Author: The Guardian

China has become the first country to gather samples from the far side of the moon and bring them back to Earth in a landmark achievement for the Beijing space programme.A re-entry capsule containing the precious cargo parachuted into a landing zone in the rural Siziwang Banner region of Inner Mongolia on Tuesday after being released into Earth’s orbit by the uncrewed Chang’e-6 probe.The return of the lunar material wraps up a highly successful mission for the China National Space Administration (CNSA) amid a wave of interest in which space agencies and private companies will build instruments and bases on…

The world’s tallest male dog – a great dane from Iowa named Kevin who was comically skittish despite his imposing frame – has died unexpectedly, leaving his owners to mourn that humans “never [have] enough time” with such majestic pets.Kevin, age three, died after falling ill and undergoing an unplanned surgery, according to a statement on Monday from Guinness World Records, who in March officially recognized the great dane as the globe’s tallest dog.In a statement, Kevin’s co-owners, Tracy and Roger Wolfe, described their family as “devastated”.“He was just the best giant boy,” said the Wolfes’ statement, which was shared…

An opera-loving member of high society turned eco-activist who was forced into police protection with a panic button round his neck. A Hollywood actor who recorded said activist’s life story as he was dying from exposure to the very chemicals he was investigating. Throw in two investigative journalists who realise not everything is as it seems, then uncover some startling truths, and you have “podcasting’s strangest team” on Buried: The Last Witness.On their award-winning 2023 podcast Buried, the husband and wife duo Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor dug into illegal toxic waste dumping in the UK and its links to…

A Highland red deer known for asking tourists for snacks has been executed due to health concerns.Callum the stag is a common sight at Beinn Eighe car park in Torridon in the North West Highlands due to his willingness to walk up to visitors and accept food from human hands.But the animal, described as a “local legend”, had to be humanely euthanized by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).An NTS spokesman said: “We are sorry to say that on the advice of veterinary experts, Callum, a stag often found in Torrid car parks, must be humanely euthanized.””We know many people…

The farmer was going to drown the kitten because he had an abscess in one eye and was feral, biting everything. But some vets were there to help with lambing, and the farmer agreed Nelson could be taken in and rehomed.It was 2005; I was 16 and my sister, five years older than me, was on a work placement at a vet surgery in Preston as part of her university training. Nelson’s eye was removed, as were his testicles, and it was decided he would be taken in by my family, in nearby Chorley.What we didn’t know was that early…

Unfortunately the NHS considers skin tags – which are small, soft, harmless growths that tend to develop where areas of skin rub together – as cosmetic, and therefore won’t remove them. But you should see your GP if you’re concerned: for example if they’ve changed in size or colour, or they bleed.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.There isn’t a specific cause for their formation: they are associated with obesity and diabetes, but genetics and ageing also play a part and they can be more common during pregnancy.…

IIf your formative years were in any way influenced by John Hughes’s ’80s teen movies—crush crushes, triumphant losers, and an eternal longing for an American high school locker—then these actors feel like they’ve been lost. Long-time relatives. Anthony Michael Hall has had a lasting acting career alongside other jobs: He’s a 56-year-old father who looks nothing like his teenage self. But he couldn’t escape the nerdy kids in “Weird Science,” “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” If he got tired of recalling movies from 40 years ago, he wouldn’t show them.Hall’s acting career now spans 48 years. One of the…

In May 2023, Kitty Johnson made her first hedgehog rescue. The writer and creative writing teacher took a call from a family who had found one of the tiny mammals unresponsive in the middle of the park that borders her Norwich home. She rushed out of the door with a pair of latex gloves and a box filled with newspaper and began searching in the grass. “It took a while to find it but when I did, I picked the hedgehog up very carefully, placed it into the box and rushed it to my car,” she says. “From there, I…

Wild Thang, a pekingese who has entered the competition four times, was finally crowned winner and awarded $5,000 Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Source link

The EU and Nato “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by expanding eastward, Nigel Farage said, as the reforming British leader was criticized for a range of policies and beliefs in a sometimes offensive TV interview. challenge.In an interview with BBC’s Panorama program on Friday night, Farage also said Brexit would benefit the UK economically if he were to run it, despite reforms that many have been criticized for saying offensive things. Send candidates “stitched in the most unusual ways”.Farage’s belief in invading Ukraine and his admiration for Vladimir Putin have been called into question, with Farage saying he personally dislikes…