25 h. ago Every hour children spend on screens raises chance of myopia, study finds

Experts warn young people should have limited use of devices and spend more time outdoorsEvery hour young people spend in front of screens increases their chance of being shortsighted, researchers have found, with experts warning young children should have limited use of devices and spend more time outdoors.Myopia is caused by having an over elongated eyeball and is a growing problem, with research suggesting about 40% of children and adolescents worldwide could have the condition by 2050. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago The chances of this asteroid hitting Earth keep rising. But there are three reasons I’m not worried yet | Carrie Nugent

Scientists are closely monitoring 2024 YR4 – and while it’s relatively small, it reminds us of the dangers lurking in spaceCarrie Nugent is an associate professor of computational physics and planetary science and author of Asteroid HuntersTwo days after Christmas, the Atlas sky survey team discovered a new rocky object in Earth’s astronomical neighbourhood. Atlas discovers near-Earth objects all the time: in 2024, the team discovered 167 of them. They also codiscovered comet Tsuchinshan–Atlas, which dazzled sky gazers last autumn. But this discovery was special: there’s a chance the 40-90 metre object, known as 2024 YR4, will hit Earth in 2032.In January, the impact probability was estimated to be just over 1%, then it was raised to 2.3% in early February. As of this week, the Nasa JPL Center for Near Earth Object Studies has raised that to 3.1% – or about 1-in-32 chance of impact. Continue reading...

Events

55 h. ago The chances of this asteroid hitting Earth keep rising. But there are four reasons I’m not worried yet | Carrie Nugent

Scientists are closely monitoring 2024 YR4 – and while it’s relatively small, it reminds us of the dangers lurking in spaceCarrie Nugent is an associate professor of computational physics and planetary science and author of Asteroid HuntersTwo days after Christmas, the Atlas sky survey team discovered a new rocky object in Earth’s astronomical neighbourhood. Atlas discovers near-Earth objects all the time: in 2024, the team discovered 167 of them. They also codiscovered comet Tsuchinshan–Atlas, which dazzled sky gazers last autumn. But this discovery was special: there’s a chance the 40-90 metre object, known as 2024 YR4, will hit Earth in 2032.In January, the impact probability was estimated to be just over 1%, then it was raised to 2.3% in early February. As of this week, the Nasa JPL Center for Near Earth Object Studies has raised that to 3.1% – or about 1-in-32 chance of impact. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War by Ash Sarkar – identity fraud

A Marxist critique of left-liberal politics that delivers its message with punch and panacheThe British left used to be a force to reckon with. Edward Heath’s government was famously felled by the miners in 1974 – the only instance in postwar European history when working-class power resulted in the overthrow of a ruling party. These days, however, the concept of the working class has an almost retro feel. Trade union membership has plummeted. Expressions of collective solidarity have likewise vanished. Disaffection has far from disappeared, only now it manifests in the form of petty crime and race riots.In Minority Rule, Ash Sarkar blames the rightwing press for this shift. Thanks to tabloid agents provocateurs and their political creatures in Westminster, she says, the lower orders have abandoned class war for the culture wars. Accordingly, more and more of them spend their weekends not on the barricades but behind computer screens, fuming over small boats and gender ideology...

Events

3 d. ago A (very long) day in the life of Spudman: Jacket potato vendor gets up at 4am before he works gruelling 14 hour shift

Ben Newman, 40, from Tamworth, who is facing eviction from his spot in the Staffordshire's town centre, starts his day at 4am.

Politics

3 d. ago A (very long) day in the life of Spudman: Jacket potato vendor's gets up at 4am before he works gruelling 14 hour shift

Ben Newman, 40, from Tamworth, who is facing eviction from his spot in the Staffordshire's town centre, starts his day at 4am.

Politics

3 d. ago Social media goes into meltdown as NASA increases the chance of the city

NASA has raised the chances of the city-killing asteroid hitting Earth once again - sparking a huge meltdown on social media.

Politics

3 d. ago Scottish Labour faces ‘challenge’ to win next Holyrood elections, Sarwar reveals

Exclusive: Increases in support for Reform UK and Scottish Greens suggest a comfortable win for the SNP in 2026Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has admitted his party faces a significant challenge to win the next Holyrood elections after its popularity slumped in the polls.His party’s support has fallen by half since the chancellor cut the winter fuel payment and raised national insurance costs last year, leaving it trailing behind the Scottish National party (SNP). Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Scottish Labour faces ‘challenge’ to win next Holyrood elections, Sarwar admits

Exclusive: Increases in support for Reform UK and Scottish Greens suggest a comfortable win for the SNP in 2026Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has admitted his party faces a significant challenge to win the next Holyrood elections after its popularity slumped in the polls.His party’s support has fallen by half since the chancellor cut the winter fuel payment and raised national insurance costs last year, leaving it trailing behind the Scottish National party (SNP). Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Lewis Hamilton worry raised as Max Verstappen and Christian Horner discuss Ferrari chances

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and his team principal Christian Horner have both given their verdicts on how they think Lewis Hamilton will get on with new team Ferrari

Politics