Madeleine Finlay speaks to Guardian science editor Ian Sample and Prof Falk Huettig, psychologist and author of book on the science of reading’s benefits

NewsdeskAug 11, 20261 min read

The American astronomer Frank Drake at his home in Aptos, California, 27 February 2015.

Science

The great silence: why haven’t we found any aliens yet?

The long read: Given the size and age of the universe, it should be full of species with technology far more advanced than our own. But so far there is no trace

NewsdeskAug 11, 202621 min read

A composite of an Afghan woman in a blue veil

World

‘We are still here’: a day in the life of 12 Afghan women

In the five years since the Taliban’s return to power, the walls have been closing in on the women and girls of Afghanistan. A dozen women and girls have, at great risk to their safety, documented their lives for the world to see

NewsdeskAug 11, 202625 min read

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman

Business

Why did Saudi Arabia just spend billions on a video games company? – podcast

Last week Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund and a group of investors spent $55 billion on Electronic Arts, the video games company behind the Sims, Madden NFL and Battlefield. Keith Stuart and George Osborn tell Annie Kelly why this soft-power move is worrying many in the industry

NewsdeskAug 11, 20261 min read

Donald Trump glances to his right while seated at his desk in the Oval Office.

Business

Trump Media: More than 10 firms pay up to $100,000 a month for fast-access data feed

Trump Media expects the controversial service, which launched this month, to provide a new revenue stream, as it posts a quarterly loss.

NewsdeskAug 11, 20262 min read

Emily, a young woman with mid length auburn hair, kneels in a park beside Rosie, a black Labrador guide dog, gently holding her paw. Emily is wearing a light cream dress and sitting among bright yellow daffodils, with flowers in front of her and behind her. Behind them is a large tree trunk, a fountain, and out of focus greenery.

Science

Disabled in a heatwave: 'We're talking about survival'

Disabled campaigners say the official advice for staying safe in a heatwave can put them in more danger.

NewsdeskAug 11, 20265 min read

Stock photo shows a lab setting with close up of gloved hands holding tubes of blood with bar codes on them, with other tubes in background with bokeh.

Health

England set to be one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C

England is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, a dangerous virus that attacks the liver, figures show.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20261 min read

A woman with long dark hair and a yellow sleeveless top smiling in front of a countryside background.

Business

'I started in my 20s and made £8,000': Why women are often better investors than men

Women can make higher returns but only about a quarter of UK women have investments, compared with about 40% of men.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20261 min read

Standing on high ground above a valley, Michael Sheen looks towards the camera with rolling hills and patchwork fields stretching into the distance. He is wearing a brown jacket with a green patterned jumper. Sheen has grey hair and facial hair. Strong afternoon sunlight and heavy clouds create dramatic contrasts across the rural landscape.

Culture

Michael Sheen investigates cancer concern around chemical dumping

The Hollywood actor investigates claims cancer-causing chemicals were dumped across Wales.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20264 min read

Business

Nvidia gets $500bn from Wall Street giants to develop AI projects

The money will be used to develop new data centres to house, operate, and cool miles of stacked computer chips that process AI data and actions.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20262 min read

A bride with her in an updo looks over her shoulder.

World

The lonely Chinese men being conned by fake brides

"Flash marriage" scams are an extreme symptom of a demographic crisis long in the making in China.

NewsdeskAug 10, 202610 min read

Vape store near Liverpool St station in London.

Business

Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says town centres have been "hollowed out" by decades of decline.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20265 min read

Science

Rocket Lab builds deployable infrastructure for Electron launches

Rocket Lab builds deployable infrastructure for Electron launches Rocket Lab builds deployable infrastructure for Electron launches

NewsdeskAug 10, 20262 min read

Politics

Rebecca Solnit on Andrew Tate and Trump’s misogyny – Stateside with Kai and Carter

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan may soon be extradited back to the UK. (The Tates have been charged with rape, trafficking and numerous other crimes, but deny all criminal wrongdoing.) Host Carter Sherman talks with author and Guardian columnist Rebecca Solnit about what the Andrew Tate saga reveals about Republicans' approach toward sexual violence and Donald Trump's connections to the manosphere.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20261 min read

A green and white double-decker Finnish VR train pulls into a railway station.

World

New train service connects Finland and Sweden for first time in decades

The service will enable rail travel from Portugal to Lapland - what is believed to be the longest train journey in Europe.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20261 min read

Composite image of officers outside court and Kinahan in the back of a police car in Dublin.

World

Watch: What we know about suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan

Suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan, one of the world's most wanted men, has spent his first night in custody in Ireland after being extradited from Dubai.

NewsdeskAug 10, 20261 min read