Trout becoming addicted to amphetamine
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Brown trout are becoming addicted to the drug methamphetamine when it accumulates in their waterways, according to a behavioural ecologist. His research team put 40 of the fish in a tank of water containing levels of the illegal drug that have been found in freshwater rivers, and left them there for a period of eight weeks. When transferred to a clean tank, the trout suffered withdrawal symptoms.
Boy becomes youngest grandmaster
A 12-year-old boy from New Jersey has become the youngest grandmaster in chess history. Abhimanyu Mishra broke Sergey Karjakin’s record at the age of 12 years, four months and 25 days. To become a grandmaster, a player must achieve three grandmaster norms - an award given for a high level of performance - as well as achieving an 2500 Elo rating from the governing body.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Angry note chides mum for showing ‘ass’
A mother says she has been left confused by a handwritten note tucked under her car windscreen wiper telling her to “shut your blinds when walking naked!” Alex Taylor, from Essex, insists that she never walked around naked visible from the windows, says the note told her: “My kids do not and would not want to see your ass out on the show.” She added: “It’s the most bizarre thing that’s ever happened to me, I can’t get my head round it.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Jasveen Sangha and the ketamine 'Wild West' of Hollywood
In The Spotlight Arrest of the 'ketamine queen' accused of supplying Friends star Matthew Perry with deadly dose has turned spotlight on a showbiz drug problem
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests