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October 12, 2026

Edward Jenner: from vaccination to smallpox eradication

Edward Jenner helped establish vaccination. Global smallpox eradication came much later through an international programme and collective action.

October 11, 2026

Joseph Lister brought antiseptic methods into surgery in 1865. How carbolic acid cut deaths and why some doctors resisted at first.

October 11, 2026

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, when the UK returns to GMT. What changes, what stays the same and the dates for the next few years.

October 10, 2026

Michael Faraday began as a bookbinder and found electromagnetic induction in 1831. What the Royal Institution says about his work and legacy.

October 10, 2026

The British Library Reader Pass is free, but you must register in person with ID. Who can apply, what it gives you and what to check first.

October 9, 2026

Fitness in evolution is not a contest of strength. Natural selection is about inherited differences, reproduction and changing conditions.

October 9, 2026

The IFAB protocol allows an extra substitution for actual or suspected concussion. It has limits, and competitions must choose to use it.

October 8, 2026

Her mortality diagrams made a public argument. Reading them carefully also means separating a visible pattern from a complete explanation.

October 8, 2026

Registering to vote does not automatically update every time you move. Check the new details, eligibility and your voting arrangements separately.

October 7, 2026

Russia sanctions cover people, organisations and ships. Understand the different restrictions, official guidance and limits of the headline total.