The Know Daily - Thursday 26 March 2026

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Nightjars have made a remarkable return in the South Downs National Park, with numbers in some areas doubling over the past five years thanks to habitat restoration. Conservation work to protect lowland heath – plus simple changes like keeping dogs on leads and sticking to paths – has helped bring the “churring” dusk-time birds back to life across Hampshire and Sussex. ✨

🧠 WTH is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve has been all over social media lately, often described as a shortcut to a calm mind, better digestion and improved mood. We’re breaking down its role in the body, and why it’s gaining so much attention right now.

A short science lesson.
The vagus nerve is the main nerve of what’s called the parasympathetic nervous system – this basically controls your body’s “rest and digest” functions. It runs from the brainstem down through the neck and into important organs including the heart, lungs and gut, helping regulate things like heart rate, breathing and digestion. It’s also central to the gut–brain axis – the network linking your emotional and cognitive centres with your digestive system. Research suggests that overstimulation can disrupt this system, keeping the body in a more activated “fight or flight” state and affecting everything from inflammation to sleep.

So why is it having a moment?
Ongoing feelings of stress and burnout have been on the rise for under-35s and a lot of people have taken to social media in search of a solution. Because it connects so many systems, the vagus nerve plays a key role in how our bodies recover from stress. Scientists often refer to “vagal tone” – which essentially reflects how efficiently your body can switch from a stressed state back to calm. Higher vagal tone is associated with better emotional regulation, cardiovascular health and digestion, while lower tone can make it harder to shift out of stress.

How does it affect my day-to-day life?
Nervous system changes can be subtle and easy to overlook. You might notice feeling constantly “on edge”, struggling to switch off or experiencing dips in energy after stress, but not immediately connect these to regulation. Building awareness over time can help you recognise patterns and understand what helps your body return to baseline, without needing to overanalyse or self-diagnose.

Emerging research shows that certain behaviours can help stimulate the vagus nerve. Nurosym builds on this with a wearable device placed on the ear that delivers low-level electrical stimulation, and has been studied across 50+ published clinical trials and 60+ research partnerships with institutions including UCLA and Harvard. It helps nudge the nervous system towards a calmer, parasympathetic state over time.

A few ways to start:
🧘‍♀️ Focus on slow, extended exhales to help activate your parasympathetic response – breathe in for four seconds, exhale for six.
🫶 Build in short breaks throughout your day (even 2-5 minutes to step away) and reset between tasks, rather than waiting for burnout.
👂Explore new technology like the Nurosym – it’s an investment, but if you're on the go or want to make your breathwork vagal activation more effective and hands free, it’s the go-to. As effective as breathwork but without the hassle – and it’s science backed. 

PSA: Nurosym are offering £30 off for all readers of The Know – and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee! Use this code at checkout: S25FT3JJ6Q7H

🔒 Hong Kong police have been given new powers requiring people to hand over passwords to their phones and computers in national security cases.

• The bigger story: Under updated rules, officers can ask anyone suspected of offences under the national security law to provide access to their devices. The changes are part of a wider update to how the law is enforced, introduced by the government without going through the usual legislative process. Officials claim the measures are necessary to safeguard security and insist they won’t affect the general public, but critics see them as another step in a system where legal protections are increasingly performative rather than real.

⛪️ The first female Archbishop of Canterbury was enthroned yesterday after making an 87-mile pilgrimage on foot from London to Canterbury Cathedral over six days.

🦎 A range of species have been discovered following a new survey of previously unexplored limestone caves. 

🤝 An international summit on reopening the strait of Hormuz (where 20% of global oil supplies usually pass through) could be hosted by the UK.

🤳 Social media bans, digital curfews and app time limits for UK teenagers are set to be trialled for a major study.

🛏️ A popular airline is rolling out economy class rows that transform into beds for long-haul flights. 

📸 The winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award 2026 has officially been revealed.

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