Museums are supposed to be havens for the collective cultural and scientific heritage of the planet, but specimens sometimes go missing.

Happily, they can also be rediscovered, as a new study shows, with the vertebrae of the legendary predatory shark known to the world under its old name of Megalodon (now properly Otodus megalodon) turning up on a museum shelf decades after they were seemingly lost.

The new paper takes another look at the size and growth of this giant shark that lived between 15 and 3.5 million years ago. The study confirms previous estimates that these animals might have been longer than 24 metres. To put that in context, even the most unnaturally exaggerated sharks in the Jaws franchise topped out at 10.5 metres. These were seriously big fish.

The work is based on an analysis of several 11-million-year-old vertebrae from one animal, found in Denmark. Apart from the jaws and teeth, shark skeletons are mostly cartilage, so vertebrae are rare and important. Compared to a tooth, they give a much better indication of the size of the owner and here these are the largest known of any O megalodon (23cm in diameter).

These important specimens were thought to have been destroyed in a move from the Geological Museum of Copenhagen (now part of the Natural History Museum of Denmark) to the Museum of Southern Jutland in 1989. The scientific records of them were limited to old photos and descriptions. A couple of these vertebrae have now turned up, having apparently sat on a shelf unrecognised for decades. This allowed for the new study, which also estimated that a newborn O megalodon might be 3.6 metres long and live for nearly a century.

How can museums and palaeontologists lose valuable fossils?

All manner of unlikely and unfortunate actions can lead to the loss of fossils from museums.

Most obviously this can happen during times of conflict. The second world war saw the loss of dinosaur fossils on both sides of the conflict. The original specimens of the sail-backed dinosaur Spinosaurus were destroyed in Munich by an allied bombing raid in 1944. Earlier, a number of specimens, including parts of the early dinosaur Thecodontosaurus, were destroyed in Bristol after an Axis raid in 1940.

These were not even the first losses from enemy action in international wars. In 1916, the Canadian ship SS Mount Temple was sunk by a German ship. Although it was mostly carrying wheat, it also had a cargo of dinosaur fossils from Alberta that were being moved to the UK. The cargo lists are vague so we don’t even know what dinosaurs were on board.

Indirect action could be problematic too. In 1941, the Chinese attempted to move as many as 40 specimens of “Peking man” (Homo erectus), the first of our relatives to have human-like proportions, to the US to try to save valuable early hominid fossils from the invading Japanese forces. They never arrived, and might have been lost at sea after the ship they were on was sunk. Although it’s possible they never even made it on board the vessel.

Things can also be simply lost or fall apart. An apparent giant sauropod dinosaur similar to Diplodocus was named by the US palaeontolgist Ed Cope in 1877 as Amphicoelias fragillimus. He described it from a single, incomplete, fragile, but giant, vertebra.

Cope gave differing measurements of the vertebra at various times, making it unclear quite how large it actually was. When he died, his collection was sold to the American Museum of Natural History, but they were never able to find this specimen. Given how fragile it was, it may simply have disintegrated on the shelf and been overlooked or thrown away.

Museums are not immune to losses either. If you have an enormous number of specimens (the Natural History Museum in London has an estimated 80 million objects in its collection), it is inevitable that one or two may simply get lost.

I’ve been an eyewitness to lost specimens turning up in a museum when a colleague spotted a dinosaur skull and pterosaur skeleton sitting on the wrong shelf like misplaced library books. Then there’s the more nefarious activities – I’ve heard of researchers deliberately moving specimens to make them hard to find so other researchers cannot examine them, and occasionally things are stolen from collections.

On top of this, natural disasters and accidents can wipe out history. The Fukushima earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in Japan caused major damage to the nearby Iwaki museum with damage to some of the fossils in their collections. And in 2018, one wing of the Nation Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro burned down with the loss of many fossil specimens that were on display.

For all the examples raised here, museums are inherently safe places for specimens. There are millions and millions of fossils that have been held in institutions around the world for decades and even centuries. It is inevitable that accidents will happen, and that bad actors will cause occasional losses. Fortunately, at least on occasion these do reappear and give us some exciting new research opportunities.

Paul Sneddon has played a huge part in the Edinburgh comedy scene.

Tributes have poured in following the death of much-loved Scots comedian Paul Sneddon, 70.

The Edinburgh performer, best known for his comedy characters Vladimir McTavish and Bob Doolally, has been remembered as a “kind”, “generous” and hugely talented figure who was at the heart of Scotland’s comedy scene for decades.

The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh announced the devastating news on Wednesday, describing Paul as a “vital part” of the venue since it first opened.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, the club said: “It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Paul Sneddon, known to so many as Vladimir McTavish and Bob Doolally.

“Paul has been a vital part of The Stand since we began and a much treasured and loved part of the comedy scene for many years. He was as known for his kindness, encouragement and generosity as he was for his immense talent.

“He made every green room brighter, every line-up funnier and the world a nicer place to live in. We are broken at the loss of our dear friend.”

The club said its thoughts were with Paul’s wife Christine, daughters Julia and Rosie, and his many friends and fans.

Paul had been due to perform his latest Edinburgh Fringe show, 2026 and the S**t Hits the Fan for Vladimir McTavish , in August.

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Fans and fellow comedians quickly paid tribute online, with one writing: “This is dreadful news. What an absolutely lovely, hilariously funny, kind man.

“He made my life about a billion times more fun by hosting the comedy course with John, which got me into stand-up. He radiated such enormous warmth and encouragement. A huge miss.”

Another said: “So sad to hear this awful news. Paul was such a lovely guy as well as being a wonderful performer and comedian. He will be sorely missed.”

A third added: “That is such sad and shocking news, won’t be the same without him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Comedy night Laugh It Off at The Railway also paid tribute, saying: “Devastated to hear the news today that Paul Sneddon AKA Vladimir McTavish / Bob Doolally has very sadly passed away.

“Paul was a great comedian, a great guy and a keen supporter of Laugh It Off. He’s given me nothing but positive encouragement as a fledgling stand-up. I was speaking to him only a couple of days ago about gigs at the Fringe. He’ll be greatly missed.”

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Liquor is just one thing that helped fuel revolutionary America 250 years ago. People joining the UK events say they’ve enjoyed learning about the extent of the cultural crossover – not just because the US’s big birthday is a milestone that resonates globally, but because it’s also taught them things about their own part of the world.

Back in the City of London, participants on Mark Grant’s tour say the deep-dive into American history has also had the effect of showing them a side of their city they never knew.

“It took me to a few alleys I’d never been to,” says Peter Tidmarsh, a local. “I’m just amazed.”

Not for nothing has Grant been a contestant 13 times on the BBC’s Mastermind game show, thanks in part to his prolific knowledge of the UK capital. Blue plaques, historic pubs, and even the site of an church that was moved brick-by-brick to Missouri – all these sites feature on his tour.

For Grant, the Square Mile is its own character in the American story, and it offers an illuminating window into how a young US might have looked at a turning point in history. “The cities [in the UK and the US] would have been the same, and so this is kind of the foundation of it all,” he reckons.

An Australian by birth, Grant acknowledges that he’s neutral on the question of which side was responsible for the infamous 18th Century breakup. Britons on the tour, meanwhile, insist they’re not taking sides either – they’ve just come along to learn something.

“Well, there’s some regret,” jokes Tim Parry from Essex. “But I think I think we got over it.”

“I think 250 years is long enough,” adds Tidmarsh.

The cathedral roof needs replacement roof tiles amongst the repairs

Funding is being sought for “vital” roof repairs at a Cambridgeshire cathedral to prevent “massive problems in the future”. Peterborough Cathedral has been a centrepiece in the city for over 900 years.

Since the building is so cold, parts of it have started to deteriorate and become affected by the weather. Cathedral staff have identified problems, with water from rain seeping into parts of the roof.

As a result, the cathedral is applying for a fund from Historic England for £230,000. If granted, this will be used to replace roof tiles, replace gutters, and re-lead some parts of the roof.

Jack Pishorn, COO of Peterborough Cathedral, said the roof repairs are “vital”. He added: “We’ve identified a pot of £230,000 from Historic England to do some vital repairs – it’s all very unglamorous stuff.

“It’s to stop water from entering the building and stop things deteriorating.” Jack added that it was “no secret” that the cathedral was running at a deficit, after only last year it launched an appeal to raise £300,000 to keep open seven days a week.

Jack added: “The big focus for my team is to look at how we can generate income and control our expenditure to ensure we can have a sustainable future. But of course, while you’re working in a deficit, you stop spending money on repairs or maintenance.

“That’s something that’s happened over many, many years. So, of course, we have to find that money because the problem is going to get progressively worse year after year.”

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, said that without the repairs being done in a “timely fashion” they will build up to “massive problems”. The Dean added: “This space is for everyone. We want to maintain it as a great asset for the city spiritually and culturally.”

The cathedral has submitted an expression of interest for the Places of Worship Renewal Fund with Historic England. The Places of Worship Renewal Fund is a new £92 million national programme.

It helps listed places of worship across England to carry out urgent repairs and remain safe and open. It replaces the previous VAT relief scheme with capital grants.

One minute, Senegal were cruising into the last 16 of the World Cup.

The next, they were left wondering how another dream had slipped through their grasp.

Manager Pape Thiaw’s side led 2018 semi-finalists Belgium 2-0 with only four minutes left of normal time, after goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.

But after outplaying their opponents, they somehow “found a way to lose the game”, as ex-Republic of Ireland skipper Roy Keane put it on ITV.

Romelu Lukaku’s 86th-minute goal sparked hope for Belgium and three minutes later, captain Youri Tielemans headed in an equaliser from Leandro Trossard’s cross – the pair were earlier seen having a heated argument – to force extra time.

Then came the controversial penalty, awarded for Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, and converted by the skipper himself 125 minutes in.

It condemned Senegal to further agony, having already endured the pain of being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title earlier this year.

“Football is just crazy. I couldn’t call any of this game,” former England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Late drama, controversy, history and heartbreak – this last-32 tie had everything and here, BBC Sport attempts to make sense of it all.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Dave and Mayu Phillips have been granted permission to breed the animals for food as part of their sustainable lifestyle by a Welsh council

A couple have been allowed to breed guinea pigs to eat in Pembrokeshire as part of their sustainable lifestyle. The council approved the development scheme that will see Dave and Mayu Phillips produce honey and walnuts, as well as raising guinea pigs for food.

Plans for a One Planet Development scheme were recommended for approval at the Tuesday, June 30 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr and Mrs Phillips sought permission at Walnut Grove, near Jeffreyston.

A supporting statement said Dave grew up locally with the couple keen to return to the area and continue the honey business established by Dave’s father Jim, which is based at Walnut Grove, and develop vegetable gardens and build a low impact dwelling on the site. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

It added: “The land has been in the family for 20 years and is used as a base for Jim’s honey business with storage and a processing room in the sheds. There is also a kitchen on site for jarring up the honey. The site has over 50 walnut trees that were planted approximately 15-20 years ago as well as 20 active beehives in the apiary.”

It says, as well as the honey and walnuts, and fruits and vegetables, the site will also have a pair of breeding rabbits and three pairs of breeding guinea pigs will be kept to produce meat for the household, along with a flock of 20 pigeons for eggs and meat.

An officer report for planners said: “The application seeks full permission for a One Planet Development (OPD), comprising a low-impact dwelling and integrated land-based activities.

“The dwelling would meet caravan standards and would be sited in the northern part of the site to the west of the access track. The wider scheme includes continuation and expansion of honey production, development of the walnut enterprise, horticulture, small-scale livestock, renewable energy provision, and a reed bed wastewater system.”

At the committee meeting, members were told that by the fifth year of the One Planet Development, the projected income would be around £13,450-£16,850.

Speaking at the meeting, Dave Phillips stressed the ethos of the One Planet Development scheme: “Humanity is living as if we have several more Planet Earths; once we’ve totally trashed this planet ‘move on to the next one,’ we can all play our part, living sustainably and Pembrokeshire County Council can play its part.”

He said the honey had won prizes at the county show, with many shops and market stalls stocking it; the intention now to “add value” to what was already on site with products such as walnuts preserved in honey and walnut-infused apple cider vinegar, going on to say: “Walnuts with a glass of wine goes well.”

Committee chair Cllr Mark Carter said he was “quite intrigued” by the report’s mention of guinea pigs for meat, Mr Phillips stressing the pigs were larger than the pet variety, and were similar to rabbits in terms of meat production.

Cllr Michael Williams raised the issue of a previous One Planet proposal for the site, refused back in 2023, and was told by officers that scheme was not considered robust enough.

Cllr Carter said he would support the scheme, adding: “To me this looks like a good chance of success, with an income from day one.”

Members unanimously backed conditional approval of the scheme.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones overnight into Thursday with the intense strikes causing loud explosions and shaking Kyiv for hours.

Residential buildings were damaged in the attacks that killed one person and injured numerous people, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 11 people were injured.

The attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones affected all of the city’s 10 districts, on both sides of the Dnipro River. Many residents took shelter at metro stations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other authorities issued the first warnings of the attack.

Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, even as Ukraine’s own long-range drone campaign against Russian military sites and energy facilities has caused fuel shortages and disrupted supply lines inside Russia.

Klitschko urged residents to remain in shelters, describing an ongoing “furious enemy attack” on the capital.

He said five people were injured in the Shevchenkivskyi district and one of the injured, a paramedic, was in extremely critical condition.

In the Desnianskyi district, people were trapped inside a damaged nine-story residential building and rescuers headed to the scene, Klitschko said. In the Holosiivskyi district, a fire broke out on the roof of a multistory building.

In the Sviatoshynskyi and Darnytskyi districts, fire broke out in homes and debris trapped people in buildings.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said the attack partially destroyed a residential building in the Desnianskyi district, sparked fires near residential buildings at two locations in the Pecherskyi district, and ignited a fire near an administrative building in the Solomianskyi district. He said authorities were also recording damage in the Obolonskyi and Podilskyi districts.

Traffic is queueing along the road

Two lanes are closed on part of the A1 following a crash. The lanes are closed along the A1 near Sawtry.

National Highways confirmed it was a single-vehicle crash near Yaxley at around 4.50pm today (Wednesday, July 1). The National Highways spokesperson added that “recovery is on scene” and the road is expected to reopen within the next half an hour.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix reports traffic is queueing along the road. It said: “Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to accident on A1(M) Northbound before J15 Toll Bar Way (Sawtry).”

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