Newscan

Like the real

More than 13,000 people a day visit the Natural History Museum, London, to see the four-metre-tall (13ft) model, which looks, moves and even smells like a dinosaur. The animated T. rex will be on show for the next two years. Japanese technicians had worked with the museum for 10 years to bring visitors face-to- face with the giant predator. When approached, the T. rex gives out a roar. It is surrounded by a pre-historic boggy smell.

I'm the richest

Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is declared the biggest earner in international sport for the year 2000 by America's Forbes Magazine. He has made $59 million (œ40.6m) in earnings. Golf champion Tiger Woods comes second with $53 million. Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson is third with $48 million. The top woman on the list is tennis star Martina Hingis, 22nd with $11m. She is followed by tennis stars Anna Kournikova and Venus Williams ($10m each); Serena Williams ($7.5m) and Lindsay Davenport ($6m).

Hi-tech incentive

Derby Tertiary College, Wilmorton has decided to give its students free mobile phones as reward for attendance and good marks. The college has struck a deal with BT Cellnet to buy internet-capable phones for its 1,300 full-time students at a large reduction.

Try your mind

Tests in mathematics and problem solving for nine and 13-year- olds, devised in England, are to be tried out in the United States. The "world class tests", designed to motivate students, are independent of the school curriculum in any given country. The tests will be on the internet from September.

Tough and deep

The deepest rocks ever seen have been recovered by Australian and American researchers. They were found on the island of Malaita, east of Papua, New Guinea. The rocks originate from between 400km and 670km under the earth.

Goodbye butterfly

The butterfly population in Britain has dropped so drastically, some species - the Eyed Brown Fritillary and the Silver Spotted Skipperare - are threatened with extinction. Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology are calling for reforms in the countryside to protect butterflies. The use of fertiliser has wiped out wild flowers popular with the insects.

Compiled by SUBAJAYANTHI WILSON

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