Latest Articles - thewilliammarshallcentre.co.uk

Man working on laptop at wooden table with firewood, measuring tape, and fireplace in the background.

Firewood scams: how to avoid fraudulent online deals this winter

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

As winter draws nearer, cut-price firewood deals are multiplying online. Some conceal well-established fraudulent methods. Wood heating remains highly popular...

Archaeologist uncovering a gold coin at an ancient site with temple ruins and excavation tools nearby.

Rare Syracuse gold coin found in Maddalusa necropolis near Agrigento after 2,400 years

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

A small gold coin lay concealed for around 2,400 years in an ancient burial ground in Sicily. Unearthed in the...

Woman in colorful dress dancing and holding Brazil and Italy flags at lively street festival with crowd and musicians.

São Bernardo of All Peoples: Cultural Turn celebrates immigrant traditions

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

To honour the traditions of immigrants who have helped build and develop São Bernardo over 473 years, the City Hall,...

Man holding rock and tablet with quarry site in background, wind turbines and construction crane visible.

Beauvoir lithium in Échassières: Imerys’ €1 billion EMILI project

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

In Échassières, in the Allier department, roads winding through woodland and former mining sites hardly seem, at first glance, like...

Person holding a document at a window, looking out at a camper van connected by an orange cable outside.

Motorhome extension lead: when a neighbour contacts the local council

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

One Saturday morning, Bruno ran a 30-metre orange extension lead from a socket in his garage to his motorhome parked...

Whale shark with a camera on its head swimming near a diver holding an underwater tablet in clear blue water.

Whale Sharks Filmed Feeding Off Western Australia

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Off Western Australia, researchers have filmed whale sharks at close range to gain a clearer picture of their feeding habits....

Young man placing sticky notes on a mirror in a home office with a notebook and laptop nearby.

7 questions to discover whether you live for other people’s expectations

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Listening to the views of family, friends or partners is part of life and can be helpful when making different...

Woman reading a document in a modern kitchen with a washing machine and smartphone on the countertop.

Off-peak hours reform: how new schedules could affect your electricity bill

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

On a Tuesday evening, in a kitchen still warm from summer, the washing machine is running, the oven is heating...

Person operating a drone with a tablet overlooking Machu Picchu ruins at sunrise in the Andes mountains.

Machu Picchu: LiDAR reveals more than 2.5 kilometres of ancient pre-Hispanic roads

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

An apparently untouched forest surrounding Machu Picchu concealed something that decades of exploration had failed to record: more than 2.5...

Black grouse standing on mossy ground next to a map, binoculars, and a camera with forested hills and wind turbines in backgr

Vosges capercaillie: why sixteen Norwegian birds disappeared

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

At first light in a clearing in the Vosges, the silence can feel almost overwhelming. A few decades ago, however,...

Older woman in glasses using laptop and holding bills while sitting at wooden table in a bright kitchen.

Combining Employment and Retirement: How Mireille Earned €2,150 at 71

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

At 71, Mireille was not looking for a miracle. She simply wanted to top up a pension that had become...

Caveman tending a fire inside a dimly lit cave surrounded by bones, stones, and torches.

Bruniquel Rings: Neanderthal Structures from 176,500 Years Ago

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

At 336 metres from the entrance, daylight has long since vanished. Beneath the cavers’ boots, the floor of Bruniquel Cave...

Two children perform on a small stage while a seated group of kids and adults watch in a shopping mall.

West Plaza offers free children’s theatre and family activities in São Paulo

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Families in São Paulo seeking leisure options that cut children’s screen time while encouraging face-to-face socialising are increasingly turning to...

Scientist holds steaming petri dishes with colourful bacterial colonies near a UV hand dryer in a lab bathroom.

Hand dryers in public toilets: are they hygienic?

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Hand-drying machines in toilets are raising fresh questions after a visual experiment was widely shared on social media. The action...

Sleek turquoise electric sedan displayed on a shiny platform inside a modern showroom with cityscape views.

1 August 2026: Crit’Air restrictions will change daily driving

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

On a Monday morning, as they leave their neighbourhood for work, some motorists may come across a sign they had...

Scientist in a lab coat examining a human skull with a magnifying glass next to a microscope and X-ray on a table.

Piltdown Man: One of Science’s Most Famous Hoaxes

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

For almost 40 years, fragments presented as an unknown human ancestor featured in books, debates and scientific reconstructions. The problem...

Curly-haired dog and tabby cat sitting side by side on a rug with toys and food bowl nearby in a bright living room.

Matching Names for Dogs and Cats

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Choosing what to call a dog or cat is a meaningful, special occasion for many owners. After all, the name...

Person holding a map and stamp, stepping into a small waterhole in a desert with sparse vegetation.

A Greener Sahara Could Bring a Hidden Danger

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

At dawn beside a track in Mauritania, sand does not look quite the same after a shower. It becomes compacted...

Young woman reading a book at a wooden table with a lit candle, steaming tea, and a small plant by the window.

Seneca's Teachings for True Serenity

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Financial and professional obligations can overwhelm inner calm when we fail to filter the demands of everyday life. The thought...

Person interacting with a glowing zodiac wheel on a desk with tea, crystals, star charts, and a calling smartphone nearby.

Friday Horoscope: Astrological Forecasts for Every Zodiac Sign

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

This Friday’s astrological energies will offer promising opportunities to every zodiac sign, particularly when it comes to organising daily routines....

A man kneeling fitting yellow tracking devices on a group of five donkeys in a dry, grassy hillside area.

Rescued Donkeys Help Prevent Forest Fires in Spain

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

Preventing wildfires in Spain has received unexpected support from rescued animals. Rather than relying on noisy machinery, eighteen animals remove...