WEIRD STUFF

Flavoured drinks could harm kids

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the United States of America has warned that flavoured ice drinks containing glycerol - a sugar substitute that keeps slushies from freezing solid - can cause glycerol intoxication syndrome in kids under seven.

Symptoms include low blood sugar, reduced consciousness, and dangerously low potassium levels.

Professor Robin May, FSA's chief scientific adviser, said: "These drinks may seem harmless, but when consumed quickly and in large quantities, they can pose serious health risks to young children."

The FSA now recommends that children under seven avoid slushies with glycerol altogether, and that those aged seven to 10 should be limited to one 350ml serving per day.

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Mars in sight!

Humans could set foot on Mars sooner than expected, according to British astronaut Sir Tim Peake.

Speaking on the Infinite Monkey Cage podcast, the former ESA spaceman said a manned mission to the Red Planet could take off by the late 2030s - possibly earlier if private space companies accelerate the race.

"NASA's timeframe is the late 2030s," said Peake, "but that could be brought forward, driven by commercial companies who want to get there faster."

He added that companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are also transforming Earth's orbit into a potential tourist destination, making space more accessible than ever before.

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Scientists sound avocado warning

Avocados may become a luxury item in the future if farming practices don't change, Australian researchers have warned.

A Curtin University study found that avocado orchards lacking surrounding native vegetation - like trees, grasses, and shrubs - risk losing key insect pollinators.

The study revealed that insects in orchards near wild plants visited more than twice the number of plant species, increasing their chances of survival and improving crop pollination.

Lead researcher Dr Joshua Kestel said: "Vegetation adjacent to orchards may enhance food security."

With the global population projected to hit 10 billion by 2050, the team says food production must increase by 75 per cent to meet demand.

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Tortoise sparks fire in London

A heat lamp knocked over by a curious tortoise caused a fire in a fourth-floor flat in London.

The incident saw firefighters from four stations rush to the maisonette where hay inside the reptile's enclosure had caught fire.

The flames were subsequently brought under control, and both the tortoise and a frightened dog hiding under the stairs were safely rescued.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Heat lamps must be properly secured. They're often near flammable materials like hay or sawdust, so always switch them off when not in use."

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Snake slithers into fish soup

A stray corn snake was found in a fish and chip shop in London.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was called down to the eatery near Greenwich, south-east London, after people reported a snake was on the loose.

Initially said to be a python, it turned out to be a "juvenile corn snake".

Corn snakes live for between 10 and 15 years, and, according to the RSPCA, their "biology is the same as that of wild snakes".

A spokesperson shared on Facebook: "Staff were spooked, but it turned out to be a harmless corn snake. Thankfully, a lost-and-found poster led us to the relieved owner."