Meet Mr Double Cheeseburger!

Meat-lover Simon Smith changed his name with relish — by swapping it for Bacon Double Cheeseburger. The 33-year-old was one of a record 85,000 people who changed their names by deed poll last year.

While Mr Double Cheeseburger from Muswell Hill, London, has no regrets fiancée Isabella, refuses to be Mrs Double Cheeseburger.

Adopting the name of footballing heroes is a top trend, and many people are just bored with their names and go for humorous handles, like a Batman fan is now Bruce Wayne and a couple became Mr and Mrs Amazing.

The UK Deed Poll Service, told, “One man changed his name to Happy Birthday. It gives us a chuckle but if that is what they want to do, it’s their choice.”

People can change their name provided they do not intend to deceive or defraud. But proof of identity is needed to amend official documents and bank accounts.

Tomatoes grown in ‘space’ soil

Ten different crops have been grown by researchers in the Netherlands, using soil taken from a volcano in Hawaii that mimic conditions found on Mars soil.

In the latest experiment, the team grew peas, rocket, radishes and cress, along with leeks, spinach and chives. But it was the tomatoes that were perhaps the most impressive — with images released showing plump produce with a vibrant red colour. While the Mars-equivalent soil produced slightly fewer crops than regular Earth soil, the results suggest that early colonisers could be able to sustainably feed themselves.

Lead researcher Wieger Wamelink said: “It shows that the Mars soil stimulant has great potential when properly prepared and watered.”

The volcanic soil was mixed with fresh cut grass in shallow trays, while a control tray contained regular Earth compost. But there are a couple of issues to note with the experiment.

While the soil resembled that found on Mars, the experiment did not mimic the other conditions found on the Red Planet — such as extreme temperatures and harsh space radiation. Instead, the crops enjoyed stable humidity, light and temperature.

Mr Wamelink said “And while some of the crops look good enough to eat, we’re not quite sure whether we could. Because the soil contains heavy metals like lead and arsenic, they could pose a risk to humans.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 9th, 2015