Scientists are launching a study into how surfers are affected when exposed to human sewage in the water – by taking swabs from their bottoms.
A team from the University of Exeter is joining forces with environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage to carry out the research.
In the first project of its kind, the Beach Bums study wants to recruit 150 surfers and bodyboarders from across the county who are in the water at least three times a month.
Colour climbdown over tower
A council is to review plans to paint a major landmark in a rival football team’s colours after an outcry from residents.
Portsmouth City Council announced a £3.5 million sponsorship deal with the Emirates airline on Friday which would have seen the Spinnaker Tower painted red and white – the colours of Hampshire rival Southampton FC.
Following an online petition against the colour scheme that reached 9,370 supporters, Conservative leader of the local authority Donna Jones has announced a review of the plan to better reflect the city’s own football team, the Royal Navy and local heritage.
Bee halts Flybe flight to Dublin
A service with airline Flybe had to turn back after a bee became lodged in one of its instruments.
The appropriately-named flight BE384 was travelling from Southampton to Dublin on Friday when it hit insect trouble.
A spokeswoman said: “Upon inspection, Flybe engineers did discover that the cause of the issue was a bee that had become lodged in an item of instrumentation on the outside of the aircraft.”
The kick axe loggers of Maine
Make no mistake, these women kick axe. They have their own pin-up calendar and sell their own line of tank tops and underwear emblazoned with their slogan.
They are the Axe Women Loggers of Maine and they are kicking off their 2015 season. During appearances at county fairs, motorcycle shows and music festivals across North America, they throw axes at bull’s-eye targets and race against each other cutting wood with long saws and chain saws.
Members hold six world titles in various women’s lumberjack competitions. Alissa Harper of Bar Harbor, Maine, started the group in 2010. She said it is empowering for the women to compete in a male-dominated sport.
Rain record for US desert city
It didn’t take much rain to set a record in Phoenix, Arizona. The US National Weather Service said the 0.01 inch of rain recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport by 7am on Friday was the largest amount for June 5.
There has not been any precipitation recorded previously on the date in the desert city. June is normally dry in Phoenix, but a thunderstorm with moisture from remnants of Tropical Storm Andres provided a bit of a change.
“We’ve now got #RainOnThe5thOfJune. Officially measuring 0.01” at Sky Harbor. Record broke,” the weather service office said in a Twitter post.
Drone is latest exam monitor
The latest weapon in the fight against cheating for China’s all-important college entrance exam is a six-propeller drone.
It flew over two testing centres in Luoyang city in central China’s Henan province to scan for any unusual signals being sent to devices smuggled by students taking the annual test.
A Henan province news website said no such signals were detected on Sunday, the first day of the test. Almost all Chinese high school graduates must take the test, and their scores are the key criterion for which tier of university they can enter.