Category Archives: Books

2025.11.29

Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown
Exclusive: UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with ‘far-reaching’ implications
Rachel Salvidge
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/climate-crisis-depleting-europe-groundwater-reserves-analysis

Analysis
They tried to overturn the 2020 US election. Now, they hold power in Trump’s Washington
Rachel Leingang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/29/2020-election-deniers-trump

‘Nature’s original engineers’: scientists explore the amazing potential of fungi
Unique properties of fungi have led to groundbreaking innovations in recent years, from nappies to electronics
Linda Geddes
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/29/fungi-scientists-innovations

At least 460 killed in south-east Asia floods and landslides, reports say
More than 300 people killed on Indonesia’s Sumatra island with 162 reported dead across Thailand
Donna Ferguson and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/29/indonesia-and-thailand-flooding-death-toll-tops-350-as-rescuers-struggle-to-reach-worst-hit-areas

Airbus issues major A320 recall after mid-air incident grounds planes, disrupting global travel
Immediate software change on ‘significant number’ of jets to result in disruption to half the worldwide fleet
Nadeem Badshah and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/28/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-after-recent-mid-air-incident

Meera Sodha’s recipe for Christmas aubergine and rice timbale
A stunning but simple festive vegetarian centrepiece for the whole table to enjoy
Meera Sodha
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/nov/29/christmas-spiced-aubergine-timbale-cream-cheese-fruit-nuts-recipes-meera-sodha

Interview
‘If I was American, I’d be worried about my country’: Margaret Atwood answers questions from Ai Weiwei, Rebecca Solnit and more
Introduction by Lisa Allardice
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/29/if-i-was-american-id-be-worried-about-my-country-margaret-atwood-answers-questions-from-ai-weiwei-rebecca-solnit-and-more

Cats became our companions way later than you think
Helen Briggs
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8dvdp9gn7o

Lightning detected on Mars for the first time, scientists say
Fiona Nimoni
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q5w13e58zo

2025.11.23

‘Eating Indigenously’: award-winning chef celebrates Native American cuisine in new cookbook
James Beard-winning chef Sean Sherman’s cookbook Turtle Island pushes readers to view food systems through an Indigenous lens
Melissa Hellmann
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/23/sean-sherman-turtle-island-cookbook-indigenous-food

French winemakers ‘battle for survival’ as minister prepares for crisis talks
Vineyard owners say sales slump, Trump tariffs and worst harvest in 70 years have put producers in danger of closure
Kim Willsher
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/23/french-winemakers-sales-slump-crisis-talks

Bird flu: first ever death from rare H5N5 strain is recorded in US
Washington state resident’s backyard flock of domestic poultry had been exposed to wild birds, health officials said
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/22/bird-flu-first-death-h5n5-strain-us

Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien: ‘The Spice Girls couldn’t sing. But lovely girls’
The actor, writer and musician on growing up on a sheep farm in New Zealand, being in Spice World and a lovely afternoon with Aretha Franklin
Rich Pelley
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/22/rocky-horror-show-creator-richard-obrien-interview-spice-girls-aretha-franklin-new-zealand

Analysis
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice
Eduardo Porter
Despite the US’s economic success, income inequality remains breathtaking. But this is no glitch – it’s the system
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/23/china-us-poverty-income-inequality

Maga is in meltdown over a preppy pink sweater for men. So, what exactly is the problem?
Ellie Violet Bramley
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/23/maga-meltdown-pink-sweater-men-masculinity-fragile

‘We’ve never seen this before’: The spectacular stereo images of giant galaxies
Stephen Dowling
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251121-sir-brian-mays-stereo-vision-of-galaxies

2025.11.22

‘The French people want to save us’: help pours in for glassmaker Duralex
The brand, which evokes nostalgia and pride, hit its €5m fundraising target within hours and orders have soared
By Kim Willsher in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/22/french-people-want-to-save-us-help-pours-glassmaker-duralex

We know ultra-processed foods are bad for you – but can you spot them? Take our quiz
Test your knowledge in eight questions to prove you know your onions from your emulsifiers
Natasha May
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/21/ultra-processed-foods-quiz

Review
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
The return of Charlie and Lola; the second lives of trees; the dangers of time travel; a YA Bluebeard retelling and more
Imogen Russell Williams
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/21/children-and-teens-roundup-the-best-new-picture-books-and-novels

At least 41 dead as relentless rains flood Vietnam
Kelly Ng
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceq0q3e2j17o

2025.11.18

The origins of Bemidji’s iconic Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues
The prototypical “roadside colossus” inspired dozens of other Midwest cities to create similar works in the decades that followed.
by Jennifer Kleinjung
https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2025/11/the-origins-of-bemidjis-iconic-paul-bunyan-and-babe-the-blue-ox-statues/

It’s deer hunting season, and if you’re heading to the woods, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants your help in fighting a disease impacting deer. KTTC reports “chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious fatal brain condition that affects deer. … Hunters in affected areas must provide CWD samples if it’s in a mandatory sample requirement area.” Via MinnPost
https://www.kttc.com/2025/11/17/minnesota-dnr-asks-hunters-help-fight-chronic-wasting-disease/

Jeffrey Epstein’s emails reveal a disdain for morality among the elite
Moira Donegan
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/17/jeffrey-epstein-emails-elites

Doing your own research isn’t a bad thing, I tell my patients. But just how will they spot the fraudulent papers?
Ranjana Srivastava
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/19/doing-your-own-research-isnt-a-bad-thing-i-tell-my-patients-but-just-how-will-they-spot-the-fraudulent-papers

The wild old wicked gang: great Irish writers – in pictures
Edna O’Brien on her sofa, Joseph O’Connor in his garden, Seamus Heaney surrounded by books … British photographer Steve Pyke on capturing the greats of Irish literature
https://www.theguardian.com/books/gallery/2025/nov/18/edna-o-brien-seamus-heaney-steve-pyke-irish-writers-in-pictures

‘Fights for our material survival’: documentary goes inside the battle for trans rights
In Heightened Scrutiny, the fight driving activist and lawyer Chase Strangio is backgrounded by a deep dive into how the media has helped to push an anti-trans agenda
Veronica Esposito
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/17/heightened-scrutiny-trans-documentary-sam-feder

Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died
News
By Ted Litchfield published 15 hours ago
Shamelessly stolen from Andrew Ducker
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/legendary-game-designer-programmer-space-invaders-champion-and-lgbtq-trailblazer-rebecca-heineman-has-died/

2025.11.14

Epic movie: Christopher Nolan uses 2m ft of film for adaptation of The Odyssey
The director has revealed suitably grand scale of his forthcoming Homeric adventure, which was shot with Imax cameras and stars Matt Damon as Odysseus
Andrew Pulver
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/14/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-2-million-ft-imax-matt-damon

Tesla recalls 10,500 Powerwall 2 battery systems in US over fire risk
Firm had received 22 reports of overheating, raising risk of serious injury or death, though none have been reported
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/13/tesla-powerwall-2-battery-recall

Interview
‘I’m not just putting on nice plays’: Hollywood star Alan Cumming’s plan to reignite theatre in the Scottish Highlands
Libby Brooks
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/nov/14/hollywood-star-alan-cummings-theatre-scottish-highlands-pitlochry-interview

Review
Future Boy by Michael J Fox review – secrets from the set of a definitive 80s movie
The actor’s account of his big Hollywood break – and how it almost never happened
Ellen E Jones
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/14/future-boy-by-michael-j-fox-review-secrets-from-the-set-of-a-definitive-80s-movie

Almshouse in Dorset discovers its 15th-century Flemish triptych is worth £3.5m
Artwork that hung for centuries at St John’s Almshouse in Sherborne will be sold to raise funds for social housing
Jamie Grierson
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/14/almshouse-in-dorset-to-auction-15th-century-flemish-triptych-sothebys

Rare bronze and iron age log boats reveal details of Cambridgeshire prehistory
Well-preserved oak and maple boats used for transport and fishing to be displayed in Peterborough
Harriet Sherwood
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/14/rare-iron-bronze-age-log-boat-cambridgeshire-archaeology-history

So last night, the crew installing solar panels left the back garage door unlocked. It was, of course, gone through and their chargers vanished. Bad crew! Bad! Bad! Bad!