Does it seem as though more people are coming out as neurodivergent these days?

Perhaps you’ve heard complaints that social media – particularly TikTok – is driving a trend. Or maybe you’ve encountered the suggestion that neurodivergence has somehow become fashionable, a label people adopt for attention, status or belonging.

For neurodivergent people, these claims can be deeply dismissive. They reduce complex experiences and real struggles to a passing cultural craze.

My research suggests something quite different. Far from being a modern phenomenon, neurodivergence has a long history. In other words, people whose ways of thinking, sensing or behaving differed from social expectations have always existed. Members of my research project have described discovering these historical figures as like finding neurodivergent ancestors.

Of course, this is not about diagnosing people who lived centuries ago with autism, ADHD or other conditions. Diagnostic categories have their own history. They change over time, and can be shaped by specific cultural and geographical contexts. Moreover, I am not a doctor nor a psychologist, and I am not interested in retrospectively diagnosing historical people.

What interests me is something broader: the many people in the past who were understood – by others or by themselves – as different.

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One example is Hannah Allen. She was an English widow who published an account of her experiences in 1683. She wrote about periods of profound melancholy and hearing voices, drawing on journal entries she kept during those difficult years. Stories like Allen’s remind us that people have long searched for language to describe minds and experiences that did not fit comfortably within accepted norms.

People have always adapted and reshaped the language available to them. Today, clinical terms regularly spill into everyday conversation. People talk about being “anxious” about an exam or “depressed” by bad weather, without necessarily claiming a diagnosis. Literature has always transformed and enriched our understanding of medical and psychological concepts.

In my work, I define neurodivergence as ways of thinking, sensing or behaving that diverge from social expectations. What’s also important is that those expectations vary across time and place. Behaviour regarded as unusual in one context may be entirely acceptable in another.

Take repetitive movement, for example. Today, many neurodivergent people describe using “stims” or fidgeting to regulate attention, emotions or sensory experiences. In early modern Catholic worship, rosary beads could serve a similar function. Repetitive hand movements were not only accepted, but encouraged as part of religious practice. But context also matters.

In the 18th century, the Scottish laird Hugh Blair was criticised for struggling to sit still during family prayers. Instead, he occupied himself by knitting a sock. The habit was considered so strange that it was cited in a court case as evidence that he lacked the rational capacity to marry.

Examples like this show how ideas about acceptable behaviour are socially constructed. They also reveal how people whose behaviour diverged from expectations could face suspicion, exclusion or stigma. A broad definition of neurodivergence allows us to explore a wide range of historical experiences that do not fit neatly into modern diagnostic categories.

It opens up questions about phenomena such as religious melancholy, compulsive behaviours or unusual sensory experiences without forcing them into contemporary medical frameworks.

It also encourages us to think differently about the present. If neurodivergence is understood as a spectrum of human difference rather than a fixed set of diagnoses, it may help reduce stigma around experiences that are often heavily moralised, including addiction.

Reading for resonance

Neurodivergent readers often have a kind of instinct for recognising experiences that feel familiar in historical texts. This does not mean that people in the past were exactly like us. Nor does it mean we can know precisely what they thought or felt. Instead, it means acknowledging moments of connection.

Take Morose, the central character in Ben Jonson’s play Epicœne. Morose is intensely sensitive to noise. He seals up his house, insists that servants wear soft-soled shoes and relies on a kind of silent communication.

For many autistic readers, particularly those with sensory sensitivities, aspects of this portrayal may feel strikingly familiar, and that familiarity matters.

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Too often, expertise about neurodivergence is assumed to reside exclusively with doctors and researchers. Reading for resonance recognises that experience is also a form of knowledge. Neurodivergent people can bring valuable perspectives to historical interpretation precisely because of how they experience the world.

This matters at a time when public conversations about neurodivergence are becoming louder and more polarised.

At the 2026 Wales Neurodiversity Show, our research team asked visitors a question: who knows more about neurodivergence – people today, or people living between 1550 and 1750? Only one person out of 15 chose the early modern period.

Our poll was just for fun, of course. But it reflects a common assumption that neurodivergence is something modern people have discovered and understood. This is something that I hope my research might change.

Certainly, we now have concepts such as neurodiversity, along with a rich vocabulary developed within neurodivergent communities themselves. Terms like “AuDHD” (autistic and ADHD) and “neurospicy” (neurodivergent) would have been absent centuries ago.

But new language does not necessarily mean entirely new experiences. For neurodivergent people who feel isolated or historically invisible, discovering a longer history can be profoundly validating. It reminds us that difference has always been part of human society.

Our neurodivergent ancestors may sometimes feel surprisingly familiar. At other times, they may seem so distant that we can never fully understand them. Both aspects are important.

The next time someone dismisses neurodivergence as a fad or a trend, it may be worth remembering that people have been debating, describing and living neurodivergent lives for centuries. So, if it is a trend, it is one that has lasted an extraordinarily long time.

SEPA has advised against bathing and paddling at Portobello Central after routine testing found elevated bacteria levels.

Beachgoers have been warned to stay out of the water at Portobello after elevated levels of bacteria were detected during routine testing.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) carried out sampling at Portobello Central on Thursday, June 11, with results showing a high bacteria count.

SEPA monitors Scotland’s designated bathing waters between May 15 and September 15 each year to help the public make informed decisions about entering the water.

Updating its website on Friday, June 12, the agency advised against bathing and paddling at the beach, reports EdinburghLive.

It said: “At Portobello Central, there has been a high result on a routine sample taken on 11/06/2026.

“We are currently advising against bathing or paddling.”

Porty Surf Lifesaving Club criticised the continued warning, saying it was “not good enough” that the beach remained effectively closed three days after the initial sample was taken.

In a post on Instagram, the volunteer-run water safety charity said: “It is just not good enough that three days after a SEPA test the beach is still closed and volunteer-led water safety charity Porty SLSC cannot deliver work with local communities at Porty beach.”

The club urged members of the public to raise the issue with their local MSPs, MPs and Edinburgh Council.

It is not the first time Portobello has been affected by poor water quality.

In July 2024, SEPA issued similar advice after unusually high levels of bacteria were detected in samples testing for E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

At the time, the agency said sewage had been ruled out as the cause of the pollution incident, while further analysis was unable to identify the source of the elevated bacteria levels.

The warning was lifted two days later, on July 12, after testing showed water quality had returned to normal levels.

SEPA has been approached for comment.

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A 10,000-strong army of England fans is heading to Dallas to see our World Cup opener against Croatia. Superfan Robert Didd has attended every single England home game since 1986, setting a record of 222 consecutive games from 1987 to 2007. He has spent around £500,000 following his country but does not regret a penny.

He was pictured at an early game, aged 16, with his Mitcham/Chelsea England flag. He has kept match tickets and memorabilia from a lifetime of following the national side. His ‘fear’ is of missing out if England win the World Cup.

Civil servant Garford, 64, of London, is at his 10th World Cup, spending around £12,000 on the trip. Garford is heading to Dallas and from there will take a Greyhound bus to Boston, a journey of 40 hours.

England Supporters’ Association leads the Fans’ Embassy service in the US and did a four-day road trip from Florida to Dallas via Tallahassee, Florida, Mobile, Alabama, and Natchez, Mississippi. A Newcastle United fan, he told of a ‘church every half mile’ in Louisiana and rolling countryside reminiscent of his native Northumberland.

He stressed the need to carry water because of the extreme heat forecast for the 3pm kick-off time, with temperatures expected to reach 32-33 °C, around 90F. The match is set to be played under the roof at the stadium to make it cooler for players and fans.

Chris Thomas, 40, originally from Leeds, is leaving at 3am tomorrow (Wednesday) from Kansas City to get to the game in time for kick-off. Chris, who sells traditional British pies with a street food firm called ‘Brit Boy’, now living in Kansas City, is with his best friend, Sam Bannister, also from Leeds, and Kye Marty, another ex-pat, and his American wife, Sundy.

Exeter City fan George Smith, a finance worker who now lives in San Diego, California, is travelling to the England group games with Three Lions supporters based in Spain, Scandinavia and Australia. George, 42, is taking his son Charlie, 11, to the England games with him. He also plans to take his Mexican-born wife, Monica, to the famous Azteca stadium if England face her native country in the Round of 16.

In total, George has spent around $7,000 dollars (£5,178) on tickets for himself and his family. But the bill may rise to £12,000 depending on how far England progress.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are none life-threatening

Three men are being questioned tonight following an alleged attack on a man in his 20s.

The trio, aged 61, 31, and 33, were taken into custody by PSNI detectives after the report of a serious assault on the Lecky Road in Derry earlier on Monday, June 15.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are none life-threatening.

Detective Inspector Hanbidge said: “Following a reported assault in the Leckey Road area at around 11am, a man aged in his 20s was taken to hospital.

“A short time later, three men were arrested in the Bishop Street area – two men aged 61 and 31 were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, while the third, aged 33, was arrested on suspicion of assisting offenders. All three men remain in custody at this time.

“We are aware of videos circulating on social media in relation to this incident, and would appeal to the public not to share further. This is causing distress to the victim, and could potentially impact on the criminal justice process.

“Anyone with information which could assist with our ongoing investigation should instead contact our team on 101, quoting reference 549 15/06/26.”

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Neighbours described the family as being “discreet”

A starving four-year-old girl has been rescued after being found lying next to her mother’s dead body, having been trapped in their flat for days.

The 40‑year‑old mum, who reportedly had epilepsy, was discovered around noon on June 4 in Montagnac, near Pézenas in southern France. The terrified child was suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and shock, but doctors say she is now doing well in hospital and is being looked after by family, the Mirror US reports.

Detectives are focusing on the likelihood that the death was from natural causes, as of Monday (June 11), with neighbours claiming they did not hear anything unusual or spot any signs of violence or forced entry.

Authorities believe the mum may have suffocated following an epileptic seizure, though an autopsy is yet to be carried out. The girl was reportedly too young to unlock the door to get help, and the key was said to be left in the lock.

Officers were alerted to the situation when the child’s kindergarten teacher contacted police following her absence from school and having heard no response from the mother.

French news platform Actu.fr also reports that an alert was raised after the mother failed to reply to family and neighbours since May 31. Philippe Audoui, first deputy mayor of Montagnac, told Le Parisien: “She wouldn’t have lasted another day.”

Only the pair lived in the home, described by locals as being “discreet”, and the mum wasn’t known to have a partner.

A psychological support unit was established to help those who attended and were left shaken by what 7sur7 described as an “indescribable scene of horror”. An investigation will be led by the Pézenas gendarmerie, alongside the public prosecutor’s office in Béziers.

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“It was a horrific scene that really upset me. We often see dead bodies, but this… As soon as the door was opened, we realised: there was a foul stench,” described an officer who attended the scene, speaking with Le Parisien.

Speaking about the child, the officer added: “She screamed when she saw all those people around her.”

Four officers reportedly arrived at the home, situated in a small social housing estate in a town of about 4,880 residents. They later notified local gendarmes and fire crews to gain entry to the property after no one answered their knocks at the door.

Mexico’s World Cup-opening victory over South Africa saw goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, but it was an unexpected feathered friend who truly stole the show.

Merlin, a two-year-old duck, swiftly became an internet sensation and the tournament’s inaugural unofficial mascot.

Dressed in the national team’s colours, complete with a miniature jersey and socks, Merlin paraded through Mexico City amidst thousands of jubilant fans.

Images of the sartorially splendid duck quickly went viral, racking up millions of views across social media platforms. Overnight, and seemingly by the magic of the famous wizard who inspired his name, Merlin captivated the internet.

“We want to see Merlin in the stadium,” one user wrote. “This duck is already a national treasure,” said another. “The best thing about the World Cup so far,” declared a third.

In Mexico City, however, Merlin was already something of a local celebrity.

A familiar sight at fairs and events in the historic city center, the duck regularly accompanies his owner, Carla Gómez, who sells water and soft drinks from a little cart each weekend. Along the way, the animal attracts plenty of delighted squeals, affectionate greetings and eager requests from passersby for a photo together.

“We don’t like to leave him alone at home; we like him to be with us. He’s our baby,” Gómez said. “He’s the baby, the sole heir to all my possessions and now an idol.”

Rain or shine, Merlin follows Gómez and her young son Cristian through some of the capital’s best-known landmarks, including Alameda Central, the Palace of Fine Arts and the Zócalo square. The duck shares a particularly close bond with Cristian, for whom he was originally a gift, becoming what Gómez describes as the boy’s inseparable companion.

“Merlin had already become famous for selling bottled water,” Gómez said, recalling her surprise at her pet’s sudden rise to fame.

“He is always with us; we never imagined he’d become such a sensation,” she added. “We weren’t expecting it.”

Now, the family hopes Mexico’s famous feathered supporter can continue bringing luck to the host nation, which is staging the World Cup for the third time after hosting the tournament in 1970 and 1986 — this time a co-host alongside Canada and the United States.

“Mexico, we are with you,” Gómez said. “And Merlin is your No. 1 fan.”

Molly-Mae Hague has reflected on having a second child, saying that having already been a mum for two years, she understands that each day is a ‘phase’

Molly-Mae Hague has opened up about thinking her “life was over” after becoming a mum. The star, who found fame on Love Island with her now-fiancé, Tommy Fury, welcomed their first child, daughter Bambi, in January 2023.

And earlier this month, Molly gave birth to their second child, a son, Midas, at London’s swanky Portland Hospital. But while most new mums embrace their new chapter, the 27-year-old has reflected on the “difficult” days she faced with her eldest.

Taking to Instagram in view of her 8.7 million followers, the influencer shared a snap of herself, with little Midas nestled into her neck as she lay in bed. Captioning her post, Molly-Mae penned: “The best part for me about doing this second time round is knowing wholeheartedly that every hard day, stage and chapter with your child is honestly just a phase. No difficult day with your baby lasts forever and no tricky chapter stays the same.

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“The comfort I’ve taken in that this time around has made me feel so different.” She added: “With Bambi I used to sit staring out of the window while breastfeeding thinking my life was over (as dramatic as it sounds). I thought I’d never sleep again, never get a moment to myself and never really be able to cope. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel because I hadn’t reached it yet.

“But this time I know it’s there. I know there will still be challenging moments but I also know how quickly it all goes. I’ll blink and I won’t have a tiny newborn anymore and if anything, that’s the part that makes me sad.

“The peace I’ve felt this second time round, simply from knowing it’s all going to be okay, has honestly changed everything.” Earlier this weekend, Molly made her first major public outing as Tommy battled against Eddie Hall at the AO Arena in Manchester, which he won.

“What a weekend,” she told her fans as she shared a snap of the professional boxer with her son’s name on the back of his jacket. However, despite her glamorous appearance on the night, Molly later shared the reality of her outing.

Sharing a picture of herself breastfeeding Midas, she said: “Don’t get it twisted. I pulled myself together for a few hours to support Tommy but this is the reality of most my evenings currently.

“Taking deep breaths, covered in vomit, whilst being used as a human cow and trying to look after my other little sassy human too!” And while Molly is juggling the challenges of having two small children, she acknowledges that while she knows she will sleep again soon, her children won’t be little forever.

“This time, I really feel it when they say ‘You’ll sleep again, but they’ll never be this little again’,” she penned on social media. Speaking prior to his fight, Tommy joked that he had been asked about their son’s name more than anything.

He went on to say of family life: “I’ve had a smile on my on my face all week. Everything’s gone smoothly; Molly’s happy, everyone’s happy. So it’s just about getting on to fight night, getting that done, and enjoying the summer with the family.

“That’s what’s on my calendar for the foreseeable. It’s been the best week that you could ever ask for. A beautiful baby boy.”

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ATLANTA (AP) — So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer’s biggest tournament.

Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunning upset to shut out heavily favored Spain in a 0-0 draw on Monday.

“This means everything for our country,” said Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito. “We have always said that we wanted everybody to see our country, our team and we have shown organization and braveness and this is proof of what our country is about — resilience and to try to overcome hardships.”

European champion Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament and was -1200 to beat Cape Verde in its opening game. But it could not find a way past a 40-year-old goalkeeper and a stubborn defense that had an answer to everything Spain’s superstars threw at them.

Not even sensational teenager Lamine Yamal, who came in off the bench in the second half, could turn a game that ended with wild and emotional celebrations inside the stadium.

“A dream” was how Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira described it.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha broke down in tears after the final whistle following his impressive performance to keep Spain at bay.

He was the player of the match, pulling off a string of saves at the end of the first half to deny Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte.

The closest Spain came to finding a breakthrough was when Torres struck the bar shortly before halftime.

“We should have won today’s match with everything that happened, with all the favorable situations we created, but we lacked freshness and a clinical edge,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who had warned before the match that Cape Verde could be one of the surprise teams of the World Cup.

Spain could have been the victim of an even bigger upset when Diney Borges had a late chance to win the game, but saw his header saved by Spain keeper Unai Simon.

Add Cape Verde to Cameroon, Senegal and Saudi Arabia on the list of teams that have pulled off shocking results against soccer’s giants in the World Cup.

Cameroon beat defending champion Argentina in 1990 and Senegal beat defending champion France in 2002. Four years ago Saudi Arabia triumphed against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, which eventually went on to win the tournament in Qatar.

Cape Verde didn’t win, but its performance rebuked some of the criticisms that the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 would weaken the tournament.

The group of islands have about 4,000 square meters (about 2.5 miles) of landmass and approximately half a million inhabitants, making Cape Verde the third-smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup. And even against a Spain team that is filled with superstar players, Cape Verde proved its worth on soccer’s biggest stage.

Despite the majority of the 67,640 crowd inside Atlanta Stadium appearing to be Spain fans, it was the Cape Verde supporters that cheered loudest. They continued their celebrations after the final whistle, singing and dancing in the concourse.

“All of us, we are happy because we work a lot to be here. We deserve to be here,” said Vozinha.

The 2010 champion Spain is aiming to win the World Cup for a second time and is coming into the tournament after winning the Euros in 2024. But a disappointing start echoes its performances in recent World Cups when it has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in each of the last three editions.

“What doubts do you think my team is going to have? Zero doubts,” said De la Fuente. “We know how difficult this competition is. The idea we need to follow is what took us here and what made us European champions.”

Spain plays Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Cape Verde faces Uruguay.

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff Monday morning at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, officials said.

Emergency crews were responding after the aircraft went down around 11:20 a.m. at Edwards Air Force Base, the military said on the social platform X. There was no immediate information on whether anyone was hurt.

Video from the scene showed a plume of black smoke rising from the desert.

Shortly before 1 p.m., the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted. Meanwhile all non-commercial visitor passes for the base were suspended “to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations,” officials said in a statement.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, typically crewed by five people, is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955. Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has been used in conflicts ranging from the Vietnam War to recent operations in the Middle East.

Edwards Air Force Base is home to a large portion of the U.S. Air Force’s aircraft test and development efforts and is about 100 miles (161 km) north of Los Angeles. The 412th Test Wing, which runs the base, also conducts developmental testing of all U.S. Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components before purchase by the service as well as throughout their lifespan.

The vast desert base is also where Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound in 1947.

The crash comes almost a year after the pilot of a regional airliner flying over North Dakota made an unexpected sharp turn to avoid a possible midair collision with a military B-52 bomber that was in its flight path last July.

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Toropin reported from Washington D.C.

The new markers have been installed along the River Tees, which has formed the border between County Durham and Yorkshire’s North Riding for more than a thousand years, but been unrecognised for five decades.

Representatives of Durham County Council, the Historic Counties Trust, and the Yorkshire Ridings Society attended a ceremonial unveiling at County Bridge in Barnard Castle on Monday, June 15.

Nigel Wilkin of the Yorkshire Ridings Society said: “The River Tees has marked the border between County Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire for over a thousand years.

“Despite the indelible place of our two great counties in our history and our hearts, this border has not been properly marked for over 50 years.

“We are overjoyed to see this omission rectified.”

Councillor Robbie Rodiss, chairman of Durham County Council, formally unveiled the signs during the ceremony.

Durham County Council has erected six pairs of signs at bridges crossing the River Tees, including Winston Bridge, Worlton Suspension Bridge, Egglestone Abbey Bridge, County Bridge, Eggleston Bridge, and Middleton Bridge.

Additional signs marking the boundary with historic Westmorland have also been installed at Ley Seat Edge.

Peter Boyce of the Historic Counties Trust said: “We are very grateful to Durham County Council for marking the ancient border between them and to Councillor Rodiss for unveiling the new signs at County Bridge.”

All signs were funded by the Historic Counties Trust, with support from funds raised by Councillor Ross Patterson during his term as Stockton Council’s ceremonial mayor.