Food scientists, led by Professor Bronek Wedzicha, were asked by Leeds-based Arla Foods to explain how to make the perfect piece of buttered toast. BBC Look North and Calendar, Scottish Sunday Mail, Daily Express, Sun and Yorkshire Evening Post explained the formula. The Times article outlined how the “most pleasurable toast depends on the correct relationship between the heat of the bread and the temperature and weight of the butter.”

Biologist Paolo Viscardi got into the seasonal spirit by working out how big a reindeer’s wings would need to be for flight. In “Flapland” Rudolf would need wings ten metres long, explained the Guardian or – according to the Daily Mail – bigger than those of a small aircraft. And Santa would need a whole herd of reindeer to get his sleigh airborne, reported the Yorkshire Post.

Professor Michael Arthur’s appointment as University Vice-Chancellor was covered by The Times, Guardian, Financial Times, Yorkshire Evening Post and BBC Online. The professor of medicine and dean of faculty of medicine, health and life sciences at the University of Southampton takes over from Sir Alan Wilson in September (see page 3 ), reported The Times.

Greg Rusedski’s admission of a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone led to calls for a more consistent approach to policing the problem. Sports ethics expert Jim Parry spoke to the BBC Six O’Clock News about attempts to provide an international framework for tackling drug use in sport and called for more “support from governments and sports organisations”.

The unusual talents of the Bombardier beetle may hold the key to re-igniting failed jet engines at high altitudes. Professor Andy McIntosh has received £135,000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to look how the South African beetle “squirts boiling liquid at its enemies”, reported the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Engineer, Glasgow Herald, Scottish Daily Record, New Scientist, Flight International, BBC Online and BBC Radio 4’s Leading Edge.

See the press releases at www.leeds.ac.uk/media/press_releases.htm and details of press coverage at http://wwwnotes2. leeds.ac.uk/cuttings.nsf/today