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LOVE IT

• Japan has set up a “ninja council” in an attempt to boost tourism; its main objective is to generate interest in famous historical figures.

• A 1998 Simpsons episode came very close to predicting the mass of the Higgs boson–14 years before the particle was discovered.

• The nonprofit Women on 20s has launched a campaign to put a woman on the $20 bill by 2020. Among its candidates: Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman.

• Juno scribe Diablo Cody will write a live-action film based on Mattel’s iconic Barbie doll.

THE DIGITS

$4,500

Price per night to rent Leonardo DiCaprio’s 7,022-sq.-ft. (652 sq m) Palm Springs, Calif., house–which touts a pool, a tennis court and a sunken bar in the living room–while he films The Revenant in Canada

THIN ICE

No two snowflakes are alike, the saying goes, but photographer Michael Peres shows just how special each can be with the microscopic closeups he posts on Instagram (at @michael_peres). For more on Peres, who was trained as a biologist, visit lightbox.time.com.

QUICK TALK

Elizabeth Hurley

The 49-year-old actor portrays the Queen of England in E!’s new scripted soap opera The Royals, premiering March 15.

–DANIEL D’ADDARIO

On The Royals, you’re a demanding, imperious diva, and your relatives aren’t much better. What are your feelings on the real monarchy? I’ve always been a big fan. I’m an ambassador for a couple of the Prince of Wales’ charities, and I’ve met him a few times. I’ve always thought he was the best-dressed man in the United Kingdom, possibly the world. His tailoring is amazing. Were you nervous he’d be mad if he watched the show? Not at all. We aren’t interpreting anyone [in particular]. I pull on a little bit of how I think Princess Diana might look if she became a Queen of England. But I pull on some Disney villains too. In America, many people are transfixed by the British royal family because we don’t have our own. Isn’t it sad? I bet you’d love one! Who do you think is closest to royalty among American celebrities? George Clooney, don’t you think? President Clinton at one stage was as near as you got to a King. It’s hard, though, because what’s so wonderful about our real monarchy is that you don’t get to see behind closed doors ever.

TOP MODELS

It’s been 14 years since Zoolander poked fun at the fashion world on the big screen. But on March 10, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took to the Maison Valentino runway during Paris Fashion Week to prove that the cheekbones and smoldering stares of fictional supermodels never go out of style–and to promote the comedy’s sequel, Zoolander 2, which hits theaters Feb. 12, 2016.

VERBATIM

‘So apparently Kanye has a Draco fetish.’

TOM FELTON, via Instagram, on Kim Kardashian’s new bleached-blond hairstyle; the actor portrayed a similarly coiffed Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films

ROUNDUP

Great Escapes

In a recent viral video, an octopus named Ink scales his tank at the Seattle Aquarium and appears to very nearly break free. Although aquarium officials deny that the creature was trying to escape, we’re not quite sure we believe it. After all, Ink would hardly be the first captive animal to (momentarily) chase freedom.

2011

Hiss-teria erupted in New York City after news broke that a Cobra had likely escaped from the Bronx Zoo (it was later found hiding in the reptile house), spawning the brilliant parody Twitter account @BronxZoosCobra.

2012

Casper the Pony and Razzi the Zebra, inseparable pals, caught the public’s imagination as they trotted through Staten Island, N.Y., after escaping an amateur petting zoo; Razzi was later moved to a New Jersey farm.

2013

Two months after Rusty the Red Panda had arrived at Washington’s National Zoo, he went AWOL; after he was discovered running down a street, he was returned, and he went on to sire three cubs.

2015

A pair of Llamas–one white, one black–made national news in February after they escaped a trailer taking them to animal therapy and ran through the streets of Sun City, Ariz., evading cars and lassos.

2015

This month, a suspect known as Colin the Ostrich jumped a fence at an English farm. Police pursued him through a graveyard after he attempted to bite a local’s dog. He was soon returned home safely.

LEAVE IT

• A New Jersey man tried to sue Applebee’s for burns he got while praying over fajitas. (The suit was dismissed.)

• Per new video footage, Taylor Swift has started walking backward to avoid paparazzi shots.

• Prairie Farms dairy company has debuted a line of Peeps-branded milk, available in flavors like marshmallow and chocolate marshmallow. The taste is “Peep-tastic,” according to a Peeps spokesperson.

• After a successful crowdfunding campaign, San Francisco–based clothier Betabrand will make dresses covered in poop emojis.

FOR TIME’S COMPLETE TV, FILM AND MUSIC COVERAGE, VISIT time.com/entertainment