On the Record

“We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.”

Credit: AFRIPICS.COM/ALAMY

UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer denies rumours that British forces had sowed panic in Basra, Iraq, by unleashing ferocious honey badgers (pictured). The badgers, slightly larger and scarier than the British woodland version, are in fact indigenous to the Middle East.

Showbiz news

We will doc you

Former Queen guitarist Brian May has finally completed the astrophysics PhD he abandoned 33 years ago after becoming distracted by international superstardom. He has submitted his thesis to Imperial College, London, and is set to become Dr May in May next year. Rock 'n' roll.

Zoo news

Bear burnout

Berlin Zoo's Thomas Dörflein, who found fame as the keeper of Knut, the world's cutest bear™, has bowed out of the limelight. He has retired from public play sessions with the young polar bear, who now weighs 50 kilograms and is becoming a bit of a handful.

Robot news

Jesus-bot

Engineers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, say they have created the first robot that can walk on water. Unfortunately, it can carry a load of only 9.3 grams.

Zoo/robot news

Lamprey power

Roboteers led by Ferdinando Mussa-Ivaldi of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, have created a cyborg that uses a lamprey brain to control a lightseeking robotic disc. They hope it could lead to prosthetic aids for people paralysed by stroke or motor neurone disease.

Sources: BBC, The Times, CNN, PhysOrg, Small Times