The Know Daily - Wedesday 6 August 2025

_{Read in 4m 33s ∙ Listening to Ravyn Lenae ∙}

Canada has unveiled the world’s largest solar panel mural – a stunning blend of art and clean energy. This massive installation inspires communities while promoting sustainability. It’s a powerful, creative step towards a greener future ☀️

👩‍💻 The rise of digital nomads

With over 40 million people worldwide believed to be relocating to work remotely abroad, there’s a real shift happening in how – and where – people work. The classic 9-5 office desk job? It's being swapped for beachside coworking spots, mountain-view Zoom calls and a life with a lot more stamps in the passport.

What is the digital nomad lifestyle?
Freelancers and entrepreneurs in particular are increasingly packing up their laptops and heading overseas. It’s all about combining work and travel, often for months or even years at a time. The appeal? Escaping the daily grind whilst discovering new places and cultures. It’s not a gap year 2.0 – nomads are still working, but from somewhere sunnier (or just more interesting) than home.

Where’s it happening?
Nearly 70 countries now offer digital nomad visas – and the list keeps growing. Japan, Spain and Turkey are topping the charts for UK workers looking to make the move. Many places are upping their game to attract nomads: visa lengths are getting longer (Croatia now lets nomads stay up to three years) and new hubs are popping up with all the essentials – good WiFi, coffee, and community services.

What’s the benefit?
There’s the obvious one: freedom. Working abroad means getting to soak up a new culture beyond the standard holiday window. It can also be more affordable than living in some UK cities – especially if you’re bouncing between countries with lower living costs. Some nations sweeten the deal with tax breaks for foreign workers. And for locals, nomads can bring income to off-the-beaten-track areas – India, for example, just launched its first digital nomad village in Yakten up in the Himalayas, supporting the local economy through homestays.

What’s the other side?
Not everyone’s loving the trend. As nomad hotspots grow, so does tension in local communities. Prices rise, new businesses pop up catering to foreigners (hello boutique yoga studios and boujee oat lattes), and the cost of living can become harder for long-time residents. There’s also a sense of cultural dilution in some places. And for the nomads themselves? Some are finding the lifestyle a bit lonely, unstable or just not as dreamy as Instagram made it look, so are heading back to the comforts of home.

The takeaway.
Yes, working from paradise has its perks. But it’s not a permanent holiday or an accessible option for everyone. For those in the position to try it, the digital nomad lifestyle can be enriching and empowering – if done right. That means contributing to, not just consuming from, local communities, being mindful of your impact, and remembering that it’s someone else’s home you’re living in.

🤖 ChatGPT update: OpenAI says it has adapted its popular AI chatbot to better detect signs of emotional distress.

• The bigger story: Beginning this week, the widely used chatbot will start encouraging users to pause during extended conversations. In addition, the tool will gradually move away from offering direct advice on personal issues, focussing instead on guiding users to make their own decisions by posing questions or outlining pros and cons.

🌏 Landmark levies: New Zealand will charge foreign tourists to visit four of its most famous natural attractions, with funds going to conservation.

🗻 Mountain manoeuvre: Engineers in China have carved the path for creating the world’s tallest bridge by slicing through a mountain.

🐌 Saving snails: Scientists are working to protect what many call the world’s most beautiful snails, while uncovering the secrets of their biology.

🍃 Selling soil: UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has authorised councils to sell off allotment sites to plug funding gaps, with eight already approved for sale by ministers. 

🧘‍♀️ Mind wandering reset: Letting your mind wander can relax you, refresh your focus and help your brain work better.

🎬 Spice up your life: A Netflix documentary on Victoria Beckham’s day-to-day life as she navigates the running of her beauty and fashion brands is underway.

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Trivia answer: A) The sandwich is made with brioche-style bread, cream cheese icing with sprinkles and a layer of strawberry jam.

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