The Know Daily - Monday 10 August 2026

_{Read in 4m 20s ∙ Listening to Julia Cole ∙}

What if your train journey helped power the country? A small Swiss village is trialling solar panels fitted between active railway tracks, and after more than 11,000 trains passed over them, the system has proved both safe and effective. It's just a pilot project for now, but the ambitions are much bigger – the company behind it estimates that, if rolled out across Switzerland's rail network, the panels could generate enough electricity to power around 300,000 homes.

📖 The reading revival

Reading for pleasure is getting renewed attention, with MPs exploring how to encourage more youngsters to pick up books to support literacy and help develop imagination, empathy and confidence.

Tell me more.
A new cross-party report from the Education Committee highlights how reading habits have changed over time. In 2026, 36% of children aged 8–18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time – an improvement on the previous year, but lower than the 51% recorded in 2005. Meanwhile, 20% said they read daily for pleasure, half that of two decades ago. 

MPs say the decline is not just about literacy skills. The report points to evidence that reading for pleasure is linked with better mental health, wellbeing and social development. It also highlights groups who are less likely to read for enjoyment, with 29% of boys aged 8–18 saying they enjoy reading in their free time compared with 42% of girls. The committee is now calling for a stronger reading culture across schools, homes and communities so children can discover books they genuinely enjoy.

Does reading matter beyond childhood?
The parliamentary report focuses on children and young people's reading habits, but the benefits extend into adulthood too. Storytel surveyed more than 5,000 adults and found that people who read or listen to books more frequently consistently report higher levels of wellbeing. The survey also found that almost 60% of respondents felt they spend too much time on screens, with audiobooks being a primary way to replace some of that time on tech.

What's being done to get people reading again?
The inquiry comes during the UK's National Year of Reading, a campaign designed to encourage both children and adults to read for pleasure. The parliamentary report highlights the campaign's role in bringing together schools, libraries, charities and organisations to promote reading, with around 2 million children already reached by June this year.

The Education Committee says improving access and making reading feel enjoyable will be key to building stronger habits. Its recommendations include strengthening school libraries, helping children discover a wider range of books and giving them more choice over what they read. The report also highlights initiatives that can help bring books to life, including author visits, reading challenges and opportunities for children to talk about stories with their peers. For adults, campaigns encouraging people to share books with children, join reading groups or simply make time for their own reading aim to show that books aren't just something for the classroom.

Whether you're an avid reader or haven't picked up a book in months, MPs hope the renewed focus will help make reading a lifelong habit again. And if you're looking for somewhere to start, why not browse The Know's reading list for your next great read?

💰 Money Monday: Nearly half of couples are making financial plans separately, with new research highlighting the rise of the “financially single” couple.

• The bigger story: Wealth manager Quilter has found that 46% of couples don’t share money management equally, while just 38% have sought financial advice together. The research also found that 65% of financial advisers say couples are more confident when they plan together, while 17% of women said they wouldn’t feel confident managing their finances independently if their relationship ended.

🚗 A national tour of the UK by Prime Minister Andy Burnham kicks off today, which he will use as a chance to tell voters about his 10-year plan for the country.

💝 The winner of our giveaway with Wobble for a year of personalised support from a qualified therapist has been chosen – Hannah from Camden check your emails! 

👠 An auction of clothes from the Devil Wear’s Prada 2 movie is set to take place in September. 

🐛 The top 10 invertebrates of the year have been revealed by The Guardian, celebrating spineless species which make up 95% of animal life on Earth.

🍻 Soho’s nightlife is facing a wider crackdown, with Westminster Council proposing limits on the number of standing drinkers and stricter rules for new bars, clubs and restaurants, with table-service venues favoured.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: An iconic jazz club coming to the UK, blue sea creatures and 20% off better-for-your brain-coffee (enter THEKNOW at checkout!)

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Trivia answer: C) A new study suggests that the fish can live significantly longer than previously believed.

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