| Russian mushrooms will fight weeds in Europe Special mushrooms will be delivered from Russia to the UK to help combat Heracleum mantegazzianum, a giant weed that reaches 15 feet (4.5 meters) in length. Damage from this plant, which covered the banks of British rivers, amounts to millions of pounds. The plant, whose sap leaves scars on the skin, was brought over from Russia by Victorian herb collectors and has grown terribly over the years, was unveiled at the Royal International Agricultural Show yesterday. However, scientists believe that there is a way out: these are three types of mushrooms imported from the Caucasus as part of the European Commission's Giant Alien program, The Daily Telegraph reports. "The use of natural enemies, such as fungi and insects, to control weeds is called biological control. Biological control has been used successfully in many countries, but not yet in Europe," said Dr Marion Sayer, who led the study. NEWSRU.COM
Temple servants insure the elephants
The servants of the Indian temple of Guruvayur (Kerala state), seriously worried about the lives of their elephant charges, insured them for more than a million dollars. Before the insurance company entered into a contract with the temple, the herd of 62 animals, considered the largest in captivity, went through a complex peer review process. The calculations took into account the elephants' height, length of tusks and number of toenails, the Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday. According to a representative of the insurance company, the amount of insurance coverage for most members of the temple herd does not exceed 10 thousand rupees (a little more than $200), but an exception was made for the “king of the elephants” (leader) - he was insured for several hundred thousand rupees. The company, which ultimately risked 52 million rupees, is already suffering its first losses - last week it had to compensate enterprising temple servants 50 thousand rupees for the death of one of the elephants. Which, by the way, left the earthly abode not because of overwork, but because of his old age. RIA "NOVOSTI"
Playboy fights for young readers
The famous erotic magazine Playboy has launched a large-scale advertising campaign to boost sales. Playboy is conducting such a wide advertising campaign for the first time since the late 90s of the last century. Playboy's sales at newsstands and other retail outlets fell 19% in the second half of last year as the more than 50-year-old magazine faced stiff competition from younger-targeted erotic magazines Maxim, Stuff and FHM. To attract young representatives of the stronger sex to its readers, last year Playboy lured the editor-in-chief of Maxim magazine, James Kaminsky. He became the new editor, replacing Arthur Kretschmer, who led Playboy for nearly four decades. DELFI
A tiger with blue eyes has appeared in Moscow
From July 1, visitors to the Moscow Zoo can see a white tiger with blue eyes. A five-year-old tiger appeared in Moscow a month ago. All this time he was in quarantine and getting used to new conditions, and now he was placed in an enclosure. The white tiger is not a mistake of nature. According to experts, this small population was bred by foreign scientists in the mid-70s to decorate zoos. Under natural conditions, a white skin would only hinder the animal from hunting in the summer. Experts explain the rare color by insufficient melanin, the enzyme responsible for color. However, the black stripes were not affected. White tigers also differ from their red-skinned counterparts in eye color. They are blue and, according to zookeepers, fascinating. The animal was purchased for the Moscow Zoo in Holland. The tiger's name is Maharaja. Perhaps they will soon get a girlfriend for him, the zoo’s press service reports. ITAR-TASS
The flu virus could become a bioweapon
An ordinary influenza virus can easily be turned into a weapon of mass destruction using genetic engineering methods. This warning was issued by scientists from the University of Texas on Tuesday in the British edition of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. A team led by Dr Mohammed Majeed said they were close to definitively deciphering the genome of the virus that caused the 1918 influenza epidemic. It claimed the lives of 40 million people. This virus then constantly mutated, leading to a series of influenza epidemics from Spain to Hong Kong in the 20th century, which killed tens of millions more people.
Texas scientists point out that deciphering the genome of the so-called “Spanish flu” theoretically gives unscrupulous biologists the opportunity to create a much more deadly version of this virus. “The potential of genetic engineering and airborne transmission of the virus provide limitless opportunities for bioterrorists,” the article states. In addition, unlike other dangerous viruses that are kept in laboratories under careful protection, the influenza virus is quite easy to obtain. At the same time, the disease has a short incubation period, and vaccination can be carried out only until the infection enters the human body. NEWSRU.COM
Commission inheritance
A German housewife discovered a large sum of money while cleaning her own home. Not long ago she bought a used stereo system for 50 euros. It was in it that two savings books worth 75 thousand were discovered. As the police found out, the stereo system came into the store after the death of the previous owner. She died in March at the age of 90. Initially, the police promised the new owner of the music center that she would be able to take the money if the previous owner did not have heirs. However, it later turned out that the accounts were blocked as part of the old woman’s inheritance. AFP|
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