Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: mickw on Jan 24, 2013, 18:44:05

Title: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: mickw on Jan 24, 2013, 18:44:05
So many things going through my mind - "No shit" is the tip of the iceberg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21150721 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21150721)

I guess that's why there are no dung beetles in England.....................
Although they may actually be here but are lost  :o
Title: Re: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: MarkS on Jan 24, 2013, 19:13:40
You know why Dungeness is so called?
Title: Re: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: mickw on Jan 24, 2013, 19:26:43
Er, clutching at straws but guessing it's not named after the lighthouse  :lol:
Title: Re: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: MarkS on Jan 25, 2013, 07:47:31
The lighthouse is there to help guide the beetles rolling the dung towards the ness.  The dung is then burnt to produce power.  There is a large area that gradually became clear of dung - the "newly cleared area".  Over time the name degenerated somewhat to become New Clear - thats's why the New Clear Farmstead appears in the Domesday Book.  But in recent years the spelling gradually altered to become Nuclear.  So when they built the power station at Nuclear, obviously it was named the Nuclear Power Station.  People have wrongly made the inference that something radioactive is taking place there.

Title: Re: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: doug on Jan 25, 2013, 08:41:05
Lovely play on words, Mark. Brilliant.

Doug.
Title: Re: Dung beetles guided by Milky Way
Post by: mickw on Jan 25, 2013, 08:58:09
Cor, you learn something new every day  :o

That would explain why there was so much fuss over dumping New Clear waste in the area - it would stink like France  :-?