diff --git a/src/components/elements.tsx b/src/components/elements.tsx
index 1348baa6..559f340f 100644
--- a/src/components/elements.tsx
+++ b/src/components/elements.tsx
@@ -30,30 +30,30 @@ export const LI: React.FC<React.LiHTMLAttributes<HTMLLIElement>> = (props) => (
 // title is: fixed sizes here meant an h2 that matched the title at 640px and
 // overtook it below that, so the deeper heading looked like the page heading.
 export const H1: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = ({ className, ...props }) => (
-    <h1 {...props} className={className || "text-2xl sm:text-3xl md:text-4xl font-semibold mt-8 mb-4 scroll-mt-12"}/>
+    <h1 {...props} className={className || "text-2xl sm:text-3xl md:text-4xl font-semibold mt-8 mb-4"}/>
 );
 
 export const H2: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = (props) => (
-    <h2 {...props} className="text-xl sm:text-2xl md:text-3xl font-semibold mt-12 mb-4 scroll-mt-12"/>
+    <h2 {...props} className="text-xl sm:text-2xl md:text-3xl font-semibold mt-12 mb-4"/>
 );
 
 export const H3: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = (props) => (
-    <h3 {...props} className="text-lg sm:text-xl md:text-2xl font-semibold mt-8 mb-3 scroll-mt-12"/>
+    <h3 {...props} className="text-lg sm:text-xl md:text-2xl font-semibold mt-8 mb-3"/>
 );
 
 export const H4: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = (props) => (
-    <h4 {...props} className="text-lg md:text-xl font-semibold mt-6 mb-2 scroll-mt-12"/>
+    <h4 {...props} className="text-lg md:text-xl font-semibold mt-6 mb-2"/>
 );
 
 // h5 and h6 land on the body size rather than below it. A heading set smaller
 // than the text it introduces reads as a caption; weight and the display face
 // carry the distinction at this depth instead.
 export const H5: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = (props) => (
-    <h5 {...props} className="text-lg font-bold mt-6 mb-2 scroll-mt-12"/>
+    <h5 {...props} className="text-lg font-bold mt-6 mb-2"/>
 );
 
 export const H6: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLHeadingElement>> = (props) => (
-    <h6 {...props} className="text-lg font-semibold mt-6 mb-2 scroll-mt-12"/>
+    <h6 {...props} className="text-lg font-semibold mt-6 mb-2"/>
 );
 
 export const P: React.FC<React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLParagraphElement>> = (props) => (
diff --git a/src/components/footer.tsx b/src/components/footer.tsx
index 20939a13..4bf98427 100644
--- a/src/components/footer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/footer.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ const Footer = () => {
                             >
                                 ELIXIR
                             </a>
-                            {' '} the European infrastructure for life science data.
+                            {' '}&ndash; the European infrastructure for life science data.
                         </p>
                         <div className="flex gap-3">
                             {socials.map(({ name, href, icon: Icon }) => (
diff --git a/src/components/hero.tsx b/src/components/hero.tsx
index 33794796..bd698f73 100644
--- a/src/components/hero.tsx
+++ b/src/components/hero.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { MotionConfig, motion, useReducedMotion } from 'framer-motion';
+import { AnimatePresence, MotionConfig, motion, useReducedMotion } from 'framer-motion';
 import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { ArrowTopRightOnSquareIcon } from '@heroicons/react/24/outline';
 import { PauseIcon, PlayIcon } from '@heroicons/react/20/solid';
@@ -6,35 +6,37 @@ import Button from './button';
 import HeroVideo from './hero-video';
 import type { HeroCopy } from '../lib/site';
 
-const FLIP_MS = 600;
+const SWAP = { duration: 0.5, ease: [0.22, 1, 0.36, 1] } as const;
 // Multi-word phrases stay a little longer than single fields so they can be read.
 const dwellMs = (word: string, words: string[]) => (word.includes(' ') && word !== words[0] ? 2600 : 2300);
 
 function RotatingWord({ words, playing }: { words: string[]; playing: boolean }) {
-    const [{ current, leaving }, setFlip] = useState<{ current: number; leaving: number | null }>({ current: 0, leaving: null });
+    const [current, setCurrent] = useState(0);
 
     useEffect(() => {
         if (!playing) return;
-        const id = setTimeout(() => {
-            setFlip(({ current }) => ({ current: (current + 1) % words.length, leaving: current }));
-        }, FLIP_MS + dwellMs(words[current], words));
+        const id = setTimeout(() => setCurrent((i) => (i + 1) % words.length), SWAP.duration * 1000 + dwellMs(words[current], words));
         return () => clearTimeout(id);
     }, [playing, current, words]);
 
-    useEffect(() => {
-        if (leaving === null) return;
-        const id = setTimeout(() => setFlip(flip => ({ ...flip, leaving: null })), FLIP_MS);
-        return () => clearTimeout(id);
-    }, [leaving]);
-
     return (
         <span className="rotor" aria-hidden="true">
-            {words.map((word, i) => {
-                const state = i === current
-                    ? (leaving === null ? 'is-on' : 'is-on is-in')
-                    : i === leaving ? 'is-out' : '';
-                return <span key={word} className={`rotor-word ${state}`}>{word}</span>;
-            })}
+            {words.map((word) => <span key={word} className="rotor-word invisible">{word}</span>)}
+            {/* The old phrase rises out while the new one rises in over it, so the line is never empty mid-swap.
+                Search picks up every phrase from the invisible copies above, so this one stays out of it. */}
+            <AnimatePresence initial={false}>
+                <motion.span
+                    key={words[current]}
+                    className="rotor-word"
+                    data-pagefind-ignore
+                    initial={{ y: '0.5em', opacity: 0 }}
+                    animate={{ y: 0, opacity: 1 }}
+                    exit={{ y: '-0.5em', opacity: 0 }}
+                    transition={SWAP}
+                >
+                    {words[current]}
+                </motion.span>
+            </AnimatePresence>
         </span>
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/components/navigation.tsx b/src/components/navigation.tsx
index 04ca8527..1339a1e4 100644
--- a/src/components/navigation.tsx
+++ b/src/components/navigation.tsx
@@ -113,16 +113,18 @@ export const Navigation = ({ pathname }: { pathname: string }) => {
     return (
         <MotionConfig reducedMotion="user">
             <CommandPalette open={searchOpen} setOpen={setSearchOpen} />
-            <header className="pointer-events-none fixed top-3 inset-x-3 sm:inset-x-5 lg:inset-x-8 z-50">
+            {/* Floats inset from the edges at the top of the page; once merged it becomes a full-width
+                bar, padded so the logo and actions keep the same place across the edges. Both sit
+                below the site banner, which stays pinned to the top. */}
+            <header className={`pointer-events-none fixed z-50 ${scrolled ? 'inset-x-0 top-[var(--site-banner-height,0px)]' : 'top-[calc(var(--site-banner-height,0px)_+_0.75rem)] inset-x-3 sm:inset-x-5 lg:inset-x-8'}`}>
                 <motion.div
                     layout
                     initial={false}
                     transition={layoutTransition}
-                    style={{ borderRadius: PILL_RADIUS }}
                     data-merged={scrolled}
-                    className={`group relative grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto_1fr] items-center ${scrolled ? 'pointer-events-auto px-4 py-2 lg:px-5' : ''}`}
+                    className={`group relative grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto_1fr] items-center ${scrolled ? 'pointer-events-auto px-3 py-2 sm:px-5 lg:px-8' : ''}`}
                 >
-                    <Skin visible={scrolled} radius={PILL_RADIUS} transition={layoutTransition} className="shadow-lg shadow-black/[0.08] dark:shadow-black/30" />
+                    <Skin visible={scrolled} radius={0} transition={layoutTransition} className="shadow-lg shadow-black/[0.08] dark:shadow-black/30" />
 
                     <nav aria-label="Main navigation" className="contents">
                         {/* Logo: floats large on its own at the top, shrinks into the bar once merged */}
@@ -251,8 +253,10 @@ export const Navigation = ({ pathname }: { pathname: string }) => {
                         aria-modal="true"
                         aria-label="Mobile navigation"
                     >
-                        <nav aria-label="Mobile navigation" className="flex-1 flex flex-col justify-center overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain px-8 sm:px-12 pt-24 pb-4">
-                            <ul className="space-y-1">
+                        {/* Auto margins centre the links while they fit and, unlike justify-center, let them
+                            scroll from the top when they don't, so none is stuck under the header. */}
+                        <nav aria-label="Mobile navigation" className="flex-1 flex flex-col overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain px-8 sm:px-12 pt-[calc(var(--site-banner-height,0px)_+_6rem)] pb-4">
+                            <ul className="my-auto space-y-1">
                                 {navigation.map((item, i) => {
                                     const active = isActivePath(pathname, item.href);
                                     const bigLink = `block py-2.5 landscape:py-1.5 text-2xl landscape:text-xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-ink decoration-marker decoration-2 underline-offset-[6px] transition-colors focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent focus-visible:rounded-control ${active ? 'underline' : 'hover:underline'}`;
diff --git a/src/components/sections/base-section.astro b/src/components/sections/base-section.astro
index b888a46d..1284b02f 100644
--- a/src/components/sections/base-section.astro
+++ b/src/components/sections/base-section.astro
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const headingSlug = slugify(title.toLowerCase());
 <section class={`${marginTop ? "mt-16 lg:mt-20" : ""}`}>
     <div class="mx-auto max-w-6xl">
         <h2
-            class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-ink scroll-mt-20"
+            class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-ink"
             id={headingSlug}
         >
             {title}
diff --git a/src/components/sections/latest-news.astro b/src/components/sections/latest-news.astro
index fc6d3898..37098fcd 100644
--- a/src/components/sections/latest-news.astro
+++ b/src/components/sections/latest-news.astro
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ import Button from "../button.tsx";
 const BASE = import.meta.env.BASE_URL.replace(/\/$/, '');
 
 const news = (await getCollection("news"))
-    .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.data.date).getTime() - new Date(a.data.date).getTime())
+    // Same-date entries fall back to their id, so every build picks the same three.
+    .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.data.date).getTime() - new Date(a.data.date).getTime() || a.id.localeCompare(b.id))
     .slice(0, 3);
 
 function resolveCoverUrl(articleId: string, coverSource: string): string {
diff --git a/src/components/sections/services-overview.tsx b/src/components/sections/services-overview.tsx
index 52091a18..0fb49a16 100644
--- a/src/components/sections/services-overview.tsx
+++ b/src/components/sections/services-overview.tsx
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export default function ServicesOverview() {
                     <div className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-5 gap-12 lg:gap-16 items-start">
                         {/* Heading column */}
                         <motion.div
-                            className="lg:col-span-2 lg:sticky lg:top-32"
+                            className="lg:col-span-2 lg:sticky lg:top-[calc(var(--site-banner-height,0px)_+_8rem)]"
                             initial={{ y: 20 }}
                             whileInView={{ y: 0 }}
                             viewport={{ once: true, margin: '-60px' }}
diff --git a/src/components/site-banner.astro b/src/components/site-banner.astro
index 50aff5ec..9c5dcbf4 100644
--- a/src/components/site-banner.astro
+++ b/src/components/site-banner.astro
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function renderInlineMarkdown(md: string): string {
         </svg>
         <p set:html={renderInlineMarkdown(message)} />
         <button
-            onclick="document.getElementById('site-banner').remove(); sessionStorage.setItem('banner-dismissed','1')"
+            onclick="document.getElementById('site-banner').remove(); document.documentElement.style.removeProperty('--site-banner-height'); sessionStorage.setItem('banner-dismissed','1')"
             class="fixed right-3 top-1 p-1 rounded-control !text-paper/60 hover:!text-paper hover:bg-paper/10 transition-colors focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-paper/50 z-[61]"
             aria-label="Dismiss announcement"
         >
@@ -51,8 +51,16 @@ function renderInlineMarkdown(md: string): string {
 </style>
 
 <script is:inline>
-    if (sessionStorage.getItem('banner-dismissed') === '1') {
+    (() => {
         const b = document.getElementById('site-banner');
-        if (b) b.remove();
-    }
+        if (!b) return;
+        if (sessionStorage.getItem('banner-dismissed') === '1') {
+            b.remove();
+            return;
+        }
+        // The fixed navigation sits below the banner, which stays pinned to the top while scrolling.
+        const reserve = () => document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--site-banner-height', `${b.offsetHeight}px`);
+        reserve();
+        new ResizeObserver(reserve).observe(b);
+    })();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/layouts/base.astro b/src/layouts/base.astro
index ef5b3cc4..12591e46 100644
--- a/src/layouts/base.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/base.astro
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ const { seo } = Astro.props;
         <!-- Skip to content link for accessibility -->
         <a
             href="#main-content"
-            class="sr-only focus:not-sr-only focus:absolute focus:top-4 focus:left-4 focus:z-50 focus:px-4 focus:py-2 focus:bg-brand-primary focus:text-white focus:rounded-control focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-brand-primary focus:ring-offset-2"
+            class="sr-only focus:not-sr-only focus:fixed focus:top-4 focus:left-4 focus:z-[70] focus:px-4 focus:py-2 focus:bg-brand-primary focus:text-white focus:rounded-control focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-brand-primary focus:ring-offset-2"
         >
             Skip to main content
         </a>
diff --git a/src/layouts/page.astro b/src/layouts/page.astro
index a6966c36..c13d6944 100644
--- a/src/layouts/page.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/page.astro
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ const jsonLd = contentType === 'news' ? JSON.stringify({
                             class="hidden lg:block"
                             aria-label="Sidebar navigation"
                         >
-                            <div class="sticky top-24">
+                            <div class="sticky top-[calc(var(--site-banner-height,0px)_+_6rem)]">
                                 <slot name="sidebar" />
                             </div>
                         </aside>
diff --git a/src/pages/about/everyone.astro b/src/pages/about/everyone.astro
index a9fe5f68..370e15bf 100644
--- a/src/pages/about/everyone.astro
+++ b/src/pages/about/everyone.astro
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ const externalPeople: ExternalPerson[] = externalOrgKeys.flatMap((key) => {
             mainOrgs.map(({ key, data: orgData, meta: orgMeta }) => (
                 <section
                     id={`org-${key}`}
-                    class="mb-16 lg:mb-20 last:mb-0 scroll-mt-24"
+                    class="mb-16 lg:mb-20 last:mb-0"
                 >
                     <div class="flex items-center gap-4 mb-8">
                         {orgMeta && (
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ const externalPeople: ExternalPerson[] = externalOrgKeys.flatMap((key) => {
         {externalPeople.length > 0 && (
             <section
                 id="org-external"
-                class="mt-16 lg:mt-20 pt-16 lg:pt-20 border-t border-rule scroll-mt-24"
+                class="mt-16 lg:mt-20 pt-16 lg:pt-20 border-t border-rule"
             >
                 <div class="mb-8">
                     <h2 class="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-semibold text-ink tracking-tight">
diff --git a/src/pages/events/index.astro b/src/pages/events/index.astro
index ec3206dc..4bdc46bd 100644
--- a/src/pages/events/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/events/index.astro
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ function parseDate(dateString: string): number {
 
 const now = Date.now();
 const events = await getCollection("events");
-events.sort((a, b) => parseDate(b.data.date) - parseDate(a.data.date));
+// Same-date entries fall back to their id, so every build lists them in the same order.
+events.sort((a, b) => parseDate(b.data.date) - parseDate(a.data.date) || a.id.localeCompare(b.id));
 
 const upcoming = events.filter(e => parseDate(e.data.date) >= now);
 const past = events.filter(e => parseDate(e.data.date) < now);
diff --git a/src/pages/funding-and-projects/index.astro b/src/pages/funding-and-projects/index.astro
index e7753efc..cc531980 100644
--- a/src/pages/funding-and-projects/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/funding-and-projects/index.astro
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ const statusColors: Record<string, { text: string; dot: string }> = {
 
         <!-- Filter sidebar -->
         <aside class="lg:w-60 shrink-0">
-            <div class="lg:sticky lg:top-28">
+            <!-- Scrolls on its own when taller than the window, so the last filters can be seen
+                 and focused without reaching the end of the page. The padding keeps focus rings unclipped. -->
+            <div class="lg:sticky lg:top-[calc(var(--site-banner-height,0px)_+_7rem)] lg:max-h-[calc(100vh_-_var(--site-banner-height,0px)_-_8rem)] lg:overflow-y-auto lg:-m-1 lg:p-1">
                 <!-- Search -->
                 <div class="mb-6">
                     <div class="relative">
diff --git a/src/pages/news/index.astro b/src/pages/news/index.astro
index 0b836322..9b5dbd1d 100644
--- a/src/pages/news/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/news/index.astro
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ function formatDate(dateString: string): string {
 }
 
 const news = await getCollection('news');
-news.sort((a, b) => parseDate(b.data.date) - parseDate(a.data.date));
+// Same-date entries fall back to their id, so every build lists them in the same order.
+news.sort((a, b) => parseDate(b.data.date) - parseDate(a.data.date) || a.id.localeCompare(b.id));
 
 // Build year list with counts (newest first)
 const yearCounts = new Map<string, number>();
diff --git a/src/pages/rss.xml.ts b/src/pages/rss.xml.ts
index b02ee2ec..6dc96a87 100644
--- a/src/pages/rss.xml.ts
+++ b/src/pages/rss.xml.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ export async function GET(context: any) {
     }));
 
     const items = [...newsItems, ...eventItems]
-        .sort((a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime());
+        // Same-date items fall back to their link, so every build orders the feed the same way.
+        .sort((a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime() || a.link.localeCompare(b.link));
 
     return rss({
         title: 'ELIXIR Norway',
diff --git a/src/styles/global.scss b/src/styles/global.scss
index 20ecfd9b..34104b23 100644
--- a/src/styles/global.scss
+++ b/src/styles/global.scss
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 
   html {
     font-size: 16px;
+    /* In-page links and focus land below the fixed navigation and the site banner. */
+    scroll-padding-top: calc(var(--site-banner-height, 0px) + var(--nav-offset) + 1rem);
 
     @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
       scroll-behavior: smooth;
@@ -125,25 +127,13 @@
   .rotor {
     display: grid;
     place-items: center;
-    perspective: 6em;
   }
 
   .rotor-word {
     grid-area: 1 / 1;
-    visibility: hidden;
     max-width: 100%;
     text-align: center;
     text-wrap: balance;
-    transform-origin: 50% 50% -0.5em;
-    backface-visibility: hidden;
-
-    &.is-on, &.is-out { visibility: visible; }
-    &.is-in { animation: rotor-in 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.22, 0.8, 0.26, 1) both; }
-    &.is-out { animation: rotor-out 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.22, 0.8, 0.26, 1) both; }
-
-    @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-      animation: none !important;
-    }
   }
 
   /* Soft paper halo that keeps hero copy legible over the video without a box behind it. */
@@ -154,16 +144,6 @@
       0 0 30px rgb(var(--color-paper) / 0.55);
   }
 
-  @keyframes rotor-in {
-    from { transform: rotateX(90deg); opacity: 0.25; }
-    to { transform: rotateX(0); opacity: 1; }
-  }
-
-  @keyframes rotor-out {
-    from { transform: rotateX(0); opacity: 1; }
-    to { transform: rotateX(-90deg); opacity: 0.25; }
-  }
-
   .content {
     & :first-child {
       @apply mt-0;