Helen Briggs

The UK drought will not end after a few days of rain because soil moisture, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater need sustained rainfall to recover. Scientists expect clearer evidence of recovery in late autumn and winter, with aquifer and reservoir conditions potentially assessable by February or March, although ecological impacts may take years to reverse. The UK has not yet reached severe groundwater or reservoir drought, but a dry winter could worsen conditions significantly. Heavy rain following drought can also cause flash flooding because parched soils absorb water poorly, contributing to increasingly volatile swings between drought and floods as the climate warms. Experts urge government planning for a worst-case scenario and a fundamental rethink of how landscapes and water systems are managed.

Research on chimpanzees and bonobos in conservation areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia shows that physical touch such as hugging, kissing and gentle contact helps reduce tension and promote cooperation before stressful events like feeding. The study finds that groups displaying more reassuring contact access food with less conflict and may form long chains of comforting gestures. Scientists suggest this behavior reflects ancient social communication predating language, offering insight into the evolutionary roots of tension management and cooperation in great apes and humans.