The Know Daily - Monday 17 November 2025

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A new study suggests meditation may be way more powerful than we realised 🧘‍♂️ Researchers at UC San Diego found that a week-long retreat combining mind–body practices sparked rapid changes in the brain and blood – boosting resilience, immunity and even natural pain relief.

👧 The two-child benefit cap

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has hinted that she may move to drop the two-child benefit cap in her upcoming budget.

The history of the two-child cap.
The two-child cap was introduced in 2017, limiting means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit to the first two children in a household. This means those with three or more children don’t receive increases to those benefits with each new addition to the family. There are around 1.6 million children now living in families affected by the policy. The government at the time argued that the cap would reduce public spending and encourage financial responsibility, while critics said it disproportionately affected larger families. 

OK, what could dropping the cap mean?
If removed, families with three or more children would receive extra support. According to The Conversation, evidence suggests that increasing household income for families with limited resources – like by removing the two-child cap – could bring long-term social benefits for children, including improvements in education and health.

But the change would carry a cost – potentially more than £3 billion a year – and some economists and officials caution that it would increase public spending. Where the funding will come from is currently unclear, but the recent government U-turn on increasing income taxes highlights the ongoing balance of the political pursestrings.

Why now?
Pressure to lift the cap has grown over the past year. The Guardian reports that Reeves has indicated plans to remove the limit, saying that it's not right that “a child is penalised because they are in a bigger family”. The move comes after campaigning by charities, think tanks and MPs, who argue the cap has left some families with tighter budgets than necessary. 

What’s the politics surrounding it?
The decision carries political weight. Labour sees scrapping the cap as a key part of its agenda, while Treasury officials remain mindful of the budget implications. Some ministers favour partial reforms – such as tapering payments or lifting the cap only for working parents – to balance support with costs, while others argue that only full abolition will have a meaningful impact. Commentators note that even if the two-child limit is removed, some families could still face financial pressures from the broader benefit cap.

So how will things look going forward?
If the cap is fully removed, families with more than two children would receive increased support, helping them manage costs more easily. Whether the government opts for full abolition or a more limited adjustment will shape the effect on households. Either way, the change is set to be one of the more notable welfare policy moves in the next budget.

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💰 Money Monday: Thinking of a home reno? Apparently upgrading your bathroom first could be the best financial move.

• The bigger story: Bathrooms are the space most likely to cause “costly regret” if left too long. Fixing leaks, layout and lighting early can save thousands later – and offers better ROI than a style-led splurge. As for those all-white walls? Experts say softer neutrals tend to last longer (and feel a bit chicer). Click here for more renovation hacks.

📱 Ministers including Keir Starmer are reportedly turning to popular platforms and influencers as a part of a UK government strategy to reach voters on social media. Check out our deep dive on the topic.

🌎 Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all countries to have the “courage” to create a plan to phase out fossil fuels at COP30.

❄️ A cold snap is forecast for this week in the wake of Storm Claudia in the UK. The Met Office has predicted Arctic air to bring snow and ice… so wrap up warm!

🤖 “Agentic AI” is the new buzzword of the tech world that has now crept into the real world, here’s what it means.

🐝 Bumblebees have been taught a new skill by scientists – hint: it’s something spies use 🕵️‍♀️ 

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: The best value commuter towns near London, AI-generated tunes topping the charts and the secret to winning rock, paper, scissors.

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Trivia answer: A) A new study by Ripple Research has found that the majority of British Gen Zs don’t drink alcohol on first dates.

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