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The LeadThere will be plenty that Bernardo Silva will miss about Manchester City but driving rain in May and playing against the lowest of blocks will not be two of them. The midfielder's penultimate game at the Etihad Stadium after nine years at the club was a reminder of how difficult it will be to replace him.The Versatile FoundationAmid six changes, as Pep Guardiola rested and rotated, keeping "grandfather" Silva in the team was imperative. Without Rodri, the head coach needed someone he could rely on and no one better fits the category than the 31-year-old. Playing alongside Phil Foden in midfield, as the deeper of the two, one of a plethora of roles he's taken on down the years, he utilised his mix of steel and finesse to set an example.The Architect of ControlVersatility is not the reason Silva will go down as one of City's greats, but it shows that in a world of egos, he is willing to adapt for the sake of the team. From left-back to false 9, Silva has covered a lot of ground, making him hard to define in the modern game. What Guardiola has always loved about him is his ability to dictate a match, replacing Joy Division as the leading author of control in the north-west of England.The Statistical LegacyOver the past nine seasons, no one has won more Premier League games than Silva – 217 to be precise – and he has been Guardiola's most used player in the period, making 457 appearances in all competitions, 85 more than Ederson, his closest rival. It is a testament to his longevity and fitness, not to mention rarely dipping in form. Even in the matches he was not at his best, there was always a desire to succeed and Silva's attitude never dampened.The Mentor's RoleIt seems inevitable that Silva will go into coaching once his playing days have ended, probably somewhere warmer than Manchester on Wednesday night. He coaches others through the game, ensuring they know their role in the team. Considering Foden's poor form this season, he looked very comfortable alongside Silva, offering more spark than has regularly been witnessed in recent times, proving it with a magical backheel to create Antoine Semenyo's opener.The Selfless ActsNatural instincts make Silva want to join every attack but he knows City are susceptible to the counterattack, forcing him to be constrained. Holding back to assist those behind him should a positive quickly turn into a negative is a selfless act, one much appreciated by what is a relatively inexperienced pairing. Intelligent use of the ball is integral to the Silva repertoire.The Cool ComposureIntelligent use of the ball is integral to the Silva repertoire. Ten minutes into the second half there was a sublime touch and simple pass to a teammate, something that goes relatively unnoticed in the grand scheme of things but it was on the edge of his own box, with Palace shirts all around. Silva was not panicked, he never is, and this coolness radiates around his teammates. Without Rodri, there is always a little more trepidation in the ranks, so the comfort of Silva is welcome. Should the two be absent at any point, one wonders who could fill the void.The Final Standing OvationWith 11 minutes to go, Guardiola relented and brought his metronome off for a break, with more key fixtures to come. It gave the supporters a second-to-last chance to give their hero a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. Passing on the captain's armband to Nathan Aké was Silva's easiest task of the night but felt ceremonial considering his impending departure.The Final Trophy HopesSaturday at Wembley gives Silva the chance of a third FA Cup medal, to add to the Champions League crown and six Premier League titles, with a seventh still a possibility. Guardiola insists he does not have an archetypal player but if he did, they would resemble Silva. "Everything is replaceable in football life," Guardiola said. "But there are players that it's even more difficult."

The Plight of India's Salt Workers India faces brutal heatwaves each year, but few places are as punishing as the salt pans of the western state of Gujarat, where tens of thousands of workers endure near-unliveable conditions to keep the industry running. Life on the Salt Flats Up to 50,000 seasonal workers migrate to the remote Little Rann of Kutch region for about eight months, living on the salt flats without electricity, healthcare or permanent shelter. A tanker delivers water for drinking and washing only once every 25 days. Summer temperatures in the region routinely exceed 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and can climb to 47-48C (117-118F). The dry heat makes the desert ideal for salt production, with Gujarat accounting for roughly three-quarters of India's salt output. Salt Production and Worker Challenges Salt is produced by pumping saline water from bore wells into shallow pans, where it is left to evaporate in the sun and wind. Workers rake the surface daily to ensure even crystallisation, then break and pile the thick crust into mounds. "We work in staggered timing, … doing our work in early mornings and after sunset," 42-year-old salt worker Babulal Narayan said. "During the hottest hours, it is too hot to stand." Improvised Cooling Techniques and Shelters With no trees or natural shade, workers build their own shelters: frames of sticks covered with coarse homespun cloth and plastered with wild donkey dung. "We sit here every two to three hours so that we do not feel weak or dizzy," 17-year-old Bhavna Rathore said. The dung blocks the sun and lets heat escape while the rough fabric allows some air to pass through, she explained. Others rely on improvised cooling techniques, such as hanging a bottle wrapped in a damp cloth from a string, using evaporation to cool drinking water. Some workers drink black tea during the day, saying the hot drink triggers sweating that cools the body in the dry air. Health Risks and Economic Strains The consequences can be deadly. Workers report fatigue, dizziness and nausea, symptoms of heat stress that can lead to organ failure. Studies have found high levels of dehydration, heat stress and early signs of kidney malfunction among salt pan communities. Unseasonal storms are also adding to the strain. "A big dust storm hit us last month, destroying salt worth 200,000 rupees [$2,100]," Narayan said. He and five relatives earned a profit of about 250,000 rupees ($2,635), roughly $450 each for eight months of labour. A Vicious Cycle Yet most say they have little choice but to return year after year. "What else will we do?" 65-year-old worker Rasoda Rathore asked. "We have no land to farm, no livestock to earn our livelihood from. … This is all we know."

The Lead: Preserving Environmental HistoryOver four years in the 1820s, Charles Waterton built a 9ft-high, 3-mile-long wall around the parkland and lake of Walton Hall in Yorkshire, creating what could be the world's first nature reserve. Now, the overlooked achievements of this innovative reserve and the crumbling wall that still surrounds Waterton's former home are being remembered through WallFest, a programme of 60 community events organised by a charity dedicated to protecting the wall and preserving its legacy.The Historic Wall: Engineering Environmental ProtectionThe wall, built between 1820-1824, was designed to be fox- and poacher-proof, enclosing Waterton's estate and creating a sanctuary for wildlife. After completing the wall and banning hunting and shooting, Waterton recorded 5,000 wildfowl on his lake and 123 species of birds, including those widely persecuted at the time, such as herons and kestrels. The boundary allowed hedgehogs and so-called vermin, like weasels, to roam freely through his reserve.Waterton's Environmental Legacy: A Pioneer Ahead of His TimeWaterton, an eccentric, controversial and pioneering environmentalist, implemented innovative conservation practices long before they became mainstream. He built nest boxes, special banks for sand martins and innovative bird hides, and offered local people sixpence for every hedgehog they brought into his reserve. Unlike sportsman-naturalists of the day, Waterton abhorred shooting and got into fistfights with armed poachers, thwarting their attempts to kill birds by placing dummy birds made from metal and wood in the trees.Waterton's environmentalism began after experiencing the natural wonders of the rainforests of Guyana, where he managed his father's sugar plantations. Upon returning to his family home in rapidly industrializing West Yorkshire, he was dismayed at the polluted state of waterways, woodlands stripped of birdlife and workers looking ill.The Conservation Challenge: A Wall in PerilToday, the historic wall has collapsed in places and is in urgent need of repair. Some sections have completely deteriorated, threatening the physical boundary that Waterton created and the historical significance it represents. The Friends of Waterton's Wall charity was created after Covid when local residents realized the wall they walked beside daily might not last another century.Waterton also launched one of the first known environmental legal actions, against a nearby soap works for releasing pollutants that killed trees and damaged his lake. Despite his visionary environmentalism, Waterton is mostly remembered for his eccentricity rather than his groundbreaking conservation efforts.WallFest: Community Action for HeritageThe WallFest events, taking place during May around the village of Walton, West Yorkshire, and in Waterton's former home (now a hotel), will help raise funds to repair the crumbling wall. The festival includes a short film supported by David Attenborough and various community activities designed to raise awareness of both the wall's condition and Waterton's environmental legacy."We're keen to raise the profile of the first nature reserve in the world," said John Smith, the chair of trustees of Friends of Waterton's Wall. "Waterton was a pioneering environmentalist, probably the first in this country. We also want to raise the profile of the wall itself and the need to preserve our heritage for future generations."The Future Outlook: Rediscovering an Environmental PioneerAccording to Barbara Phipps, a local resident and author of a biography of Waterton, his historical portrayal as "an amusing and strange fellow," in the words of Charles Darwin, was partly because he was a Catholic and was discriminated against, being excluded from mainstream careers in politics, law and the military.John Whitaker, a curator at Wakefield council's museums and castles and a trustee of the charity, also attributed the lack of acclaim for Waterton to his Catholicism. "He was a marginalised aristocrat, which is a weird situation to be in. He was never in the establishment. He was massively affectionate and incredibly progressive in many ways but also hugely contradictory."As WallFest aims to raise both funds and awareness, there's hope that Waterton's true legacy as an environmental pioneer will be properly recognized and that the historic wall will be preserved for future generations to appreciate.

Smithsonian's Monumental Celebration of America's 250 Years To paraphrase the musical Rent, 131,487,300 minutes – how do you measure, measure 250 years? Especially in a country navigating an election year fraught with divisions and disagreements over basic facts? That is the challenge facing the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC as it marks the semiquincentennial of US independence. The museum's answer is with 250 objects that tell the American story, ranging from a revolutionary war-era gunboat to gloves worn by a "Miracle on Ice" hockey player, from Thomas Jefferson's desk to a Donald Trump fan's "Make America great again" hat. A Museum-Wide Journey Through American History Opening on 14 May, "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness" will display 250 objects encompassing 250,000 sq ft across all three floors of the museum. They range from old to new, from big to small and from sublime to mundane. Seventy-six of them – many rarely or never seen by the public – will be concentrated in cases lining the entry halls, while the remainder will be embedded throughout the museum's existing galleries, connected by a "ribbon" design to guide visitors on a historical treasure hunt. Each is paired with an action verb to underscore the view of democracy as a "highly participatory sport." Among the star attractions is the Philadelphia, a 53ft, flat-bottomed wooden gunboat constructed in the chaotic, sweltering summer of 1776. On a recent preview tour, visitors stepped into a climate-controlled enclosure at the museum where the air was thick with the scent of 100% acetone. Behind viewing windows that allow the public to see the work in progress, two conservators clad in headlamps and respirators were meticulously wielding soft and stiff bristle brushes, dental picks and wooden dowel rods to strip away decades of accumulated lacquer from a rusted iron cannon and its surrounding timber. By the Numbers: The Scale of the Exhibition The exhibition features 250 objects spread across 250,000 square feet of museum space. Seventy-six of these objects – many rarely or never seen by the public – will be concentrated in cases lining the entry halls. The Philadelphia gunboat itself weighs 16,000 pounds and was constructed in 1776. The wreck languished underwater for 159 years before being salvaged in 1935, fully intact with its armament and hundreds of artifacts scattered across its deck. When raised, the boat revealed about 600 to 800 items, including cannons, carriages, wheels, a stew pot, a melting pot for pitch, shoe leather, buttons from regimental coats, and even a leather button that was probably from someone's breeches. Reframing America's Complex Narrative "How do you structure a commemoration, celebration and time for reflection?" asks Anthea Hartig, the museum's director. "What we landed on were those moments where individuals or communities had fought for recognition and advocated for their own sense of identity and self in their role in creating and becoming a part of the United States. But we also wanted to do the playful." Hartig describes the US as "amazing, beautiful, complicated", and cites the African American writer James Baldwin's celebrated observation: "American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it." The exhibition captures both the monumental and the intimate aspects of American history. Alongside iconic items like Thomas Jefferson's portable desk on which he drafted the Declaration of Independence, the Star-Spangled Banner that inspired the national anthem, and George Washington's military uniform, are personal artifacts like a faux-pearl necklace worn by Abigail Adams in the mid-18th century. The Future of Historical Commemoration Hartig adds: "We believe that this anniversary is so important not only to the nation but the world, and that our past 250 years are filled with so much history that it takes an entire museum to do it justice." The exhibition also incorporates modern technology to enhance the visitor experience, including a virtual reality experience that transports visitors back to the Philadelphia's construction 250 years ago. As the museum continues to preserve and interpret America's complex past, the exhibition represents a new approach to historical commemoration – one that embraces the full spectrum of American experiences, from the revolutionary to the contemporary, and from the sublime to the mundane.

As the US‑Israel war on Iran reaches its 12th week, the city of Tucson, Arizona, is quietly transforming its sports complex into the home base for Team Melli ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underscoring a stark contrast between battlefield headlines and the unifying promise of football. Training Camp Set Up at Kino Sports Complex The Kino Sports Complex, overseen by Sarah Hanna, director of the facility, is being pre‑pared to FIFA‑regulation standards. Grass is being watered and cut to exact height, weight rooms, ice‑baths and massage tables are readied, and meeting spaces have been booked for the team’s staff. Location: Tucson, Arizona – a desert oasis of ~540,000 residents. Facility: Kino Sports Complex, equipped with FIFA‑approved pitch. Key personnel: Sarah Hanna (facility director), Jon Pearlman (FC Tucson president). Logistics and Security Amid Geopolitical Tension Preparation intensity is high: Hanna reports averaging 12 to 20 meetings each week, ranging from food‑service contracts to FIFA inspections. Security measures have been tightened, and hotel rooms for the squad are locked in. Travel timeline: Arrival expected two weeks before opening match on June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles. Group‑stage venues: Los Angeles (vs New Zealand), Seattle (vs Egypt), and a match against Belgium six days after the opener. Political backdrop: Ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports and a de‑facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Sport as a Diplomatic Bridge in a Conflict Zone Local leaders stress that football can transcend politics. Jon Pearlman said, “We welcome them with open arms… the game brings nations together, not drives them apart.” Residents echo this sentiment, despite President Donald Trump’s earlier social‑media doubts about the team’s safety. Community response: Positive, with local clubs and fans offering support. FIFA stance: The tournament will proceed with Iran’s participation as planned. Outlook for Iran’s World Cup Participation While visa and staff‑treatment demands remain under negotiation, the logistical groundwork in Tucson suggests a high probability that Iran will compete as scheduled. Should diplomatic friction intensify, contingency plans could involve neutral venues, but current momentum points to a full tournament presence. Potential risk: Escalation of hostilities could trigger travel restrictions. Best‑case scenario: Iran plays all group matches, using Tucson as a stable training hub.

The Regulatory Response to Deadly Online ContentA nihilistic internet suicide forum implicated in over 160 UK deaths has been fined £950,000 by the online regulator in its latest attempt to shut it down. Ofcom said the US-based website remains accessible in the UK despite over a year of warnings. Online safety campaigners have accused the regulator of taking an "interminable" amount of time to act.The Samaritans, mental health campaigners and the Molly Rose Foundation, have repeatedly raised concerns about the site – which promoted a particular poison – which has remained accessible despite it being cited in multiple coroners' reports regarding the deaths of UK citizens.Molly Rose was set up in the memory of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who took her own life after descending into a vortex of negative online content, including about suicide. Its chief executive, Andy Burrows, welcomed the fine and a separate move that could block UK internet access to the site, but said it was "appalling that it has been left to bereaved families and campaign groups to press Ofcom into action".Legal Action Under the Online Safety ActOfcom has been trying to get the site to obey British laws criminalising intentionally encouraging or assisting suicide since last spring. It had some success with the site being blocked last July and then a mirror site being taken down in November. But it is now taking action because the site can be "used by people in the UK, including without a VPN, and presents a material risk of significant harm".The fine is being levied under the Online Safety Act which also allows Ofcom to seek a court for an order requiring internet service providers to block UK access to the site. It is preparing an application to have its connections effectively cut "if our concerns are not fully addressed and there continues to be an ongoing breach".It accused the provider of "serious and deliberate contraventions" and said the fine reflected the "the risk of fatal harm to people in the UK posed by the content present on the service".Human Cost and Family AdvocacyOn Wednesday, the forum was unavailable but its operator posted a page that said it was advocating for "the right to access lawful information without government overreach" and quoted Mark Twain: "Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."The Molly Rose Foundation and Together with Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms said coroners had warned the UK government 65 times about risks of further deaths from the forum "and a substance it promotes, glorifies and instructs for use as a suicide method". Adele Zeynap Walton, the sister of Aimee Walton who took her life after accessing suicide forums, said the wait for action had been agonising."While we've waited further lives have been lost and we've had to fight every step," she said, speaking on behalf of Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms. "We feel let down by the process and Ofcom's slow response to this threat to life."Regulatory Challenges and Future ActionsBurrows said: "Molly Rose Foundation submitted detailed evidence which showed scores of vulnerable young people remained at risk while Ofcom's investigation dragged on … There are real questions about why it has taken so long for the regulator to act against a forum linked to at least 164 UK deaths."Ofcom said it has "engaged extensively" with the forum provider and that last summer the forum geoblocked mirror sites in the UK and later removed information on a landing page promoting ways to circumvent the block."We share the urgency about the extreme harms that sites such as this can cause, and understand the anger felt towards them by those who have been so personally affected," a spokesperson said. "It is vital that we ensure our enforcement action is thorough, and this can take time, as is the case for any enforcement agency."Preventive Measures and Support Resources"Lucas was 16. Vlad 17. Aimee 21. Grace, Hannah and Tom 22. Immy 25. Adam 28 and Claire 41," the campaign groups said in a report last year. "They were drawn into a dark world that was allowed to exist online and continues to exist through the use of a VPN. We believe our loved ones suffered coercion, grooming, instruction on how to end their lives. Most accessed a poison that was allowed to cross borders or was readily available domestically."Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said the forum had "caused unimaginable pain and suffering … and no punishment can undo that harm"."The provider of this forum knows it's used to share illegal content encouraging and assisting suicide on their site," she said. "While they've responded to our enforcement action by making some changes to the accessibility of their service in the UK, this is not good enough and the changes they've made were not consistently applied or effective to reduce the risk of harm. Given the ongoing risk of harm, we are using all powers available to us to protect the public."

The Cultural Phenomenon Returns On a chilly morning at a Silvertown studio behind London City airport, the sunburst intro to Jimmy Cliff's The Harder They Come is on repeat. Dancers run through a routine studded with reggae and dancehall moves. "Get high," commands associate choreographer Neisha-yen Jones with a smile. "Get low!" The ensemble rise and dip. They do the bogle and whine around each other as their watchful director Matthew Xia nods along. They circle Natey Jones who breaks out the opening line: "Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky." In the distance, a plane leaves the ground. From Film to Theatrical Celebration It's eight months since The Harder They Come's full-throttle takeoff at Stratford East, where the musical was so popular that it is now returning for a second run which will also serve as a eulogy for Cliff who died in November. Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks' adaptation of Perry Henzell's 1972 Jamaican film is bolstered by a handful of her own songs as well as classics including Israelites and Wonderful World, Beautiful People – plus every number on the film's monumental soundtrack. Jones is reprising the role of Ivan (played on screen by Cliff and inspired by real-life outlaw Rhyging), who arrives in Kingston from the country and is dismissed and exploited, before becoming both a hit singer and a fugitive. The Evolution of a Cultural Narrative The original was akin to cinéma vérité, directly evoked spaghetti westerns and veered into blaxploitation territory; Ivan's tale has gained greater warmth, humour and protest spirit on stage. It was the best musical I saw in 2025. "The story is a tragedy but the theatrical event is a celebration," says Xia of his production. Twenty years ago, the film was adapted as a musical with a book by Henzell, also at Stratford East. "It all started at Ivan's Nine Night," Xia recalls. "There was a massive poster of Ivan on the wall, with everyone coming, and it was told in retrospect with vignettes." Choreography and Cultural Connection Shelley Maxwell, recently arrived from Jamaica, was watching the musical in the audience one night and has since become the choreographer of the new production. She has fused the folk dance forms of revivalism and pocomania, learned in her childhood, with reggae, dancehall and moves that today's teenagers can recognise. "I wanted to tap into the youth market," she says. It's brought some enthusiastic feedback from audience members who may not know the film. "Like: 'Oh my God, they did that step I always do at a party!' It allows them to form a connection." Authenticity and Cultural Representation Xia, wearing trainers in the Jamaican flag's colours, and Maxwell, whose tracksuit has the same black, green and gold trim, were intent on instantly transporting their audience to Kingston. The opening, says the director, is an "establishing shot" with characters coming and going on Simon Kenny's magnificent multi-level set, accompanied by Toots and the Maytals' hit Funky Kingston. To borrow from its lyrics, you really can believe everything they do. Even each move in the dominoes game we see is scripted, explains Maxwell, who mapped out the market scene with precision: "Where are you going to? How heavy is the item that you're holding? This is the swing of the hips." Social Commentary Through Performance Xia, whose father came to England from Jamaica in the 1970s, praises the freewheeling realism of the film. "Lots of the background performers are just whoever happened to be in the market that day, or walking through the shantytown. Lots of the actors were people that Perry knew, they had no training." Henzell, says Xia, showed "the part of Jamaica that had always been hidden, people living hand to mouth". The musical depicts a "quartet of oppression" against Ivan, as he takes a stand against individuals representing hypocrisies of the church, law, drugs trade and music industry. Universal Themes and Contemporary Relevance The Harder They Come was both a pioneering example of independent film-making for Jamaicans and a portrait of a newly independent country. Maxwell, who grew up glued to Hollywood musicals, says it was empowering to discover a film full of the Jamaican songs she loved. "I was probably way too young when I saw it. But what I saw was the world around me." She traces how different forms of music played a pivotal part in the country establishing its identity, moving from African forms and American R&B; to mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae and the rise of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. Maxwell captures that chain reaction with a tantalizing question: "What's this groove becoming?" Transforming the Narrative for Modern Audiences The musical also makes its hero's actions more understandable. "In the film, Ivan becomes a kind of wanton murderer," says Xia. In the musical, "he accidentally shoots a police officer when he's under threat, is remorseful, yet also knows that if he gives himself in then that's the end of his journey". Another significant change is the depth given to the principal women – Ivan's mother Daisy and Elsa, with whom he falls in love under the eye of her authoritarian guardian, the preacher. "The moral heart of the piece now resides in those two women," says Xia. Maxwell transforms a brief sequence from the film, in which Ivan imagines a tryst with the devout Elsa, into a floor-trembling set piece when the preacher's congregation lose their robes to indulge in lustful fantasy. The male gaze of the original scene is duly excised: "it had to be like it was both of them in partnership in that fantasy world," says Maxwell, who adds that the nature of dancehall – "grinding, gyrating on another body" required her to use her skillset as an intimacy director.

The Rise of Brighton Women's Football As Brighton’s old song goes, “Hark to the merry bugles”, because there is something in the air in Sussex by the sea. A purpose-built women’s team stadium is in the offing, a second consecutive top-half Women’s Super League finish is on the cards and the women’s side are heading to Wembley for the first time. The fans have never had it this good. Overcoming Adversity It took something special for Brighton to overturn a two-goal deficit in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory at Liverpool and they left it late – very late – as Nadine Noordam settled a classic, five-goal thriller with her 95th-minute winner, but reaching this final is something the club have been building towards. In 2022, Brighton set out a bold vision to become a “top-four WSL club” and last summer the head coach, Dario Vidosic, was unafraid to discuss even higher targets, speaking in a determined, bullish and unwaveringly ambitious tone during an interview with the Guardian. The Team's Success The former Australia international mentioned wanting to “challenge the establishment”, win a trophy and “be the best of the best”, rather than being satisfied with last year’s fifth-placed league finish. They were strong words and many outsiders were probably sceptical but the signs are that he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Brighton are unbeaten in seven games, during which they have defeated Arsenal and their upcoming Cup final opponents, Manchester City, and demonstrated neither of those results were a fluke by drawing with Arsenal and Manchester United. The Key to Success They are also doing it with a playing style pleasing on the eye. Vidosic was almost purring when asked whether Sunday’s second-half display was emblematic of the way he wants his team to play. “It was a joy to watch,” he said. “We created so many chances. We were dominant, we were calm on the ball, we were moving it around and we made it very, very tough for Liverpool.” The Future The final on 31 May will be a special day for the entire club. Brighton’s men’s only FA Cup final appearance came in 1983, before a generation of their supporters were born, and neither of the first teams have won a major trophy. When Brighton’s women’s team were founded in the late 1960s, the squad was almost entirely made up of telephonists – switchboard operators who could connect callers to their requested phone line. Were they operating today there would surely be only one connection requested: the ticket office, as fans get excited about their trip to Wembley and a chance to see the next chapter in this promising journey.

The Lead Levels of some of the most dangerous Pfas compounds have dramatically fallen in Canadian seabird eggs, which the authors of a new peer-reviewed study say illustrates how regulations are effective. The Event Details Researchers looked at Pfas levels in the eggs of northern gannets in the St Lawrence Seaway basin over a 55-year period. Pfas levels shot up from the 1960s through the peak of the chemicals’ use in the late 1990s and early aughts, then fell. The fall coincides with several developments – facing regulatory scrutiny, the chemical giant 3M, which is one of the largest producers of Pfas, began moving away from Pfos, among its most common and toxic compounds. By 2015, major chemical makers reached an agreement with the US Environment Protection Agency to phase out Pfos and Pfoa, the latter a similarly problematic compound. The Data Analysis Data shows the levels of Pfos fell from a peak level in the eggs of 100 parts per billion (ppb) to a level of 26ppb by 2024, a 74% drop. Levels of Pfoa are down about 40% over this time, though they ticked back up in recent years. Meanwhile, PFHxS, another common, toxic Pfas compound fell from 0.69 to 0.19ppb, or about 72%. The Impact Analysis Pfas are a class of at least 16,000 chemicals commonly used to make products resist water, stains and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, and they are linked to a range of health issues such as cancer, thyroid disease, kidney problems and decreased immunity. Raphael Lavoie, a co-author and ecotoxicologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, called the findings “good news”. “We see this incredible rise to a peak where concentrations seem to be higher than toxicological threshold for those birds, then it really decreases in a nice way,” Lavoie said. “The regulations are having a good effect.” The Prediction However, it is not all good news. The chemical makers moved to a newer generation of smaller Pfas, and those also present risks to the environment and wildlife. The levels of those compounds have probably grown, and the study found one example of a shift, but the new Pfas are more difficult to measure in bird eggs because they do not accumulate in wildlife as much, Lavoie said. Moreover, compounds such as Pfos stay in the environment or animals’ bodies for decades, so the birds and environment will remain contaminated for the foreseeable future, which the authors wrote “emphasizes the importance of maintaining scientific and regulatory vigilance”.