Poo crackdown using dogs’ DNA

Bolzano city and its surrounding towns, in the Dolomites region of Italy, is forcing dog owners to provide a sample of their pets’ DNA, in a bid to tackle the scourge of dog mess on the streets. Once the data system is up and running, abandoned poop will be genetically tested and traced back to a dog and its owner fined.

Owners refusing to comply could be fined between 292 and 1,048 euros (£250-£900).

The cost of implementing the tests will be met from fines, under the scheme. The law, which doesn’t apply to tourists and non-residents.

An atomic battery that lasts 50 years

Chinese company Betavolt recently unveiled its BV100 battery, which is smaller than a coin, but has a lifespan of around 50 years and doesn’t require recharging.

Both the United States and the USSR produced such power units during the 1960s, but these nuclear batteries were large, dangerous and expensive to make. Plutonium was used as the radioactive power source for the first atomic batteries, but Betavolt’s battery relies on a much safer isotope, nickel-63, which decays to a stable isotope of copper.

The diamond semiconductor material in the battery allows it to run stably in environments ranging from -60 to 120 degrees Celsius. Measuring just 15mm x 15mm x 5mm, the Betavolt BV100 constantly generates electricity as the isotopes degrade, unlike conventional batteries which simply store energy.

Snow shark sculpture becomes a local tourist attraction

Carlos Maldonado, a sculptor and owner of Carlos Maldonado Artwork in Iowa City, created the 5.5-foot-tall great white shark sculpture from snow with help from his two sons.

“I looked up snow sculptures, I didn’t want to do anything plain,” Maldonado said. “When I saw a shark online, I figured I could do that. So, I gave it a shot and this is what we ended up with.”

He said it took about 4 1/2 hours to sculpt the shark and another hour and a half to colour it with watered-down acrylic paint the following day.

Maldonado’s photos of his artwork posted online led to an influx of visitors wanting to take photos with the snow shark.

Largest Lego sets collection

Miloš Krecek, from the Czech Republic, is the Guinness World Record holder for the largest collection of Lego sets, now housed in four museums.

Krecek, who received his first Lego set as a Christmas present when he was five, was verified by Guinness World Records as owning 6,005 different Lego sets.

To store his large collection, Krecek’s opened the first Museum of Bricks in Prague. It now has three more branches in Kutná Hora, Podebrady and Špindleruv Mlýn.

The collector’s favourite set is the Statue of Liberty, which he received on a sightseeing boat tour to the real Statue of Liberty in New York.

“I bought more than 90% of all Lego sets myself,” Krecek disclosed, “but sometimes I will receive a set for my collection from my customers or acquaintances.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 10th, 2024