The ObserverAdolf Hitler This article is more than 10 years oldHitler lived until 1962? That's my story, claims Argentinian writerThis article is more than 10 years oldThe startling theory that the Führer survived in exile until age 73 was examined in a book. Now its British authors are accused of plagiarismThe notorious claim that Hitler escaped his Berlin bunker to live incognito in Argentina first gained popular currency in 1945, when Stalin spoke of it.

BooksThese fiendishly clever mystery novels have spawned pop culture icons, anime and a museum. And, best of all, honkaku plays fair – you have the clues to solve the crime After a day of joyous wedding celebrations, a bloodcurdling scream echoes into the night. The newlywed bride and groom are found dead in their bed, stabbed with a katana sword, now thrust into the snow outside. Their bedroom was locked from the inside, and there is no way the murderer could have broken in to do the deed, let alone escaped without leaving a trace.

Pass notesWildlifeKeen to lure the endangered creatures into gardens, some people are overfeeding them with competitive menus – and doing more harm than good Name: The obesity crisis. Age: Very modern. Appearance: Seriously fat. Yes, I gather that two-thirds of the UK population are overweight and a quarter are obese. I think that’s true, but you are talking about the human obesity crisis, aren’t you? I am. Which one are you talking about?

Pass notesEndangered speciesThere were just 14 of his kind surviving in the wild – until Diego arrived, drove the lady tortoises wild and fathered 800 babies Name: Diego the horny tortoise. Age: About 100. Appearance: Roughly 5ft (1.5 metres) long, weighs 80kg (12.5st), leathery skin, long neck, large shell on his back. Occupation: Sex god. He doesn’t sound like a sex god. They say the same thing about Rod Stewart, another leathery old survivor who drives the ladies wild.

Life and styleThat sinking felineNot all people think cats are cuddly bundles of fur. For some, they are beasts that strike fear into their very soul. Justine Hankins investigates cat-phobiaWhat do Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Mussolini and Hitler have in common? One or two things spring to mind, obviously, but tyranny and a thirst for world domination are not what concern us here. All are reputed to have suffered from ailurophobia - the fear of cats.

US news This article is more than 7 months old‘Trump Bucks’ websites taken down after buyers fall for fake currencyThis article is more than 7 months oldVictims of con invested thousands of dollars in fake bills plastered with Trump’s face they believed would make them rich Websites launched by companies selling “Trump Bucks” to some of the former president’s most ardent supporters have been taken down. NBC reported the closures, after its investigation found several Colorado-based companies were behind the scam that promised investors they would get rich if the disgraced former president is re-elected in 2024.

ShortcutsVegan food and drinkFishy business: should we all be seagans?Augmenting a vegan diet with fish is becoming a popular approach to healthy eating. But what about its environmental impact? The Waitrose Food & Drink Report is out, an annual summary of how the nation has been spending its money on food. Although, of course, it is not the entire nation, just that part of it that shops at Waitrose. As usual, it is full of surprises.

Ernest Hemingway This article is more than 14 years oldHemingway revealed as failed KGB spyThis article is more than 14 years oldNotes from Stalin-era intelligence archives show 'agent Argo' as a willing recruit in 1941Up till now, this has been a notably cheerful year for admirers of Ernest Hemingway – a surprisingly diverse set of people who range from Michael Palin to Elmore Leonard. Almost every month has brought good news: a planned Hemingway biopic; a new, improved version of his memoir, A Moveable Feast; the opening of a digital archive of papers found in his Cuban home; progress on a movie of Islands in the Stream.

Don’t knock it until you’ve fried it: Tom Hunt’s banana peel ‘bacon’. Photograph: Tom Hunt/The GuardianDon’t knock it until you’ve fried it: Tom Hunt’s banana peel ‘bacon’. Photograph: Tom Hunt/The GuardianWaste notFoodOK, it’s not all that like bacon, but ‘bananacon’ or ‘facon’ is easy, flavourful and interesting to eat As a cook and food lover, I thrive off new ingredients and techniques. Food movements such as zero-waste cooking, plant-based eating and even health fads, even if some are questionable, often push boundaries, creating new and innovative foods, some of which lead to the discovery of intriguing and welcome new flavour experiences.

The ObserverTechnologyThe Hövding airbag is the latest piece of hi-tech hardware offering vital head protection to cyclists I’m lying on the ground in the middle of the park, feeling a bit like a crash test dummy. My ears are ringing and my head is held in the vice-like grip of safety gear more suited to a spaceship. But what I’m actually wearing is a cycling helmet. It’s a Hövding, an “airbag for cyclists”, invented in Sweden and billed as the helmet for people who don’t like wearing helmets.