Flat Earth: ... and of bombs

China has come up with an inventive wheeze to bring in more tourists. It has just announced, with great excitement, that it will soon open a showcase nuclear research centre to visitors.

The welcome mat will be put out to both Chinese and foreign sightseers at the China Air Dynamics Research and Development Centre, home of China's atomic and hydrogen bombs, in Mianyang in the western province of Sichuan. Visitors will be able to see a real atomic bomb and watch a video tape of a nuclear explosion. There is no truth in the rumour that the guys from the US national laboratory at Los Alamos have been sent a batch of free tickets.