Author: Andrew Rogers

Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas of the world’s “smellscapes”.The researcher from the University of Kent wants smells to be shared like images and sounds. Her work involves guided “smell walks”, where participants record scents, their strength, and emotional associations.The data is transformed into visual maps and narratives that reflect how cities are experienced through smell. Since 2011, McLean-MacKenzie has mapped 40 locations, including Paris, Glasgow, Kolkata, and Kyiv.She says smell is subjective, cultural, and deeply tied to memory and place. The maps capture fleeting moments, shaped by weather, movement, and daily life.They may also become historical records as…

Christmas offers plenty of chances to explore science without leaving the living room.Researchers say simple games and kitchen experiments can spark festive discovery. Matthew Cobb suggests testing flavour by eating sweets while holding your nose.The experiment shows taste relies heavily on smell, not just the tongue. Cracker jokes also offer insight into human behaviour.Sophie Scott says laughter is mainly social, not about joke quality. Christmas dinner can double as a biology lesson.Steve Brusatte recommends examining turkey bones to understand movement and flight. For chemistry fans, custard can become ice cream using salt and ice.Andrea Sella says salt lowers freezing points,…

Declan Rice was released by Chelsea at 14, a setback that shaped his career.He joined West Ham United, where honest “clean feedback” became central to his development. Coaches questioned his awkward running style and long-term potential.Rice responded by listening, improving, and earning a scholarship without complaint. He made his debut under Slaven Bilic, initially seen as a future centre-back.Few predicted he would become an elite midfielder. Rice’s growth accelerated through adaptability, leadership, and constant learning.His set-piece ability flourished under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. A £105m move brought scrutiny, especially over goals and attacking output.Rice adjusted his role, evolving from holding…

A recent poll shows that positive travel experiences are increasing among Americans. About 75% of respondents rated their recent trips as excellent or good, highlighting strong traveler satisfaction and confidence in current travel conditions. The survey, conducted nationwide, covered domestic and international travelers. Results indicate that Americans are enjoying smoother trips, better services, and improved airport and airline experiences compared to previous years. Travelers reported satisfaction with multiple aspects of their journeys. Airports, airlines, and transportation services received high marks for efficiency, cleanliness, and helpful staff. Many passengers noted that check-ins and security screenings were quicker and less stressful. Hotels…

Scientists say parts of the Moon may be set aside as spacecraft graveyards for defunct satellites.Lunar orbits are expected to fill rapidly as space agencies and companies expand Moon activity. Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks an atmosphere to safely burn up old spacecraft.As a result, many satellites will need to be deliberately crash-landed. Researchers warn uncontrolled impacts could damage scientific sites and historic landmarks.Designated impact zones would limit debris and protect sensitive areas. The European Space Agency and UK Space Agency support planned disposal zones.Some scientists add controlled impacts could help study the Moon’s internal structure.

Plans to stage a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in Australia have been abandoned.The game was scheduled for Perth on 8 February but collapsed after intervention from the Asian Football Confederation. Serie A said escalating and unacceptable demands made the match financially and logistically impossible.League president Ezio Simonelli confirmed the decision on Monday. The fixture had been approved because the San Siro will host the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics ceremony.UEFA had reluctantly cleared the overseas match in October. Serie A viewed the game as a chance to grow its global profile.However, AFC conditions, including control over match officials,…

Aston Villa tightened their grip on the title race with a thrilling home win over Manchester United.Two goals from Morgan Rogers sealed Villa’s seventh straight league victory at Villa Park. Villa sit third, three points behind leaders Arsenal, after a tenth consecutive win in all competitions.Unai Emery celebrated wildly as Rogers struck decisively in the second half. Rogers opened the scoring with a curling finish shortly before half-time.Matheus Cunha equalised moments later with a clinical strike for United. Early in the second half, Rogers drifted inside again and found the far corner.The goal proved decisive despite United pushing hard for…

Kylian Mbappé equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid scoring record with a late penalty against Sevilla.Real won 2-0, staying one point behind Barcelona in La Liga. Juventus boosted their Serie A hopes by beating Roma 2-1 in Turin.The result kept Roma fourth and moved Juventus closer in the standings. In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen overturned a deficit to win 3-1 at RB Leipzig.The victory lifted Leverkusen to third before the winter break. Elsewhere, Freiburg edged Wolfsburg 4-3 despite a hat-trick from Dzenan Pejcinovic.Union Berlin won late against Cologne, while several matches ended goalless.

In the mountains of the Peloponnese, Greece’s usually resilient fir forests are dying on a scale that has alarmed scientists. Even in areas untouched by recent fires, vast swathes of trees are turning brown and collapsing. Dimitrios Avtzis, a senior researcher at Greece’s Forest Research Institute, first noticed the problem while surveying a routine post-fire site. Beyond the expected burn damage, he found hundreds of hectares of dead and dying firs where flames had never reached. The destruction was so extensive that he immediately alerted the environment ministry. Experts say the cause is a dangerous combination of pressures intensified by…

About one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the largest population-based study of its kind. The findings, published in Nature, are not a diagnosis but suggest more than 1 million people could meet NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatments – far higher than previous estimates. Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 11,500 randomly selected people using a new biomarker test that can detect Alzheimer’s-related changes earlier than before. The study found these brain changes increase sharply with age, rising to around two-thirds of people over 90. Experts…