Aliens could speak to us tomorrow
And other stories from the stranger side of life
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Aliens could get in touch with Earth at any moment and so we must know what to say to them, according to scientists. Humanity “cannot afford to be ill prepared – scientifically, socially, and politically rudderless – for an event that could turn into reality as early as tomorrow and which we cannot afford to mismanage”, said Dr John Elliott, from the School of Computer Science at St Andrews, at the launch of a new research hub to prepare humanity for first contact.
Bounty bars axed from Celebrations
Bounty bars will be axed from Celebrations boxes, according to the Daily Mail. After more than a third of Brits admitted they don’t want the coconut treats in their red festive tubs, Mars Wrigley announced that special festive tubs will be available at select Tesco stores around the UK in the run-up to Christmas. “Christmas is the time for giving – but it seems this year, the British public are keen for us to take away… Bounty,” said Emily Owen, Mars Wrigley’s Head of Celebrations Festive Cheer.
Skin fade record set at last
A barber in South Africa became a Guinness World Record holder when he completed five skin fade haircuts in 18 minutes and 57 seconds. Enrico Springfield, 23, from Johannesburg set the record on the TV series Stumbo Record Breakers. However, his bid came close to failure, the adjudicator told UPI. “I was very concerned during the fourth haircut that maybe Enrico took too much off on top and I really wasn’t sure how he was going to blend it through,” said Sofia Greenacre. “I wasn’t sure if he’d left enough hair to actually create the fade required.”
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.
For more odd news stories, sign up to the weekly Tall Tales newsletter.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What are the best investments for beginners?The Explainer Stocks and ETFs and bonds, oh my
-
What to know before filing your own taxes for the first timethe explainer Tackle this financial milestone with confidence
-
The biggest box office flops of the 21st centuryin depth Unnecessary remakes and turgid, expensive CGI-fests highlight this list of these most notorious box-office losers
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
-
Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military