Posers and puzzles
Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Wasn’t she in one of the Star Wars films? – A Robertson, Dundee
You are almost right – it was a Star Trek film she was in, not a Star Wars one.
In fact, during recording, Cattrall managed to court controversy with Leonard Nimoy, who was playing Vulcan Mr Spock, Captain Kirk’s second-incommand.
The actress, who becameme a household name when Sexex and the City aired in the 90s, had made a number of movies including Porky’s, Police Academy and Mannequin.
But in 1991 she was cast as helmsman Lieutenant Valeris in Star Trek VI: The Undiscoveredd Country, the last film featuring the entire cast of the original series.
The actress claims that she assisted in developing the character by designing her own hairstyle and even helped come up with the name.
But near the end of filming, she reportedly had a photographer shoot a roll of film on the Enterprise bridge set in which she wore nothing but her Vulcan ears.
After finding out about the unauthorised photo session, Leonard Nimoy, also the film’s executive producer, had the film destroyed.
What is it in nettles that makes them sting? – M Garrity, Greenock
Urtica dioica, often called common nettle, has hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a sting sensation when contacted by humans and other animals. This mixture of chemical compounds causes a painful sting or paresthesia. Hence the names stinging nettle, burn weed and burn hazel.
Does anyone know how many sightings there has been of the Loch Ness monster this year? – J Burnside, Dundee
For the last 20 years, Inverness-based chartered accountant Gary Campbell has been keeping a register and has logged more than 1077 sightings.
He has accepted one sighting so far this year, from a visitor to the Highlands from Texas.
Last year, five sightings were accepted for the register – the most in 13 years.