The Know Daily - Thursday 27 March 2025

_{Read in 4m 37s ∙ Listening to Lianne La Havas ∙}

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Stone-curlew populations have doubled in the UK over the last 40 years thanks to conservation efforts 🐦 “Nature-friendly farming” and habitat restoration have been key to supporting the birds’ comeback by providing nesting sites when the birds migrate to the UK from Spain, France and Africa to breed each year.

⏰ Spring forward

If you’re in the UK, get ready to adjust your clocks forward 1 hour on Sunday.

Tell me more.
On the last Sunday in March every year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in much of Europe. For southern hemisphere countries like Australia, New Zealand and Chile, this happens in September and October instead. Currently, around 70 countries have DST.

Why does it change?
The time shift began properly in 1916 during World War I to make better use of natural sunlight at this critical time when fuel for lighting was more limited. In fact, during World War II the clocks temporarily changed by 2 hours.

What do people think about it?
Over the years, around 140 countries have observed DST but have since stopped for various reasons. In 2018, the European Union surveyed 4.6m people, with 84% calling for the “outdated” time jump to end. Currently, the European Council is yet to reach an agreement on how to make the change.

Some people note there are “negative effects on health, wellbeing and safety”, especially if they’re living at higher latitudes that can experience darker mornings for a time. However, the opposite is also true where the longer, brighter days can boost productivity and activity as people get outside more. 

Anything else I should know?
To better adjust to the biannual time travel, you can make your bedroom super cosy to optimise your sleep by getting a weighted blanket or blackout curtains. Stepping outside for sunlight first thing in the morning will also help your circadian rhythm readjust naturally.

🗳️ Have your say: On 1 May elections for mayors and councillors will take place in England.

• The bigger story: Not everywhere has an election, some have been postponed as the government reorganises local councils. Check out this helpful tool to see if there’s one in your area and how you can take part. The deadline for in-person voting registration is coming up on Friday 11 April.

🇪🇺 Preparedness plan: The EU is asking member states to create guidelines for 72-hour emergency kits for its citizens.

🌕 Moon marvelling: A partial eclipse will be visible this weekend in the UK – here’s how to catch it.

🏙️ Energy efficiency: Newly-developed solar panel windows could be a “breakthrough for renewable energy”.

🦈 Speaking shark: Researchers have recorded the first case of voluntary sound production of any shark species.

🌹 Ancient aroma: Not only were ancient Greek and Roman statues painted in vibrant colours, some also had a distinct smell.

💻 Password protection: These are the most common passwords used around the world – here are some helpful tips for staying secure online.

We’re a teeny tiny team and occasionally, we all have conflicts on the same day ❤️ Due to this, there will be no newsletter on Monday, 31 March. To ensure we have the resources to continue publishing, consider making a donation here. Xx The Know team

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Trivia answer: A) Steve Buscemi is releasing a true crime podcast – here’s what we know so far. 

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