Barometer
Which animals are older than David Attenborough?
Travel sickness Three people were reported to have died in an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship returning to…
Which world leaders survived the greatest number of assassination attempts?
Marathon sprints The Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe broke the world record by running the first official sub-two-hour marathon. –…
How many people undergo security vetting?
Balls to that Why are elections called ‘ballots’? — The word ballot comes from the Italian, pallotta, meaning a small…
Which racecourses have seen the most deaths?
Hero worship Peter Magyar, the new PM of Hungary, has the unique distinction among world leaders of bearing the name…
How many humans have landed on the Moon?
Moonstruck Four astronauts aboard the Artemis II spacecraft achieved the distinction of travelling further from the Earth than any humans…
Who trusts their savings with the government?
Working out the Kinks American singer and vegan activist Moby called the Kinks’ song ‘Lola’ ‘transphobic’ and ‘unevolved’. According to…
Why is crude oil measured in barrels?
Crude estimates Why is crude oil measured in barrels? — From medieval times onwards, all sorts of commodities were measured…
Which age group is most at risk of meningitis?
Churchill insurance There was outrage that Winston Churchill is to be dumped from the £5 note in favour of wildlife.…
Where exactly is the Middle East?
Less near Where exactly is the Middle East? – The term was first popularised in an article by Alfred Thayer…
Who has been removed from the line of succession?
Out of line Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may be removed from the line of succession. When was the last time this happened?…
How much do graduates owe in student loans?
Toxic legacy Analysis by scientists at Porton Down suggested that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been killed using epibatidine,…
How teetotal is Britain?
Royal removals The King has had more success in stripping Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal titles than George IV had…
Which US city is the most violent?
Black in the day A new book claims William Shakespeare’s works were really written by a black woman and were…
Which royals have appeared in court?
Political frenemies Nigel Farage accepted Robert Jenrick into Reform UK in spite of having previously called him a ‘fraud’ (for…
How many pubs are left in the UK?
Net freedoms The government was pressed to ban X over charges that Elon Musk’s AI app Grok is being used…
What went up – and down – in 2025?
Erasmus in England The government is to rejoin the Erasmus scheme, which allows students at British universities to spend time…
Who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh?
Pooh-pooh Christmas Eve marks the 100th birthday of Winnie-the-Pooh, which first appeared in a short story in the Evening News…
Should a two-bedroom flat worth £2m be called a ‘mansion’?
Many mansions Does a two-bedroom flat worth £2 million deserve to be called a ‘mansion’? — The word ‘mansion’ is…
Could ‘Your party’ become the shortest-lived political party in British history?
Party poopers ‘Your party’ holds its inaugural conference this weekend in a state of internal wrangling. Could it become the…
How many illegal migrants does Britain return?
Condemned leaders Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, for using lethal force…
How popular is the British royal family?
Austere environment Who introduced the word ‘austerity’ into the political lexicon? While chiefly associated with attacks on the Conservatives, and…
Who would dare raid the Louvre?
Louvre incursion Jewellery once belonging to Napoleon’s family was sprung from the Louvre. In 1911 the ‘Mona Lisa’ was stolen…
How many people admit to using their phones at the dinner table?
King’s speechless There will be no state opening of parliament this year and consequently no King’s speech. This is only…
How many babies in Britain are called Jihad?
Out of office French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after just 27 days – making his time in office 22…
What are the risks of first cousins having children?
Park life Locals were angered by the closing off of 1,500 acres of Windsor Great Park to create a secure…
