes moorland, the Humber Bridge, Hull and several coastal towns before reaching Filey’s long sandy beach.
Native British red deer could face same fate as red squirrel
Scientists warn that the introduced sika deer’s behavioural, physiological and genetic advantages, together with culling that does not distinguish species, could put native red deer in the UK under long-term pressure.
Quadrantid meteor shower remains visible in the UK until January 12
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaked on January 4 but is expected to remain active until January 12, and is most visible after midnight under dark skies; a full Moon at the peak will reduce visibility.
Zootopia 2 sparks sales of venomous snakes
The film Zootopia 2 has coincided with increased online listings for Indonesian pit vipers in parts of China, and experts and charities say this trend poses public safety and animal welfare concerns.
Programmable ribozyme enables RNA signal transduction
The manuscript presents UNBAR, a programmable, RNA-triggered dual-site self-cleaving ribozyme encoded in a single RNA strand that can detect specific RNA triggers and release functional non-coding RNA effectors. The authors report cell-free sensing and protein-free amplification of microRNA and viral RNA, and demonstrate trigger-dependent regulation of CRISPR-Cas9 in zebrafish embryos and human cells.
CIA declines to confirm 3I/ATLAS records amid 'alien ship' speculation
US intelligence used a Glomar response and would neither confirm nor deny holding records on 3I/ATLAS. Astronomers report the object shows a visible coma and tail and civilian space agency data indicate no signs of artificial origin.
NASA sets timeline for astronauts' early ISS departure after medical issue
NASA said an astronaut developed a reported serious medical condition and that Crew-11 will begin returning from the International Space Station no earlier than 14 January, with a planned landing near California on 15 January.
Ryanair and Jet2 warn of possible disruption as snow and ice persist
Ryanair and Jet2 warned of possible flight disruption and asked passengers to monitor updates as Storm Goretti brings snow, ice and strong winds to parts of the UK.
