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Experts Say 'Granola Baby Names' Are About To Become Big News In 2026

Experts Say 'Granola Baby Names' Are About To Become Big News In 2026

If 2025 was the year of the vintage baby name , 2026 might just be the year of the “granola baby name ”. That’s according to baby name consultant Colleen Slagen, who has worked with JoJo Maman Bébé to share her top predictions for baby naming trends in 2026. From vintage nickname styles (think Goldie and Kitty) to “granola” baby names (which are nature-inspired, with rustic and earthy feels) to a continued interest in gender neutral and ‘cottagecore’ names, here are some of the monikers that are set to soar in popularity this year. If you’re looking to name your little one in the year ahead, here’s all the inspiration you need... Vintage nickname names Short and sweet, with a vintage twist. Romy Goldie Lettie Kit/Kitty Minnie Cal Louie Archie Rocky Ozzy Gender neutral names Simple and modern neutral names that are on the rise. Frankie Benny/Bennie Dylan Drew Scottie Cottagecore names This much-loved style is set to remain popular for 2026 babies. For girls: Hattie Elsie Flora Willa Edie For boys: Percy Sonny Augustin Franklin Winston Granola baby names These names are nature-inspired, with rustic and earthy feels. Coast Sunny Juniper Fox Cherry Oak Dove Fern Stone Alternatives to the ‘top 10’ These names have a similar style to those that are on the most popular list right now, but they aren’t quite as popular... yet. For girls: Margot Darcy Eloise Vivian Clara Colette Celine Lenore Olive Annie Molly For boys: Callum Jonah Arthur Louis Eli Declan Conrad Luca Jude Related... Experts Predict 11 Baby Name Trends For 2026 Experts Predict Which Baby Names Will Be Popular In 2026 8 Baby Name Trends Poised To Take Over In 2026

Marty Supreme: How Table Tennis Can Support Healthy Ageing

Marty Supreme: How Table Tennis Can Support Healthy Ageing

Ping-pong flick Marty Supreme has already won its star, Timothée Chalamet, a couple of awards: he’s bagged both Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice awards so far. It’s highlighted the usually unglamorous world of table tennis, a sport that The Times said provided the “hottest table” around last summer. Only time will tell if the movie’s popularity will lead to a rise in actual ping-pong participation, a la chess set sales after The Queen’s Gambit . But if it did, some research suggests that could spell good news for older people. Table tennis can be a great way to stay agile, balanced, and social as you age Motor control – or the ability to complete precise, coordinated movements – tends to decline with age . Increasing motor control loss amongst over-65s has been linked to increased health risks and even a higher likelihood of early death. But, a 2024 study found , table tennis may help with that. Researchers compared a group of older people who were used to playing table tennis with another group who were interested in aerobics, and yet another control group who did neither. They found that the table tennis group seemed to benefit from better motor control than both the control group and those in the aerobics group. Table tennis appeared to “enhance the motor system regulated by neural networks... thereby affecting motor control in older adults”. Meanwhile, 2023 research found that two weeks of table tennis appeared to improve the balance and agility of older participants. And a 2025 paper found that the sport seemed beneficial to older people’s “physical, psychological, and social” well-being, perhaps offering benefits over less competitive sports. Table tennis has advantages for other ages, too You don’t have to wait until you’re older to enjoy the benefits of table tennis. A 2025 study found that the sport carried social and physical benefits for a wide range of ages, without placing too much stress on people’s joints. “Expanding and strengthening programs that incorporate table tennis may contribute to enhancing individual well-being and encouraging healthy lifestyles across different populations,” the researchers added. Well, that’s me sold... Related... A 'Key' Chemical In Dark Chocolate May Slow Ageing The Exact Bedtime A Longevity Expert Sticks To For Healthy Ageing 6 Depression Signs In Midlife Are Linked To Dementia Risk

AI will transform the ‘human job’ and enhance skills, says science minister

AI will transform the ‘human job’ and enhance skills, says science minister

Patrick Vallance says robots would take away ‘repetitive’ tasks, but Sadiq Khan warns AI will usher in ‘new era of mass unemployment’ Advances in AI and robotics will transform human jobs, starting with roles in warehouses and factories, the UK science minister has said, as the government announced plans to reduce red tape for robot and defence tech companies. Patrick Vallance said technological progress was creating a “whole new area” for robots to work in. “What’s really changing now is the combination of AI and robotics. It is opening up a whole new area, particularly in the sorts of things like humanoid robotics. And that will increase productivity, it will change the human job,” he told the Guardian. Continue reading...

Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract

Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract

Exclusive: Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn, who campaigned to overturn 2020 election, seek to win Bosnia deal for little-known US firm Leading members of Donald Trump’s campaign to overturn the 2020 presidential election are seeking a huge European pipeline contract, the latest figures from the US president’s circle to mix business and geopolitics. Jesse Binnall, a lawyer who worked on legal actions advancing Trump’s baseless claim that the vote was stolen from him, and Joe Flynn, who also sought to undermine Joe Biden’s victory, have been in Bosnia this week to discuss the project. Continue reading...

Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract

Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract

Exclusive: Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn, who campaigned to overturn 2020 election, seek to win Bosnia deal for little-known US firm Leading members of Donald Trump’s campaign to overturn the 2020 presidential election are seeking a huge European pipeline contract, the latest figures from the US president’s circle to mix business and geopolitics. Jesse Binnall, a lawyer who worked on legal actions advancing Trump’s baseless claim that the vote was stolen from him, and Joe Flynn, who also sought to undermine Joe Biden’s victory, have been in Bosnia this week to discuss the project. Continue reading...

Say what you will about Trump, but unlike Starmer he knows his own power – and how to use it | Aditya Chakrabortty

Say what you will about Trump, but unlike Starmer he knows his own power – and how to use it | Aditya Chakrabortty

The right is unafraid to show its might on the world stage – meanwhile the prime minister is tinkering with potholes. That just about sums up the centre-left Last weekend, as the world wondered whether Donald Trump would swipe Greenland, Keir Starmer made his own big geographic intervention: he published a map of which councils were fixing potholes. Yes, potholes. Yes, a map . Barely 18 months into office, with crucial elections just ahead and his party lagging behind the ragtag troops of Nigel Farage and even Kemi Badenoch, this was how Team Starmer kicked off 2026. To be fair, as the young people say, the map is colour-coded. Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links

BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links

Campaigners claim firm has bought sway over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths Campaigners have accused BP of having an insidious influence over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) in the UK through its relationship with the Science Museum. Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation show how the company funded a research project that led to the creation of the Science Museum Group academy – its teacher and educator training programme – which BP sponsors and which has run more than 500 courses, for more than 5,000 teachers. Continue reading...

BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links

BP accused of ‘insidious’ influence on UK education through Science Museum links

Campaigners claim firm has bought sway over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths Campaigners have accused BP of having an insidious influence over the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) in the UK through its relationship with the Science Museum. Documents obtained under freedom of information legislation show how the company funded a research project that led to the creation of the Science Museum Group academy – its teacher and educator training programme – which BP sponsors and which has run more than 500 courses, for more than 5,000 teachers. Continue reading...