Smart
Longing to appear on Dutch TV, but preferably not on Lingo? Seize your chance: Broadcasting company Talpa is making a new knowledge quiz with Linda de Mol. Three hundred students and three Dutch celebs will do battle for a pot of money and the title ‘Best student in the Netherlands.’ How many grandchildren does Queen Beatrix have? How much whisky is there in an Irish coffee? If you don’t know, just guess. After all the show is called ‘How should I know?’ Apply at www.rtnl/weetikveel
Eyes
Can you trust someone because of their big blue eyes? Nope, say Czech psychologists. Their research results suggest that the brown-eyed are more trustworthy than the blue-eyed. Except when it comes to strong-jawed men – the colour of their eyes makes no difference. Hmm. We wonder. The study doesn’t say whether women with blue eyes can’t be trusted.
Red beard
Polish and Dutch scientists can now determine eye and hair colour from a little bit of genetic material. A chip of tooth from the middle ages, for instance, is enough. Now that is real CSI for you. The technique opens up new vistas for historians, evolutionary research and forensic science.