WEIRD STUFF

Raccoons capture woman's house

A woman had to flee her home after it was surrounded by nearly 100 raccoons.

Footage from Kitsap County Sheriff's Office shows the mammals in trees around her home in the US state of Washington.

The unnamed woman confessed to officials that she started feeding a family of raccoons decades ago but things took a worrying turn when the ravenous animals surrounded the outside of her property and began scratching at her front door and car in an aggressive manner.

Kevin McCarty, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, said: "She said those raccoons were becoming increasingly more aggressive, demanding food, that they would hound her day and night - scratching at the outside of her home, at the door.

"If she pulled up her car, they would surround the car, scratch at the car, surround her if she went from her front door to her car or went outside at all.

"They saw this as a food source now, so they kept coming back to it and they kept expecting food."

He added: "This is a nuisance problem, kind of her own making, that she has to deal with."

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Breakdancer gets 'cone-head' after years of headspins

Breakdancers are putting themselves at risk of 'cone-head' with repetitive headspins.

A man in his 30s in Denmark ended up developing a 'breakdance bulge' on his head after "extensive" dancing over two decades.

He continued to headspin despite the discomfort it caused and the mass was "aesthetically displeasing to the patient" who wore a hat in public to conceal it.

The lump was later surgically removed after the breakdancer had sought medical help.

Dr Christian Baastrup Sondergaard, one of the authors of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) paper and a neurosurgeon at Copenhagen University Hospital, said: "This report does not advocate against headspinning entirely.

"However, breakdancers who notice the early development of a breakdance bulge should consider reducing or avoiding headspins, as continuing may lead to further enlargement of the bulge."

He added: "Although this is a rare condition unique to breakdancers, the successful surgical treatment in this case demonstrates that it is a viable option for symptom relief and improved quality of life for affected individuals."

Rich teens leading vape and alcohol craze

Wealthy teenagers are more likely to vape and drink alcohol.

The Social Mobility Commission in the UK has revealed that analysis of NHS Digital Data showed nearly a third (32 per cent) of those from the most affluent backgrounds, compared to just 19 per cent from the poorest households.

13 per cent of richer kids said they had vaped, with the figure just 10 per cent for those less well-off.

Experts suggest that access to alcohol and vapes is easier for affluent teenagers but don't believe that this provides a complete explanation.

Rob Wilson, deputy chair of the commission, said: "It is deeply concerning that children are drinking alcohol, taking drugs and vaping at such young ages.

"Research tells us that young people from more affluent backgrounds are more likely to use these substances than disadvantaged children, and the gap is widening.

"We don't yet know the exact reasons for this, although our report does highlight that many young people are also experiencing anxiety and poor mental health."