Author: Andrew Rogers

Volkswagen says it is close to striking a tariff deal with the US after Donald Trump’s import levies cost the company billions. CEO Oliver Blume said the 27.5% tariffs on European cars and parts, imposed in April, have hit the group’s balance sheet by “several billion euros” this year. While the US has agreed to cut the rate to 15%, Blume warned it would still “be a burden” on Europe’s largest carmaker, which owns Audi, Seat and Porsche. VW is pushing for a separate deal by pledging “massive” US investment, potentially including local Audi production and exports from American plants.…

This Sunday, September 7, Europe will witness a rare spectacle in the night sky: a blood-red full moon during the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022. For 82 minutes, the Earth will block sunlight from reaching the moon, leaving only refracted red light to paint its surface. Throughout history, blood moons have been surrounded by myths. Ancient cultures often saw them as ominous signs of war, death or disaster. Others, such as the Batammaliba in West Africa, interpreted them as a call for peace and reconciliation. Today, astronomy and astrology view the phenomenon differently. Scientists like Dr Florian Freistetter stress…

Max Verstappen delivered a stunning performance to take pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, edging out Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a fiercely contested qualifying session at Monza. The Red Bull driver set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history with a 1:18.792, averaging more than 164mph, to claim his fifth pole of the season. The result marks a major turnaround for Verstappen and his team, who struggled badly at Monza last year and have been outpaced by McLaren for much of 2024. Ferrari also showed promise at their home race, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualifying…

A newly developed ultrasound “helmet” could transform the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, researchers have revealed. The device delivers highly precise pulses to brain regions as small as a grain of rice, offering a potential alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS), which requires invasive surgery. In early tests with seven volunteers, the helmet successfully targeted the lateral geniculate nucleus with unprecedented accuracy, influencing brain activity in connected regions. Scientists say similar targeting of motor control areas could help reduce tremors in Parkinson’s patients. Developed over a decade by teams at Oxford University and UCL, the system integrates…

Labour’s pledge to stop shooting badgers by 2029 is achievable, but only if the government invests heavily in testing and vaccination programmes, according to a new review of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The report, led by Sir Charles Godfray, says England has only a “small chance” of eradicating bTB by the 2038 target without a major increase in urgency and funding. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since culling began in 2013, with the disease costing taxpayers about £150m a year. Godfray said evidence shows badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but stressed this does not mean culling is the…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has started a drive to reintroduce three rare species once common on the region’s peat bogs: the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly. These insects depend 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 appealing for £20,000 to complete the project. The trust highlighted the ecological roles of the species: the large heath butterfly pollinates plants, the bog bush cricket aids decomposition and provides food for birds, and the white-faced…

A simple cheek-swab test could help identify children at risk of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) years before traditional diagnostic methods, new research suggests. ACM is a genetic heart condition responsible for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. The disease stems from abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells, leading to structural weakness and dangerous electrical activity. It often develops without symptoms, making early detection critical. Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London have found that the same protein abnormalities seen in the heart can also be detected in cheek cells. By trialling cheek…

Oscar Piastri tightened his grip on the Formula 1 title race with a flawless pole-to-flag victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, while McLaren teammate and closest rival Lando Norris suffered a devastating retirement just seven laps from the finish. The Australian never looked troubled at Zandvoort, even through light rain and three safety-car restarts, as he calmly controlled the race to extend his championship lead to 34 points. But the day that boosted Piastri’s title hopes crushed Norris’s, as an oil leak filled his cockpit with smoke and forced him to pull over from second place. Norris, who had been…

A major US study has found that paediatricians often prescribe medication too quickly to children as young as four or five who are newly diagnosed with ADHD, despite guidelines recommending six months of behavioural therapy first. The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open and involving more than 9,700 children, revealed that 42% were given ADHD drugs within one month of diagnosis, while only 14% received them after the six-month behavioural therapy window. Lead author Dr Yair Bannett of Stanford University called the findings “concerning,” stressing that behavioural approaches can significantly benefit both children and families. ADHD affects over 11% of…

Groundbreaking research suggests that the shingles vaccine could significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. According to the first global systematic review and meta-analysis on the subject, adults who received the jab had an 18% lower risk of heart attack or stroke, with the effect also observed in younger adults aged 18 and above. Traditionally recommended for older or immunosuppressed individuals, the vaccine may offer broader benefits by reducing inflammation linked to shingles, a known contributor to cardiovascular disease. The findings, based on 19 studies including both observational data and clinical trials, will be presented at the European Society of…