An Italian doctor claims that he has been able to diagnose the illnesses suffered by some of the people in the world's most famous paintings.

Dr Vito Franco of the University of Palermo says the intriguing smile of the Mona Lisa was the result of very high levels of cholesterol.

He came to this conclusion by studying the details of the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, where he says he can see a build up of fatty acids around her left eye.

But he has not stopped there, he has analysed a host of renaissance works -- finding that most subjects suffered from one disease or another.

It sounds to us like someone has been watching too many episodes of House. 

A giant cocktail which takes up an entire house and can serve over 25,000 people will open in London today.

The Architectural Punchbowl has been created at 33 Portland Place using over a tonne of cognac, berries, organic cider vinegar, and winter spices.

Artists Bompas & Parr had to make the building water proof and food-safe and find a way of keeping a vast volume of drink at optimum temperature for the odd installation.

Tickets to visit (and sample) the giant cocktail until 10th December are available online - though visitors are warned not to try swimming in it.

If you have an unwanted tattoo with an embarrassing back story, we want to see it and hear about it - and you could even the offending tattoo removed.

Entries are currently open for "Tatts Off 2010" a competition the find the UKs worst and most unwanted tattoos.

Judges will look at photos of the tats and then based on the story behind them and why they want to get rid of them, pick two winners to have them removed naturally, for free.

Suggested reasons for getting rid of your tattoos are the break-up of a relationship, a new start in life or because you found out that doesn't really say "strong" in Chinese.

So now could be the ideal time to come clean about why you had that tattoo of a dolphin jumping over a rainbow on your back … right Dave?

People normally use toothpicks to make small models or larger items, but not Terry Woodling, he made a full size stage coach.

Also known as "Mr Toothpick" Terry, from Indiana, has spent 15 years carefully crafting the exact replica of a Concord Coach stagecoach - using 1.5 milliion of the wooden sticks.

In those countless hours he used nothing but toothpicks and glue to create the model, which was then painted.

Terry says the stagecoach is the sort used by Wells Fargo to transport people and mail around the Us during the 1800s - though his toothpick version might not be up to the job.

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan is hoping to knock art critics for six after switching the crease for the canvas.

The 35-year-old batsman has currently got an exhibition of his abstract works on show at a Cardiff art gallery.

Vaughan creates the Jackson Pollock-esque images with a technique he dubbed "artballing" - where he paints cricket balls with a symbolic colour and then bats it against a blank canvas.

He says he has been pleased with the results from his 100mph creative process in a Yorkshire warehouse… dnd who is going to argue with a artist waving a cricket bat.    

Fashion designers have created a dress which is sure to 'light up a room' - thanks to 24,000 tiny LED bulbs embroidered on it.

The Galaxy Dress has been made by fashion company CuteCircuit for "Fast Forward: Inventing the Future" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

The 2mm square full-colour LEDs make it the largest wearable display in the world and the circuits are extra-thin, flexible, and hand embroidered on a layer of silk so it still moves like a normal dress.

The LEDs are covered in 4 layers of silk chiffon and are powered by a number of iPod batteries - makers also promise that it won't get too hot.

But wearing it could leave you feeling a little like Cinderella... the batteries will only last for about 30 minutes.

Ever wondered what Stormtroopers get up to when they are not doing the bidding of Darth Vader and fighting for the Galactic Empire Army?

Stormtroopers 365 - a Star Wars inspired photo project - aims to show just that, by posting a new photo of them everyday for a year.

Images posted on Flickr show the Stormtroopers, making sand castles on the beach, searching the internet and even feeding pigeons in a park.

Stéfan Le Dû started Stormtroopers 365 on April 3rd of this year using two 12cm figures from Hasbro and says he will continue until April 3rd 2010 - unless a Death Star destroys planet Earth before then.

An artist has painstakingly cut pieces of coloured paper and glued them together to recreate some of his favourite trainers.

David Brownings, from Brighton, says he can spend six hours producing his paper shoes - normally retro Nike Dunk models - which sell for £30 per pair.

The illustrator first came up with the idea while working in a vintage trainer store but since putting his creations online says he had been inundated with requests

Dubbed Nike-elangelo David warns potential buyers that while the shoes might look good on a shelf - they won't wear so well on a basketball court.

An artist has used 26 different types of fruit to recreate the London skyline.

Carl Warner and his team of five model-makers spent three weeks crafting the famous London landmarks out of foods ranging from melons and tomatoes to asparagus.

They carefully sculpted the buildings - while all the time fighting the challenge of how to keep the fresh and highly perishable fruit and vegetables looking their best for the final image.

After gluing it all together they then took this stunning image… before munching on the most impressive salad bar you have ever see.

A woman who was given a self portrait by Andy Warhol in the 1960s but stashed in in a closet for 40 years, has sold it at auction for £2.4 million.

Cathy Naso had worked as a receptionist for Warhol at The Factory in New York when she was a teenager, and as a gift he had given her a self-portrait.

Since then she kept it wrapped up at the back of her wardrobe - never hanging it on her wall.

That was until she decided to cash in on it and put it up for auction at Sotheby's in Manhattan. It had been expected to sell for £750,000 but it far exceeded predictions by going for £2.4 million.

How come the best we can find in our wardrobe is a broken tennis racquet and what looks like the remains of what used to be a sandwich?