Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie, a designer and researcher at the University of Kent, is mapping how cities smell.She believes scent is a missing sense in how people record and share their experiences. For more than a decade, she has led “smell walks” in cities around the world.Participants document what they smell, how strong it is, and the memories it triggers. The results become visual maps and cultural stories rather than scientific measurements.Cities mapped include Paris, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Kolkata and Kyiv. McLean-MacKenzie says smells reveal hidden narratives about daily life and place.One participant even described stale beer on New York pavements as…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
Gardeners are being encouraged to plant native “tredges” to help boost England’s tree cover.The call from the Royal Horticultural Society supports government plans to raise woodland cover from 10% to 16.5% by 2050. Tredges are plants that sit between a hedge and a tree, offering wildlife benefits without dominating small gardens.Experts say England’s 25 million gardens could play a key role in restoring biodiversity. The approach will be showcased at the Chelsea flower show by the Woodland Trust.Its garden design will demonstrate how damaged woodland can be regenerated using native species. RHS specialists recommend small native trees such as hawthorn,…
Government scientists are releasing crayfish, insects, and fungi to control invasive species across Britain.The work targets threats such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, and floating pennywort. The programme is led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency under targets set by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.Ministers want to cut the establishment of invasive species by 50% by 2030. Researchers carefully test biological control agents to ensure they harm only target species.A South American weevil is reducing floating pennywort in rivers. Scientists at Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International are also deploying insects and fungi against knotweed and balsam.Early…
Across the United States, heart warming acts in 2025 captured public attention and inspired millions. Acts of kindness, courage, and compassion spread widely online and offline. These moments reminded people that goodwill still plays a strong role in daily life. Throughout the year, many simple actions became powerful stories. Strangers helped strangers without expecting anything in return. These acts often appeared on social media and quickly went viral. Viewers shared them as symbols of hope during uncertain times. One common theme was kindness in everyday settings. People paid for meals, helped elderly neighbors, or offered rides to those in need.…
A Victorian fisher has filmed an unusually pink platypus while fishing in Gippsland.Cody Stylianou first mistook the animal for a trout before seeing it surface nearby. The platypus had clearly pink feet and bill, making it easy to spot in sunlit water.Stylianou believes it may be the same animal he noticed years earlier in the area. Online speculation suggested the animal could be albino.However, biologist Jeff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy said this was unlikely. Williams explained platypus vary widely in colour and this individual sits at the lighter extreme.He described it as unusual, but not rare or scientifically…
A seal pup has been rescued after becoming wedged between large boulders on the island of Westray in Orkney.The animal was spotted stuck in coastal rock armour at Rapness on Thursday evening. British Divers Marine Life Rescue assessed the situation on Friday before carrying out a rescue on Saturday.The operation was supported by local firm Cooke Aquaculture, which helped remove a rock. Rescuer Tom Hadley said the pup was trapped in a difficult and dangerous position.The seal was described as aggressive but calmed once it was freed. A rescuer distracted the animal while another carefully restrained it.The pup was checked…
An underweight seal pup rescued after Storm Bram is recovering well, rescuers have confirmed.The juvenile grey seal was found muddy, dehydrated, and surrounded by debris near Seatown in Dorset. A member of the public alerted British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which rescued the animal on 9 December.The pup was transferred to the RSPCA care centre at West Hatch in Somerset. Named Nirvana, the male seal weighed just 13.9kg and showed signs of prolonged struggle.After receiving fluids and warmth, he began feeding independently and gained strength. Nirvana will soon move to an outdoor pool to build fitness before release into the…
Hundreds of tiny snails were flown from Sydney to Norfolk Island in a rare conservation rescue mission.The Campbell’s keeled glass-snail was listed extinct in 1996 after disappearing from the wild.In 2020, a citizen scientist rediscovered the species in a hidden forest gully.Researchers quickly launched a plan to prevent its final extinction. Dozens of snails were moved to Taronga Zoo for captive breeding.Early losses were high because the species is sensitive to stress and transport.Despite setbacks, the population grew to more than 800 individuals. In June, 600 snails were returned to Norfolk Island to begin reintroduction.A mould outbreak killed many, leaving…
High in the mountains of the Peloponnese, Greece’s iconic fir forests are dying in places untouched by fire, alarming scientists who warn of a deepening ecological crisis driven by climate change. Greek firs are usually resilient trees, well adapted to drought, insects and periodic wildfires. But when forest researcher Dimitrios Avtzis surveyed a recent blaze, he found something unexpected: vast areas of fir trees turning brown and dying where flames had never reached. The scale was so unusual that he immediately alerted the environment ministry. Experts say the damage is being caused by a combination of stresses. Prolonged drought, intensified…
Birdsong is rare in December, but recent spells of mild winter weather have prompted several UK species to sing earlier than usual. Robins and wrens are now regularly heard in winter, joined in some areas by song thrushes and even overwintering skylarks. While these songs are softer and less frequent than in spring, their growing presence reflects changing seasonal patterns. Once unusual, winter birdsong is becoming more common, raising the question of whether it simply foreshadows spring – or highlights the effects of a warming climate disrupting natural rhythms.