The WPP-owned media measurement and management arm GroupM has recently published a UK-specific report on the dynamics of advertising spending across all media in 2014-2015 years. The company predicts that this year the ad spending will show a 6.3% increase in the face of a slightly lower global figure of 4.5%. This is the fastest growth of ad market among all the researched developed economies. In terms of financial value, the ad spending will account for a total of £14.9 billion ($23.3 billion) in 2014, and £15.7 billion ($24.5 billion) in 2015.

Earlier in October, the media agency OMD UK in partnership with the UK’s leading publishing company Time Inc. UK presented the results of their second-year joint research project aimed to better understand the ever-changing British society—the report called The Future of Britain, and its specific part The Future of Families.

A recent survey of 296 global senior business executives, conducted in September-October 2014 by Forbes Insights in association with Rocket Fuel and SpencerStuart, has revealed that while most of the respondents (62%) think that their marketing initiatives meet expectations, a deeper look shows that more than a half believe their companies waste money on marketing and lack understanding of their consumers.

As Mintel European retail analysts foresee, this year’s Black Friday will generate sales growth of 80-100% comparing to the last year’s sales of around £100 million. However, shopper engagement in this pre-Christmas season in the UK will remain relatively low as it was lat year. Just 15% of the surveyed consumers said they made major pre-holiday purchases during Black Friday in 2013.

Brands not only change the way we consume and communicate, but also lead modern science forward, investing millions of dollars into research and innovation in such areas as molecular biology, chemistry, aerodynamics, electrodynamics, and others. This article is a recap of the most far-reaching scientific discoveries made by global and challenger brands in 2014.