The Know Daily - Thursday 24 July 2025

_{Read in 4m 27s ∙ Listening to Conan Gray ∙}

Conservationists have celebrated the first births of pine martens in Dartmoor following a reintroduction project. Camera trap footage has revealed glimpses of kits in an exciting sign of progress returning the species to the south west of England after a 100-year absence.

🎗️ Cervical cancer screening: what’s new

Changes are underway in how cervical cancer is prevented and detected. Thanks to new research, updated screening tools and a public health focus on early diagnosis, the UK is making progress towards a major goal: eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

What’s changed?
Cervical screening in the UK is evolving to be more convenient and effective. Here are some of the key developments:

• Self-sampling at home: The NHS is expanding the rollout of home testing kits for HPV (the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers). These kits are aimed at under-screened individuals, allowing women to take a sample themselves in the privacy of their home.

• Focus on comfort: New funding of £450k has been awarded to a study in Cambridge looking to improve the feeling of in-clinic smear tests. 

• Research spotlight: A recent study has found that women over 65 are still at risk of cervical cancer – especially if they missed earlier screenings. This is informing future policy decisions on screening age limits.
  

What does it mean for women eligible for screening?
These changes are all about making screening easier, safer and more responsive to women’s needs. Efforts are also being made to reach those who’ve missed screenings – around a third of eligible people in the UK are currently overdue. Whether through text reminders, community outreach or better access to appointments, the focus is on making sure no one slips through the net.

How does this fit into the NHS’s wider health strategy?
Cervical cancer prevention is a key part of the government’s 10-year plan to modernise the NHS in England. The strategy prioritises early detection and prevention – using smarter tech, reducing wait times and making care more personalised and accessible. Eliminating cervical cancer by 2040 is one of its headline goals.

Why is this progress important?
Cervical cancer is highly preventable, but only if people come forward for testing. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted screening services and many women fell behind. Now, the focus is firmly on recovery and reinvention. From better tools to new ways of reaching people, the aim is to make cervical screening a routine part of healthcare.

What are the next steps?
While challenges remain – including tackling health inequalities and boosting uptake – momentum is building. Continued investment, smarter outreach and a more compassionate screening experience are helping more women take control of their health. The direction is hopeful: cervical cancer could become one of the first cancers ever eliminated through prevention.

🤝 Trade talks: The UK and India are set to sign a landmark free trade agreement, once it has been ratified by the British parliament.

• The bigger story: The trade deal will cut tariffs on goods like whisky, cars and medical equipment, aiming to boost business and jobs in both countries. While the agreement is seen as a post-Brexit win for the UK, some Indian industries, like local whisky producers, are worried about increased competition. 

💻 Copyright campaign: 17 Portuguese artists have joined the #StayTrueToTheAct movement, urging the European Union to regulate artificial intelligence to better protect copyright.

🤳 Scaling back scrolls: The UK’s science and technology secretary has said that children could face two-hour limits on social media.

🥛 Glass half full: Researchers have found that optimists’s brains light up in similar ways to one another when they are thinking about the future.

🐾 Tracing tracks: A new tool is helping scientists monitor biodiversity by seeing how many of Australia’s 250k+ known species have had their full genetic code mapped.

🛂 Powerful passports: Ever wondered which is the best passport to have? Owners of this one can currently travel visa-free to a total of 193 out of 227 destinations around the world.

🫶 It’s me, hi: The famous wax museum Madame Tussauds has unveiled 13 brand new Taylor Swift figures.

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Trivia answer: C) The traditional list of the funniest jokes at Edinburgh’s creative arts festival has been scrapped for 2025.

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