Signal skills: Researchers in London, England, discovered that bumblebees can tell the difference between long and short flashes of light, much like the dash and dot pattern used in Morse code. To test this, scientists built a small maze and trained the bees to follow a brief flash linked to a sweet reward while ignoring a longer flash tied to something they didn't want. When the treats were later removed, the bees still chose the correct signal, showing they'd learned the timing rather than relying on smell or position. Because insects don't usually encounter flashing cues, the results point to a surprisingly flexible sense of timing. The study also offers a new way to explore how small nervous systems handle complex tasks.

Digital treasure: On the Caribbean island of Anguilla, a once-forgotten web domain has become a financial lifeline. When countries were first assigned internet codes, Anguilla received .ai, a simple extension that now draws global attention thanks to artificial intelligence. Tech firms and entrepreneurs pay significant fees to secure .ai addresses, bringing steady revenue for the small British territory. The growing profits complement tourism, long the island's main industry, while helping offset losses from hurricanes. Anguilla manages the domain market alongside a USA partner, earning a share from every registration. What began as a random technical designation has evolved into a lasting economic opportunity for the island's future.

Ocean bounty: A salvage team searching an old wreck site on the coast of Florida USA, uncovered a spread of historic coins resting below the waves. The area is tied to a Spanish fleet that vanished during a violent storm, leaving part of its cargo scattered across the sea floor. Divers retrieved gold escudos, silver pieces, and fragments of a sack that hint at a larger stash still buried in the sand. The recovered coins are valued at roughly US$1m, adding financial weight to the find. Each piece reflects the region where it was minted, offering clues about the trade networks of the Spanish Empire. With much of the fleet still missing, experts believe these discoveries represent only a small portion of what remains underwater.

Desert bond: Herders in the wide reaches of the Gobi Desert use a musical ritual to reunite camel mothers with calves they refuse to accept. A musician plays slow melodies on instruments like the horsehead fiddle while the pair stands tethered together on the sand. The tune shifts with the animals' behaviour, blending rhythm and chanting meant to echo the movements and calls of camels. Families sometimes add older methods such as wrapping the calf in the pelt of a lost newborn. These traditions were passed down to help orphaned calves survive and ensure milk in harsh conditions. With fewer young nomads remaining in the desert, elders fear this ritual could fade unless it is protected for future generations.

The beginning is always today. ~ Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

To put your hands in a river is to feel the chords that bind the earth together. ~ Barry Lopez

Volunteer Community Patrollers wanted – Can you spare a minimum of 4 hours per month? Full training provided. Clean driver licence required. Waiuku 021 030 4062, Pukekohe 021 138 0135

Franklin Bridge Club at 20 Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe, is the place to learn and play the most popular mind sport (card game) in the World. Enjoy a warm welcome at our very friendly club where all ages are welcome. Enquiries to Maureen on 022 156 4511.

Volunteers needed for Drury Riding for the Disabled. No previous experience necessary, full training provided. Mon, Tue or Thu flexible hours. Work with horses, riders or in a support role. Call 021 727 390 or email admin@southaucklandrda.org

Free notices for not for profits helen@coffeenews.co.nz

1. Does jazz musician Herbie Hancock play the piano, trombone, or saxophone?

2. What is the capital of Brazil?

3. Who wrote the novel Jane Eyre?

4. Bees are the only pollinators - T/F?

5. This planet is closest to the sun.

Crayon candle: In a pinch, a single crayon can light up the dark. Made of wax like a candle, it burns slowly as its paper wrapper acts as a wick, offering a surprisingly clever and dependable source of light during unexpected emergencies.

Platform passion: In France, a century-old law technically forbids kissing on train platforms. It was meant to keep departures on schedule, since long goodbyes once delayed trains, though today most travellers overlook it for one last kiss.

Hidden stripes: Tigers look bright orange to us, but many of the animals they hunt see limited colour. To those prey species, a tiger's coat appears greenish instead, letting the big cats blend into the forest far more easily than people might expect.

Story skies: Uranus is surrounded by 28 moons, all named after characters from classic plays and poems. Their surfaces range from bright icy tones to deep shadowy hues, creating a cosmic stage worthy of their literary names.

Veggie rhythms: Scientists have discovered that fruits and vegetables, including cabbage and carrots, keep their own internal schedule even after harvest. They still react to light and darkness, carrying on their daily cycles long after leaving the field.

What is worse than finding a worm in an apple? Finding half a worm.

The fortune teller likes her work because she always has a ball.

Did you know there is a 007 that spies underwater? James Pond!

Patient: Doctor, I am dizzy for a half hour after waking up. Doctor: Well, you should get up a half hour later.

A bowling team was called 'lightning' because they had so many strikes.

1. Piano 2. Brasilia 3. Charlotte Bront 4. False 5. Mercury