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The Unlikely Union of Mabe Fratti and Bill Orcutt This dreamlike, intimate album unites one of experimental music's current stars with one of its most prolific veterans. During an interview promoting 2024's acclaimed Sentir Que No Sabes, 34-year-old Guatemalan cellist Mabe Fratti praised Bill Orcutt, the 64-year-old US guitarist whose disjointed, aggressive four-string playing – honed in 90s noise-rock band Harry Pussy – graces more than 100 records. Orcutt reached out, and they started sharing files. While their friendship is new, Almost Waking reveals a deep kinship between these true originals. The Album's Conversational Duets The album centres on conversational duets between Fratti's cello and Orcutt's guitar. On the overdriven Forced & Forced & Forced, Orcutt's trademark string-snapping plucking is matched by Fratti's fragmented, agitated bow-scraping. Just as both players can wrestle with their instruments, they know how to make them feel like voices. On Steps of the Sun, the cello and guitar harmonise tenderly and take turns as lead, performed with the complex phrasing and dynamism of a sung duet. Vocal Appearances and Musical Chemistry Fratti's soaring vocals appear on two tracks. El Inicio Es Cuestión De Suerte is a stately ballad set to a looping guitar melody, while Todo Puede Ser Error has more showmanship, featuring a jangling Orcutt solo. If the instrumentals reveal how naturally Fratti fits in Orcutt's spidery world – her lusher, warped art-pop shaped by the same fragmentation – these tracks prove his adversarial style can work in more melodic settings. While Almost Waking feels like an aside for Fratti and Orcutt, both are reframed in this wonderfully alive-sounding album.

The Childcare Crisis in BritainThe number of childminders in England has roughly halved over the past decade, with many citing rising costs, low pay and increasing paperwork as reasons for leaving the profession. Campaigners warn the decline is making it harder for families to find flexible and affordable childcare.Seeking Parent ExperiencesWe want to hear from parents and carers whose childminder has recently closed their business, stopped accepting certain age groups such those over three-year-olds or reduced the number of children they look after.Impact on FamiliesHow did it affect your family? Did you struggle to find alternative childcare? Have you been forced to move your child into a nursery setting despite feeling they were better suited to a smaller, home-from-home environment?Share Your StoryThe Guardian is collecting experiences from parents affected by the decline in childminding services. If you're 18 or over, you can share your story anonymously if you wish. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only The Guardian has access to your contributions.Call for ActionAs the childcare landscape continues to change, it's crucial to understand how these changes are affecting families across the UK. By sharing your experiences, you can help highlight the challenges and potential solutions in the childcare sector.

The Lead: A Spring Showcase of Contrasting Pollination TacticsOn a sunny May morning along a former railway line, thousands of flowers display a startling range of pollination mechanisms—from the violent, explosive release of pollen in broom (Cytisus scoparius) to the precise, almost surgical delivery by white dead‑nettle (Lamium album) and the generous, pollinator‑free bounty of dandelions (Taraxacum officinale).Location: former railway line, May morningSpecies observed: broom, white dead‑nettle, dandelionPrimary pollinators: bumblebees, common carder beeBroom’s Explosive Pollen Release: Violence in the Keel PetalWhen a bumblebee lands on a broom flower it finds no nectar; the moment its abdomen contacts the keel petal, ten stamens and a coiled stigma burst free, slamming pollen onto the insect and delivering a “gut‑punch.” The trap is triggered in almost every flower, ensuring both pollen export and collection in a single, forceful act.Mechanism: explosive stamens and stigma releaseEffect on pollinator: brief contact, no nectar rewardOutcome: simultaneous pollen deposition and collectionWhite Dead‑Nettle’s Precise Pollen Transfer: Gentle EngineeringIn contrast, white dead‑nettle hides its stamens inside a hooded standard petal. A visiting common carder bee probes the flower’s throat for nectar; hidden stamens deposit a dab of pollen onto the bee’s thorax, which is later deposited on the next flower’s fork‑tipped stigma. The process is subtle, causing no apparent distress to the pollinator.Mechanism: concealed stamens within hooded petalPollinator interaction: gentle pollen placementResult: efficient cross‑pollination with minimal disturbanceDandelions’ Redundant Generosity: The Free Lunch for BeesDandelions produce abundant nectar and pollen but are apomictic, setting seed without fertilisation. For bumblebees the flowers are an “all‑you‑can‑eat” buffet, providing essential spring energy even though the plant does not rely on pollinators for reproduction.Reproductive strategy: apomixis (self‑seeded)Pollinator role: energy source, not required for seed setEcological benefit: supports pollinator populations during early seasonEcological Implications: Why Diverse Strategies MatterThe coexistence of violent, precise, and redundant pollination tactics illustrates the evolutionary arms race between plants and their visitors. Violent mechanisms like broom’s may deter less efficient pollinators, while gentle precision maximises pollen placement. Redundant generosity, as seen in dandelions, supports pollinator populations during scarce periods, indirectly sustaining ecosystem health.Evolutionary pressure: plant‑pollinator co‑adaptationCommunity impact: varied strategies sustain diverse pollinator assemblagesConservation insight: preserving a mix of pollination types benefits ecosystem resilienceLooking Ahead: Future Directions for Plant‑Pollinator CoevolutionAs climate change reshapes flowering phenology, the balance between these strategies could shift. Species that can both attract a wide range of pollinators and ensure successful fertilisation—whether through force, finesse, or self‑sufficiency—may gain a competitive edge, influencing future biodiversity patterns.Potential shift: altered timing of flower bloom and pollinator activityAdaptive advantage: flexible pollination mechanismsResearch focus: monitoring how climate impacts plant‑pollinator dynamics

Weekly Wildlife Roundup: Top Predator StoriesThe latest Guardian wildlife column spotlights three notable predator encounters that illustrate how large and medium‑sized carnivores are adapting to a rapidly changing environment.Leopard Lurks Near Human SettlementsA leopard was observed prowling close to a rural village, prompting both awe and concern among residents.Location: Rural community bordering protected landBehavior: Stealthy movement along forest edges, no direct conflict reportedSignificance: Highlights the thinening buffer between protected habitats and human activityFox's Fortunate Encounter Highlights Urban AdaptationA fox managed to evade a potential roadkill scenario, showcasing its agility and growing comfort in suburban settings.Incident: Narrowly escaped a busy roadway after being spotted by local observersAdaptation: Utilises garden waste and small mammals in urban green spacesImplication: Demonstrates the species' resilience and the need for safe wildlife corridors in citiesCoyote's Clever Behavior Signals Expanding RangeIn a separate observation, a coyote displayed problem‑solving skills while foraging near a suburban park.Behavior: Used a fallen branch to access a bird feederRange: Sightings are moving further north than historic recordsEcological Impact: Potential competition with native mesopredatorsWhat These Predator Movements Mean for Ecosystem ManagementCollectively, the sightings point to a broader trend of predators navigating fragmented landscapes, which raises questions for land‑use planners and conservationists.Increased human‑wildlife interactions demand proactive conflict‑mitigation measuresHabitat corridors become critical for maintaining genetic flowMonitoring programs must adapt to track both apex and mesopredators across mixed‑use zonesLooking Ahead: Conservation Priorities for Apex and MesopredatorsFuture efforts should focus on integrating community education, habitat connectivity, and data‑driven management to ensure coexistence.Promote citizen‑science reporting to fill observation gapsInvest in green infrastructure that accommodates predator movementDevelop region‑specific guidelines that balance agricultural, urban, and wildlife needs

English Heritage has finished a 7‑metre‑high, £1 million reconstruction of a 4,500‑year‑old Neolithic hall, called the Kusuma Neolithic Hall, near the Stonehenge visitor centre. The structure is slated to open to the public this summer and will later serve as an immersive educational hub for schools. Recreating a 4,500‑Year‑Old Neolithic Hall at Stonehenge The hall is based on the archaeological footprint of Durrington 68, a “square‑in‑the‑circle” building discovered two miles from Stonehenge. Excavations first began in 1928 by Maud Cunnington and were revisited in 2007 by the Stonehenge Riverside Project. The reconstruction features a horseshoe‑shaped ring of post holes and four massive internal roof‑support pillars, mirroring the original layout. Experimental archaeologist Luke Winter oversaw the design, using Neolithic carpentry studies and pollen data to ensure authenticity. Every timber was shaped with replica stone tools, and the frame was aligned with the winter solstice – the shadow of the central post falls precisely on the midsummer sunrise. £1 Million Investment and Volunteer Workforce Cost: £1 million Construction period: nine months Volunteer involvement: >100 volunteers contributed hand‑crafted timber work Opening: Summer 2026 Future educational capacity: aim to serve nearly 100,000 students annually by 2031 Educational and Cultural Impact on Heritage Tourism The hall forms the first phase of English Heritage’s broader educational expansion, which will also include the Clore Discovery Lab and Weston Learning Studio, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. By offering a free, hands‑on experience – from making prehistoric cheese to shaping pottery – the project is expected to boost visitor numbers and deepen public engagement with Neolithic heritage. Curator Win Scutt emphasizes that the reconstruction highlights the communal spirit of Neolithic societies, providing a tangible illustration of how ancient peoples built collective monuments as expressions of social identity. Future Role in Neolithic Research and Learning Beyond tourism, the hall serves as a living laboratory for researchers. The experimental construction process has already shifted expert confidence from a 50 % to a 75 % likelihood that the original Durrington 68 structure was roofed. Ongoing studies will use the hall to test hypotheses about building techniques, seasonal alignments, and social organization. As the site opens to schools, it will become a model for immersive archaeology, potentially inspiring similar reconstructions across the United Kingdom and informing curriculum development for the national education programme on the Neolithic period.

Lead: Burnham’s Vision of “Manchesterism” Gains MomentumAndy Burnham used the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds to argue that Britain has been on the wrong path for four decades, urging a return to a more publicly‑controlled, regionally‑balanced economy. His call for “Manchesterism” – a blend of historic free‑trade liberalism and modern public ownership – is resonating within Labour’s left‑wing circles and among northern voters.Burnham’s North‑Focused Narrative at the Great North Investment SummitSpeaking to an audience of devolution advocates, Burnham highlighted the “draining away of economic, social and political power” from the North, blaming deregulation, privatisation and austerity. He cited everyday hardships – “people paying over the odds for energy, housing, water, transport” – as evidence that the current model is unsustainable. The speech also referenced his own political journey, from a 2015 Labour leadership contender to mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017.Economic Indicators Highlighting the North’s DeclinePolls give Burnham only 45% chance of winning a future national election, yet his regional appeal remains strong.Rising costs for basic services are cited as a symptom of “the worst of modern capitalism”.The Bee Network’s uniform £2 fare is presented as a successful public‑ownership model that could be scaled nationally.Potential Shift in Labour Strategy and Regional Power DynamicsBurnham’s ideas are prompting a re‑evaluation within Labour. Rachel Reeves has announced a “summer of cost‑of‑living activism”, while Wes Streeting is now open to a wealth tax – both moves echoing Burnham’s critique of austerity‑driven policies. If Labour adopts a “Manchester‑centric” platform, it could reshape the party’s relationship with northern constituencies and challenge Keir Starmer’s current direction.Outlook: Can Manchesterism Shape a New National Agenda?The next test will be whether Burnham’s blueprint can move beyond regional rhetoric to a viable national policy package. Critics point to the potential cost of public‑ownership schemes, but supporters argue that a “productive state” – directly owning essential capital – could restore economic balance. If Labour integrates these ideas, Britain may see a renewed focus on northern investment, public control of utilities, and a political narrative that positions the North as the engine of future growth.

The LeadA friend of mine was recently left in tears after filling up the car she relies on to drive to work. Thanks to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, prices at the pumps have soared. She wasn't sure how her family was going to make it to the next paycheck.It is a personal story and a distressing one, but the big picture is truly obscene. Fossil fuel companies are raking in monstrous, unearned war profits taken from the pockets of people like you, me, my friend, and any of us who fills up a vehicle or pays an energy bill.The War-Profits Bonanza$30m an hour: that's the pure, unearned profits banked by the world's top 100 oil and gas companies in the first month of the conflict in Iran, purely due to the spike in the oil price. Now the first numbers are in, and that $30m may have been a major underestimate.Shell's profit for the first three months of 2026 more than doubled to $6.9bn, as did BP's, to $3.2bn. TotalEnergies profits also surged by more than 50%, up to $5.8bn. Even in the Gulf itself, where the flow of oil through the strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted, some companies have still flourished. Aramco, the state oil company of Saudi Arabia, saw its profits soar by 26% to $33.6bn in the first quarter.The Financial Impact on ConsumersThose four companies alone, benefiting not just from the oil price hike but also bumper oil-trading profits, made $23m an hour for the whole of January, February and March. And the Iran conflict only started on 28 February.To get some idea of the scale of this, imagine I gave you $6,200. What would you do? Pay off a loan? Book a fancy holiday? A second later, I give you another $6,200; then again, for hours, weeks and months. That is the rate of profit of just those four companies.There is plenty more to come for the industry. Oil and gas supplies will take months to return to prewar levels, and reserves are getting dangerously low. Even if the oil price remains at today's level of about $100 a barrel, those 100 companies will make $234bn by the end of the year. Remember, the companies, and petrostates such as Russia, have done no extra work for this, just ridden a soaring oil price. Also remember, you are paying for this. Where I live in the UK, household energy bills are about to jump by £209 ($280) a year for the average home.The Industry's Climate ObstructionThe profits are extreme, but not new: big oil and gas has been wildly profitable for decades. It has made an average $1tn a year in pure profit for about 50 years. The fossil fuel sector also benefits from explicit subsidies that totalled $1.3tn in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund.These riches have funded the lobbying and campaigns that block climate action and have done so for years, long after the science became crystal clear. As an example of the consequences, the UK's official climate advisers said on Tuesday that all care homes and hospitals will need air conditioning within the coming 10 years, to stop the heat killing people.The Green Transition AccelerationBut here's that silver lining I promised: these peak profits contain the seeds of their own downfall. Sky-high fossil fuel prices are pushing people, companies and nations to supercharge their rush towards green power for the simple reason that it is now cheaper and more reliable. Solar power does not need to transit through the strait of Hormuz, as Bill McKibben has observed.The numbers on the surge in renewable energy deployment, already exponential, are not yet in, but they will almost certainly be huge. Green funds are already attracting billions of dollars in new investments and one consultancy estimates that an oil price of $100 a barrel will drive $4tn of extra green investment by 2030.Big oil remains a formidable political force but, on the ground, people are already voting with their feet. Sales of new electric cars in the UK leapt by 59% in April, for example. The pain and anger of today's energy crisis may yet become a critical turning point in confronting the climate crisis.

English Homes with Lush Party Gardens for Sale The Guardian has featured a selection of homes for sale in England that boast impressive gardens, ideal for hosting parties and outdoor gatherings. Garden Party Havens These properties offer a range of outdoor spaces, from expansive lawns to beautifully landscaped gardens, perfect for entertaining friends and family. The Allure of Outdoor Living With the increasing importance of outdoor living, these homes cater to those seeking to enhance their lifestyle with luxurious garden spaces. Showcasing England's Hidden Gems The featured homes are located across England, offering a glimpse into the country's diverse property market and the opportunity to find a dream home with a stunning garden.

Meta has reached a confidential settlement with Breathitt County Schools in Kentucky, ending a lawsuit that alleged the company’s social networks are engineered to be addictive and cause mental‑health harm to students.Meta Settles Kentucky School District Lawsuit Over Alleged Addiction DesignThe settlement was announced less than three weeks before the case was set to go to trial in federal court in California. While the exact terms were not disclosed, Meta emphasized its ongoing work on safety tools such as Teen Accounts and parental controls.Financial Stakes and Settlement LandscapeThe Kentucky district originally sought more than $60 million to cover mental‑health services and a 15‑year remediation program.Meta’s settlement follows similar agreements by TikTok and Snap with the same group of roughly 1,200 school districts.Recent jury verdicts ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages and Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for related claims.Implications for Social Media Regulation and Child SafetyThe case adds pressure on the industry to redesign features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay video, which plaintiffs argue are deliberately addictive. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are citing these lawsuits as evidence that existing self‑regulation is insufficient, potentially accelerating federal or state legislation aimed at protecting minors online.Future Legal Battles and Industry OutlookAttorneys for the remaining school districts say they will continue pursuing justice, with another 1,200 districts still in litigation. Upcoming trials include an individual case in California and a Tennessee attorney‑general suit slated for July, while a federal case by the Tucson Unified School District is scheduled for January 2027. The outcomes of these cases will likely shape the next wave of social‑media liability and could force broader industry changes.