News

Scotland just became the first nation in the United Kingdom to legalize water cremation, giving families a gentler, greener choice at the end of life. The landmark decision ends more than 120 years without a new funeral option and answers growing calls for methods that respect both the planet and personal beliefs. The Scottish Parliament approved alkaline hydrolysis on Monday, instantly making it the third legal way to say goodbye alongside burial and flame-based cremation. What Exactly Is Water Cremation? Water cremation, also called alkaline hydrolysis or resomation, uses warm water mixed with a small amount of potassium hydroxide to…

Communities across Scotland have quietly pulled off one of the biggest wealth-building stories of the decade. Through community shares and bonds, ordinary people have invested £21.8 million into pubs, shops, churches, and renewable energy projects they refused to lose. Ten years after Democratic Finance Scotland launched, the numbers tell a story of defiance and hope. £21.8 Million from 21,000 Everyday Investors The programme, run by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), has supported more than 70 community groups since 2014. Together they have brought in £21.8 million from over 21,000 investors, most of them local people putting in £50, £500 or…

Deep inside the National Museum Scotland sits a library that began collecting books in 1781, and every single item from that first donation is still on the shelves today. With more than 300,000 volumes, manuscripts, and curious objects, this is no ordinary library. It is a time capsule. Recently, Assistant Librarian Morven Donald pulled six of the most extraordinary pieces from the stacks and shared them with the world, reminding us why real books still stop us in our tracks. These six items are not just old, they are alive with stories that still matter. The Tiniest Book Ever Printed…

A single 2.5 MW wind turbine now turning on the hills above Kilbirnie is doing something no community-owned project in Scotland has done before: making money without a penny of government subsidy. The machine, owned entirely by local people through ATTIX CIC, began generating clean power for the grid this week in what energy experts are already calling a turning point for community renewables. A New Way to Pay for Community Power For decades Scottish community wind projects lived or died by government support schemes like the Feed-in Tariff or Renewables Obligation. When those ended, many feared the community energy…

Scotland's feral pig population is growing fast, and the way we handle them is no longer working, according to a major new report. Researchers from King's College London and the Czech Academy of Sciences say the current patchwork system is failing farmers, foresters, and even the pigs themselves. They want a proper national strategy before the problem spirals out of control. The pigs, mostly escaped or illegally released wild boar, now number close to 2,000 and could hit 2,400 by 2075 if nothing changes. Where the Pigs Are and How They Got Here The biggest clusters are in the Highlands,…

Former Scotland seamer John Blain has been welcomed back into Cricket Scotland's Hall of Fame, ending a painful four-year exile that began with racism allegations later deemed unfounded. The 47-year-old received the news this week, nearly four years after his induction was suspended in July 2022. Blain described the reinstatement as one of the proudest moments of his life. "Representing Scotland 118 times was the greatest honour I have ever had. Having that taken away hurt more than I can put into words," he said in an emotional statement. Four Years in the Wilderness Blain was inducted into the Hall of…

A Scottish company turning whisky waste into green chemicals just secured £16.23 million to build a massive new biorefinery at Grangemouth. The cash will help Celtic Renewables jump from demonstration scale to full industrial production, creating jobs and proving Scotland can lead the world in low-carbon manufacturing. Where the Money is Coming From The £16.23 million package breaks down into three clear parts. Scottish Enterprise is putting in £5 million fresh equity. Existing private investors are matching that with another £5 million. The biggest slice, £6.23 million, comes from the Grangemouth Just Transition Fund, money the Scottish Government set aside…

Women in Scotland are now waiting over a decade to receive an endometriosis diagnosis, a shocking new report reveals.The average wait time has climbed to more than 10 years, leaving thousands suffering in pain without answers. Campaigners are calling the situation "unacceptable" and demanding urgent government intervention to reverse this worsening health crisis. A Decade of Pain and Uncertainty A new analysis by Endometriosis UK paints a grim picture for women’s health in Scotland.The charity found that the average time to get a diagnosis has risen to 10 years and two months.This is a significant increase from the eight years…

It has been exactly four years since Russian tanks rolled across the border, yet for Anastasiia Pustovachenko, the war is not a distant memory but a daily notification on her phone. While the 22 year old economics graduate walks the granite streets of Aberdeen in safety, her mind remains trapped in the besieged city of Chernihiv. She represents a growing generation of young Ukrainians who have built a new life in Scotland but find themselves suspended in a state of permanent uncertainty. The fourth anniversary of the full scale invasion this past week brought a mix of gratitude and fresh…

A new 90-passenger ferry is set to transform travel on Scotland’s west coast following a major design agreement announced this week. UK-based Rockabill Marine Design (RMD) has partnered with Irish boatbuilder Seabound Engineering to deliver the vessel, which promises year-round reliability for island communities. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026 with delivery expected in 2027. A Strategic Partnership for Dependable Travel This agreement marks a significant collaboration between two rising forces in the maritime sector. Rockabill Marine Design will handle the full naval architecture and structural design from their UK offices. Meanwhile, Seabound Engineering will construct the vessel…