The Know Daily - Thursday 22 January 2026

_{Read in 4m 09s ∙ Listening to Jennifer Lopez ∙}

Swim with a view, anyone? This swimming pool in Bristol will have an art installation inspired by the sun suspended above it for three weeks, shining its light across the water. It’s a fun, not to mention beautiful, way of bringing the community together. Plus, new late-night sessions will help towards funding solar panels to support the pool’s eco-friendly transition.

🤏 Shrinkflation

Have you noticed the Easter eggs on the supermarket shelves looking a bit smaller than before? Enter: shrinkflation.

A quick economics lesson.
Shrinkflation is when companies reduce the size or weight of a product but keep the price the same. So instead of paying more at the till, you’re getting less in the box. So this Easter, for example, several big brands have been spotted trimming the weight of their eggs while keeping prices steady, as manufacturers deal with rising cocoa prices and wider cost pressures.

Why is this happening now?
The cost of making food has jumped in recent years – from ingredients and energy to transport and wages. Chocolate has been hit particularly hard by high cocoa prices as crops have struggled in recent years. Rather than risk putting shoppers off with price rises for their fave snack, some companies are choosing to shrink products instead. Economists say it’s a way of spreading inflation more quietly, even if it doesn’t feel fair.

Where else are people noticing it?
Shoppers have spotted shrinkflation across everyday staples like cereals, crisps, biscuits and even household products (think smaller loo rolls and washing up liquid). Research suggests consumers are becoming increasingly frustrated, saying they feel misled when pack sizes change without much warning.

What are businesses saying?
Most argue that they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place: raise prices and risk losing customers, or shrink products and hope fewer people notice. Some experts warn, though, that shrinkflation can backfire if shoppers lose trust in brands and start switching.

So what can shoppers do?
🧐 Check the weight, not just the price – especially with treats and snacks.
🏷️ Use unit prices (price per 100g) to compare value properly.
🛒 Compare brands, not just products – size changes don’t hit everyone equally.
📦 Keep an eye on “new” packaging, which can disguise smaller portions.

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🇬🇱 US President Donald Trump has dropped his suggestion of imposing tariffs on European countries over Greenland, following talks with NATO’s secretary general.

• The bigger story: Trump said the decision came after what he described as a “very productive” meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, and that discussions about US control of Greenland would now continue without trade penalties. Yesterday, Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos that he would not use military force, but wanted immediate talks which could cover long-term cooperation, including access to minerals and defence systems. 

👩‍🎨 Frida Kahlo’s paintings have been having such a surge in popularity that the Tate Modern is struggling to borrow them for its upcoming exhibition.

⚡️ UK households will be eligible for solar panels and other green tech to help lower their energy bills, the government has announced.

🕊️ Peace has been named as Oxford Children’s Word of the Year, whilst six-seven has been crowned Children’s Slang Word of the Year (but we’re still not 100% sure what it means!).

🎨 The outline of a hand found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is the world's oldest known cave painting, researchers have said.

🤸‍♀️ The Olympics are set to take place in Los Angeles in 2028. Here’s how you can get your hands on some tickets and plan a trip around it. 

🤳 2016 is the latest hot topic to dominate our feeds – this is why the throwback trend has been taking off. (#takemeback)

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Trivia answer: A) 175 species of stingless bees in Peru have been granted the same legal protection as humans to “exist and flourish in a healthy environment”.

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