RichardK
3rd April 2006, 11:07 PM
After digging to a depth of 100 metres last year, Russian scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1000 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network one thousand years ago.
So, not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, British scientists dug 200 metres and headlines in the UK papers read "UK scientists have found traces of 2000 years old optical fibre and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephones 1000 years earlier than the Russians.
One week later the Gaelic Times newspaper from Dublin reported the following: "After digging as deep as 500 metres Irish scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have concluded that 5000 years ago their ancestors were already using wireless technology".
So, not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, British scientists dug 200 metres and headlines in the UK papers read "UK scientists have found traces of 2000 years old optical fibre and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephones 1000 years earlier than the Russians.
One week later the Gaelic Times newspaper from Dublin reported the following: "After digging as deep as 500 metres Irish scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have concluded that 5000 years ago their ancestors were already using wireless technology".