We kick the can along the road, hoping optimism will trump science.

The names of literary giants and great philosophers spawn adjectives, ‘Shakespearian’, ‘Marxist’, and ‘Platonic’, for instance. Few scientific celebrities are so honoured, although ‘Darwinian’ has entered the lexicon.

Two Typhoon jets scrambled to an aircraft which had lost communications caused a sonic boom in the early hours of Sunday.

A 52-year old man who suffered a brain injury in a single punch assault on a Dublin street has been granted permission by the High Court to reject an award of over €1million by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal.

Knocker uppers, phrenologists, and rat catchers were among the job titles of our ancestors, according to a new study.

Three Cork brothers were killed during the Second World War fighting for the Royal Canadian Air Force, according to never-before-seen records unearthed by a noted author and historian.

Cork County Council may use grass cuttings from verges and its unused land stock as biofuel to provide power to houses.

Blizzards are hitting parts of the UK, as freezing conditions and heavy snow cause deaths and wreak disruption.

Extreme weather left drivers stranded and more roads impassable overnight - with another day of sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and "blizzard-like" conditions to come.

Margaret Jennings talks to Andrea Harrison, a 57-year-old leg amputee who knits amputee dolls to help children and adults come to terms with their disability

The head of a Traveller family in England who helped to run a modern day slavery ring has been jailed for 10 years and nine months.

The poisonous tone of the referendum campaign on quitting the European Union has fuelled the demonisation of immigrants and created huge obstacles for social integration, according to MPs.

Golf

The victim of a modern slavery gang was ordered to dig his own grave and told "that's where you're going" if he did not sign a bogus work contract.

Latest: The victim of a modern slavery gang was ordered to dig his own grave and told "that's where you're going" if he did not sign a bogus work contract.

Coca-Cola is doubling the amount of recycled plastic in its British drinks bottles to 50%, the company has announced.

A remarkable art project at a Co Limerick school has combined bronze sculpture, Newton’s theories and local apple trees, writes Ellie O’Byrne

I’m happy with the way I’m playing but the Brabazon Trophy did not go to plan, writes Robin Dawson.

Scott Jamieson recovered from a nightmare start to his second round to claim a share of the halfway lead in the BMW PGA Championship, an event he labelled the “pinnacle” of his season.

I’m in bed with the flu. I’ve been battling a sinus problem for a while so I’ve come home to Waterford to rest up. 

Aston Martin has revealed a limited-run Vanquish S inspired by the RAF’s legendary aerobatics division, the Red Arrows.

Poultry keepers are being urged to remain vigilant over bird flu after a dead wild duck in Wales was found to have a dangerous strain of the disease.

The Department of Agriculture is warning all poultry farmers to be on the alert, following an outbreak of bird flu in England.

A dangerous strain of bid flu has been confirmed in turkeys at a farm in Lincolnshire, England.

Meet Laetitia Rodd, a widow in ‘reduced circumstances’ who also happens to be an ace undercover private detective. 

Blaney Motor Company launched two new wheel loader concepts on its stand at Balmoral Show last month.

Two 14-year-olds will appear in court charged with murder after the bodies of a mother and her teenage daughter were found at a house in Lincolnshire, England.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

USA: A truck driver was caught using a fishing line to flip his licence plate in a bid to avoid paying tolls into New York City.

The GAA will again import English turf when they re-lay the Croke Park pitch this summer.

A businessman in England wrote to a woman saying "Boo!" 24 hours after attempting to rape her, a court has heard.

Peugeot’s 205 GTi has been crowned the ‘Greatest Ever Hot Hatch’ at the 2016 Performance Car Show.

LUCKY is a word that crops up over and over when Barbara Dickson talks about her life. 

Zarwaan is proving popular with punters ahead of the Betway Lincoln after Ed Dunlop indicated he was leaning towards running the four-year-old at Doncaster rather than in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

Russian anger over MoD’s ‘real danger’ claim

British Gas owner Centrica has clobbered shareholders with an “urgent” dividend cut to shore up its finances as profits fell by more than a third.

British RAF fighters were scrambled after two Russian bear bombers were spotted off the coast of Cornwall, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said.

Russian military planes were discovered flying past the west coast of Ireland recently before being intercepted by British Fighter jets, it has emerged.

Newborn babies will be screened for four rare life-threatening genetic disorders from today.

A British couple stranded in New York with a potential six-figure medical bill after their baby son was born 11 weeks prematurely have been “absolutely amazed” by the public’s support, a close friend has said.

Ireland is on target to have its worst year since 2008 for cyclist deaths and there is no legal requirement for cyclists to wear a helmet and no Government appetite to change the law, writes Brian McDonald.

Seventeen people have been arrested in a series of co-ordinated raids on underground websites selling illegal drugs, a top Europol official said yesterday, in one of the largest crackdowns on the so-called ‘darknet’ to date.

Met Eireann has issued a weather warning for parts of the east and south of the country, while the UK is bracing itself for high winds and flash floods as Hurricane Bertha moves in.