'Alien-looking shrimp' hatch in Australian desert
Heavy rains cause mass-hatching of shield shrimp that lay dormant under soil for years - and other tall tales

Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Not one to throw on the barbie
"Alien-looking shrimp" have hatched in an arid region of central Australia, after heavy rains caused flooding throughout the region. Researchers say the shield shrimp rarely hatch and are "remnants of a prehistoric time" able to lie dormant under the soil for years at a time. "Growing to seven centimetres at maturity, the shrimps are members of the crustacean family yet look more like an alien tadpole with a double-pronged tail," reports ABC.
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.
Boy arrested after chicken nugget hold-up
A 12-year-old boy is in custody after pulling a gun on a fellow student and demanding one of her chicken nuggets. Police in Harlem, New York, say the boy pointed the gun at the girl's head after following her on to a train. He was arrested a short time later.
Naked man breaks into house for sesame seeds
Florida police arrested a naked man found rummaging through kitchen drawers in search of sesame seeds. Homeowner William Loland said he discovered the man in his home in the early hours of the morning. "I grabbed him by his neck and I escorted him towards the door," Loland told local media. "He was still naked. I said, 'You're lucky I don't knock you out.' He said, 'I don't think you can.' So that's when I hit him."
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
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
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
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
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
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
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
-
Mouse keeps tidying up man's shed
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
'Dead' woman nearly suffocated in morgue bag
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Locals speculate about aliens in Wales
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK