Two headed-snake defies odds to survive 17 years

A rare two-headed snake is getting ready to mark its 17th year after defying odds of one in 100 million to survive. Now measuring five feet long, the serpent was found in 2005 in Missouri, the US.

The predator now lives at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Centre. In the wild it may never have made it this long.

Steve Allain, a council member of the British Herpetological Society and snake expert, said the unique creature is now one in a hundred million.

Describing some of the challenges of keeping the predator alive, Alex Holmes said: “A normal snake of their size would be capable of eating full-sized mice with ease. But their conjoined spine makes it more difficult to swallow all but very small, young mice.”

As each head is competitive when it came to eating, they have to cover one with a drinking cup in order to feed each one individually.

Alex continued: “We wait a period of time to make sure the food has passed their junction to avoid a ‘traffic jam’ from the left and right head’s meals meeting in the oesophagus. They share a stomach but we feed them both to stimulate their natural instincts and provide some mental enrichment.”

Longest pedestrian suspension bridge

Sky Bridge 721 is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, and opened recently at a mountain resort in the Czech Republic. The 721-metre (2,365-foot) -long bridge is built at an altitude of more than 1,100 metres (3,610 feet) above sea level. It connects two ridges of the mountains and hangs up to 95 metres (312 feet) above the valley below.

It is in the Kralicky Sneznik mountain range near the border with Poland, some 200 kilometres east of Prague. Up to 500 people are allowed to be on the bridge at any one time. The bridge will be closed for safety reasons if winds reach 135 kph (84 mph).

The construction took two years and cost some 200 million Czech crowns ($8.3 million). Critics say the bridge is too big for the surrounding environment, while others argue it will attract too many tourists to the town, which has a population of less than 500.

Students invent edible ‘Tastee Tape’ to keep burritos together

A team of Johns Hopkins University students are aiming to change the way people eat their burritos with a new invention: edible tape.

The Whiting School of Engineering students were inspired to create their edible tape by their own experiences with notoriously messy foods, such as burritos, tacos and wraps.

The chemical and biomolecular engineering students said they aimed to use science to make their lunches less messy. The tape’s adhesive is activated by moisture and is designed to remain in place while cooking.

They are not yet disclosing their secret formula because they are in the process of obtaining a patent. They assure that all its ingredients are safe to consume, are food grade, and are common food and dietary additives.

‘Full destroyed’ sneakers listed for $1,850

The whole world is facing extreme financial crunch but for some, prices don’t matter. Recently, a pair of extremely distressed sneakers offered by luxury brand Balenciaga are drawing attention online for their ‘full destroyed’ look and their hefty price tag: $1,850.

The ‘Paris High Top Sneaker Full Destroyed’ is being offered at Balenciaga’s website in either white or black with a price tag of $1,850 per pair.

The shoes are designed to appear shredded and dirty, with ‘Balenciaga’ printed on the side in the style of having been handwritten with a pen.

“It is finished with distressed canvas and rough edges, affecting a pre-worn look,” the website states.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 28th, 2022