The Know Daily - Tuesday 11 February 2025

_{Read in 4m 35s ∙ Listening to SZA ∙}

The chequered skipper butterfly has been brought back to England, following 40 years of extinction. The 5-year project by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation used a donor population from Belgium to boost numbers in Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire, and they’re now expanding their range, which is good news for the UK’s butterfly biodiversity.

💭 Nostalgia trip

From fashion to food and drink, Brits are pining for the 90s and 00s.

What’s the story?
Nostalgia is in. Quintessential 90s and 00s fashion like birkenstocks and dungarees have made a comeback, and beloved 90s snacks like cheesestrings have also had a resurgence. What’s more, ahead of 00s film classic Bridget Jones’ Diary’s 4th installment this month, Waitrose has reported a surge in sales of old school ingredients and recipes. Items featured in the film, such as turkey curry, have seen a 200% rise in recipe searches.

Why?
It’s comforting to reminisce on the past. “I think we’re nostalgic for that time because it looked simpler,” one writer told The Guardian. Gen Z are nostalgic for these time periods as they predate any of the modern-day stresses they face, explained a psychology professor. The cost of living crisis has intensified the lure to look back at the past and break free from current reality. In short, nostalgia is used as “an escape from financial worries and problems”.

Brands are tapping into the nostalgia trend too. One study found that people are more likely to spend money on brands that play on feelings of nostalgia. Think – Pepsi changing their logo to mimic its 90s design or the revival of the Vanilla Viennetta ice cream cake. 

Anything else I should know?
While we shouldn’t spend too much time idealising the past, nostalgia can be a powerful tool. The emotion has the ability to boost feelings of social connectedness, stave off loneliness and help us through hardships. What’s more, engaging in nostalgia can even motivate us to work towards a more positive future by remembering the satisfactory aspects of the past.

💰 Salary bump: UK MPs could see their wages increase to almost £94,000 this year. 

• The bigger story: The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has proposed the 2.8% rise, which they say reflects “the vital role” of MPs and the “current economic climate”. Critics have argued it won’t go down well at a time when the public face high inflation and struggling public services.

👩‍🔬 STEM celebrations: Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science – check out these books, films and resources that highlight women’s incredible accomplishments to the field.

📱 Say cheese: Alternative social media platform Bluesky is launching its own photo-sharing app.

🥼 Breaking stigma: Keir Starmer became the first UK Prime minister to take a public HIV test, in an effort to reduce misconceptions around the virus.

🎨 AI art: Auction house Christie’s will hold a sale dedicated to entirely AI-created art later this month – the first of its kind at a major auction house.

🚆 Train travel: Eurostar has resumed direct services from Amsterdam to London after an 8-month pause.

🐶 The underdogs: Check out these adorable photos from this year’s Puppy Bowl, an annual initiative where dogs play American football to raise awareness about adoption.

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