FluxDash

Country diaryTrees and forestsWenlock Edge, Shropshire: Winged seeds come spiralling out of the murk to land in the lane From the corner of my eye I see something move but don’t catch what it is. Then there’s another movement, a dark spinning. I watch sycamore keys come spiralling out of the murk to land in the lane. There’s an Egyptian creation myth about sycamore. The goddess Hathor, the Holy Cow, sat in a sycamore at sunset and created the earth, everything living on it, and the sun.

MusicThe Flame singer on ‘colourism’ and sexism in the music industry – and when her second album will see the light of day Tinashe: Nightride review – dreamy stopgapRead moreInterviewing Tinashe in 2017 is to witness patience and resolve in action. Despite releasing a handful of pop-R&B bangers (the DJ Mustard co-produced 2 On; certified bop Player; current single Flame); a coterie of elegant, so-called alt-R&B jams (all of 2015’s Amethyst mixtape); and being hailed by the likes of NME and Pitchfork as the next Aaliyah, her career has unquestionably stalled.

Pass notesThe news on TVBart Simpson was a big fan, and the prank call has always been the curse of phone-in shows – as GB News discovered this week Name: Prank calls. Age: The oldest known dates from 1884, and involved telephoning undertakers in Rhode Island to summon them to the homes of not-dead people. I miss that sort of wholesome, good-natured humour. Don’t worry – prank calls are making a comeback.

The ObserverMoneySharia-compliant deals cost thousands more than a regular mortgage, come with stricter rules, and can slow down a sale Muslims who want to secure a home loan in line with their religious beliefs face the prospect of paying much higher interest rates than if they took out a conventional mortgage. Those who want a sharia-compliant loan are looking at up to 9% rates – far above the6% interest that standard mortgages are hovering around.

ScienceFloat like a butterflyHow insects stay aloft has fascinated scientists for centuries. The answer, finds Kate Ravilious, lies in drag, lift and a complex combination of wingstrokesContrary to the popular myth, scientists have not proved that it is physically impossible for a bumble bee to fly. But they have pondered over the mysteries of insect flight for centuries. How does a butterfly flutter and what makes a dragonfly hover? With just one flick of the wing, insects can carry out manoeuvres that even birds cannot repeat.

Drama filmsReviewAndrew Haigh's debut feature is part of a nationally touring programme from this year's London Lesbian and Gay film festival. Using non-professionals and improvised scenes, it is a semi-dramatised account of the life of a male escort, Greek Pete, played by Peter Pittaros, a new-in-town guy who wants to make as much money in the London scene in as short a time as possible, and is soon earning enough to rent a £500-a-week flat in Covent Garden.

Tom Hunt’s brussels sprout kimchi. Photograph: Tom Hunt/The GuardianTom Hunt’s brussels sprout kimchi. Photograph: Tom Hunt/The GuardianWaste notPickling, fermenting and preservingKimchi is a great way to preserve a glut of sprouts – and, for that matter, just about any other vegetable – over the festive season As a robust, leafy green, brussels sprouts work really well in kimchi, which I love so much I’ve even been known to have some with my Christmas roast (or any roast, for that matter).

Biography booksIn 1926 the world’s bestselling author vanished for 11 days. Did she really go into hiding to frame her husband for murder? Historian Lucy Worsley reopens a case still shrouded in mystery Agatha Christie was sitting quietly on a train when she overheard a stranger saying her name. In the carriage, she said, were “two women discussing me, both with copies of my paperback editions on their knees”. They had no idea of the identity of their fellow passenger, and proceeded to discuss the most famous author in the world.

FashionThe menswear shows in June saw teenage girls camped outside. The reason? Meet Lucky Blue Smith, a 17-year-old Mormon model who has 1.2m Instagram fans and counting The Guardian’s product and service reviews are independent and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. We will earn a commission from the retailer if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. From bizarrely dressed bloggers to Botoxed editors, there’s no place for people-watching quite like the entrance to a fashion show.