The Know Daily - Tuesday 7 July 2026

_{Read in 4m 11s ∙ Listening to Alex Warren ∙}

Scientists are exploring whether a form of CAR-T cell therapy – which uses a patient’s own immune cells to help spot and target cancer – could one day be used to treat glioblastoma, a brain tumour that’s very hard to manage. In early lab studies, the approach showed promising results, including reducing detectable tumour cells. It’s still early-stage work, but researchers say it could open up new ways of thinking about treatment in the future.

🧘‍♀️ The rise of “soft living”

From social media feeds to workplace conversations, the "soft life" is gaining momentum – but is it just another wellness trend, or a sign that our definition of success is changing?

Ok, what’s it all about?
It's choosing wellbeing over busyness, valuing rest alongside ambition and setting healthier boundaries. In practice, that might mean saying no to unnecessary overtime, switching off work emails, making time for hobbies or simply resting without guilt.

Where did the trend come from?
The term "soft life" originated in Nigerian online communities, particularly among women, as a way of embracing a lifestyle with less pressure and more balance. Recent estimates suggest content tagged #SoftLife has surpassed 2.3 million posts across Instagram and TikTok, highlighting how mainstream the movement has become, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z.

Why’s it becoming so popular?
The soft life is partly a reaction to the hustle culture that dominated much of the 2010s, when being busy and constantly productive were often seen as signs of success. But years of working harder haven't necessarily translated into feeling better. Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report found that 48% of employees worldwide experience burnout at work.

The World Health Organization estimates that 12 billion working days are lost globally every year due to depression and anxiety related to overwork, costing the global economy around US$1 trillion in lost productivity. Psychologists say younger generations are also redefining success, placing greater value on flexibility and wellbeing.

Is it for everyone?
Like many trends, the soft life has its critics. Some argue it can seem unrealistic or financially out of reach, especially when social media focuses on luxury lifestyles, and point out that not everyone can simply work less. But supporters say it's less about spending money than setting healthier boundaries.

Can I try a softer approach to life?
You don't need to completely reinvent your life. Small changes can make a difference:

📧 Protect at least one part of your day from work emails or notifications.
⏰ Schedule regular downtime in the same way you would meetings.
😴 Prioritise sleep and recovery rather than treating them as rewards.
🙅‍♀️ Say no to commitments that consistently leave you feeling drained.
💃 Make time for activities you enjoy, even if they're only for 15 minutes a day.

The soft life isn't likely to replace ambition, but it reflects a growing shift towards seeing wellbeing as something to protect, not sacrifice.

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📺 Sky is set to buy ITV’s media and entertainment arm in a £1.6bn deal that would bring together two of the UK’s biggest broadcasters in a move aimed at competing with global streaming giants.

• The bigger story: The agreement, which still needs regulatory and shareholder approval, would combine ITVX and ITV’s free-to-air channels with Sky’s existing platform to create the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster. The deal does not include ITV’s studio production arm, but is expected to strengthen investment in UK content and sports programming, with a combined spend commitment of at least £2.1bn between 2028 and 2032. The companies say popular shows will remain on free-to-air TV, while both Sky News and ITV News would continue as separate editorial services. 

📖 A library of banned books has just opened its doors in Porto (oh, and the 100 titles were curated by Dua Lipa).

🏏 The Women's T20 World Cup for cricket saw Australia beat England in a sell-out final at Lord’s in London. 

💷 Overseas voters who are moving to the UK could be prevented from giving more than £100k in political donations, under new proposals aiming to preserve democracy.

🤖 AI actor Tilly Norwood is set to make her feature film debut based in a “surreal digital world located somewhere up in the cloud”.

🍕 Europe’s best pizzerias (outside of Italy) have been revealed and the restaurant that took the top spot is actually here in the UK 👏

🗺️ Ancient Rome's “Google Maps” is now live… but it might be worth brushing up on your Latin first!

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