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Spectators at the US Open were drawn into a protracted and surprisingly bitter feud between athletes this week – not, unfortunately, about any of the tennis being played, but over how long one of them spends on the toilet.
Having won two sets against Andy Murray, Stefanos Tsitsipas asked for a restroom break and didn’t return for a full seven minutes. Murray, not exactly known for unwavering patience at the best of times, pretty much lost the plot and accused Tsitsipas of cheating when he went on to win the match.
It seems the Greek player is known for his extended calls of nature and was booed by fans just days later for pulling the same stunt in a second-round match. But he didn’t actually break any rules. Players are allowed “reasonable time” to visit the water closet and maybe he just drank a lot of Gatorade that day. Is it fair to call him a cheat? A specialist in sports ethics plunges into the debate.
Elsewhere, we’ve learned that participants in the hitherto wholesome sport of mountain biking are also on the verge of war. Traditionalists are incensed by the increasing popularity of loud and powerful electric bikes, which they see as ruining the countryside and compromising the integrity of their hobby. To old-school riders, hi-tech bikes make people lazy and selfish on the trails. Their dispute is dirtier than a sodden country byway and
shows no sign of abating.
From bikes to automobiles, as a new type of petrol was made available in the UK this week. E10 is made of 90% regular unleaded petrol and 10% ethanol, making it a greener alternative that could help move us towards carbon-cutting goals. So what is this magic stuff and will you soon be pumping it into your vehicle?
Also this week, thoughts on the Candyman reboot, what it was like to be in the White House on 9/11 and everything you need to know about Mu – the latest COVID variant of interest.
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Laura Hood
Politics Editor, Assistant Editor
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Justin Lane/EPA
John William Devine, Swansea University
Tsitsipas’s reputation for taking strategic breaks is so well established that Murray planned for such disruptions.
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shutterstock.
Jim Cherrington, Sheffield Hallam University
Electric bikes allow riders to go much further and faster in the countryside – and this has led to a lot of concern from mountain bikers.
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New petrol E10 is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Gary L Hider/Shutterstock
Andrew Barron, Swansea University
A new type of petrol is expected to cut carbon dioxide
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Universal Pictures/MGM Pictures
Joe Stubbersfield, University of Winchester
Urban legends are shaped by the people who tell them and where they’re from. That’s why you’ll hear so many versions of the same story.
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Staff members were rushed into the White House Mess – then rushed out when they were told a plane was heading for the White House.
Tina Hager/George W. Bush Presidential Center
Anita McBride, American University
A top White House aide to President George W. Bush recounts what 9/11 was like for White House staffers.
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Lightspring/Shutterstock
Luke O'Neill, Trinity College Dublin
B1621 has a “constellation of mutations” that could help it escape the effects of vaccines – but evidence on its effects is currently limited.
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Adam Collins, University of Surrey
The best eating strategy for weight loss is the one that suits you.
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Emilie McDonnell, University of Oxford
Everyone has the right to have a country to seek asylum, but it will need international cooperation to get the Taliban to honour this right.
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Caitjan Gainty, King's College London
Snake oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, was a go-to medicine for many ailments.
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Emma White, University of Surrey; Sarah Golding, University of Surrey
The pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental and physical health – but spending time in your garden can counteract this.
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Mike Jeffries, Northumbria University, Newcastle
Less attractive endangered species don’t tend to receive the same public attention as their more beautiful counterparts: new studies show how we might help change that.
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Featured events
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University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB24 3FX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Aberdeen
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