The Know Daily - Thursday 19 March 2026

_{Read in 4m 12s ∙ Listening to Maisie Peters ∙}

Flying may soon feel a lot more welcoming for neurodivergent travelers. A Florida airport has launched a program that encourages participants to rehearse the entire airport journey – from check-in to the in-flight experience – through a mock flight in a calm, supportive setting. The initiative aims to reduce anxiety around flying and help more people feel confident about taking to the skies.

🌅 The spring equinox

The spring equinox takes place tomorrow – a twice-yearly moment that holds a lot of significance both culturally and across the natural world.

What happens during the spring equinox?
The Sun crosses the celestial equator, moving into a position where it shines pretty evenly on both hemispheres of the Earth. In simple terms, day and night are almost the same length – that’s actually where the name “equinox” comes from, meaning “equal night”. From this point on, if you’re in the northern hemisphere, the days start getting longer and brighter than the nights, beginning the steady build-up towards summer.

Got it, so why is it important?
For astronomers, it’s the official start of spring. For the rest of us, it’s a seasonal shift towards brighter mornings, lighter evenings and the first real sense that winter is coming to an end.

A bit of history.
People have been tracking the spring equinox for thousands of years. Ancient cultures built monuments and calendars around it, marking it as a time of rebirth, balance and new beginnings. Festivals across the world – from Persian New Year celebrations to pagan spring rituals – are rooted in this moment of seasonal transition. For example, Stonehenge is expected to attract hundreds of people, including practicing Druids and Pagans, who often observe a moment of silence as the day's first sunbeams arrive above the stone.

How will it affect my day-to-day?
You’ll likely notice longer, brighter days almost immediately. Evenings stretch out, commutes feel lighter and there’s a natural lift in mood for many people as daylight increases. Scientists link this to our internal body clocks responding to more light, which can improve sleep patterns and energy levels.

Your equinox diary: what to look out for this week
 🌅 Perfect sunrises and sunsets: Around the equinox, the Sun rises due east and sets due west, making it a great time for spotting landmarks or taking photos.
♈ Aries season begins: The equinox also marks the Sun moving into Aries, kicking off a new astrological year associated with fresh starts, confidence and action-oriented energy.
 🦋 Join “Signs of Spring”: The Royal Society of Biology are asking people across the UK to look out for 10 key spring plant and animal indicator species and log them in a simple survey. A great way to tune into the natural world around you whilst offering a helping hand!

🗳️ European Parliament members who are pregnant could be allowed to vote by proxy under new plans backed by EU countries.

• The bigger story: Under current rules, members must be physically present to vote, which can make it difficult during late pregnancy or after giving birth. The proposed change would allow them to nominate another member to vote on their behalf for a limited period around childbirth. Supporters say it’s a practical step to make politics more accessible and help more women balance public roles with family life. The plan still needs final approval from the European Parliament and member states before it can take effect. 

🪐 A “liquid planet” has been discovered by scientists who have identified it as being made up of molten lava.

💷 Green Party leader Zack Polanski has laid out the party’s economic policy, highlighting plans to overhaul the UK’s tax system and ease inflation. Critics say the proposals – particularly the wealth tax and rent controls – could drive investment and top earners out of the UK and may not raise as much revenue as claimed.

🧴 A 100% mineral sunscreen that delivers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with a sheer, flexible tint has the team counting down the days until payday!

🥤Digital age verification has been launched in Greece in an attempt to curb underage purchases of tobacco and alcohol.

🏘️ A new town of around 20,000 homes has been given the green light in an effort to tackle London’s lack of housing.

🕵️‍♀️ Street artist Banksy’s identity has allegedly been revealed, a special investigation by Reuters claims.

Help your friends feel better about the news. Get them to sign up using your personalised code 👉 https://theknowmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: C) Hot pink katydids (or bush crickets) were discovered on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.