1. New data shows that Britain is becoming more liberal as views on social and moral issues have shifted over the past four decades. The annual British Attitudes Survey reveals that 67% of people now support same-sex relationships, up from 17% in 1983. The survey also found that 76% support a woman’s right to choose an abortion, compared to just 37% in 1983. The results indicate a near-revolution in attitudes towards sexuality and the role of women, though views on transgender issues remain divided.
2. Solar farms in space may soon become a practical way to generate energy, thanks to falling costs of rocket launches. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has almost halved the per-kilo cost of sending cargo into orbit, making it much cheaper to launch infrastructure into space. The European Space Agency estimates that space-based solar power becomes viable when cargo can be launched for £808 per kilo or less. Solar arrays in orbit would have 24/7 access to the sun’s rays and could generate electricity equivalent to that of a nuclear power station, with energy delivered back to earth via microwaves.
3. The UK’s Chester Zoo has unveiled a new hub that will host 50,000 young people, teachers and students annually. The education centre will provide wildlife workshops, skills and nature-based training, and community events to foster deeper connections with nature. The hub features three classrooms as well as a recording studio and an outdoor space with sustainable heating and power provided by solar panels and heat pumps.
4. Water voles have returned to the River Ver in Hertfordshire, England, more than 35 years after the species was last seen in the river. The UK’s fastest declining mammal disappeared from the river due to habitat loss and predation by invasive species. An initiative by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Ver Valley Society saw 150 water voles reintroduced to the river in 2021. The creatures have since doubled in number each year, occupying four miles of the Ver between St Albans and Redbourn. They help maintain the condition of riverbanks and wetlands by burrowing and feeding.
5. The US state of California is suing five big oil firms and the American Petroleum Institute for downplaying the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips and Chevron are accused of deceiving the public about the impact of burning fossil fuels, despite knowing the impact since the 1960s. The civil lawsuit demands payment of damages for fire and droughts linked to the climate emergency as well as setting up a fund to cover the cost of future extreme weather events
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