78 m. ago Do worms feel pain and are ants happy? Why the science on invertebrate feelings is evolving

For the next few weeks we’re asking readers to nominate their invertebrate of the year: click here to give us your suggestionsDoes a worm feel pain if it gets trodden on? Does a fly ache when its wings are pulled off? Is an ant happy when it finds a food source? If so, they may be sentient beings, which means they can “feel”, a bit or a lot, like we do.Invertebrate sentience is becoming an ever livelier topic of debate and with new science we are getting new insights. But Dr Andrew Crump at the Royal Veterinary College, who helped ensure that new UK laws recognising animal sentience were amended to include large cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans – octopuses, lobsters, crabs to you and me – says this is not at all straightforward. Continue reading...

Politics

83 m. ago Beano comic book hero to keep Dumfries and Galloway motorists safe during winter

Amey has named its latest gritter Brrr...Nanaman and is now inviting name suggestions for its next batch of gritters.

Politics

86 m. ago What will win at a nailbiter Oscars? AP's film writers make their predictions

By the time the Oscars wind around after months of other award shows and constant handicapping, the prizes can feel almost predetermined

Politics

98 m. ago Members of West Lothian running club delighted with success of latest event

On Saturday, February 22, TRC (The Running Club) hosted its latest event sponsored by Red Bull, which saw around 120 members come together and run a 5k route around Bathgate.

Politics

1 hour ago Pitbull at London O2 Arena seating plan, venue map and capacity for Party After Dark Tour

Everything you need to know about seeing Pitbull at London O2

Society

2 h. ago Man Utd to be 'offered chance to sell transfer clauses' as financial struggles laid bare

Manchester United are being targeted by rival clubs who have recently signed players from Old Trafford and now feel they could buy out sell-on clauses from said deals

Politics

2 h. ago Make a meal of it: how to jazz up a tin of baked beans | Kitchen aide

Sausages, cheese, chilli all probably spring immediately to mind, but have you considered wine or sage instead?How can I make a tin of baked beans tastier? “You’ve come to the right place,” says food writer Melek Erdal. “One of my most popular recipes ever was jazzed-up beans on toast, which came out of lockdown, when we were all utilising everything.” Essentially, when it comes to injecting flavour into baked beans, it’s all about the base, and for Erdal that means toasting spices (cumin seeds, ground coriander, aleppo chilli) in an ovenproof pan, then adding “the magic triangle”, namely ginger, garlic and chilli, and some oil. “Add the beans, crumble feta on top, then pop it in the oven until the top caramelises.” Erdal might also add a drizzle of tahini, “for a take on shakshuka, and a lovely brunch or lunch.”In a similar riffable vein, Eleanor Maidment, author of Pulse, makes a base of chorizo and red peppers, then adds beans and poaches some eggs in them. Cured meat is, of cour...

Politics

2 h. ago Two Point Museum review – exhibit curation gets a delightfully quirky and wholesome upgrade

Swapping college courses for curation and archaeology, Two Point Museum is yet another win for gaming's most irreverent business simulation series.

Politics

2 h. ago ITV Emmerdale fans 'work out' why Caleb dies in hospital as they point finger at one character

Emmerdale fans are convinced they know why Caleb Miligan ends up on a ventilator in the hospital after he was seen unconscious in a tense flashforward scene.

Events

2 h. ago The play that changed my life: Sing Sing’s Clarence Maclin on lessons from Sophocles in prison

Staging Shakespeare and Twelve Angry Men with fellow prisoners was a revelation but Oedipus Rex proved particularly poignantWhen I came to the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) theatre at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1995, I’d been sentenced to 17 years for robbery. It was not my intention to watch a play. They were doing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I saw my brother Dino who was playing Big Chief, the Native American guy. I knew Dino from elsewhere in the jail, but not for this.I got involved. I found a fascination for Shakespeare that I really didn’t expect. I didn’t think I’d understand the language. And I didn’t at first. But it fascinated me enough to research and study it: I loved becoming able to translate that so that others could feel the intensity of it. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago ‘It makes you feel like the hero of your own quest’: the dark, delightful magic of the dungeon synth scene

Amid dinosaurs, swords and leather armour, we visit the UK’s first festival for dungeon synth – a fast-growing black metal spinoff dedicated to fantasy and escapeA flurry of inflatable caveman clubs have erupted into the air, a crowd of ecstatic metallers swinging them merrily as they watch a hooded dinosaur peering over a synthesiser. The masked musician, Diplodocus, has transformed this crowded pub in soggy south London into a mystical underworld, one entrancing chord at a time.This is Albion Dungeon fest, a sellout, weekend-long event, and the first of its kind in the UK. Emerging in the 90s as an offshoot of black metal, dungeon synth replaced guitars with keyboards to make it less moshing, more magic. Its mystical sound has aesthetics to match, channelling the atmosphere of JRR Tolkien books, the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and a darkly quaint reimagining of the medieval era. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago There’s a reason Hugh Grant is the best thing in middling movies: he writes his own lines

The actor’s insistence on scripting his own scenes in Paddington 3 and Bridget Jones 4 are proof of his talents. So why on earth hasn’t he written his own film yet?We can all agree that Paddington in Peru was, well, fine. Compared to the previous Paddington films it was a bit of a damp squib, but Olivia Colman got a few chances to be decently silly and it was leagues better than any of the recent live-action Disney remakes.However, there was one moment where Paddington in Peru touched greatness. And this was the mid-credit sequence. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s a nod to the Paddington 2 scene in which a huge amount of prisoners introduce themselves, only this time it’s a huge amount of bears. And the person they’re introducing themselves to is Phoenix Buchanan, played by Hugh Grant. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago I have a crush at work: 7 expert tips on how to handle office crushes

If you’re thinking about telling your work crush how you feel, consider these tips first 💼

Economics

4 h. ago Expert reveals the six most difficult types of people to work with in the office: From the snowflake who can't take criticism to the ghost who does no work

When you ask someone how work is going, they won't tell you much about the day-to-day of what they do - they'll talk about how it makes them feel. 

Politics

4 h. ago BBC EastEnders viewers say Lacey Turner 'deserves' BAFTA for 'heartbreaking' Stacey Slater scene

Stacey is currently dealing with the fallout of Martin Fowler's tragic death after the Queen Vic explosion

Politics

4 h. ago Nutritionist says 'bad for us' item is actually a superfood and can even go in the bath

The nutritionist has come out to share a simple swap you can make that turns one ingredient into a superfood that can help you feel stronger

Politics

4 h. ago David Beckham quips he and wife Victoria give each other 'plenty of grief' during their joint workouts after leaving fans in hysterics with cheeky gym posts

The couple are no stranger to share snaps of one another while hitting the gym, with Victoria quick to delight her followers by posting shirtless snaps of her spouse.

Sport

4 h. ago Footage shows horrifying moment blaze tears through bingo hall

Emergency services remain on the scene this morning

Culture

4 h. ago Inspirational dog who supported grieving owner shortlisted for prestigious Kennel Club award

English Setter-cross Louis and his owner Nick Johnson have been unveiled as the finalists in the Best Friends category of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award

Events

5 h. ago Stephen Fry's BBC chilling Trump prediction in full and 'dark shadow' warning

Legendary broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry was weighing in on Donald Trump's recent comments and said "It is a real worry - it's a desperate, desperate time"

Events