Museums of curiosity

The former culture secretary Ed Vaizey suggested that there are quite enough museums in Britain, and that they should attempt to display their treasures in more visited places like shopping centres. Some suggestions for an educational day out.

— British Lawnmower Museum, Southport.
— British in India Museum, Nelson, Lancashire. (Received 109 visitors in 2016, according to VisitEngland.)
— Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle, Kent.
— Derwent Pencil Museum, Cumbria.
— Teapot Island, Yalding, Kent. ‘The largest teapot exhibition in England with more than 8,200 teapots to be seen.’

Clean and dirty transport

Transport minister Jo Johnson announced that from 2040 all diesel-only trains will be banned from Britain’s rail tracks. What form of urban transport causes the least/most carbon emissions?

Transport
g CO2 per passenger km

Cycling (taking into account
extra food consumed) 18 Walking
24
Underground (every seat occupied
but no one standing)
30
Diesel-powered bus (75 per cent full)
42 Diesel train (75 per cent full) 42
Moped
48 Electric car (driver only) 110 Diesel car (driver only) 182
Petrol car (driver only)
199

Black cab (one passenger)
304

Source: Camden Council

What dogs detect

Water company United Utilities has deployed sniffer dogs to detect water leaks. A few other things which dogs are being used to detect, according to Essex firm Top Dog Security:

— Drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, opium and cocaine; explosives, including TNT, gelignite, Semtex, detonating cords and safety fuses; bed bugs; SIM cards; fire accelerants; cash; cadavers

Cold competition

Spectators complained of temperatures of -20˚C at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang. Average temperatures during past Winter Olympics:

Warmest

Sochi 2014
9.4˚C
Vancouver 2010
8.2˚C

Turin 2006
6.7˚C

Coldest

Lillehammer 1994
-16.4˚C

Sapporo 1972
-6.2˚C

Lake Placid 1932
-6.1˚C

Source: alexlamers.com