In a shock that has echoed through the science world, judges have awarded this years Nobel Prize for Physics to Bessie the Cow-Genius for her paper on the Rikti's teleportation technology. Despite non-humans having won the prize in the past, notably Qua'Zor of Titus in 1956 and 1959, this is the first time the award has gone to a barnyard animal.

Bessie the Cow-Genius stated how thrilled she was to get the award in her acceptance speech. "I knew my work was important and cutting edge, but it is always a big thing to have your fellow scientists recognise it in such an enormous way... why, I'm over the moon!", she quipped.

Bessie's work on Rikti teleportation has been very important for those attempting to reverse-engineer the technology from captured samples. In brief, Bessie's Four Stomach Theory of Teleportation indicates that there are four separate issues involved in teleporting - the original material to teleport, the location to teleport to, the material at the teleporting destination (even if it is just air) and the replacing of material at the original material's location are it has been teleported. This theory indicates that sometimes materials must move through each location and become mixed or even revert to their original location before eventually ending up in their intended targets.

"You can't have things teleporting into spaces filled with air - it's bad for the air and for the teleported object. So you have to move the air and the object at the same time while keeping both sets of location coordinates and then arrange the atoms of both objects (air included!) in the correct patterns after they mix. That's Four Stomachs for you put simply", said Bessie at the post-prize conference.

Other notable winners were Anne Rose in the field of Literature, Dr Yannis Orane for Economics and Doctor Nightmare for Physiology and Medicine. Statesman yet again won and declined the Nobel Prize for Peace, making this the seventh time he has been awarded this honour.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. The Paragon City Tourism Board may not like to announce the fact, but not every hero in Paragon is six-and-a-half feet tall with bulging biceps or have a square jaw filled with perfect teeth. Due to the very nature (or accident) of their creation, some heroes have gained powers while losing some physical aspects that we recognise as human. Although in some places these heroes are called freaks and ostracized, in Paragon City they are welcomed for the special abilities they bring with them. Sometimes teams are formed from the ranks of these unique individuals.

The Hive is one such team. Composed of heroes with insect-related powers (crustaceans also welcome) The Hive are among the most distinctive group of individuals in Paragon City... and that's saying something.

Members of The Hive have kindly agreed to this interview.

Beholder: How did The Hive get together?

BugBite: I was hopping along one day, fighting crime and what have you, when I thought, "Hey! I should form a team of heroes like me!" And so I did. Simple as that, I put an ad in the paper and a buncha weirdos showed up.

Dynastes: Bugbite put an ad in the Classified section. We all met in a coffee shop in the middle of the city. I don't think Buggy was expecting what he got, though. You shoulda seen the look on those peoples' faces when first me, then Lord of the Flies walked through those doors.

Mr Mantis: Pretty smart way to go about it, I thought. Why leave your team-mates to chance? And the interview was very thorough.

Beholder: Does Paragon City really need an insect-themed team? What can it give that other teams can't?

Mosquito: Oh please. That's like asking if we really need an all-ninja team, or something. We use our powers for good, just like any other self-respecting hero organization. Does it matter what we look like? And besides, without us, who would handle those giant moths and sewer tapeworms? That's right. Nobody. You'd all be living in a city covered in giant moth eggs. Disgusting.

Interview cont'd next column

Mr Mantis: Some scientists theorize that entomophobia (that's the fear of insects) is innate in human beings. What better way to strike terror into the hearts of evildoers?

BugBite: Yeah - no other team can give villains the creeps like us!

Papillon: I personally believe that Paragon City's hero groups would lack diversity if groups like The Hive weren't formed to protect it. Plus, there is teams made up of these supposed 'anti-heroes' so why not one full of insects? I mean, at least our theme makes sense, cause I don't see why an anti-hero would group up with others if they're sposed to be all anti-heroish. We, The Hive, bring a sense of balance to Paragon that others don't. Without us, well... I dunno, somethin bad would happen.

Beholder: The Hive has a very large roster - how do you manage the personnel conflicts that must occur from time to time?

Moth: With lots of patience and a short memory.

Mosquito: You'd think we'd have problems, but we're all pretty nice to each other. The last argument I remember was when we had to fight Cockroach to get him to take a bath. Oh, and we fight over finances a lot. Do you realize how costly being a hero group is when a couple of your members are apparently enough to cause "Mental Anguish" in your enemies?

Beholder: Are there any villain groups that you will be particularly targeting?

Dynastes: Well, we recently had a run-in with the Circle of Thorns in Egypt. But it's that Countess Crey that gets under my exoskeleton. Did you know she's responsible for 80% of this country's pesticide supply? Sure, my buddy, Cockroach, has nothing to fear, but I don't have his regenerative abilities. It has become my mission to take out Crey chemical facilities in the Industrial Zone known as Crey's Folly.

Beholder: There are rumours of The Hive having groupies who dress-up in elaborate costumes... among other things. Could you please elaborate on this rumour?

BugBite: See, when we set up our team phone number, the number they gave us used to belong to some sort of kinky sex shop, and contrary to what we've told them, some people seem to think the shop is just under new management.

The Beholder wishes to thank the Hive for their time.