The Know Daily - Thursday 9 July 2026

_{Read in 4m 07s ∙ Listening to Kerryl ∙}

A new mobile museum is set to tour England from 2027, bringing works from the UK’s Government Art Collection and other major institutions directly to communities across the country. The truck will host three exhibitions a year, giving people the chance to see incredible artworks without having to travel to a big city gallery – basically a museum on wheels! 🚚

🌡️ Beating the heat

Heat domes have been making headlines in recent weeks, but they're also prompting governments and communities to rethink how we live with hotter weather. 

First up, what’s a heat dome?
A heat dome happens when a large area of high pressure gets "stuck" over a region, trapping hot air underneath like the lid on a saucepan. As the air sinks, it warms even more, leading to days – or sometimes weeks – of unusually high temperatures. The phenomenon has recently fuelled intense heat across parts of North America and Europe, including the UK.

Why do they matter?
Long periods of extreme heat can put pressure on hospitals, transport networks, power supplies and agriculture, while increasing the risk of wildfires and drought. People are affected too, particularly older adults, young children and those with existing health conditions. 

Is the UK prepared?
The short answer? More than before, but there's still work to do. The UK’s Climate Change Committee's latest report says the UK needs to shift from reacting to heatwaves to planning for them. Recommendations include setting safe working temperatures, designing cooler homes, planting more urban trees, creating shaded public spaces and making hospitals, schools and transport infrastructure more resilient. The report says that, without further adaptation, 92% of UK homes could be at risk of overheating by 2050. Alongside longer-term planning, the UK already uses Heat Health Alerts from the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency to warn the public when dangerous temperatures are expected.

What about elsewhere?
Many countries that experience regular extreme heat have been adapting for years. Cities across Spain and Italy have expanded shaded streets and public drinking fountains. France has introduced heat-health warning systems and checks on vulnerable residents during severe heatwaves. In the US, some cities have appointed dedicated "Chief Heat Officers" to coordinate emergency responses, while others are investing in reflective roofs, more trees and cooler building materials to reduce urban temperatures. Organisations such as the World Resources Institute say these practical changes can make cities significantly more resilient as heatwaves become more frequent.

So, there’s good news?
Absolutely! Unlike many natural hazards, extreme heat is something we can prepare for. Better forecasting means earlier warnings, while smarter building design and stronger public health planning can all help reduce the impact so everyone can be better equipped to cope with them as temperatures continue to rise.

🩺 Rapid endometriosis tests are set to be introduced on the NHS in England and Wales, helping speed up diagnosis for millions of women.

• The bigger story: Two new tests have been approved by NICE that could help identify endometriosis much faster than current methods. The condition affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, but many wait years for answers, with some facing delays of nearly a decade before being diagnosed. One test uses a saliva sample to look for biological signs of the condition, while another uses sensors to measure activity in the gut and can give results in around 45 minutes. Health experts say the move could help women get the right support and treatment sooner, while reducing the need for invasive procedures.

🤝 NATO emerged from its summit in Ankara “stronger ​and more united”, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said. 

💃🏼 The Emmy Awards in September are to be hosted by a woman for the first time in 15 years – and what a woman she is too!

🤳 A new AI image generator that offers its own “presets” has been introduced by Meta, with ready-made templates that let users instantly transform photos into different styles. Critics have raised concerns about the ability to use other Instagram users’ images to create AI content.

💬 The UK public will be asked who should receive social care, as well as how it should be paid for, as part of a commission led by Baroness Louise Casey.

😊 The world’s happiest cities in 2026, according to locals, have been revealed… and a UK gem has taken the top spot! 

🌠 A cosmic double whammy will take place on this date, with both a solar eclipse and shooting stars visible on the same day.

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Trivia answer: B) The spicy ingredient means bigger animals like foxes will give it a miss, while our feathered friends don’t have to compete for their meals!

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