Medieval bargain

A garage sale bargain hunter found a steal when he spotted a historical relic priced for only $75. Will Sideri said he went to the estate sale in Maine expecting to find some kitchen appliances or ­vintage clothes. But then he spotted an antique-looking framed manuscript on the wall with a sticker that read, “1285 A.D.” The illuminated manuscript, which contained Latin phrases and musical notation, looked medieval to Sideri, so he snapped a photo and sent it to a college professor to get another opinion. After receiving confirmation that the piece likely dated to the 13th century, Sideri ran home to get a check to buy the parchment. A medieval manuscript expert said the document might fetch as much as $10,000 at auction. Sideri said he doesn’t intend to sell.

Going batty

For two years, COVID-19 restrictions put a damper on homecoming festivities at Davis Senior High in Davis, Calif. This year, it’s a new problem: bats. School officials had to call off the school’s Sept. 24 homecoming dance because bats had taken up ­residence in the rafters of the school gym the day before the event. Bats are one of the leading ­transmitters of rabies and other diseases, and county officials said they would be unable to remove them in time for the celebration. School officials said they will reschedule the dance once the bats move out of the gym.

Whale of a tale

After five sailors needed rescue off the coast of Portugal following an attack by orcas this summer, some experts are warning about a potentially dangerous behavior pattern among the marine mammals. Orca experts say killer whales have been purposefully breaking boat rudders off the Iberian coast. In July, orcas sank two boats in coordinated attacks, and many other sailors reported that the beasts had smashed their rudders. Spanish whale conservationist Renaud de Stephanis told NPR the behavior may be a fad among juvenile orcas: “This is a game. When they …  have their own adult life, it will probably stop.”

Bug be gone

A researcher at Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University has created arguably the world’s most advanced bug zapper. Ildar Rakhmatulin said in the September issue of Oriental Insects that his team constructed a miniaturized laser turret capable of killing or deterring cockroaches. For targeting, Rakhmatulin used optical sensors hooked to a small computer to run an automated search-and-destroy program. The device reportedly cost less than $250 to build and had an effective range up to nearly 4 feet.

Telling time

What time is it in West Wendover, Nev.? Officials with the federal government aren’t so sure. Earlier this year, U.S. Department of Transportation officials set out to find a map that accurately ­portrayed the nation’s time zones. But they soon discovered no single map in the agency’s possession sufficed. Some maps, for instance, showed West Wendover in Mountain Time rather than its correct placement in Pacific Time. Officials found other discrepancies in the Dakotas where Central Time gives way to Mountain Time. A Sept. 20 Inspector General report detailing the problems asked the agency to publish an accurate map.

Free on the streets

California pedestrians who need to cross the road can breathe a sigh of relief. On Sept. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Freedom to Walk Act, a ­measure that effectively legalizes jaywalking. Beginning Jan. 1, a police officer in California can no longer issue fines of up to $250 for ­jaywalking unless a “reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of collision,” according to the law. Proponents of the bill, which was sponsored by Democratic state Assembly Member Phil Ting, say it will reduce police-related disputes and help residents feel that they can freely cross streets without fear of fines. “Plus,” said Ting in a statement to media, “we should be encouraging ­people to get out of their cars and walk for health and environmental reasons.”

A little Picasso

Some parents put their children’s artwork on the fridge. Fifth grader Andres Valencia’s ­parents sell his artwork for thousands of ­dollars. The San Diego 10-year-old sold a painting last year at a Miami art show for $20,000. And in June, one of Valencia’s works went for $125,000 at auction during a New York exhibition. “I’m so happy to sell my paintings,” Valencia told the New York Post. “I’m not emotionally attached because I know I can always make another one.” In September, Valencia began selling prints of one of his most well-known works, Invasion of Ukraine, with all proceeds going to a Ukrainian children’s charity.