Magpies team up to sabotage a study into their cooperation

A group of Australian magpies teamed up to sabotage a study into how they co-operate in the wild, said The Times. Researchers fitted the birds with lightweight tracking devices to gather data on their movements and social interactions. But the study was thwarted “within ten minutes” when the birds started to remove the GPS tags from each other. It took only a few hours for most of the trackers to be removed and there were none remaining three days later, said the paper.

‘Miracle’ claim as clock resumes ticking

A church leader in Grimsby was stunned when a centuries-old clock ticked for the first time in five years. “I do not know why or how the clock has started working again,” said churchwarden Christopher Daniel. “It is either divine intervention, or there is a much more mundane reason that none of us is aware of.” The latter proved to be the case, said The Daily Telegraph, as someone carrying out maintenance work had removed two dead birds from the clock’s cogs.

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Pepsi launches nitrogen drink

Pepsi is launching a nitrogen-fused cola drink in what it has described as its “most ambitious feat yet”. The “first-of-its-kind” beverage has a “creamier and smoother taste compared to traditional carbonated sodas”, said CNN, which added that the drinks giant “took a page from Guinness’ playbook and added a so-called widget at the bottom of the can”. Nitro Pepsi will be released in the US next month and comes in regular and vanilla flavours.