Found: Needle in a Haystack
By Martin Galway
It’s not often than a non-scientist finds themselves catapulted into the bright lights and fame of the science world, but now is a good time for such an occasion. With English cricket on the up after a magnificent Ashes win, I have further pushed that feel-good factor into the hearts of the nation by finding the first needle in a haystack for 36 years, twice the length of time since England last won cricket’s greatest prize.
The needle in question was found in a field about four miles south of Ely, in Cambridgeshire - strangely, only a few miles from the last sighting back in 1969. It is hoped that more will be found, which will strengthen the very isolated population of individuals that have been discovered.
Almost as elusive as the four-leafed clover (or five-leafed variety: see Null Hypothesis Volume 1, Issue 3), the haystack needles (Sharpus strawii) were first identified in 1953 as being different to their common cousins the darning needle (Sharpus sewii), the knitting needle (Sharpus knitonepearlii) and the medical syringe (Sharpus dontcomenearmewiththatthingii).
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