Nasa's Kepler space telescope provides new insight on the colossal explosions that can occur in the atmospheres of some stars.

The UK says it will retain stricter animal testing standards than required by a new European Union Directive.

             Pen a pet story for PDSA and win a chance of a lifetime   Best Selling children’s author, Anna Wilson, is not only lending her name and support to this year’s PDSA Writing Competition she is offering an incredible prize to the winner – the chance for them to name a canine character in her next book!   Animal loving Anna, who has captured the capers of cats and dogs in nine titles so far including her latest witty and wonderful paperback, The Poodle Problem (Macmillan Children’s Books), is delighted to have been asked to judge the charity’s 2012 competition, as she says:  “I’m honoured to be asked to judge the PDSA writing competition. It’s a brilliant way to inspire young people who love animals to have a go at being creative. I’m very much looking forward to reading the entries and meeting the winner!”   The PDSA Writing Competition with Anna Wilson isopen to budding authors age under 18 years old. Entries can be typed or handwritten and be between 500 – 2,000 words long. To get our young writers off to a flying start Anna has provided the first few lines of the story, exclusively for PDSA, all our story tellers have to do is say what happens next:        Archie leant over the small bundle and peered closely. “I have to admit I’ve never seen her look like this before,” he said, his forehead creasing in a frown. “She’s normally full of energy! You say she came in from the garden and just curled up in her basket?” Polly nodded glumly. “Normally when I get home from school she comes running up the path to say hello. She was waiting for me as usual, but she just looked – sad,” she finished, shrugging. “And she didn’t want her tea. Now that is just weird. She always wants her tea!” To be continued.......   Closing date for entries is 10 June 2012. All entries to be posted to PDSA Pet Protectors HQ, Whitechapel way, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9PQ OR email: competitions@pdsa.org.uk . The First prize winner will names a canine character in Anna’s next book and get to meet Anna on a VIP tour of the PDSA PetAid hospital in Bristol (the winner must be available to meet Anna between 30 August and 7 September).     PDSA’s Youth Officer, Caroline Perry, who co-ordinates the PDSA Pet Protectors young people’s club says: “We are delighted that Anna has agreed to get involved with the PDSA Writing Competition and we are looking forward to looking at the entries with her and showing her round our charity’s pet hospital in Bristol with the lucky winner. We hope all the budding authors out there will get writing!”   For more information on PDSA Pet Protectors and the PDSA Writing Competition with Anna Wilson download the entry form   For more on Anna Wilson’s books: www.anna.wilson.co.uk

ENDS

Further information: for more information or photographs, please email the PDSA press office on pr@pdsa.org.uk or call 01952 204792

PDSA for pets in need of vets

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Thousands of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented if the cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, were more widely prescribed, research suggests.

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The movement which started the Wildlife Trusts is celebrating its centenary year.