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Plan to send all-UK astronaut mission into orbit
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent @BBCAmos Four UK astronauts could soon be heading into orbit on an all-British mission. An American company that organises visits to the International Space Station (ISS) is developing the plan. Houston-based Axiom has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Space Agency to try to make it happen. The…
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Israel Gaza live news: UN chief says ‘clear violations of humanitarian law’ in Gaza
ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock At the Israeli Embassy in London, relatives of people who were murdered or kidnapped by Hamas earlier held an emotional press conference. Ayelet Svatitzky, a British-Israeli citizen, told the dozens of reporters in the room that her “life stopped on the 7 October” when she found out that her elderly mother…
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How human activity might betray our existence to alien civilisations
Alien astronomers might be looking in our direction from distant planets. What would they see? We’ve been searching the heavens for some time now. But despite decades of listening for tell-tale radio signals and hunting for signs that other worlds might be even vaguely habitable, it’s been slim pickings so far. While astronomers have identified…
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The employees secretly using AI at work
Some employers are either tacitly or outright banning access to generative AI tools like ChatGPT. But employees who love them are finding ways to discreetly backchannel. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, companies have scrambled to keep its workplace use under control. Many organisations are concerned their data will be leaked – not only…
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The 10,000-year-old origins of the sauna – and why it’s still going strong
The Nordic countries believe that having saunas is essential for physical and emotional wellbeing. Clare Dowdy explores saunas past and present to find out why. With the rise in popularity of cold-water swimming, there’s now a renewed enthusiasm – even evangelical fanaticism – for the perfect counterpart to an icy outdoor dip, the hot, sweaty…
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V&A: Elton John and David Furnish’s photography collection to go on display
By Liz Jackson & PA Media BBC News Photographs from Elton John and David Furnish’s private collection are due to go on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) next year. Fragile Beauty will span from the 1950s to today and include portraits of jazz musicians Miles Davis and Chet Baker, and actress Marilyn…
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Ugandan teenage cancer patient: How a bed saved my life
By Anne Okumu BBC News, Kampala When 14-year-old Dorcas Cherop’s family was told she needed to undergo at least a year’s treatment in Uganda for bladder cancer – her future looked bleak. The challenge lay not just in getting the medical care, which is mostly free at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), but the high…
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Republicans self-destruct again in US Speaker saga
The Republican nominees for Speaker of the US House have developed the political lifespan of mayflies. Tom Emmer barely had time to bask in his five-round secret-ballot victory for the speaker’s gavel on Tuesday before it all came crashing down. Setting the charges and pushing the plunger was a familiar Republican demolitionist, Donald Trump. Just…
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Why your balsamic vinegar is likely fake
From a complement to fries to a hint of acid on upscale dishes, balsamic vinegar is one of the world’s most recognisable condiments. And yet, many have never tasted the real thing. From an accompaniment to French fries at the local burger joint to hint of acid added to Michelin-starred dishes, balsamic vinegar is one…
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California puts brakes on taxi rides with Cruise driverless cars
By James Clayton Technology reporter, San Francisco California has suspended Cruise driverless taxis from San Francisco streets. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) cited safety concerns in putting the brakes on rides from Cruise cabs, but did not provide details. The company is one of two firms, alongside Waymo, that has been allowed to…