Inside out

Back page gossip from the 6 July issue of Research Europe

Out of the frying pan The Commission was forced to deny an angry accusation last month: that it is considering banning Belgium’s beloved frites because carcinogenic chemicals build up in the potatoes when they’re fried. Chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas told concerned journalists that the Commission had no intention of attempting to outlaw frites, French fries or any other kind of chips: “Le frites, c’est chic.” No need to freak out then.

Strife on Mars Nasa also sought to reassure the public recently, denying claims that it was maintaining a troop of slaves on Mars. Robert David Steele, an ex-CIA officer, said on an American radio show that he believed there was a colony on the red planet populated by children “who were kidnapped and sent into space on a 20-year ride with no alternative but to be slaves”. Nasa has also been accused of having faked its Mars rover landings. A spokesman for the space agency told news website The Daily Beast, “There are active rovers on Mars. But there are no humans.” So what have the rovers done with the kids?