Public research university in London, spanning science, engineering and medicine
Public Health France has recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July during an exceptional June heatwave, the highest heat-related excess mortality since 2003. France recorded 21,674 deaths against 15,910 expected; two-thirds of the excess were people aged 75 and older and more than half occurred between 25–27 June.
A UK NHS study indicates focal therapy provides durable long‑term cancer control for many prostate cancer patients, with just two of 3,477 men dying from prostate cancer a decade after treatment and lower side‑effects. The government is expanding access to more centres.
A collection of articles shows record heat-related deaths across Europe and North America linked to a warming climate and El Niño, with officials expanding cooling programs and researchers urging responsible media portrayal to shape urgency. The data indicate rising temperatures and strained infrastructure, while experts forecast more extreme conditions ahead.
The UK has seen a record-hot July and persistent drought across large parts of England and Wales. Hosepipe bans remain in force as cooling rain is forecast to be patchy and limited this weekend. Forecasters warn that heat and dry conditions will continue into next week, with a potential return of hotter spells in parts of the country.
Record heatwaves has driven a surge in demand for portable fans and air conditioning across Europe, shifting consumer habits and political debate. Sales of handheld fans and AC units have jumped, premium gadgets have become status items, and UK parties and advisers are pushing building-rule changes and passive cooling as alternatives.
GSK has announced a 1.9 billion cost-cutting programme and a shift of more than 1,000 scientists to a new Cambridge R&D campus from Stevenage by 2029, part of broader plans to cut costs and expand late-stage trials.
More than 300,000 people have been evacuated from France and Spain as intense wildfires have burned record areas and authorities warn of another heatwave. France has seen its worst fires in two decades; Spain has reported its largest blazes near Madrid. UK services have also faced a surge of fires and an amber heat-health alert.
A wave of heat and wildfires across Europe and beyond has accelerated, prompting evacuations and sparking political debate on climate policy. Readers are updated on the latest developments, including shifting opinions, policy responses, and the urgent need for adaptation alongside emission cuts.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Heavy monsoon downpours have caused floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka’s central hills, damaging 129 houses and prompting the evacuation of about 2,000 people. Five people are confirmed dead, with several missing, as navy and army units conduct rescues. The disaster compounds the region’s ongoing recovery from Cyclone Ditwa earlier last year.
The Bald Range wildfire has exploded into a fast-moving blaze in British Columbia, forcing evacuation orders for Summerland and Peachland and displacing roughly 20,000 people. Officials have declared a provincial state of emergency, reported significant home losses and evacuated residents by air as crews continue search-and-rescue and firefighting operations.
The House of Lords environment committee has called for restricting sales of flea and tick spot-on treatments sold online or over the counter. It says routine use is harming ecosystems, with chemicals like fipronil and imidacloprid entering rivers and affecting wildlife. The government is being urged to base policy on a comprehensive evidence base and to ensure professional advice accompanies sales.
NHS services face ongoing summer pressures as heatwaves intensify, with A&E attendances rising and infrastructure strains highlighted by officials. Hospitals report equipment failures in heat, and authorities warn of greater risks to the vulnerable as climate-related health demands grow.
Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute have used generative genome models to design and synthesise bacteriophage genomes; 16 of the lab-made viruses proved viable and a cocktail of them rapidly killed E. coli strains resistant to natural phages. Experts have warned the work has raised urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions about AI-designed genomes.
Extreme UK heat has intensified pressure on the NHS and social care, with doctors reporting higher workloads and concerns about care quality. New studies link heat to mental health challenges and increased anxiety, while authorities prepare summer plans and cooling investments. Readers are urged to stay vigilant as services adapt to ongoing heatwaves and the associated risks.
Lilly has filed six lawsuits targeting online sellers and clinics marketing retatrutide, a GLP-1 drug still in Phase 3 trials for obesity and diabetes, while US authorities report a surge in illicit shipments. The company says products sold online are unverified and unapproved, and warns of substantial health risks.
A solar eclipse has drawn thousands of spectators across the North East and Cumbria, with observers calling the event phenomenal and marking the moment as a rare, shared experience.
The Victoria and Albert Museum will host Freddie Mercury Splendid Things, a free trail featuring eight iconic looks spanning his 1970s–80s career. Mary Austin has loaned seven outfits, including the monochrome Imperial College ensemble and the Mercury Wing catsuit. The display runs 24 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, with mannequins, sets and a public programme celebrating Mercury’s flamboyance and design influence.
The UN Environment Programme has published a report saying the world will likely exceed the Paris 1.5°C limit within years. UNEP has recommended an "overshoot, peak and decline" pathway that combines immediate, deep cuts to greenhouse gases, rapid methane reductions and carefully governed carbon dioxide removal to bring temperatures back below 1.5°C this century.
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces has reaffirmed participation in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games after Buckingham Palace clarified that the King has no objection, following Uganda’s initial withdrawal amid tensions over the Harry-Meghan coverage. The reversal follows a call between Uganda’s CDF and the King’s private secretary, signaling a diplomatic resolution.
Copernicus confirms August 2026 tied for hottest month on record, with Western Europe enjoying its warmest summer. Global oceans reach new highs as El Niño intensifies. Scientists warn that emissions continue to drive extreme conditions and urge rapid action.
A trio of articles shows solar energy expanding in surprising ways: underwater perovskite cells shown to work at depth, large-scale deployments in Pakistan, and plug-in solar panels for homes in the UK. Together, they depict a solar era driven by cheaper components, new deployment models, and rising consumer adoption.
Disaster-hit Nepal faces mounting rebuilding costs after a glacier collapse triggered devastating floods. Scientists link warming to destabilisation of glaciers, while international finance bodies struggle to mobilise funds. Nepal urges faster climate finance to support relief, reconstruction and loss-and-damage claims.
Labour faces pressure as Jackdaw and Rosebank projects edge closer to decisions. Experts warn that authorising new North Sea drilling would breach climate targets, while industry groups argue reforms could unlock billions. The government remains under scrutiny over energy policy and economic implications.
The Langtang Lirung glacier has collapsed, unleashing floods that have killed and displaced thousands along the Nepal‑Tibet border. A World Weather Attribution study finds climate change is a destabilising factor, with warming, glacier thinning and permafrost thaw preconditioning the slope, while a historic 2015 earthquake may have weakened the rock. July–August 2026 were the warmest on record in the region, intensifying meltwater and stress on mountain walls.
Global temperatures have surged to new highs, with August marking the hottest month on record and heatwaves driving wildfires in Europe and the US. Scientists warn that a strong El Niño, coupled with ongoing emissions, will push temperatures higher in coming months.
Rescuers have recovered four bodies from a flooded hydro tunnel in Chilime, with thousands still missing after floods triggered by a glacier collapse along the Trishuli River. Recovery work faces thick mud and damaged infrastructure as authorities push to speed up rescue and reconstruction efforts.
The El Niño weather pattern has intensified, with multiple reports showing record sea-surface temperatures and forecasts of extreme heat. Scientists warn that global impacts will intensify through 2027, affecting temperatures, rainfall, and wildfire risk across regions from the Pacific to Africa and the Americas.
Projections show 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally between June and February 2027, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad bearing the heaviest impact. The Climate Impact Lab says emergency actions now can save tens of thousands of lives as El Niño intensifies.
The EU Copernicus service has updated that Western Europe endured its third-hottest summer on record, driven by a strong El Niño and rising fossil-fuel emissions. Heatwaves have raised mortality, stressed water systems, and intensified drought, with record sea temperatures and wildfire activity compounding impacts.