An Age of Magic

Why are elephants not afraid of mice…but are scared to death of ants.

Mice are supposed to strike terror into the hearts of elephants  -  at least if Disney cartoons are to be believed. But Dumbo’s tormentors are actually even smaller, scientists claim. Researchers have discovered that ants are the bane of elephants’ lives, with the giants of the African savannah steering clear of trees infested with them just in case they crawl up their sensitive trunks.

The experts who made the discovery believe ants act as ‘bodyguards’ for some plants to keep trampling elephants at bay. Dr Todd Palmer of the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya and the University of Florida said: ‘It really is a David and Goliath type of story, where these little ants are up against these huge herbivores, protecting trees and having a major impact on the properties of the ecosystems in which they live.

‘Swarming groups of ants that weigh about 5mg each can and do protect trees from animals that are about a billion times more massive, it’s yet another example of how the little things run the world.’

The idea that elephants fear mice has long been a staple of cartoons, and features in the 1941 Disney classic Dumbo. However, animal behaviourists say there is no evidence of rodent-phobia among any mammal.

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Protecting your credit cards from inside your wallet.

Another son, another birthday – with five of them it seems I am buying birthday gifts all year round. This time it is son number two and he turns 23 next week, he lives on the other side of the world too so I cannot simply take him out and let him choose what he wants. This kid has a habit of losing things and has in the past two years dropped his passport in a creek – don’t ask how – and when he pulls his hanky out of his pocket there followView posts a shower of coins and notes. Men always store their money in their back pocket…why?

He has just gotten his first credit card so what would suit him is an rfid blocking wallet; they protect your chip and pin card and guard against fraud as well. Your details cannot be scanned and they work even when folded over. Brilliant idea!

Popularity: 49% [?]

Bring on the Spring!

I cannot remember experiencing cold weather like this – even when we were living in France where it was freezing during the winter, and you had to deal with the icy, gale-force winds that blew between December and February each year. I always thought it was cold there and was glad to move away, but THIS beats all that!

I am still trying to become acclimatised to these northern European winters – not sure that I ever will though – and this weather is not helping. The summers not being warm enough – or long enough – don’t help either. Am I just whining…? yeah – but it’s the weather for it. We are getting more of our rooms double-glazed and new blinds to insulate the house better because parts of the house are like a freezer room.

And what happened on the weekend…? the boiler burst! we are getting to know the plumbers here on a personal basis these days!

Popularity: 65% [?]