Joshan Chana

After England and Wales experienced their driest July on record, rainfall has returned, but reservoirs remain at exceptionally low levels. Madeleine Finlay speaks with hydrologist Anna Murgatroyd about how much rain is needed to replenish supplies through the following summer, why drought conditions can increase flood risk, and how people can use water more responsibly.

Rain is forecast after England and Wales experienced their driest July on record, but reservoirs remain exceptionally low. Hydrologist Anna Murgatroyd explains how much rain is needed to replenish water supplies through the next summer, why drought conditions can increase flood risk, and how people can help conserve water.

Researchers have created tiny, quivering cell-like blobs containing laboratory-made DNA that can feed, grow and multiply in a dish. Madeleine Finlay discusses the significance of this advance toward building life from scratch with Guardian science editor Ian Sample and geneticist Kate Adamala of the University of Minnesota, including where synthetic biology may lead next.

Charlotte Higgins examines how Russia’s war is threatening Ukraine’s cultural identity through attacks on museums, historic landmarks, religious sites and archives. The destruction of Kyiv’s Chornobyl Museum after its reopening is presented as a symbol of a broader assault on Ukrainian heritage, while citizens risk their lives to salvage and preserve the nation’s art and history.

Ian Sample, Madeleine Finlay and dermatologist Jonathan Kentley examine the growing popularity of at-home red-light therapy devices, including masks, body wraps and mittens. They discuss how red light may interact with collagen, how the potential benefits were discovered, and whether scientific evidence supports claims that the devices reduce wrinkles, redness and acne.

Cal Flyn examines the argument that allowing wealthy hunters to shoot high-value game can generate money for African wildlife conservation. The approach is presented alongside criticism that it amounts to neocolonialism, highlighting the ethical and practical dispute over whether trophy hunting can help fund protection of wildlife and wilderness.

An archival audio feature revisits Timothy Snyder’s interpretations of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and the war-related political tensions surrounding Ukraine. The episode, originally produced in 2023 with a new author introduction, examines how Snyder’s warnings about the direction of contemporary politics gained prominence and were, in several cases, borne out by subsequent events.

Katharine Viner examines how technology and overlapping crises are fragmenting public understanding and argues that journalism can help restore social connection and a shared sense of reality.

Lawrence Bishnoi has remained in high-security custody for more than a decade while retaining significant influence and being linked to multiple high-profile killings in India and Canada. The podcast examines how his power and public-icon status have endured within the political and social context of Narendra Modi’s India.

A Guardian audio feature revisits a 2020 investigation into western travel bloggers who traveled to Pakistan and examines whether some became too close to the country’s authorities and political establishment. The episode is introduced by Samira Shackle and read by Lucy Scott.

The podcast examines whether the contemporary far right represents a return of fascism. It argues that some movements are openly violent and undemocratic, while cautioning that even less extreme far-right populism should not be treated as a simple repetition of historical fascism.

Mark O'Connell examines MrBeast's rise as YouTube's biggest star, focusing on his extreme stunts, large cash giveaways and highly engineered approach to capturing audience attention. The feature considers whether his videos are merely sophisticated clickbait or represent a form of avant-garde creative genius.

Psychologist and informatics professor Gloria Mark discusses the perceived decline in attention spans and the role of social media and digital media in producing “brain rot.” Drawing on two decades of research, she argues that concentration can be restored and offers practical tips for regaining focus.

Nuclear chemist Tim Gregory argues that nuclear power is safe, relatively affordable over its lifetime and the only realistic route to meeting net zero targets. He says public perceptions have been unfairly shaped by the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters, despite renewed interest in nuclear energy across countries including the UK, Denmark, Italy and the US. The discussion examines whether governments and the public can trust nuclear power again despite the high cost of building new plants.

An audio feature examines how MrBeast became the world’s biggest YouTube star through extreme stunts, spectacle and large cash giveaways, asking whether his videos represent highly effective clickbait or a form of avant-garde creative genius.

The podcast examines whether global capitalism can be reformed amid the economic turmoil caused by President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Drawing on historical examples, John Cassidy argues that the current crisis should not prompt despair and may instead create an opportunity for the political left to challenge capitalism’s declining legitimacy.

The appendix was long regarded as a dispensable organ because people can live healthy lives after its removal. Emerging research, however, suggests it may contribute to immune-system development and gut health, including by supporting the microbiome. Anatomy professor Heather F Smith explains why renewed scientific interest in the microbiome could give the appendix greater prominence.

The audio explores how Chinese author Murong Xuecun formed a relationship with a Weibo censor who helped him publish posts critical of the Communist Party, despite online dissent being treated as a serious crime in China. Read by Zhang Wang Li, the piece examines the risks of censorship, political control and human-rights restrictions.

In 1990, the body of an unidentified young woman was found in a small Spanish town near the French border. The effort to establish her identity became a decades-long investigation and an obsession for those who encountered the case, continuing for around 30 years.

An archived audio investigation examines how difficult it can be to verify the authenticity of products moving through complex international supply chains, focusing on food fraud and counterfeit cotton. It highlights a company using atomic-level analysis to trace and authenticate goods.