Tag Archives: UK News

Rare ‘Once In A Lifetime’ Super Blue Moon Is Set To Take Place This Week

As anticipation builds among stargazers in preparation for an extraordinary celestial phenomenon this week, astronomers have unveiled the precise moment enthusiasts can cast their gaze skyward to behold the mesmerizing spectacle of a super blue moon.

Amid the course of a typical year, a total of 12 full moons grace the firmament, each distinguished by its unique appellation, such as Wolf Moon, Pink Moon, Harvest Moon, Worm Moon, and Snow Moon.

And this month the rare lunar event, which will not grace the heavens again for another span of 14 years, is set to reach its zenith on Wednesday, while its brilliance will remain observable throughout the entire week.

Credit: Unsplash

Experts assert that the optimal instance to behold this wonder is precisely at 7:52 pm on Wednesday, August 30th. For an optimal vantage point, it is advisable to seek refuge away from the intrusion of light pollution and to observe as the moon majestically ascends.

The prior occurrence of a super blue moon unfolded in 2009, and its recurrence is not slated until the year 2037. The nomenclature “super blue moon” encompasses the convergence of two distinct lunar marvels: the supermoon and the blue moon.

Read More: ‘Exhausted’ Dog Had To Be Rescued By Mountain Team After Hiking Scafell Pike

The supermoon phenomenon transpires when the moon achieves its closest proximity to Earth during its orbital trajectory, resulting in a grander and more luminous manifestation in the nocturnal expanse. It is noteworthy that the appellation “blue moon” denotes the advent of a second full moon within a single calendar month—its designation does not pertain to its hue.

Credit: Unsplash

Meteorological projections suggest intermittent cloud cover interspersed with moments of clarity, affording ardent skywatchers a favourable probability of witnessing this extraordinary lunar occurrence.

To augment the rarity and splendour of this astronomical event, the planet Saturn will be situated just slightly above the moon, prompting observers to keep their eyes peeled for this additional celestial embellishment.

David Moore, a distinguished authority in the field of astronomy, conveyed to the BBC, “Thus, the convergence of a super blue moon and the proximity of a luminous planet represents an exceedingly uncommon phenomenon, perhaps materializing only once in a lifetime, if not even more infrequently.”

Read More: This Tourist’s Bizarre TripAdvisor Review Of Lake District Baffles The Internet

Article originally posted on The Yorkshireman

‘Exhausted’ Dog Had To Be Rescued By Mountain Team After Hiking Scafell Pike

There was a different type of rescue mission that took place this weekend. A tired pupper had to be helped down from Britain’s highest mountain.

An exhausted dog had to be carried down Scafell Pike by mountain rescue about reports of an ‘injured and exhausted dog’ who was ‘refusing to move’.

The rescue mission took four hours and thirteen volunteers to carry the canine down from the huge mountain after the request, which came on a return journey to Langdale from the top of Scafell Pike.

Credit: Keswick Mountain Rescue

The team was called out at around 6:25pm on Saturday 13th May.

A spokesperson for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said “it was a joy to carry such a relatively lightweight casualty” praising the dog for remaining “cool, calm and positively regal throughout!”.

The team posted the rescue to its pages writing: “The Keswick team met the casualty and owners high up Grains Gill. The casualty was made comfortable in a ‘cas bag’ on the stretcher and sledged/carried back to Seathwaite Farm.

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“Despite being quite a large dog at 33kg it was a joy to carry such a relatively lightweight casualty. The casualty remained cool, calm and positively regal throughout!”

“The casualty and owners were given a lift to Keswick Team Base where other members of their party collected them.”

The 42nd rescue mission by the team is sure to go down in history – and the team will have celebrated a job well done having saved man’s best friend.

Credit: Keswick Mountain Rescue

People were quick to comment on the post with one person having a similar occurrence with their own dog: “I think ‘ the casualty’ is enjoying the ride! I know how easily this can happen from past experience. My 32 kilo labradoodle once “went on strike” 9 miles into a 10 mile coastal path walk in Anglesey.”

Another wrote: “Well done team, excellent work! It happens to our dog friends too sometimes – our dog once went lame at the summit of a mountain – luckily she only weighed in at 16kilos”

We are sure that the doggo is still sleeping off its excursion.

Article orginally posted on the-yorkshireman.com

Read More: 10 Incredible Things To Do In Ambleside Lake District

Feature Image Credit: Keswick Mountain Rescue

Cumbrian GPs Are Set To Prescribe Walking & Cycling To Help Ease The Burden On NHS

Cumbrian GPs will start prescribing walking and cycling as part of a nationwide trial to improve mental and physical wellbeing across the UK.

Yesterday it was announced that £12.7 million has been given to 11 local authorities by the Department for Transport to fund pilot social prescriptions and projects such as adult cycle training, free bike loans and walking groups.

The GP prescription will also include wheeling for wheelchair or mobility scooter users, the department said.

The pilots will start this year running until 2025 in Cumbria, Bath and North East Somerset, Bradford, Cornwall, Doncaster, Gateshead, Leeds, Nottingham, Plymouth, Suffolk and Staffordshire. The aim is to evaluate the impact these activities have on individuals seeing if reduced GP appointments and reliance on medication are affected.

Walking and Cycling minister Trudy Harrison said the activities have “so many benefits – from improving air quality in our communities to reducing congestion on our busiest streets”.

“It also has an enormous positive impact on physical and mental health, which is why we have funded these projects which will get people across the country moving and ease the burden on our NHS,” she said.

Chris Boardman, the commissioner of National Active Travel, an executive agency being set up by the Government to improve the standards of the UK’s cycling and walking infrastructure, said: “As a nation we need healthier, cheaper and more pleasant ways to get around for everyday trips.

Adding “Moving more will lead to a healthier nation, a reduced burden on the NHS, less cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as huge cost savings. This trial aims to build on existing evidence to show how bringing transport, active travel and health together can make a positive impact on communities across England.”

Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield, said: “Getting active is hugely beneficial for both our mental and physical health, helping reduce stress and ward off other illness such as heart disease and obesity. The UK is leading the way in embedding social prescribing in our NHS and communities across the country.”

Read More: 197-Mile Coast to Coast Walk That Passes Through Lake District To Get £5.6m Upgrade

Three Popular Swimming Spots In Cumbria Given Pollution Warnings After Heavy Downpour

40 beaches and swimming spots in the UK have been issued pollution warnings including the North of England following the heavy rain that overwhelmed sewage systems following months or little rain.

Warnings are in place across Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire due to the sudden weather change according ot Surfers Against Sewage.

Tourists have been advised against swimming in certain beauty spots across the UK due to the recent downpours. You can check which areas have been affected badly by their interactive map here.

Warnings of high pollution levels have been issued for Saltburn, Marke Sands, Redcar Lifeboat Station and Redcar Coatham after storm sewage was discharged from a sewer flow in the last 48 hours.

Also in Cumbria, Walney West Shore. Walney Sandy Gap and Walney Bigger Bank have all been issued with pollution notices.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The current risk of surface water flooding reinforces the need for robust action from water companies to reduce discharges from storm overflows. We are monitoring the current situation and supporting local authorities where needed.”

In a statement last week, Defra said: “The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain, wind, sunlight and seasonality on bathing water quality. These factors affect the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse.

“Between 2020 and 2025, we’re investing more than £200 million to reduce storm spills across the East of England and, as part of our Get River Positive commitment, we’ve promised that storm overflows will not be the reason for unhealthy rivers in our region by 2030.”

Northumbrian Water said: “During the heavy rain earlier this week, a short discharge of storm water was made from a storm overflow at Spittal, near Berwick. Such discharges are mostly rainwater with a small percentage of wastewater that have come together because they use the same sewer network.

“At times of heavy rainfall, all water companies use storm overflows as a relief valve on our sewer network to protect the homes of customers and the environment from sewer flooding. Such discharges happen with both permission and scrutiny from the Environment Agency.

“In the last Bathing Water classifications released by Defra, 32 of the North East’s 34 designated bathing waters achieved either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ ratings, with Spittal in the highest category.

“We have invested heavily in upgrades to our wastewater network in the last two decades and beyond, which have played an important part in these results, and we continue to do so. More than £80 million of investment is targeted towards improvements related to storm overflows in our current 2020-25 operating period.”

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Credit: Photo © David Dixon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

New Miracle £1 Hangover Pill Goes On Sale In The UK Today

We’ve all woken up after a few bevvies with that tired sluggish feeling, headache and a need for something greasy to soak up last night’s booze. After that comes the regret and a wish that you’d not had that last beer.

Well, a “ground-breaking” new £1 pill promises to cure hangovers and has gone on sale in the UK today after 30 years of development. It works as a preventative measure by breaking down alcohol before it reaches the liver.

Credit: Unsplash

Invented by a scientist (and soon to be known as a legend) Johan de Faire invented the pill back in 1990 but has not released the Mrykl pill which promises to “rapidly break down alcohol”.

The new supplement costs just £30 for 30 tablets and is to be taken one to 12 hours before drinking. 70% of alcohol will be broken down in just 60 minutes according to medical journals. That’s right! Test subjects had 70% less alcohol in their bloodstream after two vodkas.

Credit: Unsplash

But this doesn’t mean its intended for you to “drink more alcohol” and Mrkyl’s creators advise that “you should always limit your alcohol consumption within the government guidelines.” 

Håkan Magnusson, of Swedish inventors de Faire Medical, said: “Two drinks is enough to stop you feeling fresh in the morning.

“I hand it out to my friends when I go out for a drink and they always tell me next day they feel great.”

He added: “Marking the first time in history that a consumer product is demonstrated to effectively and rapidly break down alcohol, we are very excited to be launching this ground-breaking product in the UK and in most European markets. 

“Moderate social drinking is a huge part of British culture, with the majority of British people heading out each week to enjoy a few drinks together. 

“Myrkl’s purpose is therefore to help those regular moderate drinkers to wake up feeling their best the next day, whether they’re a busy working professional, young parents, or seniors who want to maintain an active social life.” 

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Originally published on The Yorkshireman.