Full list of London schools closing or shutting early due to heatwave
Check our list of schools closing in London due to the scorching heatwave gripping the capital Source link
All posts tagged: activities
human activities are a major reason why
The Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water on Earth, is shrinking. Not fluctuating, not entering another natural cycle, but shrinking. For decades, scientists and policymakers treated changes in the Caspian as part of the basin’s natural variability. Water levels in the sea have always risen and fallen. But our new study shows something far more troubling: the current decline is increasingly driven by human decisions to dam and divert rivers, and by fragmented decision-making across five countries that border this body of water. Using satellite observations together with ground-based hydrological records from rivers across all five shoreline states (Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan), we found that flow into the Caspian Sea has declined sharply over the past three decades. The main reason is not declining rainfall. In fact, rain over the Volga Basin, which supplies roughly 80% of the Caspian’s inflow, has slightly increased. That finding matters because it overturns one of the most common assumptions surrounding the Caspian crisis. The common narrative has been straightforward: climate change increases evaporation, rainfall declines, …
Cartier tiaras and jewels go on show in Melbourne
Twenty-four historic tiaras fill the final gallery of the latest blockbuster exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). For many visitors, it may be the first – and perhaps only – time they see so many of these jewels gathered in one place. Opened on Jun 12, 2026, as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the exhibition ‘Cartier’ brings together nearly 400 jewels, timepieces, jewellery objects and archival materials, making it the largest exhibition dedicated to the French luxury house ever staged in Australia. Created by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, in partnership with NGV and in collaboration with Cartier, the Melbourne presentation features almost 300 works never before seen in Australia. Drawing on the Cartier Collection, Cartier’s archives and loans from museums and private collections around the world, the exhibition traces more than a century of the maison’s evolution – from its origins as a Parisian family business founded in 1847 to its rise as one of the world’s most recognisable jewellery houses. Source link
“Simple activities are usually the most effective”—a doctor of physical therapy says these seven daily exercises will help maintain independence as you age
We all know that staying active is essential to aging well and maintaining independence. The challenge is knowing what to do, where to start or how to do it without risking injury. “In clinical practice, I work with many individuals who want to stay active but are unsure how to do so safely,” Dr Corbin B. Skinner, a doctor of physical therapy at Houston Methodist in Texas, tells Fit&Well. Latest Videos From The solution, he says, is short, accessible routines that focus on balance, mobility, strength and endurance while minimizing risk of injury. “I often recommend a simple routine that can be done most days of the week and focuses on controlled, repeatable movements rather than intensity,” Skinner continues. You may like You don’t even need a gym. Just a chair, wall or counter for support, plus an optional pair of light dumbbells or a resistance band. This workout has proven effective, Skinner says, because it “rebuilds confidence by breaking movements into manageable steps and allowing people to succeed before progressing”. Start your week with …
“I never set a goal to lose 90lb, I just fell in love with the activities that I was doing”—a certified health coach shares the weekly workout routine that helped him lose weight and find joy in movement
Welcome to Workout Diaries, a series where we ask expert trainers to talk us through what a week in exercise looks like for them, helping you figure out how to develop and maintain an effective workout routine. Jesse Ramos Jr. is an ISSA-certified health coach based in New York City. Before he became a trainer, he was working full-time in banking for 10 years. During this period, he lost 90lb while working full-time, through low-intensity strength training, dancing and everyday movement. At first, his motives were aesthetic, but working out quickly became about something more. “I started loving the way I felt when I moved, and I realized I needed to do things for myself versus for other people,” Ramos tells Fit&Well. Latest Videos From He started with cardio workouts and discovered strength training in his late 20s. “At that point, I had already lost 40lb, but I didn’t really know much about strength training until I found the confidence to join a gym,” he says. “I would see other people lifting weights, and so …
'Why are people being so greedy?': CJ Hendry’s viral Flower Market sparks debate over plush flower frenzy
Visitors were seen scooping up armfuls of plush flowers at CJ Hendry’s viral Flower Market exhibition, sparking debate online. Source link
Can a luxury wellness cruise really help you switch off?
Aboard Explora I, one sceptical traveller tried sunrise yoga, sound baths and spa rituals at sea and found moments of real calm, even on a ship with hundreds of passengers. Source link
Visitors to Singapore Zoo can now see 2-month-old orangutan Ayaan, who was delivered via caesarean section
Ayaan was born following years of assisted reproduction efforts aimed at preserving the genetic line of his father Charlie, a 48-year-old Sumatran orangutan whose genetics are unrepresented in the managed population of the species. The pairing of Charlie and Chomel was recommended under the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association’s (SEAZA) Species Management Programme for the Sumatran orangutan, which is co-coordinated by Mandai Wildlife Group. Despite multiple pairing attempts since 2018, conception remained unsuccessful. The zoo then took on assisted reproductive methods, carrying out artificial insemination attempts in May 2022 and March 2023, before the successful attempt in July 2025. Chomel’s pregnancy was advancing smoothly until January this year, when she experienced vaginal bleeding on two occasions. She was later diagnosed with placenta praevia. Following round-the-clock monitoring and ultrasound checks, the veterinary and animal care teams decided that a planned caesarean section in March would give both mother and infant the best chance of survival. Source link
A tech writer puts Google’s AI to the test as a trip planner
For my trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong, I used Gemini mostly for preparation and research, including generating packing and to-do lists. “Generate a packing list for me and a 20-month-old toddler,” I wrote. (My wife used her own packing list.) The chatbot produced a handy lineup that included diapers, medication, noise-cancelling earphones and a power adapter. However, the bot neglected to add socks and underwear to the packing list for me, a 41-year-old who has never experimented with nudism. I added those two items manually. I also asked Gemini to generate a list of important tasks to finish before the trip, and it came up with a useful summary, which included checking the validity of the family’s passports and researching options for cell service abroad, another task I assigned to the chatbot. It recommended a cheap data plan that worked in both Taiwan and Hong Kong – perfect. When I was happy with the lists, I asked Gemini to copy them to a notepad for later use. The lists showed up inside Keep, Google’s notes …
The benefits of frightening activities depend on what you do afterward, according to new psychology research
A new study published in the journal Emotion provides evidence that voluntarily participating in frightening activities with others, such as visiting a haunted house, tends to make people feel more connected to one another. The findings suggest that experiencing fear in a safe setting fosters a subjective sense of bonding, though the true strengthening of relationships may depend heavily on talking about the experience afterward. Humans are highly social creatures, and forming bonds with others is strongly linked to overall health and psychological well-being. Scientists have gathered substantial evidence showing that sharing positive emotions, like laughing at a comedy show or cheering at a concert, amplifies interpersonal closeness. A separate line of research suggests that negative emotions, specifically fear, also push people to seek out the company of others. When people face a common threat, they often prefer to face it together rather than alone. Beyond simply seeking company, shared emotional arousal can create a sense of unity. Previous studies indicate that fear can spread from person to person, synchronizing heart rates and reinforcing group …