WEIRD STUFF

Tiny toy fetches jaw-dropping price

A three-inch toy car has blown collectors away after selling for a staggering PS22,000 (about J$4.4 million) -- all because of its rare colour.

The Matchbox Regular Wheels 62c Mercury Cougar, barely the length of a finger, was expected to sell for just PS3,000 to PS4,000 when it went under the hammer at Vectis Auctions in Teesside on January 20.

Instead, it triggered a fierce international bidding war and ultimately sold for PS18,000, with auction fees pushing the final price to a record-breaking PS22,000.

The sky-high value came down to one detail: its pale yellow paintwork. The model was a rare "first issue" casting, briefly produced in yellow before Matchbox switched to the more familiar metallic green.

A spokesperson for Vectis said:

"We believe this to be a world record for this model. This is a rare example due to the colour. The yellow is a first issue colour and wasn't produced for very long before changing."

They added that subtle design features confirmed its authenticity:

"It also has clear windows without windscreen wipers and without a rear view mirror, which shows it is an early casting and hasn't been repainted."

Described as being in "excellent condition", the toy's pristine state helped drive the price to extraordinary levels. The identity of the buyer remains unknown.

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Lean pork may help people live longer, scientists say

Eating lean pork as part of a plant-forward diet could support healthier ageing, according to new research from the United States.

Scientists found that meals including lean pork delivered health benefits similar to those seen with plant-based proteins such as chickpeas, lentils and beans, challenging the idea that all red meat is harmful.

Publishing their findings in Current Developments in Nutrition, researchers followed 36 healthy adults aged 65 and over across two eight-week diet phases.

Participants were randomly assigned either lean pork or plant proteins as their main protein source, alongside vegetables, whole grains, eggs, dairy and plant oils.

Alcohol, supplements and ultra-processed foods were excluded.

Blood tests revealed that both diets improved insulin sensitivity, reducing risk factors linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and dementia.

However, the pork-based diet stood out for helping participants preserve muscle mass, a critical factor in maintaining strength and independence later in life.

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Ibuprofen may lower cancer risk -- experts

The common painkiller ibuprofen could help reduce the risk of certain cancers, according to emerging scientific research -- though experts warn it is not a cure-all.

The inexpensive drug is widely used, with one in ten people in the UK taking it regularly, according to a 2023 study of more than 200,000 adults.

Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Scientists have been investigating their potential cancer-fighting effects since the early 1980s, when a related drug was linked to a reduced risk of bowel cancer.

Writing in The Conversation, experts from Kingston University explained that NSAIDs work by blocking enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2, reducing the production of prostaglandins -- chemicals that cause pain and inflammation but also play a role in cancer development.

A 2025 study published in the European Medical Journal suggests ibuprofen may reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, the most common form of womb cancer.

In the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) study, which tracked more than 42,000 women aged 55 to 74 over 12 years, those who took 30 or more ibuprofen tablets a month had a 25 per cent lower risk of the disease compared to those who rarely used the drug. The effect was strongest in women with heart disease.

Researchers said: "Ibuprofen's possible cancer-protective effects extend beyond endometrial cancer. Studies suggest it may also reduce risk of bowel, breast, lung, and prostate cancers."