Articles by Editor,Xantha Leatham

Technology

Warning to Brits over a Halloween infestation of RATS: Experts reveal how your decorations could turn your home into a magnet for rodents

Warning to Brits over a Halloween infestation of RATS: Experts reveal how your decorations could turn your home into a magnet for rodents READ MORE: Vets warn against trend that sees owners scaring their pets By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR Published: 14:09 GMT, 26 October 2025 | Updated: 14:09 GMT, 26 October 2025 As Halloween approaches, many Brits will be looking to decorate their houses with lights, cobwebs and carved pumpkins. But you could be unwittingly inviting real creepy crawlies into your home, experts have warned. Décor specialists have advised Brits to reconsider their plans before putting up all their spooky decorations, as they could tempt spiders and rats to your front door. Carved pumpkins are the first cause of the problem since, after a day or two, they smell soft and sweet which can entice unwanted visitors, they said. Adding bright porch lights also attracts flying insects – which in turn bring spiders – while fictitious webs can trap bugs. 'Halloween is all about thrills and chills, but a rodent infestation isn't the kind of scare anyone wants,' a spokesman from Quote My Wall said. 'By taking a few precautions, you can enjoy a fun and festive Halloween without worrying about unwanted guests sneaking in for a treat of their own.' Thankfully help is at hand, a they experts have recommended a few easy swaps to help avoid a real–life nightmare. Carved pumpkins are the first cause of the problem since, after a day or two, they smell soft and sweet which can attract unwanted visitors, experts said (file image) Fake spider webs, like these ones pictured outside a house in Leeds, could trap real bugs and tempt spiders to your home Impressive Halloween themed decorations outside two houses on Case Grove, Prescott in Merseyside Bringing your carved pumpkin indoors overnight or moving them well away from doors and windows can help keep pests at bay, they said. Switching porch bulbs to warm or yellow LEDs and skipping the fake outdoor spider webs can deter flying insects. Meanwhile keeping sweet bowls sealed and immediately sweeping up any spills reduces the chances of animals being tempted by the smell. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) in America has also issued a warning about rodents, adding that they can spread disease to humans and that preventing an infestation is key. 'Rodents can find their way indoors through tiny gaps – mice through openings as small as a dime, and rats through quarter–sized holes,' said Dr Jim Fredericks, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. 'They don't care about the state of your home – if there's food and shelter, they'll try to move in.' The NPMA recommends sealing entry points to your home, decluttering and scheduling regular inspections to look for droppings, chewed wires or nesting materials. 'The most effective prevention happens before you notice the first signs of trouble,' Dr Fredericks emphasized. Large rats were spotted in Dagenham, East London earlier this year. Experts warn certain decorations could trigger a further surge in pests This summer, rats were pictured running around the streets of Birmingham as rubbish piled high amid bin strikes Dorset–based pest controller Terry Walker caught a giant 19–inch long mutant rat (left) while gas engineer Tony Smith, 46, spotted an enormous rat while working at a block of flats near Hackney Downs, north London (right) Revealed: The formula for the perfect Halloween PRANK - as scientists pinpoint the 'sweet spot' of fear 'Pest control professionals can identify vulnerabilities that many homeowners may overlook and help protect your health and home.' People living in the UK were recently warned to brace for a surge in rodents thanks to an unusually high acorn season. Specialists say the bumper season could lead to a spike in rat activity as the creatures take advantage of the extra food supplies. It comes as hunters already report catching rodents more than 20 inches long amid a 'horrendous infestation'. HOW SMART ARE RATS? Rats are considered highly social animals that become attached to each other, love their families and can bond with their human owners. It is believed they are capable of empathy and can recognise and react to pain in others. A study by Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Bowling Green State University, found when rats are tickled they make chirping sounds that are similar to human laughter. '[Y]oung rats have a marvellous sense of fun', said Dr Panksepp, adding that the rodents bonded with the human tickler and liked to be ticked as much as possible. Contrary to their reputation they are also very clean animals and groom themselves regularly. Rats are highly social animals that become attached to each other, love their families and can bond with their human owners In September last year researchers from New York University found when rats are frightened in the day, the fear centres in their brains are re-activated during sleep - potentially helping to strengthen memories. Researchers say that rats store maps of what they experience in both of their hippocampi - two curved structures inside the brain. Different places that the rat experiences are processed by different groups of neurons that activate together in sequence as a rat runs around a maze. After exploring an area, these sequences have been observed replaying as the rat sleeps - comparable to dreaming of the paths they'd taken when they were awake. Researchers believe that this allows memories to be stored in the long term. The most recent research by the University of St Andrew's found rats help each other out in return for favours in a similar way to humans. The rodents were found to groom food-providers more often than partners who had refused to help. In addition, common Norway rats offered more food to those who cleaned them, researchers found. Share or comment on this article: Warning to Brits over a Halloween infestation of RATS: Experts reveal how your decorations could turn your home into a magnet for rodents Add comment

Technology

A cut above the rest! Rare half-pink diamond weighing 37.4 CARATS is discovered in Botswana

A cut above the rest! Rare half–pink diamond weighing 37.4 CARATS is discovered in Botswana READ MORE: Jewellery store owner has diamond embedded into his eye By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR Published: 14:33 BST, 24 October 2025 | Updated: 14:58 BST, 24 October 2025 As far as diamonds go, this one really is a cut above the rest. An 'astounding' half–pink jewel has been unearthed in the Karowe Mine in Botswana – and it weighs a whopping 37.41 carats (7.5g). The diamond is one inch long and has a 'sharp' boundary between the dusky pink and colourless sections. Jewels this colour are incredibly rare because temperature and pressure conditions have to be just right for them to form. Experts believe it could be one of the most important pink diamonds in history. Oded Mansori, co-founder of diamond-cutting firm HB Antwerp, said: 'This stone has the potential to become one of the most important pink diamonds ever polished. 'Its intensely rich coloration is a testament to the geological uniqueness of the Karowe Mine. 'And our deep understanding of the manufacturing process will allow us to capture its vibrant color to the fullest extent possible.' An 'astounding' half–pink jewel, weighing 37.41 carats (7.5g), has been unearthed in Botswana The diamond is an inch long and has a 'sharp' boundary between the dusky pink and colourless sections The diamond will have started life more than three billion years ago, deep within the Earth under intense heat and pressure, around 93–124 miles (150–200km) below the surface. Carbon atoms are bound together in a tight lattice before being brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions. Diamonds can acquire colour through impurities that get locked inside the lattice as it forms. But pink versions are the product of structural deformity, meaning their structure has been altered through geological processes. However, too much deformation turns the jewels brown – meaning just the right balance has to be reached. It's likely the pink section formed first, according to experts, and the colourless half then developed at a later time. The new diamond is not the first pink–and–colourless natural diamond ever discovered. However, experts from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said similar diamonds they have examined were much smaller, weighing no more than two carats (0.4g). While experts are yet to value the diamond, they believe it could be one of the 'most important pink diamonds' in history Jewels this colour are incredibly rare because temperature and pressure conditions have to be just right for them to form Diamonds: The 4 C's Carat: The weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams Colour: Evaluates how colourless, near-colourless, or yellow-brown tinted a diamond is on a scale of D-Z Clarity: Evaluates a diamond's freedom from internal and external flaws Cut: Evaluates the diamond's craftsmanship and quality of light behaviour Advertisement Botswana's Karowe mine, where the diamond was found, has previously yielded several other spectacular jewels. This includes the 1,758-carat Sewelô, the 549-carat Sethunya, and more recent recoveries such as the 2,488-carat Motswedi. Motswedi, uncovered by Canadian mining firm Lucara, is the largest diamond seen in the last 120 years since the discovery of the world–famous Cullinan Diamond. The 3,106–carat stone was found in neighbouring South Africa in 1905 and was cut into nine separate stones, many of which now form part of the British crown jewels. As it stands, the value of the half-pink diamond remains unclear, although pricing will eventually take into consideration a range of factors, including its weight, cut, colour and clarity. It is now being housed at HB Antwerp, whre it will undergo the company's 'proprietary in-house transformation process'. [This] combines cutting-edge technology, traceability, and artisanal craftsmanship,' HB Antwerp explained. 'This process ensures that every facet of the diamond’s journey—from mine to masterpiece—is transparent, secure, and verifiable.' In 2023 a rare pink diamond considered to be the 'most valuable and vivid' of its kind (pictured) sold for $34.8 million (£26 million) at Sotheby's in New York Last year marked the discovery of the second biggest diamond ever found – a rough 2,492–carat stone also uncovered in Botswana World's second biggest DIAMOND awaits a home: 2492-carat stone could be worth tens of millions The discovery comes two years after a rare pink diamond considered to be the 'most valuable and vivid' of its kind sold for $34.8 million (£26 million) at Sotheby's in New York. The value of The Eternal Pink diamond came, in part, from it being 'internally flawless', experts said. The colour of the diamond is said to be at a level only achieved by about four per cent of all pink diamonds. HOW DO SCIENTISTS 'GROW' DIAMONDS IN A LABORATORY? Diamonds fetch their lofty price tags because they form over millions of years under high pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth's crust. But a number of companies are now growing the gems in laboratories across the world, threatening to shake up the diamond industry. A small 'seed' diamond acts as a scaffolding for the process. Scientists first place this seed into a vacuum chamber to remove impurities from the air. Lab-made gems are threatening to upset the diamond industry, with several companies worldwide now growing the stones for jewellery. In this image Pure Grown Diamonds CEO Lisa Bissell unveils a lab-cultivated diamond in New York in 2015 They then funnel hydrogen and methane gas heat to 3,000°C (5,400°F) into the chamber to create a highly charged gas known as plasma. The gases rapidly break apart, releasing carbon atoms from the methane that collected on the diamond 'seed'. These atoms naturally copy the crystal structure of organic diamond, which is also made up of carbon atoms. Each artificial stone grows at a rate of around 0.0002 inches (0.006mm) an hour. Share or comment on this article: A cut above the rest! Rare half-pink diamond weighing 37.4 CARATS is discovered in Botswana Add comment