The Know Daily - Friday 7 August 2026

_{Read in 5m 13s ∙ Listening to Ariana Grande ∙}

Hello hello,

As a founder, I know there's nothing quite like finding a brand that just fits. The best partnerships feel natural, exciting and genuinely valuable for everyone involved (especially the people on the receiving end!). All of that is to say, if you've ever thought your brand would be a good match for our wonderfully curious, hella cool community of 200,000+ readers, drop us a message!

Now, onto this week's headlines, recs and culture picks ✨

Lynn
CEO and co-founder

UK NEWS

🏥 200 mental health centres and mental health A&Es are set to open across England by 2029, according to new plans by ministers. 

🚖 Robotaxis are set to hit London’s streets, after Transport for London granted Wayve minicab licences to operate its autonomous vehicles in partnership with Uber. The cars will initially have a safety driver behind the wheel, ready to take over if needed.

📝 Scottish exam pass rates have increased after students across the country received their results this week.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🗳️ A politician with no previous elected office experience, Abdul El-Sayed, has defeated an establishment-backed congresswoman in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, the latest sign of progressives gaining ground in US primaries.

⛷️ Snow has fallen in New Zealand’s capital for the first time in 15 years – and residents are celebrating by skiing the streets!

🇲🇲 Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with a Red Cross official in what her son says marks the first positive development in years.

CULTURE

🎷 A famous jazz club from New York will open its first UK venue next month, with Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper lined up to headline on opening night.

🎭 Edinburgh Fringe Festival kicks off today with more than 4,000 shows set to be staged throughout August.  

🦸‍♂️ The new Spider-Man movie landed the second biggest opening weekend of all time at the global box office.

Fed up of paying £3 for a coffee that spikes your energy and doesn’t even taste that good? Well, we’ve found an option that’s a lot more economical and much better for your brain. Oh, and you can grab 20% off with this code: THEKNOW.

✨ AD: This helps keep The Know free for all. We only get paid if you click on it so please do show some love if you’re interested x

WORK & INNOVATION

💉 Fridge-free vaccines have been successfully trialled in patients for the first time, according to scientists. 

🌅 Living the dream is possible, according to a new campaign by PensionBee called  “Born to Retire”. It’s challenging outdated ideas about retirement in an effort to reframe the period as the start of an exciting new chapter. 

🐑 Sheep wool might be the key to making seaweed farming plastic free, engineers from Queen's University Belfast have said.

UPLIFTING STUFF

☀️ Solar power was Portugal's main source of electricity in July for the first time ever, making up 53% of consumption.

🐅 The first rare tiger in 70 years has been released in Kazakhstan as part of a programme to rebuild the animal's population.

👁️ A new retinal implant could restore some sight for people with age-related macular degeneration, according to a science startup.

We’re proud to bring you news that’s thoughtful, balanced and free from the noise. But the truth is, it only works because you’re part of it. There’s no extra perks for donating (except ensuring we keep popping up in your inbox!) but even a small donation keeps us going. 💕

🗞 Read: Ever heard of social prescribing? This piece explores why activities like sea swimming, painting and gardening can genuinely improve your mental and physical health – and, more importantly, how to choose a hobby you'll actually stick with. If you've been meaning to spend a little less time scrolling and a little more time doing, it's a thoughtful (and surprisingly practical) read.

📺 Watch: The new series of Ted Lasso is out and this time it’s all about women’s team (just when we thought it couldn’t get any better!). An adult cartoon show about cats drops today and it’s safe to say we’re intrigued. And if you’re after a seriously underrated ‘90s rom com, definitely try Sliding Doors. 

🎧 Listen: I’ve just caught up with Ariana Grande’s latest album and my goodness she never disappoints! ‘Hate that I made you love me’ is already playing on a constant loop in my head.

🧑‍🍳 Cook: A fattoush salad is the kind of recipe that you make once and immediately wonder how you've gone this long without it. Oh, and it’s also refreshingly easy to whip up!

⭐ Donate to The Know. Only 0.9% of our readers donate (we see you and we love you 🥹). So if you have a couple of pounds to spare and want to ensure we keep bringing you thoughtful and informative news every day, we’d be so grateful.

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.