As the UK endures an unprecedented fifth heatwave, following swiftly on from the driest July ever recorded, it feels like rising temperatures, water restrictions and risk of wildfires are set to become the norm rather than rare exceptions. Climate anxiety is hard to avoid this summer.
The more optimistic news is that around the globe, a number of scientists have been developing radical new technologies that could help address varying aspects of the climate crisis. Some experimental trials are already underway and over the next two decades, they could represent our best chance of preventing some of the worst consequences of our warming world.
Here, scientists describe four revolutionary ideas currently being explored.
The ‘dangerous’ scam tricking users into authorised card payments
Concerns have been raised by the consumer group Which? over a “dangerous” scam that tricks victims into authorising card payments.
Familiar tactics
Which? warned that scammers may use similar tactics to those used in authorised push payment (APP) scams – where people are manipulated into making a bank transfer.
However, in this scam, victims are instead convinced to approve card payments.
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Victims may face difficulty in getting their money back
Which? warned that victims may struggle to claim for payments they have authorised to a legitimate company, as the company has provided the intended services, even though it is part of a chain of fraud.
How to protect yourself from scams
- Never share sensitive information.
- If you receive an unexpected call, ring your bank immediately.
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Universities at risk of going bust before 2026 freshers finish their degrees
Some universities are at risk of going bust before 2026 freshers have finished their degrees, experts have warned.
Bankruptcies, mergers and course closures are expected to accelerate from 2030 because of a projected decline in the population of 18-year-olds.
Why are universities struggling?
An immigration crackdown on lucrative oversea students and limits on tuition fees for British students has taken a financial toll on universities.
- Analysts previously said at least 119 higher education providers, accounting for 43 per cent of the sector, are “struggling financially” because of budget deficits.
Looming mergers
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) think-tank, said that more mergers between institutions will “definitely” happen.
- Hillman said it is predicted that over the next five years, student numbers will drop despite a record number of 18-year-olds securing their first choice this year.
- The Russell Group of elite universities will likely snap these up and could mean that less prestigious universities lose over 25 per cent of their undergraduate student fee income, according to a report by HEPI.
Courses closing
Mergers and a decline in applications to specialist institutions could see a decline in the number of courses available.
This is already being seen, with around 27,000 courses available in clearing this year, compared to 30,000 reported in previous years, according to Ucas.
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Concern raised over vape fluid chemical – what we know
Pregnant women should be warned of a “potential harm” linked to a common chemical used to flavour vapes, scientists have said.
What you need to know
Vanillin study
Research has found that vanillin, a flavouring in e-cigarettes, could “compromise core processes of early human development”.
Pregnancy warning
Mothers-to-be should be alerted to the findings, said study lead Prof Prue Talbot from University of California Riverside.
Vape packaging
The researchers called on regulators to consider mandatory ingredient disclosure on vape packaging.
A closer look at the science
What the US study found
- The US scientists exposed embryonic stem cells to vanillin in a series of lab tests.
- They found that even low doses, known as nanomolar concentrations, led to the early-stage cells losing the ability to develop.
- “Our data predict that nanomolar concentrations of vanillin may reach the embryo in pregnant women who vape,” Prof Talbot said.
- Marian Knight, professor of maternal and child population health at the University of Oxford, said the study was “well designed”.
- However, she noted that the way in which cells were exposed to the vanillin is “very different from how the cells of a developing embryo might come in contact with vanillin”.
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Caught the eclipse bug? Here’s where to see it next year
If yesterday’s solar eclipse ignited your interest in astronomical phenomena, you’re in luck.
There are more eclipses to come in 2027 and 2028.
What you need to know
On 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will cross Southern Spain, North Africa and the Middle East, with the path of totality lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt. In 2028, there will be a total solar eclipse on 22 July crossing Australia and New Zealand.
There will also be annular eclipses on 6 February 2027 and 26 January 2028.
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How often do these events occur?
These events occur somewhere on Earth around every one-to-two years and create a “ring of fire” when the Moon is in front of the Sun, but too far away to block it entirely.
The 2027 annular eclipse will be visible along a path crossing South America and Africa, while the 2028 annular eclipse will cross parts of South America, the Atlantic, Europe and Africa.
Where and how to see the 2027 total eclipse
- In Spain, the zone of totality will include the province of Cadiz, part of Malaga province, the southernmost areas of the Granada and Almeria provinces and the Strait of Gibraltar.
- In North Africa, the eclipse will last up to six minutes and 23 seconds in Luxor, Egypt. Also in the path of totality are parts of Algeria, Gibraltar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
How stair walking could slash early death risk
Avoiding escalators or lifts could cut your risk of an early death as well as staving off heart attacks, heart failure and stroke, according to a study.
What you need to know
Stair study
Choosing the stairs is an “overlooked” way to get daily exercise, found researchers from the University of East Anglia.
Less likely to die
Regular stair climbers were 24 per cent less likely to die from any cause compared with those who don’t use the stairs as often.
Heart health
The findings suggest stair climbing may be linked to a fall in heart attacks and stroke.
What scientists say
It’s a good option for people who don’t have much time or easy access to exercise. Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts.
Dr Sophie Paddock of UEA’s Norwich Medical School
Why campaigners are encouraged
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said a stroke was the fourth most common cause of death in the UK.
Bouverie said it was “encouraging that something as simple as taking the stairs could reduce the risk of early death and may also be linked to fewer cardiovascular health problems including strokes”.
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Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
How to age well
without pain
Will Harlow, a physiotherapist
for the over-50s and author of Independence for Life, shares
the key signs you’re ageing
badly – and what to do about it.
How to know
Ageing well is maintaining the ability to do what you want you want for as long as you want without needing help. Everyone is talking about longevity but what’s the point in living longer if the last decade is painful and you’re [totally] reliant on people?”
The signs to look out for
- The most obvious early warning sign of bad ageing is pain says Harlow.
- Another is losing confidence in doing daily tasks, which can quickly lead to a lack of independence.
- One call Harlow often receives is people calling after having a fall and struggling to get up.
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How to age without pain
Not just stopping
When people retire, they often put their feet up and stop. Your body really is use it or lose it.
Throughout our entire lives, Harlow says we need between seven and nine hours of sleep.
Social isolation
The lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death by
as much as 29 per cent.
Strength training
It really is the proxy for
overall independence.
The more muscle mass you have, the less chance of heart disease, diabetes, falls and even anxiety, depression and dementia.
The brain can be linked to muscle mass too, Harlow says. It’s not just about being able to lift things. It gives you more energy, better sleep and you’ll look and feel better.
How to age without pain
Daily habits
Do short bursts of exercise, between 30 and 60 seconds, in otherwise dead time during the day.
Stretch in bed
Take joints through a full range of motion for five minutes to loosen it before getting up.
Don’t crash diet
How to age without pain
Harlow advises 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight to stop muscle loss alongside resistance training.
Don’t wait
Harlow finds that many patients put off making a change to their lifestyle until their lives are consumed by pain.
For most people, it’s about reducing the number of times per week you’re exercising, not reducing intensity.
The three ageing tests to do
- Lie completely flat on the floor and get back up to a standing position using any technique. This should take less than 10 seconds.
See how many times you can sit on the chair and stand back up again in 30 seconds. Men should be aiming for more than 14 times and women 12.
The single-leg stand, which involves standing on one leg and balancing for 10 seconds. Everyone should be able to do that and for those under 65, Harlow asks them to do it with their eyes closed.
Despite the job market hiring fewer entry-level roles, employers are still looking for grads…
But you should be prepared to keep an open mind.
We’ve compiled the sectors hiring graduate roles, what degree is required, and what they pay.
The degrees to choose for a career
Hiring in the UK could
finally be on the up
47%
of employers offered entry-level
positions from July.
That is up nearly 15 per cent from the same period last year.
700,000
But graduate unemployment rose to six per cent in 2025 and 700,000 jobless graduates were claiming benefits.
Finance and insurance
- Around 42 per cent of UK finance and insurance employers say they will be open to graduate roles this summer.
- Business loan company Portman Finance Group has taken on 50 graduates over the past four years.
Portman graduates start on £36,000 for the two-year programme and the education you need to apply is a minimum “ABB” of A-levels, and a 2:1 or above university degree. But not in a specific subject.
Trade and logistics
What makes it particularly rewarding is that there’s always something to learn.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of trade and logistics companies will be giving graduates a go this year.
Salaries start at £30,000 with an uncapped bonus, rising to £50,000 plus a company car as a senior account partner.
Technology and IT
More than half (52 per cent) of UK tech and IT firms are actively looking for graduates.
Successful entry-level candidates can earn a basic salary of up to £35,000, with the opportunity to triple that within their first three years of working.
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Public sector, health
and social services
46 per cent of public sector, health and social services organisations are also ready to take graduates, according to a survey by Manpower.
- For example, Police Now runs a graduate programme into policing. They recruit graduates from any degree field, as long as they achieve a 2:2 or above. Starting salaries range from £31,164 to £42,210 depending on location and rising each year.
Reflecting sunlight
Earlier this year, a startling new report from the Climate Change Committee predicted that heatwaves are predicted to exceed 40°C in all parts of the UK by 2050, with longer spells of hot weather resulting in 10,000 additional heat-related deaths per year.
One way of cooling the planet is to find additional ways of reflecting the sun’s rays back into space. Some scientists have suggested using planes to release tiny sulfur particles high into the atmosphere, an idea partially inspired by historic volcanic eruptions. The 1991 explosion of Mount Pinatubo ejected up to 20 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. These gases reacted with water vapour to form tiny droplets of sulfuric acid, which acted as microscopic mirrors.
“The presence of those droplets cooled the Earth by an estimated half a degree celsius [in the early 1990s] over the course of one to three years,” says Shaun Fitzgerald, professor and director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge.
Another idea is to generate brighter and more reflective clouds. This could be done by using boats mounted with powerful cannons to send a thousand trillion droplets of seawater per second into the atmosphere where they mingle with low-lying clouds. This is based on research showing that the more water droplets present within a cloud, the more capable it is of reflecting sunlight.
Not everyone is convinced, however, and concerns have been raised that artificially blocking sunlight could have unintended impacts such as altering patterns of rainfall or impacting food production.
But with the warming planet facing unprecedented wildfires and rising heat-related deaths, David Keith, professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago, argues that the idea warrants genuine consideration. “I think that it could reduce most aspects of climate change in most places, and that the risks and side effects, while real, are relatively small compared to the benefits,” he says.
Preventing droughts with next generation desalination
With more than two-thirds of the UK currently in drought, water supply has emerged as a very real problem. Government forecasts suggest that the country’s water requirements will outstrip the available supply from rainfall over the next quarter of a century.
While desalination – turning salty seawater into a drinkable form – is already carried out on a large scale across the Middle East as well as in Jersey and the Isles of Scilly, it is also highly controversial. Conventional methods, which involve the use of high-pressure pumps to force seawater through specialised plastic filters or membranes, are both expensive and energy intensive. They also result in large amounts of toxic brine being released back into the sea, raising salinity levels and harming marine life.
However, the University of Manchester is leading a push to develop cheaper, less hazardous and more efficient desalination using graphene, the world’s thinnest material.
Measuring just one atom thick, graphene-based desalination membranes could filter seawater with minimal resistance, reducing the amount of energy required, while simultaneously trapping salt particles.
“Graphene could be more economical and energy efficient, and have better salt removal capabilities,” says Rahul Nair, professor of materials physics at the University of Manchester. “There’s also interest in recovering and reusing some of the minerals from the brine, so the environmental impact [of desalination] can be reduced.”
The progressive melting of the Arctic Ocean ice could have far-reaching impacts on the global climate. This is because polar ice reflects 70 per cent of the sun’s heat, while also acting as an insulator between the cold air and the relatively warm Arctic Ocean.
If the Arctic ice disappears completely, the resulting heat boost could be catastrophic. Climate modelling has also suggested that it could provoke more intense storms and unpredictable weather patterns.
To prevent this, Fitzgerald and his colleagues have received £10m of funding from the UK Government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria), to investigate ways of restoring the density of the Arctic ice during winter months. One idea is to drill holes in the existing ice sheet and pump tens of thousands of tonnes of seawater onto the surface, where it freezes almost immediately. This concept was originally used by the oil industry on a much smaller scale to create ice sheets capable of supporting large trucks carrying heavy drilling equipment.
“If we could do that on a much larger scale to rethicken the Arctic sea ice and have it back to where it was 20-30 years ago, our estimates are that it could reduce average global temperatures by a tenth of a degree Celsius,” Fitzgerald says.
Real Ice, a specialised field team funded by Aria, are currently carrying out pioneering experiments in northern Canada. So far, this has led to some optimistic findings such as the suggestion that artificially thickened ice is brighter than the original ice sheet, potentially making it better at reflecting solar radiation.
Modifying ocean currents with giant parachutes in the sea
The UK owes its temperate climate to the Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current which flows from the Gulf of Mexico to Northwest Europe as part of a wider conveyor belt of currents known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc).
However, there are signs that the Gulf Stream is slowing down. If it collapses entirely, much of Europe could descend into a new Ice Age. “The UK and other countries would get colder because the warmth isn’t coming up from the tropical ocean,” says Stuart Haszeldine, a professor at the University of Edinburgh’s Climate Change Institute.
To prevent this, Haszeldine’s suggestion is to artificially reinforce the Gulf Stream with the help of giant parachutes – the size of half a football pitch – pulled by as many as 1000 tugboats, as a way of dragging warm water across the Atlantic.
He proposes small test experiments, beginning in a laboratory wave tank with model boats, followed by a real-world trial in a freshwater reservoir as a way of quantifying the exact number of boats and the size of the parachutes required to make this happen.
“You’d need to do an initial trial for several years, and if all goes well, then several countries would need to get together and build a fleet of boats to do the real manipulation of the ocean current,” he says.
As with the other grand ideas, the idea may seem slightly outlandish. But given the rapidly accelerating scale of the climate urgency, Haszeldine is calling for politicians to unlock more funding to facilitate broader testing of some of these potentially game-changing innovations.
“All these interventions are remarkably low cost compared to the implications of doing nothing,” he says. “This is all extremely feasible, extremely tractable in terms of the technology, industry and money, which is available in the world.”