Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Helena Horton, Deborah Solomonand Rachel Hall

WhatsApp ‘drops’, price hikes and queues: scramble for solar eclipse specs

A handwritten sign reading
A sign on Oxford Street in London telling customers that the solar eclipse glasses have sold out. Photograph: Deborah Solomon/The Guardian

A secretive WhatsApp group was pinging with notifications throughout Wednesday, letting its members know where in London the latest “drop” would take place.

The group’s focus, rather than being for an illicit substance, was for the much-coveted eclipse glasses, which have prompted a frantic rush on shops before the celestial event.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.