The Know Daily - Tuesday 18 August 2026

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Scientists in Sheffield are giving children’s lung care a boost with a new MRI technique that can show not just what the lungs look like, but how well they’re working – all without radiation. It’s already helping spot early signs of lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis, offering a safer and more detailed way to keep an eye on their health.

🏠 The social side of WFH

A new study of more than 500,000 Americans has raised questions about the mental health effects of remote work.

What did the study find?
The “Home Alone” study, published in Science, looked at more than half a million people in jobs that can be done remotely (such as software and marketing) between 2011 and 2024. Researchers found that mental health problems increased more in these “remotable” sectors than in jobs that generally have to be done in person. They also found that 84% of people in these sectors were spending their entire working day alone by 2022–24, compared with 23% in non-remote jobs.

Does that mean working from home causes loneliness?
Not necessarily. The researchers found an association between remote-capable work, spending more time alone and poorer mental-health outcomes – but the study can’t neatly separate working from home from other changes in the way we work. As BBC Science Focus reports, experts have also pointed to longer working hours, back-to-back meetings and increasingly intense workloads as possible factors. And because the study looks at “remotable” jobs rather than simply asking where individuals work, it doesn’t distinguish between fully remote, hybrid and office-based workers.

So is working from home actually bad for us?
Not so fast – there’s plenty of evidence pointing the other way, too. A major trial involving more than 1,600 employees at travel company Trip.com found that people working from home two days a week reported better work-life balance and job satisfaction, were less likely to leave their jobs and were no less productive. Remote work can also make employment more accessible for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

OK, what can I do if I work from home?
☕ Build reasons to leave the house into your day – a morning coffee, lunchtime walk or quick trip to the shops can break up the routine.
 👋 Make social plans – don’t assume you’ll automatically socialise more because you have more time.
💻 Use calls for connection, not just work – a quick catch-up with a colleague can sometimes be more valuable than another email.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Find people in your area – a gym class, volunteering, hobby or local group can replace some of the casual interaction an office provides.

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🏠 Half of homes in Great Britain are taking over a year to sell due to mortgage uncertainty making buyers wait.

• The bigger story: Property website Zoopla found homes were taking longer to sell in 180 of 363 local authorities, although the national average remains 42 days. Scotland has the fastest-moving markets, while some areas of England are seeing homes take more than two months to sell. Mortgage rates have remained volatile, with the average two-year fixed rate now at 5.61%.

🚝 Virgin Trains has been granted track access for proposed services linking London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030.

🐚 “National treasure” fossils from the UK could be protected from being sold overseas as an MP calls for a change in export controls.

👩‍🌾 Farmers in England are set to receive £65m in funding to support them through the drought.

💼 A mobile game where you see how long you could survive as prime minister has beaten Minecraft in Apple's top paid games chart. 

🛣️ Europe’s twistiest roads have been ranked based off the best mix of scenery, twists and road trip appeal.

🌍 More than 180 countries are visa-free for UK passport holders – here’s the roundup. 

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Trivia answer: B) Ferrari's first electric car has set a record for a new vehicle sold at auction.

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