Recent research reveals that the grunts, bellows, squeals and “wheeze honks” made by hippos are not meaningless noises but the language they use to communicate. Scientists recorded the sounds and then played them back from the shore of the lake where the hippos gathered. The response was immediate, and the sound of unknown hippos produced […]

The post Talking with friends appeared first on Turn the Page.

The British Government is currently trying to pass a controversial piece of legislation: the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. In the latest instalment the bill has suffered several defeats and amendments in the House of Lords. Most stunningly amongst the latter was a requirement that police officers should tell the truth in public enquiries. […]

The post Tell the truth appeared first on Turn the Page.

This week the Marble Arch Mound closed for the last time. Built to draw visitors back to a post-Covid London it never quite lived up to expectations. Costs spiralled from £3m – £6m and the promotional pictures didn’t quite match the reality. One visitor commented that it was ‘the worst thing I’ve done in London’. […]

The post Making a name appeared first on Turn the Page.

I wonder how your New Year resolutions are going. As far as I can remember I’ve only ever made two. The first was when I was a child and my aunt, who was hosting the party, insisted that we do so. I had no idea what to say and as the seconds to midnight ticked down blurted out, […]

The post New Year revolutions appeared first on Turn the Page.

“I was not lost and did not need to be rescued.”  So said British adventurer Benedict Allen after being rescued from the jungle of Papua New Guinea.  He had missed his flight home, was suffering from the effects of malaria, and had recorded a video message in case he wasn’t found.  While Benedict was supremely confident in […]

The post I was not lost! appeared first on Turn the Page.

By the Spring of 1621 only half of the Pilgrims who had arrived aboard the Mayflower were still alive, and their chances of survival seemed slim.  But providence was on their side.  Seemingly by chance they happened upon an Abenaki Indian by the name of Squanto.  To their surprise he not only spoke English but was willing to […]

The post Thanksgiving appeared first on Turn the Page.

Writing in the 2nd century the physician Soranos lists the features of a new born child that determine whether it should live.  Vigorous crying, sound limbs and organs, open orifices, and lively movement were all required.  A child failing these tests might well be abandoned and left to die of exposure. Fast forward 2,000 years and this week […]

The post Children in Need appeared first on Turn the Page.

COP26 has been billed as the last chance to make the decisions that will be necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change. From around the world twenty-five thousand world leaders and delegates have gathered for two weeks of hard bargaining. Eyebrows have been raised at the environmental impact of the conference itself, not least because of […]

The post Meeting face to face appeared first on Turn the Page.

In 1895 Annie Smith Peck succeeded in climbing the Matterhorn. This was a remarkable achievement. One of the highest and deadliest mountains in the Alps the Matterhorn hadn’t been conquered until 1865 and has claimed the lives of over 500 mountaineers. So, you would have thought that Peck’s achievement would have been celebrated around the […]

The post Breaking with convention appeared first on Turn the Page.

When the gates of Chris Packham’s home were burnt down by masked men, he responded by saying ‘whoever you are, you burnt down the wrong gates. I cannot and will not let your intimidation sway me from my cause’. How good to find someone so committed to what they believe in that nothing will deflect […]

The post Never give in appeared first on Turn the Page.