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English and Welsh winemakers have experienced a significant surge in wine production in 2025, with 16.5m bottles produced across the UK, representing a 55% increase from the previous year. This growth is attributed to the hot, dry summer and an increase in vineyard plantings, resulting in the third-largest UK harvest. The 124,377 hectolitres of wine produced in 2025 is still below the 21.6m bottles produced in 2023, which was considered a bumper year. However, the industry has seen a substantial recovery from 2024, when production halved to 10.7m bottles due to high rainfall and disease in the grape crop. The 2025 harvest saw a notable increase in white wine production, which rose by 131% compared to 2024. Nicola Bates, chief executive of WineGB, expressed optimism about the quality and scale of the 2025 vintage, highlighting the skill and hard work of viticulturalists and winemakers. The growth of the industry is reflected in the 4% increase in vineyards registered with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to 1,158, with the majority being commercial operators. The UK wine sector now employs over 10,000 people and has a value of £14bn. The industry has seen a 3% increase in vine plantings in 2025, covering an area of 4,357 hectares (10,700 acres).

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could lead to the development of new obesity drugs. By studying the unique metabolic abilities of pythons, researchers have identified a molecule that appears to play a crucial role in regulating appetite and weight loss. The molecule, called pTOS, was found to increase significantly in the blood of pythons after they eat, and when administered to obese mice, it led to a significant reduction in food intake and a 9% loss of body weight over 28 days. The discovery could lead to the development of new obesity drugs that work in a different way to existing medications, such as GLP-1 medications like Wegovy. Unlike these medications, which can have side effects such as nausea and stomach pain, pTOS appears to act on the brain's appetite centers, reducing food intake without these adverse effects. The researchers, led by Dr. Jonathan Long from Stanford University and Prof. Leslie Leinwand from the University of Colorado Boulder, published their findings in the journal Nature Metabolism. They believe that pTOS, which is naturally produced by the snake's gut bacteria and also found in human urine, could be a safe and effective treatment for obesity. While further research is needed before the findings can be applied clinically, the discovery is seen as a promising step towards the development of new obesity treatments. The study's results suggest that pTOS could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.