The deeper the needle penetrated, the more flexible the nail. (The squeamish may wish to note that this test can be done using a fingernail clipping.) In a test of 30 people, Dr Towler found that the nails of those with osteoporosis were significantly softer than those of people without it.

ECONOMIST: Medicine

The UUP's Michael Copeland said he would wish to consider if the proposal would test parity beyond "sensible grounds" and its cost implications.

BBC: Pensions Bill - Consideration stage continued

One analyst told the BBC the military might ultimately wish to equip soldiers with a range of these pencils to provide a portable test kit for a range of harmful gases.

BBC: MIT pencil 'draws' gas sensors onto paper

An experimental section of road where an external computer can take over your car if you wish (and are suitably wired up) is now open in California to test the idea.

ECONOMIST: Traffic management

The test, surely though, will be whether people who did not vote on Thursday do in future or wish they had because their local commissioner is seen to make a difference.

BBC: Elections - Reading the runes