The Know Daily - Thursday 9 April 2026

_{Read in 4m 10s ∙ Listening to George Ezra ∙}

The rare Orkney vole – only found in Scotland – is having its best season yet, with numbers rising across the islands. Conservationists say activity has reached its highest levels since monitoring began in 2019, a really encouraging sign for this unique teeny tiny furry friend.

🧘‍♀️ Ancient rituals

Ancient wellness rituals are having a moment (our readers were particularly interested in “dusking” when we mentioned it last month!). We’ve put together a quick guide to understanding what some of the most popular ones are right now and how to try them yourself.

Dusking
Rooted in ancient circadian rhythms and seen in cultures that lived in sync with natural light, “dusking” is about winding down with the setting sun – dimming lights, reducing stimulation and easing into the evening. It also draws parallels with Scandinavian and Danish lifestyle trends that prioritise calm, cosy evenings and intentional slow-down time.

The supposed benefits centre on better sleep and reduced stress, as lower light exposure helps regulate melatonin and prepare the body for rest. More recently, the trend has gained traction online, with people sharing “dusking routines” as part of a wider shift towards slower, more mindful evenings in an always-on world.

👉 Try it yourself: Start by dimming overhead lights at sunset and switching to lamps or candles. Put screens away an hour before bed and opt for calming activities like reading, stretching or journalling.

Ear seeding
This practice has a long history stretching back over 3,000 years in China, but its global rise is more recent. In the 1950s, French physician Paul Nogier mapped the modern “ear reflexology” system. Since then, auriculotherapy has been introduced into both traditional Chinese medicine and integrative health practices worldwide.

Advocates say it can help with stress, anxiety, pain and sleep by applying pressure to specific points on the ear that correspond to different parts of the body. Some studies suggest benefits, particularly for pain and anxiety, though overall the evidence remains mixed.

👉 Try it yourself: Use pre-made ear seed kits (these ones are a popular entry point) and place them on recommended pressure points. Gently press them a few times a day to stimulate the area, or visit a trained practitioner for guidance.

Sound baths
From Tibetan singing bowls to chanting practices in ancient Egypt, sound bathing has roots in ancient healing traditions from across the globe. Today, it’s been rebranded into a wellness experience where participants are immersed in sound frequencies – often using gongs, bowls or chimes.

People who have practiced it often report feelings of deep relaxation, reduced stress and improved mental clarity, with the idea that sound waves can help calm the nervous system. One study exposed a group of 50 participants to Tibetan singing bowls and researchers later concluded that “a single session” could “induce a more evidence-based psychological/physiological relaxation response”.

👉 Try it yourself: Look for local sound bath sessions or try guided recordings at home. Lie down comfortably, close your eyes and focus on the sounds, allowing your body to fully relax for as little as 20 minutes.

✍️ A new mandate has been given to Antonia Romeo – the first female Cabinet Secretary – including rewriting the civil service code.

• The bigger story: Romeo, who is head of the civil service, has been tasked with reshaping it to focus more on delivery, innovation and productivity. Her role includes setting a clearer direction across Whitehall, while No 10 chief secretary Darren Jones takes on a broader focus on long-term reforms. The changes are aimed at making government operations more effective and responsive, with a stronger emphasis on getting policy delivered.

🤳 Greece will be the next country to ban social media for under-15s, starting from January 2027.

💅 Vogue’s cover for this month is a tribute to “when Miranda met Anna” – if you know, you know! 

🚙 March was the best month ever for electric car sales driven by the uncertainty of fuel prices due to the conflict in Iran.

🩺 An AI tool developed by scientists in Oxford can predict the risk of heart failure five years before it develops.

🐙 The world’s “oldest” octopus isn’t actually an octopus, scientists have said after assessing new scans.

👩‍💻 165k digital nomads have left the UK as many seek the “slomad” life in these European countries.

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Trivia answer: C) Visitors will find metal stands to prop their phones dotted along paths in this summer hotspot.

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