You know, Duff, I think you are absolutely right - and I am absolutely wrong.  I must have been reading fake news!  I do wish Donald Trump would stick to posting his garbage on Twitter and stop posting fake news items on the wider net about geriatric swans that make me look like a grade A chump! !

I remember at the time I read it that I thought that 102 year old swans seemed a bit ripe.  But the website was  pretty reliable and not one normally given to sensationalist fake articles.  Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the website now. 

But enough of this.  I shall henceforth stick to gazing at my local swans serenely paddling up and down the River Ouse and think that their life span is a more realistic 20 to 30 years.

I must say though that, after a bit of quick double checking, I did find out that that swans are Denmark's national bird.  And what's more, one old fogey of a Danish swan (obviously with a particularly clean lifestyle) did live to clock up the ripe old age of 40!

Nowhere near 102 years old, I do admit. I shall email El Presidente Trump forthwith. 

Anyone got the White House's email address?

I'm afraid that it is more likely that you're reading fake news!  The life expectancy is generally 20-30 years.  There are some birds that regularly reach 50+ years - species of parrots, in particular, and the oldest bird I can find a reference for was said to be 120 years old, but his 'heritage' is a little dubious. 

http://www.oldest.org/animals/birds/

The Daily Express headline screamed...

NASA SHOCK admission: Distant galaxy is ‘ON COURSE to COLLIDE with Earth'

And only later (much, much later) down among the mouse print did the Express sheepishly announce that "Andromeda, the distant galaxy, will collide with the Milky Way in around 4.5 billion years"

In around 4.5 billion years?   Phew!  That's what I call really hot news!

But, to be slightly serious for a millisecond, what about us consumers? 

What about us all briefly glancing at such rampantly misleading headlines over our toast and marmalade in the mornings?

Nobody seems to care.

No government department, not one, seems to care a bean about such gross misrepresentation by the Press.  Shouldn't there at least be some firm legislation in place to stop newspapers screaming such bloodcurdling fake news?

And what do you think would be an appropriate fine should be for such barefaced scaremongering breakfast news?

You have got to admit that octopuses look prehistoric.
That's what got me wondering 'How long do octopuses actually live for?'

And is that about the same for a Giant Squid too?

Well, well done IAers! There HAS been a slight increase in questions and just as importantly, answers, on IA lately.

So I will soldier on. For those itching to read my next question, have a look in 'Science and Nature' for my latest question (on Pollen and allergies).

For those of you still feeling too weak to click on 'Science and Nature' the question is "How big does a pollen grain have to be before it sets me off in gales of sneezing?"

Over to "Science and Nature".