Ghosts

The Ostrich Inn in Colnbrook, Berkshire, is known as one of England's most haunted pubs, with a grim legend attached. In the 1600s, the story goes, the landlord and his wife would place wealthy guests in the Blue Room, where a bed bolted to a trapdoor dropped victims into a vat below so the couple could rob them. The tale continues to fascinate readers.

Drivers in the UK are talking about 'ghost plates' — number plates deliberately altered or covered so traffic cameras cannot read them. The topic has surged after reports that new traffic cameras can detect these plates, which are designed to help drivers evade speed cameras, congestion charges and police identification. Commentators warn that using them is illegal and can lead to fines, penalty points or prosecution.

A wildlife documentary titled 'WILD RIO NEGRO: The Black Ghost and the Fatal Coil' is drawing large audiences, focusing on the Rio Negro river and its mysterious blackwater ecosystem. The film centers on creatures described as the 'Black Ghost' and a 'fatal coil', likely referring to predatory species of the region, and is being widely watched by wildlife documentary fans.

Sony is bringing its AI-powered upscaling technology, previously exclusive to the PS5 Pro, to the standard PlayStation 5. Digital Foundry reports that Sony announced QSSR AI upscaling for the base console, set to be used in upcoming titles Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei. Gaming outlets including Game Informer and The Verge are covering the announcement, with players discussing what it means for the value of the more expensive Pro model.

La Clef cinema in Paris is screening Valerie Veatch's 2026 documentary Ghost in the Machine at 7pm, marking the film's French premiere. The film examines what artificial intelligence conceals, and the screening will be followed by a discussion with guests from Data for Good, Tribe-X and Technopolice Paris-Banlieues as part of the venue's cine-club.

Iñaki López is trending in Spain after Iker Jiménez's television programme revealed the pixelated identity of one of the owners of Urbagestión, handing the story to Twitter users. Social media seized on the moment, with jokes such as "they've finally found a ghost", as public attention focuses on the company and its owners.

People have started placing 'ghost chairs' outside a Smyths toy store in Greenford, west London, to hold their place in the queue for a product release tomorrow. The practice, long associated with US product launches, involves leaving chairs or placeholders to claim spots without physically waiting. The scenes were shared by a toy collector, drawing surprise that queue-saving culture has now reached the UK.

New research suggests ghost particles, or neutrinos, may play a decisive role in whether a dying massive star explodes as a supernova or collapses into a black hole. Because neutrinos barely interact with matter yet carry enormous energy, they could tip the balance in a collapsing star's core. The finding highlights how central these elusive particles are to understanding stellar death, and astronomers are watching closely as simulations and observations put the idea to the test.

Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season, outqualifying Lewis Hamilton. The margin and lap were highlighted in a comparative onboard breakdown, with fans debating how the Red Bull driver edged out Hamilton in the session.

A new essay titled 'Haunted by the Ghosts of Materialism' has been published on the blog Coredump and is drawing modest attention on Hacker News. The piece reflects on materialism, apparently examining how the accumulation of possessions or habits of consumption continues to weigh on people. Beyond the headline, no specific details of the argument or the author's identity are available.

A new documentary series, De Spookvoetballer ('The Ghost Footballer'), is drawing attention in the Netherlands. The programme tells the story of a footballer without talent, exploring how he stayed in the sport despite lacking ability. Dutch viewers are picking up the show, with TV guide coverage encouraging audiences to learn everything about the player's unusual career.

Researchers report that Cooper pairs in uranium ditelluride persist above the material's superconducting critical temperature, a phenomenon described as 'ghostly' because the pairs exist without producing zero resistance. The finding, highlighted by science outlets, suggests superconducting correlations survive into the normal state, deepening the mystery of unconventional superconductors and potentially informing future quantum technologies.

Ghost Recon Wildlands is back in the conversation, with reports that the tactical shooter is receiving new content and changes to its gameplay. Fans of the Ubisoft title, which launched in 2017 and remains popular for its open-world co-op missions, are discussing what the updates mean for returning players. Specific details about the size of the new content or the nature of the gameplay adjustments have not been confirmed.

Spirit Halloween is moving into empty storefronts across Richmond, occupying spaces left behind by closed retailers. The seasonal chain's annual takeover of vacant properties has become a familiar sight in American retail, with the pop-up store stepping in where defunct shops once operated. Locals are noting the brand's role in briefly reviving shopping centers that would otherwise sit empty year-round.

A fashion editorial called Doll Haus of Dread is turning horror icons into couture: Ghost Face stalks in platform boots, Pinhead is reimagined in a gown, and other villains get dramatic makeovers. The photo series, covered by WWD, mixes slasher-movie iconography with runway styling, drawing attention for its playful, unsettling blend of horror fandom and high fashion.

A photographer shared a black and white landscape image of bare trees, calling them 'ghosts on sticks', alongside hashtags for monochrome photography, nature and hiking. The striking wintry or skeletal tree imagery is being circulated among travel and photography enthusiasts who follow classic monochrome and forest photography tags.

Attention is on the Hamilton versus Verstappen rivalry at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with fans comparing the two drivers as a 'ghost car' — a head-to-head reference of their lap performance. The Bahrain season opener is where their pace gap and battle for position become clear, and supporters are debating who came out on top.

A preserved green mamba specimen, kept in a jar, is at the centre of efforts to resolve a mystery dating back roughly 150 years in São Tomé and Príncipe. Researchers hope the specimen can settle long-standing questions about whether a distinct 'ghost' green mamba exists on the islands, with the find drawing attention to the country's little-studied wildlife.

Trusetal, a village in Thuringia, Germany, is drawing attention after a regional outlet published a feature on local folklore, telling of the 'Hühni' spirit said to dart through the darkness there. The piece highlights the area's traditional ghost tales and mountain heritage. Readers in the region appear engaged with stories of the village's spooky legends.

Toy maker Jakks Pacific has launched Haus of Dread, a new fashion doll line that reimagines horror icons, including Ghost Face, styled with platform boots and runway-inspired looks. The horror-meets-fashion crossover turns the Scream villain into a collectible doll, blending slasher movie iconography with designer doll culture aimed at collectors.