Author: Andrew Rogers

Volkswagen is close to a tariff deal with the US, CEO Oliver Blume said, as the carmaker targets the affordable electric vehicle market in Europe. Trump-era tariffs, combined with a weak market, have already cost the group “several billions.” Even with a planned reduction from 27.5% to 15%, Blume called the tariffs a “burden.” Volkswagen Plans US Investments The company is promising major US investments and could localise Audi production to reduce costs. Blume said talks with the US government are ongoing, aiming for a quicker resolution. Porsche Impacted by Tariffs Porsche is particularly affected as US-bound models are mostly…

This Sunday, 7 September, Europe will witness a total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon,” the longest since 2022 at around 82 minutes. The Earth will pass directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Only red-hued light will reach the moon, giving it the characteristic crimson glow. Historically, blood moons have inspired awe and fear. Ancient cultures—from Babylon to China to Central America—saw them as ominous signs: the death of rulers, looming wars, or divine punishment. Some African communities, like the Batammaliba in Togo and Benin, interpreted the eclipse as a symbolic struggle between…

Max Verstappen claimed pole for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, setting the fastest lap in F1 history with a 1:18.792, averaging over 164mph, narrowly ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. After a challenging 2024 season, the result marks a boost for Verstappen and Red Bull under new team principal Laurent Mekies. Ferrari also impressed at their home race, with Lewis Hamilton qualifying fifth behind teammate Charles Leclerc, though a grid penalty drops him to 10th. Norris avoided a Q2 mishap to secure second, keeping the intra-team title fight with Piastri alive. With Verstappen back at the front,…

A new ultrasound “helmet” could offer a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, a study suggests. The device can target brain regions 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound and could also help treat depression, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and addiction. Unlike DBS, which requires electrodes to be implanted deep in the brain, the helmet sends precise mechanical pulses into targeted areas. In tests on seven volunteers, researchers directed ultrasound waves at a tiny region in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a visual pathway in the brain, achieving remarkable accuracy. Follow-up experiments…

Labour’s pledge to stop badger culling by 2029 could be achieved, but only with a major increase in testing and vaccination, according to a government-commissioned report. Sir Charles Godfray, who authored the review, said ministers currently have only a “small chance” of meeting the 2038 target for eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England without greater investment. More than 210,000 badgers have been culled since 2013 to reduce the spread of bTB, which costs taxpayers and the cattle industry around £150m annually. The report stresses that badgers can transmit bTB to cattle, but culling is not the only solution. Godfray recommended…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has begun a drive to reintroduce three rare species—large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly—once common across Lancashire and Greater Manchester’s peat bogs. These insects rely on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost due to human activity. LWT has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation and is now seeking £20,000 to complete the project. “These insects play vital roles in the ecosystem,” the trust said, noting their importance in pollination, decomposition, and controlling invertebrate populations. Senior nature recovery officer Dr Matt McMullen explained that the…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from H5 avian influenza before migratory birds bring the virus to its shores. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. A world-first trial vaccinated 10 captive birds from five endangered species, using the H5N3 poultry vaccine. After two doses, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months, offering hope for safeguarding captive breeding populations and managed wild populations. Vaccination is just one part of a broader strategy. Capturing wild birds is challenging, and boosting overall health and habitat…

A simple, two-minute cheek-swab test may be able to identify children at risk of a potentially fatal heart condition up to five years before standard diagnosis, new research suggests. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is genetic and accounts for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. ACM occurs when abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells disrupt the heart’s structure and electrical signals, often striking without warning. Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London found that the same protein changes can be detected in the lining of the cheek, leading to the development…

Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding pole-to-flag victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, widening his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, while teammate Lando Norris suffered a late retirement. From the first corner, the 24-year-old Australian led confidently, weathering light rain and three safety-car restarts to secure a flawless win. The result gives Piastri a 34-point advantage over Norris, with nine rounds remaining. Norris, running second, retired due to an oil leak with seven laps remaining, leaving him dejected on the dunes at Zandvoort. “It wasn’t my fault, so there’s nothing I can really do. It’s just not my weekend,”…

A new analysis has found that many young children in the US are being prescribed ADHD medication immediately after diagnosis, rather than following recommended guidelines. Current medical advice suggests that children aged four and five should first undergo six months of behavioural therapy before starting medication. The study, published in JAMA Network Open and including more than 9,700 children, revealed that 42.2% of young patients received ADHD medication within one month of their diagnosis, while only 14.1% began treatment after the recommended six months. Lead author Dr Yair Bannett of Stanford University called the findings “concerning,” noting that starting treatment…