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Coronation Street mystery as soap films court scenes for unknown plot

CORONATION Street has sparked intrigue among fans after filming court scenes for an unknown plot.

The iconic Newton and Ridley truck was spotted in Bolton yesterday, with crews stationed at Le Mans Crescent, adjacent to the historic Bolton Magistrates Court.

a picture of a roof with the words coronation street on it
Coronation Street has sparked intrigue among fans after filming court scenes for an unknown plot
Rex

While specifics about the new storyline are tightly guarded, the courthouse has previously been the setting for trials within the ITV show.

Currently, the show’s plot centers around a police investigation into the murder of Joel Deering.

The distinctive dark green truck, synonymous with the fictional brewery that supplies the Rovers Return pub, was also present alongside the crew vehicles.

A crew member on site confirmed to The Bolton News that filming was indeed taking place.

Although he did not explicitly mention the soap, he noted that the presence of the green van made it “obvious.”

Signs in the area indicated a parking prohibition for October 31 and November 1.

Bolton has previously served as a backdrop for key Coronation Street storylines, including the trials following the murder of Seb Franklin, which were filmed at the same courthouse in July 2021 and 2022.

Georgia Taylor, known for her role as Toyah Battersby, was spotted in Bolton during the shoot.

The soap has also visited the town multiple times last year, including in April and September, with the Newton and Ridley truck making an appearance during the latter.

ITV has been contacted for comment by The Sun.

In a recent episode, Kit Green dropped a huge hint he’s responsible for Joel’s murder.

Fans of the long-running soap watched as the twisted solicitor was killed off screen, escaping justice.

With channel bosses releasing an official whodunit lineup of potential characters responsible for his demise, Kit hinted he’s to blame.

During Friday’s installment, viewers watched as Kit was placed in charge of the case, after it was decided Lisa’s daughter Betsy’s involvement with Joel meant she was too close to lead the inquiry.

Lisa had told Kit that whoever was driving the red car that crashed into Greg’s wing mirror could have vital info on what happened to Joel.

The revelation left Kit visibly irked as he snapped at Lisa, asking her why she didn’t bring it up until now.

Craig Tinker was tasked with compiling a list of all the red vehicles in the area at time.

But in shock scenes, Kit was caught deleting his car registration from the list back at the station.

Kit hasn’t been revealed as an official suspect for Joel’s murder, so this is a shock curveball.

It remains to be seen just how far his link to the solicitor’s death is and what his next steps are.

Mason Radcliffe recently joined the list of characters in the frame, alongside Dee Dee, Ed and Ronnie Bailey.

Carla Connor is also in the mix, as is DS Lisa Swain.

  • Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
a man in a suit leans against a brick wall
Kit Green dropped a huge hint he’s responsible for Joel Deering’s murder
ITV
a computer screen shows a file called vehicle records.doc
ITV
His car was spotted in the area on the eve of his death, and fans watched as he deleted it from the police system[/caption]

Joel Deering murder suspects

Since the body of the twisted solicitor was found, Coronation Street bosses have release an official whodunit lineup

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Flight attendant reveals the grim cleaning secrets of the cabin – and it’s not good news for window seat passengers

A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the grim secrets of plane cabins – and it’s not good news for window seat passengers.

Cher, from Texas, shared the disgusting passenger habits and cleaning shortcuts that may come as a “surprise” to customers.

a woman looks out the window of an airplane
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Window passengers have been warned to be wary of unclean shades[/caption]

Speaking on her TikTok channel, she warned in particular of barely-cleaned window shades.

She said: “Number one, I’ve never seen the window shade get wiped off ever in my career,’ she shared.”

She added that passengers are prone to touching these shades, saying: “They’re filthy”.

The same lax cleaning efforts apply to seatbelts, according to the Texan – and “not just the buckle part”.

She said: “I’ve seen blowout diapers and vomit on it numerous times.”

She then cautioned against walking around barefoot, as the carpet has probably seen its fair share of vomit too.

Turned her attention to aeroplane bathrooms, Cher revealed that people often vomit in the sink.

She claimed to have witnessed this nauseating event “numerous times”.

But, according to the flight attendant of five years, the sinks barely ever get cleaned.

She said: “If you drop something in there I’d consider it a loss.

“Never have I seen the sinks get cleaned out.”

As a result, passengers should never consider drinking water from the sink, the TikToker insisted.

She explained that the water was “filthy” and had “so much bacteria” in it.

Unfortunately for flyers, this means washing your hands is also a less than appetising prospect, with Cher adding: “Washing your hands with it is probably not great.”

Aside from the sheer disgust of washing your hands in traces of vomit, she also claimed that the water is likely to damage your nails.

Alluding to the viral trend where influencers do their skincare routines on-board flights, the expert concluded that this wasn’t advisable due to the awful hygiene she’s seen in plane bathrooms.

Users rushed to the comments to share their astonishment, with one writing: “So what DOES get cleaned on a plane??”

Another said: “For the price of a ticket the plane should be cleaned well DAILY!!”

A third chimed in with their own advice, saying: “I always bring sanitizing wipes and wipe down every touch point as soon as I sit down. I’m so surprised that I don’t see more people do the same.”

SECRET CABIN CREW WORDS

FLIGHT attendants have a special language they use to talk about passengers, including the ones they find attractive.

There are a number of other secret phrases used by pilots and cabin crew too, some serious and others less so.

  • Cropdusting: If a passenger is being very rude and difficult, then it’s not unheard of for a flight attendant to break wind and ‘cropdust’ past the offender.
  • Code Adam: This is used by airport staff to alert other staff of a missing child, in honour of Adam Walsh, a child who was abducted in a department store in 1981.
  • 7500: If a pilot “squawks 7500” it means the plane has been hijacked, or a hijacking is a threat.
  • Crosscheck: If you hear this phrase, usually made by senior cabin crew, it means that the emergency slides attached to each door have been deactivated.

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The 13 red flags that could be ruining your garden this winter & it’s bad news if you’ve got wooden outdoor furniture

THE temperatures have dropped dramatically outside.

And as winter well and truly sets in, there are some jobs you need to get to work on if you want to protect your garden during the colder months.

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There are some red flags you need to look out for to protect your garden in the winter[/caption]
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Wooden garden furniture can be ruined in the cold temperatures if not stored correctly or, at the very least, covered over[/caption]

According to gardening pros, there are numerous red flags to look out for that could end up landing you with a costly bill.

So they’ve shared the warning signs to look out for, so that you can fix them before winter and stop potential everlasting damage.

First off, sheds.

Rusty hinges are one of the biggest problem areas when it comes to wooden garden sheds.

This is because the hinges can lead to gaps in the doors, meaning that winter winds can get in and cause damage – especially when it snows.

Likewise, it’s important to check your shed’s roof, as cracks can allow rain or snow to get in, leading to mould and potentially structural damage.

It’s also a good idea to ensure your shed has the proper insulation, as it will help keep the contents safe and protected.

There are some red flags to keep an eye on when it comes to your lawn too.

If you’ve got a thin or patchy lawn, it’s more likely to get ‘frost heave’ – a term which describes what happens when the grass is damaged by repeated freezing and thawing.

And don’t forget to clear away leaves or debris from the grass, as the bits blocking the sunlight and trapping moisture in the lawn can encourage the growth of mould.

Try not to compact your soil too much, as doing so can lead to water or ice sitting on top rather than draining below – causing damage to the grass in the process.

It’s also important to keep on top of garden maintenance, with the pros at Crown Pavilions insisting a thorough once over of the green space should be completed twice a year.

Lastly, they explain that you must keep a close check on your fences.

Leaning panels are never good, as a strong storm or winds could lead to it being knocked over, leaving your garden exposed.

November gardening jobs

The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, shares the tasks to do this month.

Get your garlic in a sunny spot of ground, and you can also plant sweet peas and cut and come again lettuce to see you over the Winter. 

Depending on where you live – think about protecting your more tender plants – one brutal frost can set you back psychologically and financially. I’ve had success with plastic cloches which can look nice on smaller plants rather than the bulky fleece. But for plants like bananas, cut them back and wrap them up. 

If all the leaves are off your apple tree, you could consider cutting it back. The usual dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches should be pruned. It will open the tree up and encourage strong Spring growth. 

You can either prune your roses the usual way, by cutting off side stems and tying in – or experiment like Niff Barnes – and create incredible sculptures by stripping all the leaves and bending the main framework into swirls and shapes. Its also a good time to take cuttings. 

Hellebores are great winter cover – get them in the ground now – along with bright cyclamen for splashes of colour. 

Clean your greenhouse – wipe down all the panes – fairy liquid and water is absolutely fine  – and work up a sweat by giving it a good tidy and sort out before it’s too cold to be out there too long. 

Sounds simple but rake your lawn regularly  – you don’t want the grass to die back under mounds of old rotting leaves. Keep the leaves to make leaf mould. 

Likewise, the fence posts must be secured properly in the ground to ensure they don’t go anywhere when the winds pick up.

And remember to check over the fence panels to look for rot or decay, in the case of wooden fences, or rust on metal fences.

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My daughter saved £5k doing side hustles from the age of seven – she makes £300 a week but I charge her rent and bills

A MUM has revealed how her 12-year-old daughter has saved £5,000 by doing side hustles in her free time.

Milly, who shares her money tips at @budgetwithmilly, revealed this money was on top of the rent and bills she pays being at home too.

a person is holding a binder full of money and says i said my 12 year old daughter saved £ 5,000
A mum shared how her daughter saved £5,000 by doing side hustles
tiktok.com/@budgetwithmilly

In a clip, Milly shared: “I said my 12-year-old daughter saved £5,000, and everyone went crazy.”

She showed how the young girl had completed the “100 envelopes challenge”, which is where you tick off numbers one to 100 by adding the number of pounds on the front.

Milly then explained that her daughter has been making money with side hustles, including babysitting, selling sweets, washing cars and washing windows.

The mum continued: “This week, Stiffany made £300.

“We only allow her to spend 20 per cent on anything she wants, and the other 80% goes into her savings challenge.

“We do this to teach her to create positive spending habits so she doesn’t struggle in the real world.

“All the money she saved in her saving book will be a surprise for her when she’s older.”

Milly added that she also charges her kids rent and bills – which has previously caused raised eyebrows from other parents.

She shared: “So let me explain. My kids get a five-pound allowance if they complete their chores around the house.

“We charge our kids for rent, food, and utilities—£1 each.

“With the remaining £2, they put this money in other categories like saving, investing, and spending.

“One question in my previous video was: when did we start charging our kids rent?

“It was when they had a basic understanding of maths.

“My daughter Stephanie started at the age of seven.”

a person is holding a binder that says 100 envelope saving challenge tracker
The young girl completed the 100 envelopes challenge
tiktok.com/@budgetwithmilly

Different parenting techniques

Here are some widely recognised methods:

Authoritative Parenting
This technique will often foster independence, self-discipline, and high self-esteem in children.
It is often considered the most effective, this technique is where parents set clear expectations – enforcing rules – whilst also showing warmth and support.

Authoritarian Parenting
This is opposite to authoritative parenting, as it is where the parent sets high demands but is low on responsiveness.
It involves ensuring the child is obedient and often employ punitive measures. While this can lead to disciplined behaviour, it may also result in lower self-esteem and social skills in children.

Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents tend to be indulgent and lenient, often taking on a role more akin to a friend than an authority figure. They are highly responsive but lack demandingness, granting children a lot of freedom. This method can nurture creativity and a free-spirited nature but may also result in poor self-regulation and difficulties with authority.

Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved or neglectful parenting is marked by low responsiveness and low demands. Parents in this category offer minimal guidance, nurturing, or attention. This often leaves children feeling neglected, which can have significant negative effects on their emotional and social development.

Helicopter Parenting
Helicopter parents are extremely involved and overprotective, frequently micromanaging their children’s lives. Although their goal is to protect and support, this approach can hinder a child’s ability to develop independence and problem-solving skills.

Free-Range Parenting
Free-range parenting encourages children to explore and learn from their surroundings with minimal parental interference. This method promotes independence and resilience but requires a safe and supportive environment to be successful.

Attachment Parenting
According to Marriage.com, Attachment parenting focuses on physical closeness and emotional bonding, often through practices such as co-sleeping and baby-wearing. This approach aims to create secure attachments and emotional well-being, but demands significant time and emotional commitment from parents.
Each of these parenting techniques has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. The key is to find a balanced approach that aligns with the family’s values and meets the child’s needs for a healthy, happy upbringing.

Many people took issue with this, with one saying: “RENT AT 7.”

A second commented: “Do they lose their house if they don’t pay rent?”

However, others praised it, with one writing: “tbh i wish my parents wouldve done this.”

Others were impressed with Stiffany’s side hustles at the age of 12.

One wrote: “300 quid a week is mad.”

Read More »

Cleaning whizz shares six tips to save you hundreds on your energy bills, and they’re totally FREE

ENERGY bills higher than ever and temperatures outside are falling even lower.

So we’re all looking for cheap hacks to keep the house warm without turning the heating on.

a person adjusts the temperature of a radiator with their hand
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If your radiator isn’t performing as efficiently as you would like, there’s a few steps you can take to improve it[/caption]
a person is adjusting the temperature of a radiator
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You need to start by turning the heating on the radiator down, and allowing it an hour or so to cool down[/caption]
a person is cleaning a radiator with a blue brush
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A radiator brush is vital to cleaning it properly, but you can make one if you don’t already have one[/caption]

But if we do have to resort to turning it on, there are some steps we can take to save ourselves hundreds in bills.

According to one expert, ensuring your radiator is thoroughly clean is a game changer when it comes to retaining heat inside the home.

“We don’t always think about cleaning radiators or towel rails during our usual cleaning routines but actually it’s crucial during winter to ensure they work efficiently,” Nancy Emery, from Only Radiators, said.

“Poor performance from your heating will drain energy and you’ll start to see bills getting more expensive.

“In fact, just by keeping your radiators clean during winter could mean saving hundreds on your gas bill every year.”

In addition to the cost implications, a dirty radiator could mean that more moisture collects in the room, as the heat output is blocked.

“If left this can start to build up quite quickly, exposing you to damp risk,” Nancy added.

“Unfortunately, this will only get worse over time and may even lead to mould.

“So it’s really important to not only clean your radiators but understand how to clean them properly.”

First of all, you need to turn off your heating.

Turn the TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) if you have one to zero and allow your radiator a couple of hours to cool down.

“This will not only stop you burning yourself, it will help prevent the convection currents drawing any more dust into the radiator as you clean,” Nancy explained.

Next, grab your hoover and start vacuuming, starting from behind and getting inside the radiator as much as you can – using the extendable hose if your hoover has one.

If you don’t have one, use a long-handled duster or radiator brush.

Once you’ve cleaned the outside, try and use the vacuum hose to point inside the top of the radiator to suck out as much loose dust as possible.

“A great tip for cleaning behind the radiator is to get a hairdryer and give it a good blast on the highest setting to help push out all the hidden dust you can’t reach,” Nancy smiled.

4 ways to keep your energy bills low

Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.

1. Turn your heating down by one degree

You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.

2. Switch appliances and lights off 

It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills

3. Install a smart meter

Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.

4. Consider switching energy supplier

No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.

Once you’ve removed as much of the dust as you can, get to work with your radiator brush.

The long tool, with a brush on the end, allows you to get to the hard to reach places of your radiator and remove any dust.

But if you don’t have one in your cleaning cupboard, you needn’t worry, as there’s an easy way to create your own.

“Find a long piece of wire, or something similar such as an unravelled wire coat hanger and attach a duster to the end,” Nancy advised.

“This should allow you to clear out most of the dust from inside the radiator.”

And remember to put a towel or dust sheet under the radiator when you’re doing this to catch any dirt that falls out.

Then it’s time to clean the outside.

“Mix some washing up liquid inside a bucket of hot water until foamy,” Nancy said.

“Dunk your sponge and wring out excess water until damp.

“Wipe down the outside of your radiator, pipework, and valves until they are dust and grime free.”

Once you’ve got your radiator sparkly clean, the last step is to clean up the area around it.

“If you live in a home with smokers or moulting pets, then the heat of your radiator can sometimes cause the smoke, dirt, and hair to stick to your walls,” Nancy said.

“In any case, giving the walls directly around the radiator a wash with soapy water is a good idea.

“It’s likely you’ll have pulled a lot of dust and dirt out from behind the radiator during the clean, so make sure you also wipe down the skirting boards and the floor too.”

The final step is to perform a radiator flush – to get rid of any remaining sludge inside.

To perform a flush, you need to remove the drained radiator completely and run water through it using a hose to flush out the sludge. 

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Queen ‘planned to kick Meghan & Harry out of Frogmore’ and purge ‘bully’ Prince Andrew before tragic death

THE late Queen planned to kick Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out of Frogmore Cottage and move Prince Andrew in, according to reports.

The Duke of York, 64, was also described as a “bully” in a new book by royal writer Robert Hardman published in the Daily Mail.

a man and a woman standing next to each other wearing medals
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The late Queen planned to kick Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out of Frogmore Cottage[/caption]
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Queen Elizabeth II wanted to find Andrew another home[/caption]
a man in a suit and tie smiles for the camera
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The Duke of York, 64, was also described as a ‘bully’[/caption]
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The Duke has also refused to leave the Royal Lodge in Windsor
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Prince Andrew driving his Range Rover today[/caption]

Mr Hardman claimed Queen Elizabeth II wanted to find Andrew another home away from the Royal Lodge – a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park.

Such a move would have involved booting The Duke and Duchess of Sussex out of Frogmore Cottage.

Citing an insider source, Mr Hardman writes: “‘Had she lived another year, he would have been out,’ says a former adviser to Elizabeth II firmly.

“‘It was her plan to move him out, to end the lease for the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage and to move Andrew in there.

“‘It was mainly a money thing, as she could see it was becoming unsustainable.'”

Mr Hardman also alleged that the late Queen’s staff were “more than happy to make it happen”.

When his rooms were taken over in Buckingham Palace, one staff member recalled: “‘No one felt guilty about taking over his office because he and his people had become bullies by the end.'”

It follows reports the King is cutting financial ties to the disgraced Duke of York.

Andrew’s annual £1 million “living allowance” has been withdrawn by Charles.

The move will be seen as another step the King has taken to publicly distance himself from his younger brother following his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Hardman claimed the keeper of the privy purse was “instructed to sever his living allowance” after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the Royal Lodge into the nearby smaller Frogmore Cottage.

The duke was said to have signed a 75-lease on the Royal Lodge.

Mr Hardman writes: “‘The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,’ confirms one familiar with the situation.

“‘He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs – which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case.

'Stubborn' Prince Andrew 'refuses to move out of Royal Lodge as he doesn't want to admit guilt', royal expert says

By Morgan Johnson

PRINCE Andrew is refusing to move out of Royal Lodge because it would admit his guilty part in the sex scandal, claims a royal expert.

The disgraced Duke of York, 64, lives on the sprawling Windsor estate despite stepping back from public-facing duties nearly five years ago.

With pressures mounting to kick Andrew out of Royal Lodge and into a smaller residence, expert Hugo Vickers said an ideal situation would be if he volunteered to relocate.

But by doing so, shamed Andrew would be giving up his 75-year lease on the place – which experts argue would only be forfeited if he had a guilty conscience having long been linked to Epstein.

Hugo told The Sun: “I think we must all accept that he is not wanted for any public duties.

“If you were running a charity you wouldn’t be asking Prince Andrew to come and be your guest of honour. So nobody wants him in a public way.

“So there he is living at Royal Lodge, playing golf, seeing his children and grandchildren and riding in the park and it is expensive.

“The ideal situation would of course be that Andrew would volunteer to down-size and move somewhere else. 

“What I think he feels is that if he moves out of Royal Lodge it’s somehow publicly accepting guilt for which he has not been proved.

“Nevertheless it’s an expensive lifestyle.”

“‘But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.'”

The Sun on Sunday reported in August that the King was axing Andrew’s security at the Royal Lodge.

It had been privately funded by Charles after his brother lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

In July, palace officials confirmed that Frogmore Cottage remained empty more than a year after the Sussexes officially vacated the property.

Pressure mounted on Andrew earlier this year after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Epstein scandal.

They detailed how the financier’s former housekeeper Juan Alessi claimed the duke had daily massages when he spent “weeks” at the paedophile’s Florida home.

Previous allegations that Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17 years old, including during an orgy, also resurfaced in the court documents.

He has strenuously denied the allegations, saying he never met her, and in 2022 paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil case out of court.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, to be published by Macmillan on November 7.

Prince Andrew will be exposed, says royal expert

BY Matt Wilkinson and Ethan Singh

Prince Andrew will be exposed and it’s time he disappeared as his Epstein case has been an “absolute disaster”, a royal expert has claimed.

The disgraced Duke of York, 64, is under new pressure to quit his Royal Lodge home after the King laid off its ten-strong security team last week.

Charles, 75, has told the details they are no longer needed from the autumn.

Andrew currently resides at the Windsor Great Park lodging in Berkshire, which boasts 30 rooms, a swimming pool and large grounds.

But he has refused to vacate the Royal Lodge despite reports suggesting King Charles wants him to move to Frogmore Cottage.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, writer and broadcaster Robert Jobson claimed that long-standing controversy surrounding the Duke has been an “absolute disaster” for the royal family.

“It’s just one of the worst things that could happen, that’s why he’s not a working royal.”

Jobson then suggested that King Charles is likely to just want Andrew out of the picture, wherever that may be.

And the expert claimed that Andrew will probably have to accept that he will “have to leave Royal Lodge” in the future.

He added: “It needs a lot of static security, it’s not really a lodge, it’s a palace, and it’s too big for him to live in.

“The reality is that he can’t really afford it.

“And long term what’s the point what is he trying to achieve? Charles is now the King, William is the next in line.

“Andrew isn’t even a working royal anymore, he can’t go around saying he’s the Queen’s son, he’s just not that important anymore.

“I think if the King is generous to offer him another place to live he should take it.”

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Andrew hasn’t received an income since becoming embroiled in sex allegations[/caption]
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King Charles laid off Andrew’s ten-strong private security detail earlier this year[/caption]
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It is unclear whether he received any major windfall from his late mother’s will when she passed away in September 2022[/caption]

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Humans could ‘inject nanoparticles’ to survive deadly deep-space cancer on trips to Elon Musk’s Mars colony

A BIOTECH startup believes its nanoparticle injections could be used to heal the many ails astronauts will face on deep-space missions.

Nanotics has recently been selected to participate in the SPACE-H Accelerator programme, backed by Nasa’s Human Research Program and Microsoft Federal.

scientists create nanoparticles that target each specific disease

The initiative is designed to advance medical capabilities that can minimise the health risks in human spaceflight.

In just a six-month space station stay, astronauts are at the mercy of cancer-causing radiation and immune system dysregulation, which can lead to sepsis.

The likelihood of succumbing to either life-threatening condition is only heightened the longer astronauts are in space.

A trip to Mars – which the likes of Nasa believe humans will be making sometime in the 2030s – takes about nine months one-way, but roughly three years for a round trip.

“Every six months, according to Nasa’s own data, astronauts are exposed to the equivalent of 1,000 chest X-rays,” Lou Hawthorne, founder and CEO of Nanotics, told The Sun.

“And on a three-year round-trip journey, you’re looking at 6,000 chest X-rays.

“That’s extremely tumorigenic, meaning it induces tumors.

“It’s also extremely pro-inflammatory, so it induces these profound inflammatory responses which can lead to sepsis.”

How does space effect the body?

Space takes a significant toll on the human body.

The usual duration of an ISS or Tiangong mission is roughly six months, which can have huge physical impacts, such as:

  • Redistribution of fluid around the body due to long periods of weightlessness
  • Bone density loss in critical areas such as lower limbs and spine
  • Muscle atrophy

Humans in space lose between 1 and 1.5 per cent of their bone mineral density.

Although ISS astronauts spend an average of two hours a day exercising, muscle loss is unavoidable in space.

It takes several years to recover from a six-month spaceflight.

There can be ongoing health concerns long after astronauts have returned to Earth, including:

  • Higher risk of bone fracture
  • Increase in erectile dysfunction
  • Cancer risk due to radiation exposure

“[Space] is probably the most challenging environment to be in from a health maintenance perspective,” said Hawthorne.

“We have no evolutionary context for zero gravity. It’s completely new to the human body. So the body reacts to that in unpredictable ways over time.

“It’s fun and games for a few days, but over time, the body is very confused and certain systems at an organ, tissue, cell and signal level don’t work exactly as they do in normal gravity.

“Radiation is a huge factor. It’s far beyond anything that humans are used to on Earth, and that’s going to promote all sorts of diseases.”

On a long duration space flight, all of these problems are going to be amplified.

Lou Hawthorne, founder and CEO of Nanotics

People can go to space healthy but have ‘sleeping’ diseases suddenly awake due to the environment.

“On a long duration space flight, all of these problems are going to be amplified,” he added.

a galaxy in the night sky with many stars
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Astronauts won’t have access to Earth’s array of medicines and healthcare tools in deep-space[/caption]

‘Great potential’

Hawthorne previously worked in animal cloning after a billionaire wanted to replicate his dog.

But after losing a mentor to cancer, Hawthorne took his savings to buy him a couple of years to research how tumors work.

Nanotechnology in healthcare, also known as nanomedicine, is already being used to combat it has been used to combat common conditions like conjunctivitis and glaucoma.

But a study, published in August by Nature, argued that it shows “great potential” for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Hawthorne’s nanomedicine, called NaNots, essentially targets signals which tumors send to the immune system that say ‘don’t kill me’ – the signals which allow it to grow.

The tech, he claims, will then allow a human’s immune system to shrink the tumour, or tackle a sepsis infection.

“We have shown that it works in various animal models of disease,” he explained, with testing done on humanised mice alongside the Mayo Clinic.

Hawthorne claims NaNots also worked against the molecules responsible for sepsis in a mouse model.

But Nanotics’ medicine is preclinical, meaning that it can’t be used on astronauts today – but possibly in the future if human trials go well.

The experimental treatment is exactly that: experimental.

The Nature study noted that the application of nano-drugs is “unhurried”, with less than 10 per cent of medicines being approved due to safety issues in preclinical and clinical studies.

But the technology, while in its early stages, gives us an insight into how future astronauts might be able to survive deep-space missions, in which they will leave Earth for several years at a time.

We don’t have large machines like MRIs, CTs, big radiation machines, cyclotrons and gamma knives and things like that… in space.

a person is holding a syringe that says 25 ml on it
Getty
NaNots, while still experimental, would come in syringe form[/caption]

‘Incredibly compact’

The medicine comes in syringe form, making it “incredibly compact,” according to Hawthorne.

He added: “So, you could pack enough for five years for a dozen astronauts easily in a package the size of a microwave oven.

“We have a massive [amount of] infrastructure and talent available on Earth.

“We don’t have large machines like MRIs, CTs, big radiation machines, cyclotrons and gamma knives and things like that… in space.

“So, you need something that treats disease at the molecular roots and is super compact and doesn’t require returning to Earth.”

The idea is that an astronaut could take a simple finger-prick blood test, which goes into a device that spot can abnormalities like cancer.

These devices, called ELISA kits, already exist, and are currently being modified by other companies to work in space, according to Hawthorne.

Nanotics wants to make a syringe for several conditions deep-space astronauts might encounter.

Astronauts would then pull the right syringe off the shelf for whichever ailment they have, and administer it themselves through an IV.

The company, which secured $1million from one investor just weeks ago, is trying to raise $300million to fund human studies.

Should the company be successful in scraping together that much cash, Hawthorne believes it can begin human trials in 16 to 18 months.

“Anywhere people go, I think this should be in the toolkit,” said Hawthorne.

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