WEIRD STUFF: Gin and tonic among secrets to centenarian’s long life

Gin and tonic among secrets to centenarian's long life

A 103-year-old woman says that a daily handful of walnuts with gin and tonic is the key to her long life.

Stella Monks has a healthy diet as walnuts are packed with nutrients and are linked to a reduction in cholesterol and heart disease.

In addition, the gin contains juniper berries which are great antioxidants to fend off illnesses.

Monks lives in a housing complex run by the Warrington Housing Association in Cheshire, and the organisation wrote a birthday message to mark her special day.

It said: "Happy 103rd birthday to Stella. She is our kind of woman. Our independent living co-ordinator Kimberley Flynn dropped in with flowers from all of us."

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Beavers to help London fight flooding

Beavers have been brought back to London for the first time in more than 400 years.

A male and female beaver have been released into enclosed grounds in Fort Hall Farm in Enfield, north London, in a project created by Enfield Council and Caple Manor Council to restore nature and reduce flood risks.

Ian Barnes, Enfield Council's deputy leader, said it was "quite emotional" when the creatures --which have been temporarily nicknamed Justin Beaver and Sigourney Beaver -- were released into the wild.

Ian said: "They're not just beautiful creatures, they're so good in the ecosystem; they encourage other animals and insects because of the ponds and dams they make.

He added: "They do an incredible job and that's why we are so pleased that, after 400 years, they're back in Enfield."

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Scientists could recreate dodo bird

The dodo bird could be brought back from extinction in a new experiment.

Researchers have been successfully able to map the gene sequence of the flightless bird after years of failed attempts.

Dodos have been extinct since 1681.

Professor Beth Shapiro, from the University of California, said: "The dodo genome is entirely sequenced because we sequenced it.

"It's not been published yet but it does exist and we're working on it right now."

Shapiro did warn that it will not be easy to bring the bird back to life and said cloning may be the dodo's best hope.

She explained: "The way we can do this is to clone it, the same approach that was used to create Dolly the Sheep. But we don't know how to do that with birds because of the intricacies of their reproductive pathways.

There are groups working on different approaches for doing that and I have little doubt that we are going to get there eventually."