UK Edition - Today's top story: Narwhals are helping scientists map warm water hidden in Greenland's fjords August 27, 2026 UK Edition   It’s almost impossible to find a good photo of a narwhal. Believe me, I tried. Narwhals are small Arctic whales with long spiral tusks, and they spend much of their lives in remote waters, diving deep beneath sea ice to search for food. But the same features that make them so elusive to photographers also make them surprisingly useful to ocean scientists, as they can collect data from deep, inaccessible fjords where research ships struggle to go. Tom Chudley of the University of Bristol writes about how these unlikely oceanographers are helping map warm water hidden in Greenland’s fjords. Apparently I could be optimising – or “maxxing” – every detail of my life. Jennifer Donnely of RCSI traces how the term jumped from gaming culture into the mainstream, and why it might only end up stressing us out. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has a plan to offer rough sleepers a route off the streets this winter. Academics at the University of Nottingham worry that it overlooks the “hidden homeless”.   Will de Freitas Environment + Energy Editor   Narwhals dive deep into inaccessible fjords. Todd Mintz / Alamy Narwhals are helping scientists map warm water hidden in Greenland’s fjords Tom Chudley, University of Bristol Tags on these deep-diving whales are providing vital data from places research ships struggle to reach. Optimisation is never supposed to become the purpose of life. DannyOliva/ Shutterstock Our obsession with ‘maxxing’ every aspect of our lives could actually be stressing us out Jennifer Donnelly, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Maybe it’s time we all started ‘moderation-maxxing’. Gary Hider/Alamy It’s not just rough sleeping – Andy Burnham’s housing plans need to include the ‘hidden homeless’ Steve Iafrati, University of Nottingham; Alastair Munro, University of Nottingham; Nick Clare, University of Nottingham Being moved out of area can have profound effects on households. World How Ecuador became a global cocaine hub Adriana Marin, Coventry University Ecuador’s ports, trade and strategic location connect South American cocaine production with consumers in Europe and North America. US midterm elections: Democrats gain ground as Trump faces growing voter discontent Richard Hargy, Ulster University; Queen's University Belfast Trump-endorsed candidates are performing badly in primary ballots. Mark Carney’s defiance: Canada shows the world how to respond to Donald Trump’s threats Eric Van Rythoven, Carleton University Canada cannot match the U.S. economically, but it can make Donald Trump’s trade war politically costly as the U.S. heads toward midterm elections. Politics + Society What Andy Burnham can learn about devolution from Britain’s Victorian industrial cities Steve Schifferes, City St George's, University of London Before services were centralised to London, many regions looked after their own affairs – and thrived. Arts + Culture How Aliens became the rare sequel that was as good as – or better than – the original Nathan Abrams, Bangor University Forty years on, James Cameron’s transformation of Ridley Scott’s horror classic remains a masterclass in how to make a sequel. How the ‘backwoods Barbie’ Dolly Parton turned self-aware artifice into authentic artistry Rosemary Overell, University of Otago Dolly Parton’s first hit was titled ‘Dumb Blonde’. The country music legend, who has died at 80, was anything but that. The Bayeux tapestry’s lesser-known tale of bromance: William and Harold were friends before they were enemies Catherine Clarke, School of Advanced Study, University of London In the tapestry’s early scenes depicting what happened before 1066, William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson helped each other. Jolene, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5: the genius of Dolly Parton in three songs Wendy Hargreaves, University of Southern Queensland The biggest legacy Dolly Parton leaves is her songwriting, and three songs define her more than any others. Business + Economy Virgin to run trains through the Channel Tunnel – passengers will have a choice Marcus Mayers, Manchester Metropolitan University With Virgin Trains to run to Europe from 2030, what does this mean for Eurostar? Environment Nepal-Tibet floods: when disaster strikes before communities recover from previous climate extremes, crisis escalates Taha Rezaei, University of Exeter; Mark Maslin, UCL Recovery time between climate disasters makes a huge difference to the consequences affecting local people. How climate change affects different modes of transport – from roads to railways Vahid Aryanpur, University College Cork Climate change does not affect every form of transport in the same way. And the result is more than just cancelled journeys. Health Paris Jackson underwent ECT for severe depression. Here’s why the treatment remains debated John Read, University of East London Electroconvulsive therapy is supposed to be used only in extreme circumstances, such as when a patient is suicidal or when other treatments have failed. What happens to your body when you eat more pulses? Five effects you need to know Lewis C. E. Mason, Kingston University Lentils, beans, chickpeas and peas provide fibre and protein. Research suggests they may also influence blood sugar, cholesterol and gut health. Science + Technology Robots can run faster than elite human sprinters, but are they really athletes? Ross Walker, University of Stirling A robot may resemble a person, but it does not experience sport in the way humans do. We can’t quit smartphones, but we can manage digital junk food better Tanja Ahlin, Leiden University; Xin Zhan, SOAS, University of London; University of Cambridge