We know that exercise can benefit our mental health, and so can volunteering. So what if you combined them? A study from King’s College London and the London School of Economics found that combining exercise with volunteering was linked to improved mental health, less loneliness and a stronger sense of belonging in local communities. The benefits lasted for more than six months, and even occasional participation made a difference.
Ever fancied eating the fruit that your ancestors would have munched on? An Austrian retail chain is bringing back two rare 19th-century apple varieties, with 2,150 trees planted in a project testing whether these distinctive fruits can return to supermarket shelves. The initiative aims to preserve agricultural biodiversity and revive forgotten flavours.
Bangladesh’s Green Field Factory, designed to improve the wellbeing and safety of more than 5,000 predominantly female workers, has won the 2026 RIBA International Prize for its innovative, nature-inspired design. Inspired by traditional Bengali homes, the factory uses natural light, ventilation, gardens and courtyards to create a healthier working environment while reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
London’s new “super sewer” has reduced modelled storm-sewage overflow volumes into the River Thames by 86% in its first year, while preventing an estimated 84 tonnes of sewage-related litter from entering the river.
Genetic analysis of more than 1,000 Polynesian people suggests that seafarers from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) travelled around 7,100 km across the Pacific to become the first settlers of Hawaiʻi, possibly as early as the 13th century. The findings highlight the extraordinary navigational skills of Polynesian voyagers.