Editor's note

This week the UK experienced the warmest winter day on record, with temperatures reaching 21.2˚C in south-west London. While the early onset of spring may seem like a welcome break, the unseasonable warmth is causing turmoil in nature as trees bud prematurely and insects emerge from hibernation before migrating birds can arrive to eat them. Even if the weather reverts to cooler and wetter winter norms, Philip James explains how the long-term effects of the recent warm spell will continue to harm British wildlife.

India and Pakistan have long been in dispute over the region of Kashmir, but tensions turned into military action after India’s “pre-emptive strike” over the disputed border on Tuesday. India said it was targeting a terrorist training camp following a suicide bomb attack that killed more than 40 Indian troops earlier this month. Now Pakistan claims to have shot down two Indian fighter jets. Sita Bali explains this rapidly escalating situation and says ahead of Indian elections, the crisis could help Narendra Modi’s flagging nationalist agenda.

Ninety nine seconds are all that stand between men’s marathon world-record holder Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and the sub two-hour run. But it may take until at least 2032 before a runner goes “sub-2”, according to statistical analysis. Simon D Angus has crunched the numbers.

Jack Marley

Commissioning Editor

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Bloomin’ early. J.A.Woodhouse/Flickr

Here’s how Britain’s changing weather is affecting wildlife

Philip James, University of Salford

Record heat in February 2019 caused shock and delight in equal measure. Behind the balmy weather lie challenges for British wildlife.

Protest in Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan accused India of ‘grave aggression’ and violation of the de-facto border between the two sides in the disputed Kashmir region. Arshad Arbab/EPA

Kashmir: India and Pakistan’s escalating conflict will benefit Narendra Modi ahead of elections

Sita Bali, Staffordshire University

India and Pakistan enter into a volatile situation after weeks of increasing tension.

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge is the fastest marathon runner, so far. EPA/Hayoung Jeon

How long before we break the two-hour barrier in the men’s marathon?

Simon D Angus, Monash University

Number crunching the winning race time for marathon athletes can tell us when the men are likely to break the two-hour barrier. But what about a target barrier for women marathon runners?

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