Welcome to Backstage, the film and TV podcast from Sky News. This week Claire Gregory and Stevie Wong are joined by Chris Robertson from the Sky News entertainment team. Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker We discuss In The Heights, the new Lin Manuel Miranda musical, and hear from
Could you quickly explain how geothermal energy works, and where it is particularly useful? Geothermal heating and cooling is done by using a heat pump to move heat between the ground and a home or building. The term ‘heat pump’ may be unfamiliar, but heat pumps are actually ubiquitous in modern life: refrigerators are heat
Over the next few weeks, a company called Kernel will begin sending dozens of customers across the US a $50,000 (roughly Rs. 37 lakhs) helmet that can, crudely speaking, read their mind. Weighing a couple of pounds each, the helmets contain nests of sensors and other electronics that measure and analyse a brain’s electrical impulses and
The first astronauts arrived at China’s new space station on Thursday in the country’s longest crewed mission to date, a landmark step in establishing Beijing as a major space power. The trio blasted off on a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan launch centre in northwest China’s Gobi desert, and their craft docked at the
The executions of two inmates have been blocked by a US court, who ruled they must get the choice to die by firing squad. The South Carolina supreme court halted the executions of Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens, ruling that officials needed to put together a firing squad to give them the option of how
A US national holiday commemorating the end of slavery is due to be signed into law by President Biden after it received overwhelming backing. Representatives voted by 415-14 to make 19 June, known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday, while the Senate passed the bill unanimously. Mr Biden is expected to add his signature at the
The work of Enid Blyton has been linked to “racism and xenophobia” in updated blue plaque information by English Heritage. The charity’s blue plaque scheme, which has seen more than 950 commemorative plaques placed in and around London, shows visitors where important people in history have lived and worked. Blyton’s has been placed at her
John with Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley shared some interesting Tesla Solar news for those who plan to take a loan to install it. He discovered that Tesla has launched better rates on solar loans. Previously, the loan option was for a 20-year plan with 10% down and 5.99% APR. Recently, Tesla made the loan
Researchers in Australia have developed a new technology that uses infrared imaging to allow people to see clearly in the dark. These ultra-thin films could one day turn regular spectacles into night-vision goggles and also revolutionise several sectors, such as autonomous vehicle navigation, optical tomography, and food quality control. The film is thinner than human
Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, US footballer Megan Rapinoe and transgender model Valentina Sampaio have joined Victoria’s Secret as the embattled lingerie company undergoes a “dramatic shift”. Known for its famous annual fashion show featuring some of the biggest names in the modelling world – including Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks
Under bright-blue morning skies, China launched its first crewed space mission in five years Thursday, sending three science-minded military pilots rocketing to a new orbiting station they’re expected to reach around midafternoon. The astronauts, already wearing their spacesuits, were seen off by space officials, other uniformed military personnel and a crowd of children waving flowers
The first “murder hornet” discovered in the US this year has been found north of Seattle. The dead Asian giant hornet, which was found in Snohomish County, appears to be unrelated to findings in Canada and Whatcom County along the Canadian border in 2019 and 2020. The insects are two inches (about 5cm) long, are
Four social media influencers have been rebuked by regulators for repeatedly failing to disclose advertising on their accounts. Chloe Ferry, Chloe Khan, Jodie Marsh and Lucy Mecklenburgh are the first to be named by the Advertising Standards Agency on a dedicated webpage. The ASA contacted each of them with a request for assurances that clear
4:10 PM ET Associated Press The Breeders’ Cup will have full capacity for the world championships at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6. Officials said tickets go on sale Friday, although general admission won’t be available at this time. They hope to be able to offer it closer to the event. All tickets will be sold
There are moments when dull is good. This was one of them. It was clearly a big and important meeting – the first face-to-face encounter between Joe Biden as US president and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. And with relations back nearing Cold War levels (they had both conceded as much) a tête-à-tête was needed. Given
3:48 PM ET Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Kentucky judge has granted representatives of trainer Bob Baffert and the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit much of the horse’s split urine sample to be further tested for betamethasone and other substances. The Hall of Fame trainer and Zedan Racing Stables last week sued
In 2020, consumption of renewable energy in the United States grew for the fifth year in a row, reaching a record high of 11.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), or 12% of total U.S. energy consumption. Renewable energy was the only source of U.S. energy consumption that increased in 2020 from 2019; fossil fuel and
Russia’s Vladimir Putin says he and US President Joe Biden have agreed to return their ambassadors to their respective posts in an attempt to lower tensions. It comes after around four hours of talks between the leaders at a summit in Switzerland. The two men have had face-to-face discussions at a villa on the shores
On the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we examine how sightings of unidentified flying objects went from conspiracy theory to US government inquiry – after officials told American media they can’t confirm or rule out alien activity. We hear from Sean Cahill, who was the Chief Master-at-Arms on the USS Princeton in 2004
Love Island contestants taking part in the latest season will be offered a minimum of eight therapy sessions following the show, ITV has said. Training on the impact of social media and “how to handle potential negativity” will also be given, as well as help with financial management and how to secure representation for media