The Know Daily - Monday 19 January 2026

_{Read in 4m 24s ∙ Listening to Myles Smith ∙}

Twin baby mountain gorillas have just been born in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo 🦍 These adorable little ones are a rare and heartwarming boost for a species that’s still endangered. It’s a hopeful moment for conservation… and also impossible not to grin at!

💨 Offshore wind

The UK has just signed off on its biggest ever offshore wind deal and the new wind farms could eventually power millions of homes. 

Tell me more.
The government holds auctions to get companies to build clean energy projects. In the latest round, firms bid to offer the lowest price for the wind energy they produce, and the winners get long-term contracts that make it easier to pay for these big offshore wind farms.

This time, the auction secured 8.4 gigawatts of new offshore wind – the biggest result the UK has ever had – unlocking around £22bn of investment and around 7,000 jobs. Once built, it’s expected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 12 million homes.

Why offshore wind?
It’s become one of the UK’s strongest energy cards. It’s clean, it’s domestic (no fuel imports needed) and once turbines are up and running, the electricity they produce is seen by ministers and industry as a competitive alternative to gas, especially over the long term. Supporters say the more wind power on the grid, the less the UK has to rely on gas-fired power stations – which are expensive to run and vulnerable to global price shocks. And remember, the government wants at least 95% of Britain's electricity to come from "clean" sources by 2030.

What does this mean for energy bills?
⚡ More wind means gas is needed less often to generate electricity, which ministers say could help keep costs down over time.
📉 Analysts say large volumes of offshore wind can reduce pressure on wholesale prices, especially when gas prices spike.
💷 The prices agreed in this auction are competitive with – or cheaper than – new gas power, making wind a strong long-term option, according to the government.

That said, this isn’t an overnight fix. Household bills depend on lots of things, including network costs, demand and wider global markets – so we shouldn’t expect to see an immediate drop.

What’s the other side?
Some environmental and conservation groups note that offshore wind isn’t impact-free: turbine construction and operation can disturb marine life, and there are ongoing concerns about the effects on seabirds and other wildlife, prompting calls for careful planning and mitigation.

So where does this leave us?
This auction won’t magically push down bills right away, but it does stack the system in favour of cheaper, more stable energy in the future. By locking in large amounts of renewable power now, the UK is betting that wind will help protect households from volatile gas prices and make bills more predictable over the long term. 

💰 Money Monday: January has most of us dreaming about sunnier shores – but there are some hot tips to keep in mind when booking your next holiday.

• The bigger story: Consumer guidance highlights practical steps like booking package holidays for added financial protection, paying by credit card where possible and remembering to take out travel insurance as soon as plans are confirmed (it’s so easy to forget!). It also stresses checking who you’re booking with to reduce the risk of holiday scams.

🇬🇱 Eight European countries – including the UK and France – could see a 10% US tariff applied to their goods because of their resistance to the US-control of Greenland.

👨 The real face of one of the most famous human skeletons ever found can be seen for the first time in over 8,000 years.

💻 Adverts will soon appear at the top of the AI tool ChatGPT for some users, OpenAI has announced.

🎾 Emma Radacanu has been given a new nickname after launching her Australian Open campaign with a straight-sets win.

🚃 London mayor Sadiq Khan has given the go ahead for a new branch of the London Overground that will link these two areas.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: The first viral trend of 2026, the world’s most powerful passports and Earth’s belly button.

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Trivia answer: B) Rome came out on top for tourists experiencing the city by night, based on its attractions, transport and safety.

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