The Know Daily - Wednesday 30 July 2025

_{Read in 4m 25s ∙ Listening to Royel Otis ∙}

Sand In Your Eye, a British art collective known for its sand and land drawings, has partnered with the Eden Project to make a 100 metre design featuring an octopus and the iconic Eden Domes. Created in Watergate Bay, the sand drawing is a sustainable way to send a big impact message about the natural world. 

⚽️ The rise of women’s football

The Lionesses brought home the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 title after a penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel. The win capped a tournament that broke attendance and viewing records, showing how much the women’s game has grown.

What is the history of women’s football?
Women’s football was hugely popular in the early 20th century, drawing large crowds that sometimes exceeded those of men’s matches. In 1921, the Football Association banned women from playing on FA‑affiliated pitches – a restriction that lasted for 50 years. Since the 1970s, the women’s game has been rebuilding its profile, with major tournaments helping it regain its place in the spotlight.

What is the state of the women’s game now?
It’s grown rapidly, with tournaments like the 2023 Women’s World Cup breaking even financially without relying on subsidies from the men’s game. Increased broadcast deals, sponsorship and investment in professional leagues have helped make the sport more commercially viable and competitive.

How popular is it in the UK?
The Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory helped drive record participation. The number of women’s and girls’ teams in England doubled between 2016 and 2024, with more than 12k currently. Girls’ football participation increased from 777k in 2022 to 845k in 2024, making it the most popular sport for girls in England, overtaking netball.

Are there any challenges?
Despite its growth, women’s football still faces issues like pay inequality, uneven investment across leagues, limited access to facilities and scheduling conflicts that can affect visibility. Sustained growth will depend on consistent funding, equal opportunities and continued grassroots support.

What is the future outlook?
With the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 triumph – the first time an England team has won a major tournament on foreign soil – women’s football is poised for further expansion. Increased youth participation, professional development and greater commercial interest are expected to strengthen the sport globally. This landmark victory is also likely to drive more investment into local and elite levels, helping to cement women’s football as a central part of the sporting landscape.

🚜 Environment-friendly farming: Farmers in England will get new payments for cleaning up the waterways near their land, the environment secretary has said.

• The bigger story: Speaking at the National Farmers’ Union water summit, Steve Reed said his department will be launching changes to the sustainable farming incentive scheme that replaced EU subsidies. The scheme was previously frozen but is expected to reopen next year with a bigger focus on tackling pollution in collaboration with scientists and farmers. 

🎤 Grassroots gigs: The 1975’s Matty Healy has backed the new Seed Sounds Weekender, a UK-wide festival across 1k pubs, bars and clubs to champion local emerging talent.

📱 Social safety: Australia has announced which social media platforms will be part of its world-first ban for under 16s access later this year.

🌌 Star signing: The UK has appointed its first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years, who hopes to inspire more women and girls into science.

✋ Historic handprint: Researchers have discovered a 4k-year-old handprint on an object from an ancient Egyptian tomb.

📖 Brilliant books: Calling all bookworms! The 2025 Booker Prize longlist has been announced – check out if your favourite author is there.

📸 Fan-filled fields: The small town of Brihuega in Spain has become a social media hit with over 100k tourists visiting its lavender fields this month.

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Trivia answer: C) Zaha Hadid Architects have designed a Hong Kong sports and entertainment complex as "a lifted village".

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