Weekly round-up: Stories you may have missed

5 hours ago

News image — Engineer Peter Hawkins holds a bottle of high density liquid - the "secret sauce" - at the RheEnergise energy storage demonstrator project in Devon

BBC A man in high-viz and hard hat, holds a small bottle containing a high density liquid that is being used as part of a pilot pumped hydro power project near Plymouth, Devon — Engineer Peter Hawkins holds a bottle of high density liquid - the "secret sauce" - at the RheEnergise energy storage demonstrator project in Devon

A surge in octopus that led to a 'record £500k catch', the fight to stop animals dying in fishing nets and the discovery of a "bomb-shaped object" in Plymouth.

Here are some stories that you may have missed from Devon and Cornwall in the past week.

Full line-up unveiled for 'biggest ever' Eden gig

Chris Gorman Eden Project biomes are seen, lit in blue, from above and a crowd is seen in the foreground gathered in front of a stage. — The event coincides with the Eden Project's 25th anniversary

The 16 support artists at this summer's Eden Sessions, for headliners including Mika and The Macabees, have been unveiled.

Cornwall's Eden Project said the "biggest ever" line-up would include MEEK, American Hi-Fi, Alfie Templeman, Everything Everything and Girl in the Year Above.

Surge in octopus numbers leads to 'record £500k catch'

Kirsty Andrews A pink octopus with orange spots is walking across a pink and orange rock covered in seaweed in green seawater. — Experts believe octopus may be here to stay in UK waters

Marine researchers have said the mass numbers of octopus in waters around Devon and Cornwall could be "here to stay".

The Marine Biological Association's (MBA) latest study of the ongoing octopus bloom, the largest surge in 75 years, showed evidence of the invasive species' successful breeding in UK waters.

The fight to stop animals dying in fishing nets

Cornish Seal Sanctuary A seal in a cage looks up to the side, on its neck can be seen a large area of inflammation where a fishing net has cut into his skin — This seal named Hot Cross Bun was found malnourished and in pain on a Cornish beach

Environmental groups have renewed calls for the government to do more to prevent the deaths of thousands of dolphins, whales and seabirds accidentally caught in fishing nets in UK waters.

Known as bycatch a new report estimates that tens of thousands of protected seabirds, more than 1,000 porpoises and dolphins and dozens of whales are dying in this way each year.

Cordon removed after 'bomb-shaped object' found

A road closure with police tape and police cars. There is a police officer stood behind some tape attached to traffic cones, along with a small police car next to him. — Devon and Cornwall Police had a cordon in place

A 100m (328ft) cordon was swiftly removed after the discovery of a "bomb-shaped object" in Plymouth on Monday.

Devon and Cornwall Police were notified at about 12:30 BST to a report of the discovery of "an unknown device" by contractors at Colesdown Hill, near Elburton, in Plymouth.

Can a 'secret sauce' help store renewable energy?

A close up of a hand that is holding a white powder. The hand and fingers are covered in the white powder. — Minerals are mixed with water to create a fluid that is two-and-a-half times the density of water

A pilot project in Devon inspired by a 100-year-old idea aims to store renewable energy.

Those behind the high density hydro demonstrator scheme near Plymouth say the technology can "turn small hills into giant batteries", as part of the transition away from fossil fuels.

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