WEIRD WORLD

HIDDEN HOARD:

Mystery surrounds the identity of the rightful heirs to a treasure trove of gold coins worth enough to buy a house which was found hidden under the keyboard of an old piano. The 913 coins, found neatly stacked in dusty handstitched packages and pouches, were discovered carefully secreted beneath the instrument’s keyboard base while it was being re-tuned. Ruling the hoard to be treasure at an inquest, Shropshire Coroner John Ellery said “we simply do not know how they came to be concealed”. Despite an international media appeal and local research, the identity as to who put the cash in the instrument – and why – remains a tantalising unknown.

H2 OH!: It may be a case of water, water everywhere among Earth-like planets beyond the solar system. A new study suggests that most habitable planets are likely to be waterworlds with oceans spanning 90% of their surfaces. The fine balance between land and sea found on Earth, which is 71% ocean-covered, could be a key factor behind the emergence of advanced life, scientists believe. Lead researcher Dr Fergus Simpson, from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences at the University of Barcelona, Spain, used a statistical model to predict the division between land and water on habitable worlds.

SPOT OF BOTHER:

Environmental protection officers in Florida are looking into complaints about brown spots appearing on cars, boats, air conditioning units and other objects. Dozens of people have complained to Springfield city officials in the last week or so, with one man claiming the spots went through the clear top coat on the bonnet of his new silver car .