Fresher achieves solo orgasm The scientific establishment is in uproar following claims that a first year Warwick University student achieved solo orgasm last night. The fresher, Hugh Anchor, claims that shortly after midnight last night he reached orgasm -- while completely on his own. He claims that his technique, which he refers to as "manual stimulation", is simple, requires only common household objects, and can be replicated under laboratory conditions. Anchor claims that a chain of events came together that night to bring on his astounding discovery. He was attending Top Banana, a Warwick University Students Union-organised discotheque, when the presence of members of the opposite sex wearing provocative clothing and gyrating to the "cheesy" music caused him to become sexually aroused. He then returned to his room in the Rootes residences where he proceeded to "manually stimulate" his genital organs in a fashion which he plans to demonstrate to scientists later today. After some minutes of this repetitive action behind closed doors he claims that orgasm was achieved. The establishment has reacted with caution to this announcement. "We all remember the furore after Ponds and Fleischmann claimed to have created cold fusion in a test tube," remarked a solo sexual activity specialist from the mathematics department, "but no one could reproduce their results. Of course, it's every scientists fantasy to achieve an orgasm in a test tube, but we mustn't let our excitement go to our heads. We have to get a grip and knuckle down to some serious probing." Experiments are planned to determine whether Manual Stimulation, or "wanking", as it has been dubbed by its inventor, depends on certain conditions. "Perhaps you need to go to Top Banana to be a wanker," explained Anchor, "or perhaps it's living in Rootes. At this stage, we just don't know." It is also in doubt whether laboratory results will be sufficiently convincing. "It's all very well to claim that solo orgasm is possible," said one sceptic, "but if someone achieves orgasm while surrounded by scientists in white coats and holding clipboards, then they aren't alone, are they? It's like one of those paradoxes, like if a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear? Or what is the sound of one hand clapping?" Coincidentally, although Anchor is currently unwilling to make public the method of manual stimulation, he has likened the process to "one hand clapping". At a press conference, he would not give any more details: "I'll tell you when I'm good and ready!" he ejaculated.