Ronin the rat sets new landmine-sniffing record
Apopo, which is based in Tanzania, currently has 104 rodent recruits, or HeroRATS, as the non-profit likes to call them.The rats are trained to sniff out chemicals that are found in landmines and other weapons abandoned on battlefields. Because of their small size, the rats are not heavy enough to detonate the mines.The rats can check an area the size of a tennis court in about 30 minutes, the charity says, whereas a human with a metal detector might take four days to clear the same land.They can also detect tuberculosis, an infectious disease that commonly affects the lungs, far quicker than it would be found in a lab using conventional microscopy, Apopo says.
Ronin's impressive work in Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province has surpassed the previous record held Magawa, a rat who sniffed out 71 mines and was presented with a gold medal for his heroism in 2020.Since Apopo's work began 25 years ago, the organisation has cleared 169,713 landmines and other explosives worldwide - more than 52 thousand have been in Cambodia. The charity also works in other countries including Ukraine, South Sudan and Azerbaijan.There are still an estimated four to six million landmines and other exploded munitions buried in Cambodia, according to the Landmine Monitor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Major NHS prescriptions update from Government amid call for cost-free medication
Campaigners have called for a set of conditions to be added to the NHS prescription charge exemption list The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a key update on NHS prescriptions after thousands complained of 'unfair' costs. Its message follows a petition calling for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) to be added to the charge exemption list, meaning many patients would no longer have to pay for medication. SCD describes a group of serious, life-long health conditions that impact red blood cells. It's especially common among people with an African or Caribbean family background, and may give rise to several debilitating symptoms. This particularly includes 'sickle cell crises', being painful episodes that may last days or even weeks, an increased risk of infections, and anaemia, causing worsened tiredness. Unlike treatments for diabetes, epilepsy and cancer, SCD medication currently isn't listed on the prescription cost exemption list. Creators of the parliamentary petition argue this is 'unfair' and many patients 'may not be able to work but still face monthly costs for vital medication'. However, the Government said that 'extensive arrangements' are already in place to ensure medication is affordable in England, and added that there are 'no current plans' to add SCD to the exemption list. In its petition response, issued on August 11, the Government said: "The Government has no current plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate, including relating to Sickle Cell Disease. "There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with sickle cell disease may be eligible." It's crucial to note that a medical exemption certificate, not the medical condition, entitles certain patients to free NHS prescriptions. You can obtain one by speaking to a GP or doctor before completing an application form. These usually last five years before a renewal is needed. However, anyone under 16, 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education, and those over 60 are already entitled to free NHS prescriptions and do not need an exemption certificate. The Department of Health and Social Care also added that people on low incomes can apply for further help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This provides help to those who are not automatically exempt from charges but may still be entitled to 'full or partial help if they have a low income and savings below a defined limit'. Its response added: "People who need to pay NHS prescription charges and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), which allows people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost. "A 3-monthly PPC (costing £32.05) or an annual PPC (costing £114.50) will save people money if they need four or more items in 3 months or 12 or more items in 12 months. "To help spread the cost, people can pay for an annual PPC by 10 monthly direct debits. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week." The original petition, entitled 'Add Sickle Cell Disease to NHS Prescription Charge Exemption List', currently has just over 25,700 signatures. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament. You can view the petition in full here. Additional information about the NHS Low Income Scheme is also available here, and a link to purchasing PPCs can be found here.
Economist
5 days ago
- Economist
Should you use a standing desk?
THE HUMAN body evolved to forage and hunt on the African savannahs, not to sit in a cubicle all day. The risks associated with sitting—from increased blood sugar levels to greater odds of dying from cancer—lead many health authorities to warn against spending too much time doing so. The sit-to-stand desk is a popular way of helping people get upright. But how effective is it?
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Pharmacist's verdict on whether ice cold or room temperature water is best in heatwave
Staying hydrated during the fourth heatwave of 2025 is imperative – and a pharmacist has cleared up if it's better to drink cold or room temperature beverages when it's hot During spells of hot weather, it's so tempting to reach for a tall glass of iced water. But according to one health expert, this could actually end up making you feel even hotter. With the UK basking in another hot snap, heeding this pharmacist's advice could be an absolute game-changer. This sunny period will constitute the fourth heatwave of the summer so far. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures rise above the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days. That threshold varies from 25C to 28C across the country. So with that being said, it's important to stay hydrated with plenty of water. And apparently, room temperature is best. A Spanish pharmacist told his 3.7million followers: 'What is better when it is too hot? To drink cold or room-temperature water? Psychologically, it may seem that cold water refreshes you more, but it's not true. 'Because it is colder, it makes your body work more to regulate the temperature, and the body generates heat, so room-temperature water might be better. 'There are even African countries where people drink hot liquids in the summer, and say that it helps to sweat, and sweat helps to cool off, but I think that is a cultural issue that we will never accept here. Imagine how little you feel like drinking tea in the middle of a desert!' While hot water may not feel like the most appealing idea when it's scorching hot outside, opting for room temperature water could make all the difference. Room temperature water is closer to your body's natural temperature, so your body doesn't need to expend extra energy to warm it up or cool it down. This allows for quicker hydration. What's more, it helps to maintain your core body temperature, allowing your body's natural cooling process (sweating) to work efficiently. Cold water can sometimes trick your body into thinking it's cooler than it is, which may reduce sweating and slow down cooling. Some also believe that drinking room temperature drinks is much easier than sipping on ice cold water. For one, it doesn't give you a brain freeze! For that reason, you're actually more likely to glug the whole glass down rather than taking smaller sips. What does the NHS say about drinking water? The NHS advises: 'Most people should aim to drink enough during the day so their pee is a clear pale yellow colour. 'The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count. 'You may need to drink more fluids if you're: "pregnant or breastfeeding "in a hot environment "physically active for long periods "ill or recovering from illness.'
