Author: Andrew Rogers

Labour’s pledge to halt the badger cull by 2029 is possible, but only with a major increase in testing and vaccination, a new government-commissioned report has warned. The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, said current funding and methods give ministers only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by the 2038 target. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since culling began in 2013, with the disease costing taxpayers and farmers around £150m a year. Godfray confirmed that badgers do transmit bTB but stressed this did not mean culling was the only solution. Instead, he called…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has launched a drive to reintroduce three species once common on the region’s peat bogs: the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket and white-faced darter dragonfly. Ninety-six percent of lowland peatlands in Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been lost, but the charity has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation. It is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the project. “These insects play vital roles in the ecosystem,” the LWT said, citing pollination, decomposition and population control. Dr Matt McMullen, senior nature recovery officer, explained that each species faces unique challenges,…

As the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza continues to devastate bird populations around the globe, New Zealand is racing to protect some of its rarest species — including the kākāpō, the world’s fattest and most endangered parrot. With fewer than 250 individuals left, the kākāpō is at extreme risk should the virus reach New Zealand. Conservationists fear that migratory seabirds, arriving with spring, could inadvertently bring the disease into fragile populations on offshore islands such as Codfish Island/Whenua Hou. To get ahead of the threat, the Department of Conservation has conducted a world-first trial, vaccinating ten captive birds…

A groundbreaking study has found that a quick and painless cheek-swab test can detect a potentially deadly heart condition in children up to five years before traditional methods. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is genetic in many cases and accounts for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. It develops due to faulty proteins between heart cells, disrupting both structure and electrical activity. Often symptomless until it strikes, ACM can lead to fainting, palpitations, breathlessness, or sudden death. Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital and City St George’s, University of London trialled the new test in 51 children…

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless drive to win the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, tightening his grip on the Formula 1 title race after teammate and closest rival Lando Norris retired late on with an oil leak. Starting from pole, the 24-year-old Australian controlled the race from lights to flag, staying composed through light rain and three safety-car restarts. His victory extends his championship lead to 34 points, a decisive swing with only nine races left. Norris had been running second and keeping Piastri under pressure, but disaster struck with just seven laps to go when smoke poured from his…

A major US study has found that children as young as four and five years old are often prescribed ADHD medication immediately after diagnosis, despite medical guidelines recommending six months of behavioural therapy first. The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, reviewed data from more than 9,700 children and revealed that 42.2% of young patients were given medication within one month of diagnosis, while only 14.1% received drugs more than six months later. Experts say this practice overlooks the proven benefits of starting with behavioural therapy, which can positively affect both children and their families. Although ADHD medication is generally…

A landmark global study has found that the shingles vaccine may do more than prevent the painful rash caused by the herpes zoster virus — it could also reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. According to the world’s first systematic review and meta-analysis on the subject, adults who received the vaccine were 18% less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, with the protective effect particularly evident in older age groups. Researchers analyzed data from 19 studies, including randomized controlled trials and observational research, and presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Madrid.…

A new study warns that ocean acidification could weaken sharks’ teeth, threatening their ability to hunt and disrupting marine ecosystems. Researchers tested blacktip reef shark teeth in artificial seawater tanks mimicking current and future projected pH levels. After eight weeks, teeth exposed to more acidic water (pH 7.3) showed double the damage compared with those in today’s conditions (pH 8.1), including increased root corrosion and altered serration. The findings suggest that sharks may struggle to feed efficiently if tooth damage outpaces natural replacement rates. While sharks might adapt by accelerating tooth growth or repair, the study highlights acidification as an…

Wild bees actively manage their diets by visiting different flowers to balance their intake of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, according to new research. Ecologists studying eight species of bumblebees in the Colorado Rockies over eight years mapped the nutritional content of pollen and tracked which flowers the bees preferred. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, revealed that bees adjust their foraging to meet changing dietary needs, both across species and throughout the seasons. The research team discovered striking differences in pollen composition: some flowers contained as little as 17% protein, while others had up to…

Surgeons in China have transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain dead human recipient for the first time, with the organ functioning for nine days. The procedure, reported in Nature Medicine, represents the latest step in xenotransplantation, a field aiming to address the global shortage of donor organs. According to the World Health Organization, only around 10% of transplant needs worldwide are currently met. The donor lung came from a Chinese Bama Xiang pig with six genetic modifications designed to reduce immune rejection. The lung remained viable for 216 hours and did not trigger immediate rejection or infection.…