Divers capture images of town lost 700 years ago

Divers captured the first known images of what are believed to be the remains of Shipden, a mediaeval settlement swallowed by the North Sea off Norfolk, UK, about 700 years ago.

Volunteer divers from the British Sub-Aqua Club photographed and mapped 25 man-made features on the seabed. They found large stone structures, flint, cut stone and foundations known as caissons.

Historical records show that Shipden had a harbour, two churches and three acres of meadow. Researchers are now comparing the underwater discoveries with mediaeval records to learn more about the lost settlement.

The shortest firefighter

At 4 feet 10 inches tall, Florida firefighter Kelso has earned a Guinness World Record as the shortest woman in the profession. She has worked in St Pete Beach, Florida, for five years.

Kelso says her height does not stop her from entering burning buildings or carrying heavy equipment. In fact, it can help her squeeze through windows and tight spaces.

Her colleagues discovered she could qualify for the record and encouraged her to apply. The shortest male firefighter record belongs to Vince Brasco, who is 4 feet 2 inches tall.

Farmer creates chain mail for sheep

Austrian inventor Rudolf Schaubach spent three years developing protective “chain mail” for sheep to guard against wolf attacks. His design is a lightweight plastic net covered with sharp spikes, intended to discourage wolves from biting the animals.

The invention has faced criticism from sheep farmers, who warn that the mesh could tangle in the sheep’s wool, while wolves could target exposed areas such as the legs and head. Others call it too expensive for large flocks.

Schaubach says one sheep wore the net for several days without problems, but it has not been tested during an actual wolf attack.

He has stopped trials in Austria and is seeking other places to test it.

Spine-covered caterpillar looks like an alien

The Cabbage Tree Moth caterpillar is one of the world’s largest and most striking, growing up to 70 mm (2.8 in) long and 15 mm (0.59 in) wide. Its colours range from black with white spines to red with yellow spines, giving it an alien-like appearance.

Despite its intimidating look, it is harmless. Its spines are soft, while its bright colours deter predators. It is also eaten by people in tropical Africa and valued for its size and nutritional content.

The caterpillars eat voraciously, quickly stripping cabbage trees of their leaves. They burrow into the soil to pupate before emerging as large brown moths with patterned wings.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 24th, 2026