The Dim Squid Disaster

Squid Are Among the Most Intelligent Ocean Creatures. Climate Change Might Shrink Their Brains

Squid are among the scholars of the deep. Distributed across all of the world’s oceans, the 375 squid species can navigate mazes, cooperatively hunt, communicate via color change, recognize individual humans, and learn from past experiences—such as remembering how to escape from an enclosure. Neuron by neuron, squid have brains about as complex as that of dogs, and along with octopuses and cuttlefish, are the most intelligent invertebrates in the world. But the squid brain is in danger.

According to a new study presented at the Society for Environmental Biology conference in Florence, Italy, in early July, as levels of oceanic carbon dioxide grow greater, the brain of at least one species of squid is growing smaller.

Despite Ed's efforts

Fossl fuels at record levels worldwide and consumption continues to rise

In 2025, humanity consumed more oil, natural gas and coal worldwide than ever before. This is shown by the Energy Institute's new Statistical Review of World Energy, which was published in London at the end of June. At the same time, global emissions rose to more than 41 billion tons of CO2 equivalents. Although the expansion of solar and wind power accelerated significantly, energy demand grew even more strongly. That is why, despite the energy transition, fossil fuels remain the foundation of global supply in energy generation.

Fossil fuels continue to determine energy production worldwide

Global energy production reached around 600.3 exajoules in 2025. Renewable energies also grew strongly, but their share of the overall system remained limited. Solar, wind, hydropower and other renewable sources together accounted for 51.6 exajoules. By comparison, Germany needs about 10 exajoules per year. Data centers alone have already consumed 2.8 exajoules worldwide.

Here in the UK there isn't much to say about this. We already know about Ed Miliband, Net Zero, political stupidity and malice.

Before Photography

 

Governing is hard

Reeves warns Burnham ‘governing is hard’ and says he must have a plan

Rachel Reeves has warned Andy Burnham he needs to have a proper plan for government when he enters Downing Street in just over a week’s time.

In what is likely to be her last interview as chancellor, she appeared to concede her hopes of staying in the role were over and told the PM-in-waiting “governing is hard in Britain”.

During an appearance on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme, she said: “It is important that when Andy walks through that door, that he has a worked-through plan, because governing is hard in Britain, and lots of lots of challenges and shocks will come his way.

“What is really important is that him and his team are really clear about what they want to achieve. As those shocks come along, he needs to stay laser-focused on those things that have always motivated him, have always driven him, and are the reason why he wants to lead our great country.”

It's good that "laser-focused" is in there, we wouldn't want to lose that in the new regime. Maybe it  could be part of Burnham's plan, along with a scattering of "turbocharged" and "good for Britain" and even "five point plan".

The language is something to look forward to as Mr Burnham finds out that governing is indeed hard. The carefully casual attire may not be enough for someone who seems to be shallow, politically unimaginative and weak on detail.

But possibly laser-focused.

Britain is going bankrupt in slow motion

Daniel Herring has a useful CAPX piece on the unsustainable nature of UK debt.


Britain is going bankrupt in slow motion

• The OBR says UK debt is on course to hit 300% of GDP by 2075
• If politicians wait until 2052 to act, the spending cuts needed more than double
• Sooner or later, taxes rise, spending falls or growth accelerates – duck all three, and we face fiscal catastrophe

The OBR’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report, published this week, gives a blunt assessment of the UK’s public finances: we can’t go on like this. If nothing changes, government debt will rise to an unsustainable 300% of GDP in 50 years’ time.

How did things get so bad? Well, there’s one big demographic challenge driving that number: the UK is an ageing society, with the median age projected to rise from 40 in 2025 to 49 in 2075. An older society is expensive; as each year passes, demands on the state by retirees gets larger, while the workforce that has to pay for it all gets smaller (first in relative terms, and eventually in absolute terms as well).


A familiar problem but the whole piece is still well worth reading as a reminder that this one isn't going away if voters continue to vote for political parties with no interest in resolving it. The political fads, environmental fantasies and antiquated ideologies we are still seeing today won't do it.

But we already know that.


The OBR report highlights the challenges an ageing population poses for the UK: sooner or later, taxes rise, spending falls or growth accelerates – duck all three, and we go bankrupt. How painful the correction turns out to be remains a political choice.

The UK is sick – but far from terminal. It needs medicine now: cuts to public spending, less reliance on the state and a relentless focus on growth. Prompt action will restore a healthy economy and sound public finances. Waiting will make things much worse.

Old Style Driving

This morning Mrs H and I buzzed off to the local garden centre in the MX5.

No driving in a closed box with the air-conditioning on, but old style driving on quiet roads. Top down, windows down, elbow on the door with the breeze blowing up my shirt sleeve. As Mrs H said, this is how roads ought to be.

The Price of 5 A Day

In early July, Shimeon Lee had a useful TPA piece on a Zack Polanski claim about food prices in 2050. 

To the surprise of nobody but Green voters, the claim turns out to be worthless. Worth reading but yet again it does raise an example of the perennial issue - why is rational voting such a forlorn hope? 


A closer look at "The Price of 5 A Day?

Green Party leader Zack Polanski recently made the alarming claim that the price of fresh fruits and vegetables is set to rise 170 per cent by 2050, making them “unaffordable” for many households. This figure comes from a report by the Autonomy Institute, a progressive research organisation, and has already been used to support calls for more climate spending, a higher minimum wage, increased welfare and unprecedented interventions like price caps.

But what is actually behind the 170 per cent figure, and does it really show that fruits and vegetables are about to move beyond the reach of ordinary families? Unsurprisingly, the claim does not stand up to scrutiny. This edition of a closer look examines how this figure has been calculated and what’s wrong with it.