Ishan Crawford

A sleek steel tank nestled inside Heriot-Watt University might not look like much from the outside. But inside Scotland’s first open-access 300-litre fermenter, an industrial biotech transformation is already bubbling to life. The new kit—funded with £847,000 from Scottish Enterprise—marks a giant leap for FlexBIO, the pilot-scale facility at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC). For Scotland’s startups, it’s the bridge between petri dish and full production. Why This Fermenter Is More Than Just a Fancy Tank It’s not the size that makes this fermenter a big deal—it’s what it can do. While technically a 300-litre vessel, the working volume…

A new energy storage facility in West Lothian has been given the green light, marking a significant milestone in Scotland’s shift toward a more resilient, low-carbon electricity future. The 49.9 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), approved unanimously by the Council’s Development Management Committee, will be Galileo Empower’s first fully consented project in Scotland. Slated for development at Middlerigg Farm—tucked between Bathgate and Armadale near the A801—the site sits close to the Bathgate substation, a critical node for Scotland’s electrical grid. Clean Power, Stored and Ready The whole point of battery storage? Catching clean power before it slips away. Scotland,…

The Cotswolds may be serene, but for Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the hustle never stops. Fresh off a romantic trip to Scotland with Princess Beatrice to mark their fifth anniversary, the 41-year-old interior designer and property developer wasted no time diving back into his design work—offering a glimpse into his latest project that’s as refined as it is minimalist. Back to Business—Edo Style Within hours of returning from the Highlands, Edoardo took to Instagram to share a striking render of a luxury bathroom concept, showcasing his signature style—cool, contemporary, and meticulously detailed. The design centers on a pill-shaped freestanding bathtub, commanding…

The sun burned through grey skies just in time for Day 2 of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, where a swirl of Scottish grooves, Canadian tributes, and Moroccan punk-funk lit up the shoreline. But not everything hit the right note. A Breezy Start Gives Way to Full-On Groove Saturday kicked off under a layer of cloud and chill. Not ideal for sun-lovers, but for everyone else? Pretty close to perfect once the sun fought its way through. By the time the main stage got moving, the sky was blue, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Opening acknowledgments from representatives of…

Tucked into a bay on Scotland’s rugged west coast, Oban has quietly become the country’s biggest surprise of 2025—claiming the top spot as the UK’s most affordable and stunning seaside town. It’s not just about the views, though they’re postcard-worthy. Oban is showing that you don’t need southern England prices to get the full coastal package: history, seafood, island escapes, and homes that won’t bankrupt you. A Top Spot No One Saw Coming The latest figures from the Co-operative Bank’s annual coastal affordability index have turned heads. Oban, long considered a local treasure, officially ranked number one out of dozens…

Eight catchments remain at Moderate Scarcity while several others edge dangerously close to critical thresholds Eastern Scotland is now facing an intensifying water scarcity crisis, with several rivers approaching record-low flow levels and a growing number of catchments remaining in a prolonged state of Moderate Scarcity, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). In its latest weekly Water Scarcity Report, SEPA confirmed that eight major river catchments — including the Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Dee (Aberdeen), Esk, the Firth of Tay, and the Tyne (Lothian) — continue to face Moderate Scarcity, a status that has persisted in some…

Looking for a place to escape the bustle, stretch your legs and soak up something beautiful? You’d be hard-pressed to beat the Japanese Garden at Cowden — a slice of calm that’s been turning heads for more than a century. A Trailblazer’s Dream Come True Nestled in the rolling green of Clackmannanshire, this seven-acre oasis owes its roots to the vision of Ella Christie.She fell for Japan on her travels in the early 1900s and, instead of leaving it there, she brought a piece of it home. One-sentence para: And what a bold move it was. At a time when…

Glasgow’s biggest music bash, TRNSMT 2025, turned up the heat in more ways than one this weekend — with tens of thousands packing into Glasgow Green for three sun-soaked days of tunes, tinnies, and sizzling temperatures. Sun, Sweat and Selfies on Glasgow Green Fans turned out in force despite the blistering heatwave that saw Glasgow sizzle at 29 degrees on Saturday — Scotland’s hottest day of the year so far.You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d landed in Ibiza, not the Clyde-side, with cowboy boots, bucket hats and bikinis the unofficial festival dress code. One line: It’s all part of the…

Police Scotland has rolled out a new clampdown called Operation Safe Landing at Aberdeen International Airport — hoping to catch and deter holidaymakers who risk driving under the influence after a few too many in the skies. A Friendly Reminder With a Serious Message It’s not unusual to see folks order a drink — or three — on their holiday flights. But stepping off the plane and into the driver’s seat? That’s where the problems start.Border Policing and Road Policing officers are teaming up for this initiative. You’ll spot them in greater numbers around arrivals, chatting with passengers, doing roadside…