The Know Daily - Wednesday 3 September 2025

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In Sweden’s town of Eskilstuna, a one-of-a-kind shopping centre called ReTuna offers only secondhand and repurposed items – but it feels far from just your local charity shop. Nestled beside the town’s recycling center, this mall turns donations into sleek, stylish shopping 👠

👩‍⚕️ PCOS awareness and advancements

It’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month – a condition that affects around one in eight women of reproductive age. Despite being so common, it remains under-recognised and often misunderstood.

What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal condition where the ovaries produce higher-than-usual levels of androgens (sometimes called “male” hormones). This can disrupt ovulation and lead to a mix of symptoms such as irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, acne, excess hair growth, scalp hair thinning and weight changes. Many women with PCOS also live with metabolic issues, including insulin resistance, which increases long-term risks for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Whilst there is currently no cure, new drugs and targeted therapies to manage symptoms are being researched.

What’s the wider impact?
The condition goes beyond reproduction. Living with PCOS can affect mental and emotional wellbeing, and experiences of being misunderstood or misinformed can make these challenges harder. It’s not unusual for women to see multiple doctors over many years before receiving a diagnosis. And once diagnosed, conflicting advice online and in clinics can be overwhelming.

Why is PCOS sometimes misunderstood?
Part of the problem is that PCOS doesn’t look the same in everyone. Some women have more obvious symptoms like irregular cycles, while others only find out during fertility investigations. Outdated definitions and a lack of standardised testing also add confusion. On top of that, the name “polycystic ovary syndrome” can be confusing – the “cysts” are actually immature follicles, not true cysts. 

What’s advancing?
The science around PCOS is catching up:

• New diagnostic tools – researchers are exploring blood-based biomarkers that could make diagnosis faster and more accurate.

• Understanding the roots – studies are uncovering how genetics, hormones and metabolism interact.

• Whole-body care – guidelines now recommend looking beyond fertility, with more focus on metabolic health, mental wellbeing and personalised treatment.

• Tech and tracking – digital health apps are helping patients map symptoms over time, giving both women and doctors clearer insights into patterns and progress.

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🟩 New Green leader: Zack Polanski has won the election to lead the Green party in England and Wales.

• The bigger story: Polanski won nearly 85% of the vote to become the party’s new leader. He defeated co-leadership candidates Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns and signalled a shift toward a more “eco-populist” approach. He ruled out any electoral pact with Labour, aiming instead to challenge both Labour and Reform UK. 

💃🏼 “Everybody wants this”: There’s a new editor in town! Vogue has officially announced who will be replacing Anna Wintour.

⛴️ Sustainable shipping: Hydrogen-powered vessels set sail in the Netherlands, marking a significant step towards zero-emission maritime transport.

👩‍💻 Accountability avengers: A new wave of influencers known as “anti-Karens” are taking to social media to call out perceived bad behaviour on the internet.

🚂 Trackable train rides: A new pay-as-you-go rail ticketing system that tracks passengers as they travel is being trialled in England.

🌅 Amazing aurora: Some parts of the UK were able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights – aurora borealis – yesterday. Check out the pics.

🎧 Next-gen news: Over 43% of 18 to 34-year-olds now get their news via podcasts and other digital audio formats. If that’s you, then our top rec is The News Diet – fun and factual… it basically feels like your two journalist besties catching you up over a coffee!

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Trivia answer: A) Bubble tea is currently experiencing a boom across the globe.

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