Snakes lose their stripes the nearer they live to man – because of pollution

Snakes lose their stripes the nearer they live to man - because of pollution, suggests a new study. Researchers monitoring turtle-headed seasnakes living on coral reefs in the Pacific noticed something unusual about the snakes' colour patterns. Seasnakes living in more pristine parts of the reef were decorated with black-and-white bands or blotches. But those in places with more human activity - near the city or military activity - were black. This is a photograph of a turtle-headed seasnake.  The...

Home for Homeless – prototype of new house for Scotland’s first homeless village unveiled 

A prototype house which will be used in Scotland's first village for the homeless was unveiled today. The village will include 10 homes for people who are currently living in mostly unsupported temporary accommodation, shelters, and B&Bs. Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn with Prototype house for Scotland’s first Social Bite village for the homeless IS unveiled in St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh. And work has already begun on the 1.5-acre site in the Granton area of Edinburgh, with the first residents...

Photographer Vincent Munier captures the endangered snow leopard

5,000 m altitudes, -35 °C temperatures and geopolitical instability braved to reveal Tibet’s natural wonder Nikon European Ambassador and wildlife photographer Vincent Munier has completed an ambitious project to document Tibet’s most endangered wildlife. In a bid to photograph this relatively unknown and unexplored region, Vincent travelled across high altitudes, freezing temperatures and rough terrains, equipped with a tent, warm clothing and camera. Capturing a variety of animals, including the wild yak, Tibetan gazelle and antelope, the Tibetan sand fox...

Canals near the Olympic Park have been invaded with tonnes of weeds 

Canals surrounding the Olympic Park have been invaded by a green carpet of duck weed - near the World Championship which has been marred with outbreaks of gastroenteritis. Teams are collecting up to 120 tonnes of green sludge every week on two canals in the capital as it multiplies in the heat. Athletes staying in the capital for the World Championships have contracted gastroenteritis, leading to many withdrawing from Monday's heats. Hot weather causes green carpet of duck weed on...

Plant that was once munched on by dinosaurs found growing in the wild 

A plant dating back more than 100 million years to the age of the dinosaurs has been discovered growing in the American Mid West. The moss was found in 16 lakes around Wisconsin and Minnesota - and scientists likened their surprise to a "cheetah poking its head through your office window." They immediately realised it was quite different from other species, and DNA analysis of samples of the large, green algae identifed it as Lychnothamnus barbatus. The collectors knew they...

Heat waves, floods & storms could kill at least 50 times more Britons by end of century if climate change not tackled

Deadly heat waves, floods and storms could kill at least 50 times more Britons by the end of the century if climate change is not tackled, a study warned. Around 2,515 Britons but as many as 7,484 Britons a year could be killed by extreme weather events by the 2080s - up from around 90 Britons now. Heatwaves will be the biggest threat killing up to 7,358 Britons, followed by coastal flooding killing at around 56, river flooding 36 and...

Watch – ALLIGATOR found basking in sun on side of English lake

Stunned water officials discovered an ALLIGATOR basking in the sun on the side of an English lake today. The hissing reptile - which is two feet long - was spotted clambering out of the water at Chew Valley reservoir in Somerset. Staff at Bristol Water caught the alligator with a net before putting it in a box while waiting for a member of the RSPCA to collect it. An ALLIGATOR was discovered at an English lake  It is unknown how...

Residents clear rubbish piled up across Birmingham after bins not collected for FIVE weeks

Residents and agency staff are digging in to clear mountains of rubbish which has been piling up on the streets of Birmingham for five weeks - after a strike by binmen. Dozens of fed-up homeowners in the Sparkhill area of the city have not had their refuse collected while binmen take industrial action over possible job cuts. The strike started on June 30 after Birmingham City Council announced restructuring plans, which trade union Unite claim will threaten the jobs of...

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