The Know Daily - Thursday 3 July 2025

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A new brain implant is helping people command devices with just their thoughts, such as typing on a screen or moving a prosthetic limb. Developed by Precision Neuroscience, it’s super thin, flexible, and can be removed without harming brain tissue. The tech is now being tested in humans after being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, offering hope for those with paralysis or neurological conditions.

🚌 The rise of worldschooling

Homeschooling is booming in the UK and some families are taking it even further by swapping classrooms for campervans and learning on the road. 

What’s the homeschooling situation?
Since the pandemic, more UK parents are taking education into their own hands. Around 100k children are now being educated at home in England, whether that’s through private tutors or parents themselves, and that number’s still rising. While some homeschool for academic or wellbeing reasons, others see it as a path to more freedom – especially those able to travel. 

What is worldschooling?
Worldschooling blends homeschooling with travel, offering a way to combine family time, education and adventure in one package. Kids learn geography by crossing borders, history at ancient ruins and budgeting at street markets. It’s immersive, flexible and rooted in real-world experience.

Who’s doing it?
Digital nomads, remote freelancers and entrepreneurial parents make up a big part of the worldschooling community. Some live in converted vans, others hop between Airbnbs or house sits. The lifestyle appeals to families craving flexibility, cultural immersion and a break from the school routine.

Is it legal in the UK?
In the UK, homeschooling is legal and lightly regulated. Parents must ensure their children receive a “suitable” education but don’t need to follow the national curriculum. To stay aligned with UK standards, many families use online programs or tutors, and keep records for future exams like GCSEs. When travelling abroad, they usually follow UK or US curriculums to ensure flexibility with local rules.

Are there any downsides?
It can be expensive. Costs include travel, accommodation, online curriculums and reliable Wi-Fi. Some families live off savings, run businesses, or travel slowly to save money. Others explore more affordable routes like van life in the UK or extended stays in lower-cost countries. A lot of planning and budgeting is required to make this a viable option for families.

There’s also reduced social interaction with peers and a lack of routine that may affect wellbeing, as well as ensuring children feel fully prepared for tests and life beyond school when not following the national curriculum.

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🌍 New climate target: The European Commission has announced that the EU should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040.

• The bigger story: Brussels has proposed a softer 2040 climate target, still aiming for a high emissions cut but now allowing countries to use some international carbon credits. This means they can buy credit from projects and organisations overseas to offset emissions. Governments like France and Poland pushed for the change, arguing the original plan was too costly at home. Starting in 2036, up to 3% of emissions cuts could come from verified projects abroad. 

🕊️ Pursuing peace: In their first call since 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire and reopening diplomacy negations with Ukraine.

🏘️ Traveller charges: Oxford City Council is currently exploring the introduction of a tourist tax for overnight stays, following in the footsteps of Manchester and Liverpool.

🙅‍♀️ Blocking bots: Publishers including Condé Nast and Associated Press are backing an internet infrastructure provider that blocks AI scrapers accessing content by default.

🖼️ Pricey painting: A work of art that was once owned by the first UK prime minister has sold at auction for a record £31.9m. 

🐧 Adventurous avian: Oona the puffin would normally be found by the sea, but after being discovered 110 miles inland in a garden in Herefordshire, has now received a clean bill of health and is set for release.

👩‍💻 Employment equilibrium: This island country has been named the best in the world for work-life balance for the third year in a row – clearly they’re doing something right!

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Trivia answer: B) The leather shoe is over 12 inches long, which is equivalent to a UK men's size 13.

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