Latest news with #Cranwell
BBC News
05-05-2025
- BBC News
Stagecoach East Midlands offers free VE Day travel for military
Serving military personnel, veterans and cadets will be given access to free bus travel on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) East Midlands, which runs in Hull, East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, is scrapping fares on 8 May for those wearing uniform, carrying a military ID, a veteran's badge or said the free travel would allow those eligible to attend events and Cranwell, managing director of the bus company, said it would be a "privilege to recognise the bravery and dedication of our armed forces, cadets and veterans". He added: "Offering free travel on VE 80 Day is a small gesture of appreciation for the enormous contribution made by our service men and women, past and present."Events are being held across the country to mark the day Allied forces accepted Germany's surrender in World War Two on 8 May national celebrations will start with a military procession in central London from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace on the 5 May bank landmarks will be illuminated to mark the occasion and installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies will be displayed in the Tower of London, which was bombed during the Blitz. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
This ‘Frog From Hell' Had The Bite Of A Wolf And Likely Ate Dinosaurs — A Biologist Explains
Before frogs were cute, Beelzebufo ampinga, or the 'frog from hell,' may have lurked in Madagascar's ... More shadows with a skull built for bone-crunching — and possibly dinosaur-snacking. In the Cretaceous forests of ancient Madagascar, one frog earned its fearsome name the hard way. Beelzebufo ampinga — sometimes called the 'frog from hell' — wasn't large by dinosaur standards, but among amphibians, it was a standout. Measuring up to 40 cm long, this extinct frog likely relied on ambush tactics and sheer jaw force to take down prey. Today, its closest living relatives are the much smaller horned frogs of South America, raising questions about deep evolutionary ties — and just how far amphibian predation can go. Today, its closest known relatives may be the much smaller horned frogs of South America — a relationship still debated among scientists. Their potential connection raises intriguing questions about deep evolutionary ties, and just how far amphibian predation can go. For most frogs, the jaws are an afterthought. Soft-bodied, bug-catching specialists, they rely more on sticky tongues than strength. But Beelzebufo ampinga and its modern relatives of the Ceratophrys genus are noteworthy exceptions. Cranwell's horned frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli), with its round body and capacious mouth, packs an outsized bite. A September 2017 study published in Scientific Reports revealed that even a horned frog with a modest 4.5 cm head is capable of producing a bite force of up to 32.9 newtons. This would be comparable to balancing three kilograms on a fingertip. For a large Ceratophrys aurita, the bite force is estimated at nearly 500 newtons, a level typically reserved for reptiles and small carnivorous mammals. Using this scaling, researchers estimated that Beelzebufo ampinga — a Late Cretaceous predator with a head over 15 cm wide — could exert up to 2,200 newtons of bite force. That puts it in the same league as wolves and female tigers. The frog's skeletal structure supports this with rigid skulls, strong jaw-adductor muscles, fused mandibular joints and recurved teeth optimized for puncture and grip. Beelzebufo may not have had venom (like Bruno's casque-headed frog) or speed, but it had a singular advantage in the prehistoric arms race — raw, compressive power. Roughly the size of a beach ball, Beelzebufo ampinga was fundamentally more formidable than its modern cousins. With an estimated skull width of up to 15 cm and a body length around 40 cm, the largest individuals likely exceeded 4.5 kilograms in mass. For comparison, that's heavier than the modern Goliath frog. The frog's fossilized bones, unearthed from northwestern Madagascar and dating to around 70 to 66 million years ago, paint a picture of an animal with an exceptionally broad, flat skull armored with bony ridges, and teeth that were sharp and surprisingly numerous. Alongside robust jaw joints and strong cranial sutures, they suggest a sit-and-wait ambush predator built to tackle prey nearly its own size. Beelzebufo shared its environment with a cast of now-extinct reptiles and dinosaurs far too large to trouble, but whose juveniles may not have been so lucky. And while it may no longer have direct descendants on the island it once ruled, its living relatives still prowl the subtropical forests and grasslands of South America. The horned frogs of the Ceratophrys genus — known to hobbyists as 'Pac-Man frogs' for their gaping mouths — share not just an evolutionary lineage, but the same toothy appetite and pugnacious attitude. What the fossil record leaves us with is a glimpse into a niche so specialized it barely exists today. A frog that ate like a reptile, defended itself like an armored tank and lived alongside the last of the non-avian dinosaurs. Not bad for an amphibian. If you're curious how well you connect with your pet, take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to find out now.
Bahrain News Gazette
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Bahrain News Gazette
Bahrain's Key Role in Global Peace and Coexistence Highlighted
Manama: Bahraini daily newspapers today focused on local events that happened over the past 24 hours. The coverage included significant events and meetings that underscore Bahrain's role in promoting global peace and tolerance. According to Bahrain News Agency, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's graduation from RAF Cranwell was one of the highlighted events. His achievement was celebrated across the nation and marked as a notable addition to Bahrain's representation in international institutions. In other developments, the KHGC Chairman and the Foreign Minister both emphasized Bahrain's global role in promoting peaceful coexistence. Their statements reiterated the country's commitment to fostering an environment of peace and mutual respect on the international stage. Further, the Speaker of Bahrain's parliament met with the IPU President, and the Shura Chairman underscored Bahrain's ongoing efforts towards global peace and tolerance. These meetings reflect Bahrain's active engagement in international parliamentary dialogue and cooperation. Additionally, Bahrain's parliamentary division participated in a GCC legislative meeting in Uzbekistan, and its parliamentary delegation took part in an Arab Group meeting at the IPU in Tashkent. These participations highlight Bahrain's dedication to regional cooperation and legislative collaboration.
