Author: Olivia Carter

Humpback Whales Are Blowing ‘Bubble Rings’ at Boats. Are They Trying to Communicate?Researchers bring a SETI approach to the question of what—if anything—humpbacks’ underwater smoke rings might be trying to “say”By Melissa Hobson edited by Sarah Lewin FrasierA humpback whale known as Kараул (Watchtower) produced this bubble ring in Hawaii in 2020. Humpback whales are known for their extensive use of bubbles—from powerful, aggressive bursts that prove their prowess during courtship to the bubble-net “curtains” they produce to round up prey in a spectacle that often draws tourists from around the world.Now a new study published in Marine Mammal Science…

As a carry-on-only packer, I approach my toiletry bag with a discerning eye. While I love a full glam moment—after all, I’ve been a writer and editor at women’s lifestyle magazines for over a decade—I like to keep things simple on vacation. A smaller makeup bag also leaves more room for other travel essentials (like extra shoes and spare outfits, of course). So when Versed’s Multi-serum Skin Tint SPF 40 launched, I was instantly intrigued. I’ve trusted Versed for years. The brand consistently delivers effective skincare at an approachable price, and its skin tint combines foundation and mineral SPF 40…

With the Federal Reserve just hours away from its latest decision on interest rates, President Donald Trump on Wednesday lambasted Chair Jerome Powell, calling him “stupid” while doubting the central bank would cut.In his latest in a series of attacks on Powell that go back years, Trump said the Fed’s key borrowing rate should be at least 2 percentage points lower.”So we have a stupid person. Frankly, you probably won’t cut today,” Trump said in impromptu remarks just outside the White House. “Europe had 10 cuts, and we had none. And I guess he’s a political guy, I don’t know.…

Do you need a kitchen mixer, a drill, a tent or a raclette machine? Perhaps you have a bread machine, an ice-cream maker or a toastie maker in the cupboard gathering dust?If the answer to either question is “yes”, Lucie Basch has a solution. The French entrepreneur and pioneer of a hugely successful anti-food waste app is now turning her attention to a different problem: the simultaneous underuse and overconsumption of everyday household objects.Basch has co-founded a new app, named Poppins, in reference to the world’s most famous nanny’s seemingly bottomless carpet bag full of impossibly large items, including a…

When my boyfriend proposed, I said yes – not because I was madly in love with him, but because it seemed like the correct thing to do. We’d been together for eight years and all of our friends were getting engaged; my life felt like a constant cycle of hen nights. I knew something was wrong but I suppressed it. Sometimes I’d get these flashes of anxiety. I’d worry about the fact that I no longer felt excited when my boyfriend walked into a room, or that we didn’t have sex any more – but I was 28, which at…

A 21-year-old living with stage three endometriosis said a support group has helped her to feel less lonely.Mia Harrison, who lives in Bristol, has suffered with the condition since she was 12-years-old. Every month, she is left with “all encompassing” pain affecting her legs, stomach, back and head.Over the years, Ms Harrison has undergone two surgeries and trialled different contraception methods, diets and exercise plans, but has found nothing to drastically ease her pain.”It’s not just painful periods, it’s so much more than that. It controls every single aspect of my life, from my work, university, my friendships, relationships, my…

Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Istanbul, Tasnim news agency reports, for a meeting with Arab League diplomats to discuss Tehran’s escalating conflict with Israel.About 40 diplomats are slated to join the weekend gathering of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as Israel and Iran continue to exchange missile strikes, Agence France-Presse reports.Araghchi’s arrival in Turkey on Saturday morning comes after he met with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany in Geneva on Friday.“At this meeting, at the suggestion of Iran, the issue of the Zionist…

David DeansPolitical reporter, BBC Wales NewsBBCKim Leadbeater is using a private members bill to try to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill peopleThe Senedd has lost a potential veto over whether assisted dying will be legal in Wales after a vote of MPs.The Commons reversed a change made to the bill at an earlier stage which would have given Members of the Senedd (MSs) the power to decide when the law comes into force.Under the law as amended, the Senedd will be able to pass regulations on assisted dying services in Wales – but so will the UK government.Following the…

Rachel Reeves and her government colleagues are keen to get more Britons investing in the stock market. She said recently that a lot of money was being put into cash savings accounts “when it could be invested in equities, in stock markets, and earn a better return”.The good news is that the rise of DIY tools and mobile apps means it is now easier than ever to get investing. However, the vast array of options can make it daunting to know where to start.For new investors who don’t have the time or confidence to manage a portfolio, “robo-advisers” can be…

Mark SavageMusic CorrespondentGetty ImagesDua Lipa and Jay Kay duetted on a surprise version of Jamiroquai’s 1996 hit Virtual InsanityDua Lipa treated fans to a surprise appearance by Jamiroquai, as she played her first ever show at Wembley Stadium. Bringing out the band’s frontman Jay Kay for a one-off performance of his 1996 hit Virtual Insanity, the star said he was “a massive trailblazer for British music”.Their performance came half-way through a stunning two-hour show, that saw Lipa tear through hits like Physical, One Kiss, New Rules and Levitating. ”This is such a massive, massive milestone for me,” she told her…