Latest Articles - thewilliammarshallcentre.co.uk

Pregnant woman and doctor reviewing ultrasound image on tablet in medical office.

Why the US Should Screen for Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Imagine discovering that your baby has been born with brain swelling, blindness and disabling seizures. Then imagine finding out that...

Older woman sitting at kitchen table, looking at phone and calendar, with tea and glasses nearby.

Pension payments in September 2026: dates to check before worrying

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

On Tuesday morning, Jeanine opens her banking app before she has even put the kettle on. At 74, she knows...

Scientist in lab coat analysing a holographic DNA strand with world maps on a laptop and tablet.

Hidden Ancestral Lineages Transform Human Evolution

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

An in-depth examination of modern genetic data shows that the story of our ancestors contains remarkable secrets. Contemporary mapping indicates...

Firefighting aircraft dropping water on fire while firefighters watch near fire truck and burning flames.

Serbia receives Russian IL-76P water bomber after EU airspace flight

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Belgrade has received a visit from an IL-76P water bomber operated by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations. The aircraft crossed...

Man analysing cracked dry soil with a tablet in an orchard under a clear sky, near a water tower and survey equipment.

Study Finds Sacramento Valley Aquifer Has Permanently Lost Water Storage Capacity

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Parched soil fissures are a stark but surface-level indication of drought. To grasp the full consequences of persistent droughts intensified...

Female scientist examining a lab mouse in a cage while viewing a brain scan on a digital tablet in a laboratory.

Maternal Brain Hormone MBH Builds Strong Bones in Mice

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Mammalian mothers make major sacrifices to rear their offspring. To provide milk for newborns, their bodies draw calcium from their...

Person squeezing lemon juice over salt on a wooden chopping board in a kitchen setting.

Plastic Chopping Boards: Why Solid Wood Is Returning to French Kitchens

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

In the United States, scientific research has renewed questions about plastic chopping boards, which remain widespread in French kitchens. Published...

Person examining animal tracks in red soil by a lake with an open notebook and measuring ruler nearby.

Lake Turkana Footprints Preserve Eight Hominins From 1.43 Million Years Ago

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Bones can reveal height, age and anatomy, yet they rarely record a lived moment. On an ancient shore of Lake...

Worker in high-visibility vest operating a drone near large white industrial storage tanks on a clear day.

United Arab Emirates: steel cages against Iranian drones at Dubai Airport

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Ultra-modern air-defence systems are not enough to neutralise formidable Iranian drones. The United Arab Emirates has therefore chosen to reinforce...

Scientist in white coat handling colourful test tubes outdoors at a university campus table with clipboard and test tube rack

Plasticizer Exposure in Southern California Is Through the Roof

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

We live in a world where plastics and the chemicals associated with them are almost impossible to avoid. New evidence...

Person writing notes with pen in notebook at wooden table with coffee and open book nearby.

Jamais vu: why repetition makes familiar words feel strange

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Repetition has an unusual effect on the mind. Consider déjà vu: the sensation that a completely new event has happened...

Smiling senior couple holding luggage bags in a bright, cosy living room with open doors and plants.

HomeExchange: How Claudine and Jean-Louis Travel More on a Small Pension

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

On Monday morning, a graph-paper notebook, two cups of coffee and a small globe bought years ago from an antiques...

Hands arranging decorated pottery fragments on a wooden table with magnifying glasses and a sketchbook nearby.

112 Eggshell Fragments Reveal Geometric Planning by Homo sapiens 60,000 Years Ago

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

At first glance, they look like nothing more than tiny shards of broken eggshell. Yet 112 fragments recovered in southern...

Pilot in flight suit holding helmet beside fighter jets on runway with documents and tablet on trolley.

Brazilian Air Force says R$ 1.45 billion 2026 Budget freeze threatens operations

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has told the Ministry of Defence that the R$ 1.45 billion freeze in the 2026...

Two dolphins in water near a boat with two people collecting samples and taking notes at sunrise.

Bottlenose Dolphins Exhale Microplastic Fibres in Florida and Louisiana Bays

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, and Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are breathing out microplastic fibres, according to our research, published...

Young man sitting in bed using a smartphone with floating photos around him in a softly lit bedroom.

Social media and the rarity bias that makes everyday life seem dull

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Although social media recommendation algorithms exert a powerful influence over what we consume, we also naturally help them make our...

Person sitting at a table reading a paper, with a jar of coins, phone, and coloured markers nearby by a window.

2026: Are you working class, middle class or affluent in France according to your income?

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

As inflation reshapes the limits of purchasing power, find out exactly, according to your income, whether you fall into the...

Archaeologist examining a bone fragment at an excavation site with tools and notes nearby.

500,000-Year-Old Bone Tool Found at Boxgrove in England

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

A bone fragment found in England and overlooked for decades has ultimately revealed a technology dating back around 500,000 years....

Two engineers in helmets shaking hands in a submarine assembly facility with submarine model and blueprints on table.

US Navy awards US$76.6 billion for Virginia Block VI and Columbia Build II submarines

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

Following several years shaped by rising industrial costs and the after-effects of the pandemic on shipbuilding, the US Navy has...

Mealworms on white foam balls inside a clear petri dish in a laboratory setting with a microscope in the background.

Kenyan lesser mealworms can consume polystyrene

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 9, 2026

A promising development in the battle against plastic pollution has emerged: mealworm larvae can consume polystyrene. They are among a...

Young man holding EasyJet boarding pass and phone at airport lounge with flight information board in background

15 August: EasyJet and SNCF disruption threatens holidaymakers’ weekend

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 8, 2026

The 15 August holiday getaway-and-return weekend is set to be fraught for thousands of holidaymakers, with EasyJet flight cancellations and...