Islay McLeod

Society  The average number of agricultural deaths in Scotland has been higher than in any other part of the UK. From 2013-18, 34 people died in Scotland, while for all other areas, the highest average was seven deaths. The most common causes of agricultural deaths are being killed by an animal and being struck by a moving vehicle. Source: Health and Safety Executive.

The number of homeless applications in Scotland rose by 1% to 34,972 between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. It’s the first time that homeless applications have risen in nine years. Source: Scottish Government.

Around 10% of all online property adverts in England discriminate against tenants who receive housing benefits. Source: Shelter/National Housing Federation.

The mid-year estimate of the United Kingdom population was 66,040,200. Source: Office for National Statistics.

At time of writing, the recent wildfire in Paradise, California, claimed 77 lives – the worst wildfire death toll since 1933 in Griffith Park where 31 people were killed. Source: BBC.

The top five most popular people to Brits, according to a ratings survey, are, in descending order, Morgan Freeman, Roald Dahl, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and David Attenborough. Source: YouGov.

Economy  Nearly 33% of Scots would be unable to survive on their savings for more than a month if they were to become unemployed. 57% would survive for less than six months. Source: YouGov.

Wages in the UK rose at the fastest pace in a decade in the three months up to September. Although they rose by 3.2%, real wage growth was still below the 2015 level. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Disabled people in the UK spend around £249bn each year – otherwise referred to as the ‘Purple Pound’ – but only 10% is being realised by retailers because many shops have poor lay-outs and little or no disabled access. Source: Department of Work and Pensions.

The number of distilleries in the UK has leapt from 131 to 170 in two years. Gin, rum and flavoured spirits have become particularly popular. Source: UHY Hacker Young.

Homebase has been voted the worst online retailer because its website is ‘hard to navigate, with a poor range of products.’ Joint second place were Dorothy Perkins and Sports Direct. Source: Which?

Education  Children’s social media use increases dramatically during the transition between primary and secondary school. Children work best in schools where smartphones are banned. Source: Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England.

Science  The hormone ethinylestradiol (EE2), which is a synthetic version of oestrogen found in birth control pills, is often released into water as waste. However, it can have a harmful effect on fish such as salmon and trout, making it harder for them to catch food and procreate. Source: Lund University.

Heatwaves can damage the sperm of some insects, such as beetles, and make them almost sterile. Climate change could therefore be a reason for mass declines in insect populations. Source: University of East Anglia.

A new scientific report has suggested that the Arctic is no longer a safe haven for nesting birds – there is an increased threat from predators which steal or destroy eggs. Source: University of Bath.

Health  New research has revealed that immune cells called Gamma Delta T cells can act independently to identify and kill cancer cells, defying the conventional view of the immune system. Source: Medical Research Council.

The Scottish Government plan to improve Scotland’s oral health by restricting dental check-ups to once every two years, so that high-risk patients can be seen more often. 97% of dentists think it’s a bad idea that ‘will put lives at risk.’ Source: British Dental Association Scotland.

700,000 people in the UK are autistic. Source: NHS England.

Obese people are more likely to develop cancer because a type of cell the body uses to destroy cancerous tissue gets clogged by fat and stops working. Source: Trinity College Dublin.

Recreation  ABBA are the most popular pop music artist in the UK, with 78% of Brits rating them highly, followed by The Beatles and David Bowie. Source: YouGov.

The Weston Tavern in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, has been named Scotland’s most dog-friendly pub. The pub provides fresh towels so that owners can dry off their dogs after a walk in the rain and also gives out free poo bags. Source: DogBuddy.

A third of dog owners in the UK have put off going near their pets because of its bad breath. Source: Lily’s Kitchen.

Oddities  25% of Brits do their online shopping on their tablets or phones whilst on the loo. Half order their groceries whilst lying in bed. Source: Dacia.

The world’s oldest couple – two shellfish dating back more than 400m years – have been revealed by scientists. The fossilised remains of the two sea-fireflies were found in southern Japan. Source: Leicester University.