Large asteroid to pass by Earth today
And other stories from the stranger side of life
An asteroid estimated to be 1.2 miles wide is expected fly by Earth today but it’s not expected to collide with the planet. The asteroid, called 52768 (1998 OR2), will pass within 3,908,791 miles of Earth, moving at 19,461 miles per hour. Nasa says if it did strike our planet, the asteroid would be “large enough to cause global effects”.
French Nobel prize winner says Covid-19 was ‘made in a lab’
A French Nobel prize-winning scientist says Covid-19 was created in a lab. Luc Montagnier, who won the Nobel Prize in 2008 for his work on HIV, said “the virus has come out of a laboratory in Wuhan, which has been specialising in these types of coronaviruses since the beginning of the 2000s”. He condemned scientists for doing “the work of a sorcerer’s apprentice”. However, many experts have rubbished Montagnier’s claim, saying that it “does not make sense”. The World Health Organization has also said that there is no evidence that the virus was created in a lab in China.
Subscribe to 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.
Cheers as fish wash up on Mexican beach
Thousands of fish have mysteriously washed up on a Mexican beach. Video filmed at Acapulco beach in the south-western state of Guerrero shows the huge school of fish lying dead on the sand. Local residents cheered their arrival on the beach because fish traders and markets have been closed during the lockdown.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced takeon the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Experts discover why dogs wag their tails
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machine
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Couple sues after ‘farting dog’ ruins flight
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Experts suggest the real-life Dracula was vegan
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Pedants forgive Waterstones over apostrophe
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published