The Know Daily - Tuesday 18 March 2025

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400 British Sign Language signs have been created by deaf scientists and educators to make environmental science topics – like biodiversity and energy – more accessible. They will be used in classrooms and research centres.

🎧 Adding audiobooks

A new campaign is urging the government to add audiobooks to school curriculums in England.

Tell me more.
A poll conducted by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) found that 42% of children aged between 5 to 16 in the UK consume literature through audiobooks. In fact, for the first time in the survey’s history, more children said they preferred listening to books, compared to 35% reading them. The respondents said audiobooks made understanding stories easier, led to them using their imagination more and encouraged them to engage with books in their free time.  

What’s the bigger story?
In recent years, there’s been a decline in pleasure reading amongst children and young people. In 2024, reading enjoyment levels reached a record low since 2005 – according to another NLT survey. Only one in three of the respondents said they liked reading physical books in their spare time. Reading frequency is also at a low, with 20.5% of 8 to 18-year-olds reading daily in their free time in 2024, compared with 28% in 2023. 

That being said, the NLT has also stated there’s a lot of work being done by authors, educators and libraries – like the Changing the Story Reading programme or the National Reading Champions Quiz – to “make reading for pleasure a national pastime”. 

What’s the reaction been?
According to the children’s commissioner for England, while audiobooks are a great way to give children access to literature, they shouldn’t “replace reading the real thing”. However, for the most part, experts have welcomed the campaign. There’s a lot of potential since many young people are keen on audio material, said the Association of School and College Leaders director. Plus, it could encourage them to develop a love for reading, he added. Teachers are already encouraged to provide pupils with a wide range of stories, books, plays and poems – and this can include audiobooks, said a Department for Education spokesperson. 

🎭 Creative copyright: Over 30 performing arts leaders in the UK have signed a statement against the government’s planned changes to allow AI companies to use artists’ work without permission.

• The bigger story: It’s not the first objection from the creative community – last month over 1,000 musicians protested the AI copyright proposal by releasing a silent album. Here’s what the proposed changes mean for artists’ livelihoods. 

🧑‍🚀 Coming home: NASA’s stuck astronauts are finally making their way back to Earth after more than 9 months in space.

⛰️ Tourist tax: Japan is set to introduce more entry fees affecting all 4 main climbing trails of Mount Fuji, in an effort to limit overtourism.

🚕 Flying high: Aviation start-up Joby is partnering with Virgin Atlantic to launch air taxi services in the UK.

🐦 Successful storks: Storrington in West Sussex has been designated the UK’s first “European stork village” after a rewilding project.

👜 Nostalgic style: Fashion brand Coperni has released a Tamagotchi bag – and yes, it’s fully playable.

🍽️ Delectable destinations: New Orleans was named the best city in the world for food, according to Time Out – check out the other culinary highlights here.

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Trivia answer: C) LeVel 33 in Singapore was named the World’s Highest Microbrewery in a Building by Guinness World Records. 

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