Latest Articles - thewilliammarshallcentre.co.uk

Young man working on a laptop at a desk by a window with city buildings visible outside.

AI jobs apocalypse: the growing threat to employment

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The prospect of an employment disaster is becoming increasingly worrying. Have you heard of the “jobs apocalypse” concept? The term...

Young man studying a tree in a sunlit forest with an open book and electronic device beside him.

Tree bark in the world’s forests absorbs methane, study finds

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

My colleagues and I have shown, for the first time at a global scale, that tree bark in the world’s...

Brazilian aircraft carrier sailing at sea with crew member on another ship's deck in foreground and helicopter in distance.

São Paulo: why the former Foch was sunk in the Atlantic

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On 2 February 2023, off the Brazilian coast, a weary giant vanished beneath the Atlantic. As it descended towards a...

Father helping daughter with homework using a laptop at a wooden table in a cosy living room.

Parental stress can make children’s screen time harder to manage

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

If you are feeling stressed, it may be harder to set boundaries around your children’s screen use. This is nothing...

Archaeologist examining fossils and drawing sketches at an excavation site in a desert landscape.

Ancient Shark Graveyard Found in the Egyptian Desert

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Egypt's desert sands have remained dry for millennia. Yet it is hard to imagine that much of this arid landscape...

Engineer in yellow jacket and helmet inspects wind turbine installation in grassy field at sunset.

Why are wind turbine blades so enormous?

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Along a country road, they can suddenly appear behind a line of trees: a slim white tower, topped by a...

Female veterinarian in scrubs walking with a golden retriever outside a clinic, holding books and a suitcase.

Roxane: from two repeated years to veterinary studies 1,300 kilometres from home

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

At 24, Roxane knows all too well the distinctive sound of alarms set too early, suitcases repacked in a rush...

Man with a map stands beside a saddled horse on a forest path near a no dogs allowed sign in autumn.

Horses in state forests: why some paths close from September

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

At first light, the horsebox pulls up beside a still-damp forest edge. The rider climbs down, reads the sign at...

Person viewing a large monitor displaying multiple thumbnail images in a modern office setting.

ClarityCheck leaves a 450.2 GB database exposed online

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

A cybersecurity researcher has uncovered a 450 GB database left unprotected by ClarityCheck, a search engine that can identify people...

Woman checking a weather alert map on her phone and paper with a rainbow visible outside the window on a rainy day.

Météo-France vigilance map becomes more precise within each department

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On a Tuesday morning, within the same department, one motorist may be driving under almost calm skies while, 40 kilometres...

Young man concentrating while writing on paper at a wooden desk with books and a clock nearby

Jamais vu: how repetition can make familiar things seem strange

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Repetition has an odd effect on the mind. Consider déjà vu: the occasion when we mistakenly feel that a new...

Airport workers wearing high-visibility vests holding flags and signs in front of a plane during a protest.

Airbus Spain strike threatens A320 production

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Airbus is facing a large-scale indefinite strike at its Spanish factories, in a major labour dispute that could bring production...

Boy kneeling on mossy hillside, holding a sword, with backpack, snacks and paper nearby, lake and mountains in background.

Boy Finds Ancient Sword in Norway During School Activity

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

A straightforward countryside school activity became a significant moment for European archaeology. While looking for ordinary stones for a children’s...

A man and woman discussing house plans and prices at a wooden table with a laptop and coffee.

In France, a homeowner receives three valuations for their house, with a €60,000 gap. Should they worry or put it into perspective?

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

In France, a homeowner received three valuations for their house, with a €60,000 gap. Is this cause for concern or...

Tortoise on dry cracked soil near a person planting a small green seedling with gardening tools nearby.

How 400 Tortoises Brought a Desert Back to Life

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

At first light, the desert seems motionless. Sand, pale rocks and the occasional outline of a dried-out shrub make it...

Person washing face with foam in a tiled bathroom next to a shower and a shelf with soap and towels.

The doctor’s shower advice: do not forget behind the ears

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

In the United States, a doctor has highlighted an unobtrusive part of the body that is often missed during everyday...

Two military personnel analyse a digital map with aircraft data on a table in a high-tech control room.

United Kingdom and Ukraine forge an unprecedented military AI alliance

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Since the start of its conflict with Russia, Ukraine has established itself as a major hub for military innovation. Faced...

Archaeologist excavates a Roman mosaic floor at an open-air dig site with tools and machinery nearby.

Norfolk cable project uncovers unexpected Roman rural estate near Dereham

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

A project to carry electricity from a wind farm along the Norfolk coast in England uncovered something no one had...

Person walking along the centre line of an abandoned, overgrown runway surrounded by forest trees at sunset.

The abandoned 3,300-metre runway in the Landes forest

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Between maritime pines, ferns and forest tracks still used by forestry machinery, an extraordinarily long straight line discreetly cuts across...

White modern campervan displayed indoors with large windows showing a garden and houses outside.

Motorhome in the Garden: When a Neighbour Reports a Family Arrangement

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The motorhome had been parked at the far end of the garden, beside the old cherry tree, for so long...

Older man sitting at a table, reading a letter, with a map, cup of tea, nuts, and bread nearby.

120 Million Tonnes of Gold: What the Letter Means for French Villages

Dr Eleanor Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The letter landed on doormats looking like ordinary official correspondence: a few pages, maps, technical references and one word that...