Strange but true

‘Short stopping’ by migratory birds
It is in the late autumn that swans, geese, ducks and other northern migratory birds normally fly south, to enjoy Britain’s mild winters, but these species have been slower to arrive in recent winters, and now come in far lower number than they once did. It all comes down to climate change. In the breeding grounds of Siberia and northern Europe, winters are far less harsh than they used to be, and temperatures often stay well above freezing, making it possible for birds that once flew south to stay put. Added to that, those that do migrate no longer need to travel as far as Britain: they can now stop in the Baltic states or the Low Countries, where winters have also become milder. This phenomenon, first identified by scientists about a decade ago, is known as “short stopping,” and it is affecting a range of species. Starlings, fieldfares and redwings are all less likely to cross the North Sea than in the past. At the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s reserve at Slimbridge, the flocks of Bewick’s swans and white fronted geese are far smaller than they used to be, and some formerly regular winter visitors to the UK, such as the great grey shrike and rough legged buzzard, are now seen only rarely.
Power generating paint
Mercedes-Benz has announced that it is developing a solar paint that generates enough electricity to power a car for up to 12,000km over a year. The paint could provide 62% of the energy required for the average driver in Stuttgart, the firm said. In sunny Los Angeles, it would cover more than a typical driver’s needs, meaning that some of the energy could be used in their home. Professor Tapas Mallick of the University of Exeter described it as a “very promising” development.
Kneecap
The UK Government agreed that, as business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, the new leader of the Conservative Party, had unlawfully denied Kneecap, the rap trio from Belfast, £14,250 in arts funding. Kneecap support a united Ireland, and lead chants of “get the Brits out”. Badenoch had said “public money should not go to those who oppose the United Kingdom”.
Honey fraud
The World Beekeeping Awards decided to pull all its honey prizes next year, owing to the scale of fraud in the global supply chain. Producers say that food watchdogs have not done enough to combat the widespread adulteration of honey with cheap syrups. At the organisation’s awards in 2022, nearly a third of honeys were rejected owing to suspected adulteration.
Bons mots
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” – James Joyce, novelist, poet and literary critic, Ireland
 

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