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A lot can happen in just one week, and it’s tough to keep up with everything. Fortunately, we’ve got your back. Click here to stay updated on the key events shaping our world. In this roundup, we focus on the weird and unusual.
This week's stories take a deep dive into the past. We explore shipwrecks, Chinese art, World War I weaponry, mythical creatures, and the legacies of late pop icons.
10. NASA Aims to Create the Coldest Object Known to Humanity
Last Sunday, NASA launched the Cygnus spacecraft, bound for the International Space Station. Among the various research projects aboard is the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL). Scientists are optimistic that this experiment could lead them to the coldest temperature ever recorded in the universe.
Once up and running, CAL will generate clouds of ultra-cold atoms, known as Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). The current temperature record was established in 1993 by researchers at Aalto University in Finland's Low Temperature Laboratory. They managed to reach 100 picoKelvin, or 0.0000000001 degrees Kelvin above absolute zero. NASA's team hopes that CAL will not only match this temperature but exceed it, maintaining it for longer periods.
The primary aim is not to break records, but rather to study Bose-Einstein condensates. When cooled, the atoms in BECs slow to the point of near immobility. At this stage, they sync up and act more like waves than individual particles. However, on Earth, gravity limits this state, making it last only a fraction of a second.
Researchers are hopeful that the microgravity environment aboard the ISS will grant them up to ten seconds of observation time. This offers a unique, never-before-seen opportunity to explore the quantum realm.
9. City Issues Zombie Apocalypse Warning
Last weekend, Lake Worth, Florida, experienced a brief power outage that lasted under 30 minutes and impacted approximately 8,000 residents. While this wouldn’t usually make headlines, people were shocked to receive an automated alert warning them of 'extreme zombie activity.'
The message warned of a 'power outage and zombie alert for residents of Lake Worth and Terminus.' The latter is a fictional location from the popular zombie series The Walking Dead, making it clear the alert was intended as a prank. City officials later clarified that there was no zombie activity in Lake Worth at that time.
At this point, authorities still don’t know who was behind the alert or what triggered the power outage. An investigation is ongoing, but Lake Worth spokesman Ben Kerr assured the public that no staff or employees were involved. Additionally, the city's system for pre-set messages was thoroughly checked to prevent further zombie alerts. Kerr did not elaborate on whether any other altered messages were found during the probe.
8. Old Attic Vase Revealed as Priceless Masterpiece
We’ve all heard those stories about people who picked up seemingly worthless items at thrift stores for just a few dollars, or found something collecting dust in their garage, only to later discover it was worth a fortune. This recently happened to a family in France. While cleaning out their attic, they found a Qing dynasty porcelain vase.
The vase had been tucked away in an old shoebox for years, as the family wasn’t particularly fond of it. It had been passed down from their grandparents, who received it from an uncle along with several other Chinese and Japanese works of art.
The family finally decided to get it appraised at Sotheby’s Paris. Art expert Olivier Valmier quickly recognized the vase as a high-quality, authentic piece. He identified it as a Yangcai Famille-Rose porcelain vase, marked by the Qianlong Emperor, who ruled China in the mid- to late 18th century. It was appraised at $600,000.
7. Police Arrest The Naked Thief
A notorious burglar was captured in Kerala, India. The 27-year-old law student, Edwin John, had committed at least 15 burglaries before his arrest, gaining attention for his bizarre method. Before breaking into homes, John would strip off all his clothes, cover himself in black paint, and wear a pair of underwear... on his head to avoid being recognized.
Unsurprisingly, his peculiar approach earned him nicknames like 'the Naked Thief' or 'Captain Underpants' in the Indian press. Despite his so-called 'foolproof' disguise, John’s face was still visible in CCTV footage, which led to his identification.
To travel between his crime scenes, John would steal bikes and scooters. Authorities have multiple theft cases linked to Edwin John in various Kerala cities, and he is under investigation for additional crimes in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.
6. World War I Shell Found Among Household Trash
A bomb squad unit from the Canadian Forces was called to London, Ontario, to dispose of an unusual threat: a live artillery shell left out with the trash.
The shell in question was 60 centimeters (24 in) long, weighed 41 kilograms (90 lb), and contained enough explosives to equal 24 sticks of dynamite. Likely dating back to World War I, it was found at the end of a driveway, next to a garbage bag. Neighbor Danny Vellow discovered it. Fortunately, Vellow had worked at a bombing range and immediately recognized the shell as live and extremely dangerous. He alerted local authorities before heading out on a beer run, prompting them to call the bomb squad.
Authorities are still investigating the individuals who left the artillery shell by the curb. Vellow described them as two 'nefarious' brothers who had rented the house for a brief period before being evicted.
Vellow was delighted to learn that he had set two records for finding the largest and oldest bomb ever discovered by a civilian in Canada. The shell was later transported to Canadian Forces Base Borden, where it was safely destroyed in a controlled explosion.
5. Neuroscientists Investigate Michael Jackson’s Iconic Dance Moves
Michael Jackson’s music video for 'Smooth Criminal' may be over 30 years old, yet it continues to captivate neuroscientists who are investigating spine biomechanics. One of the most memorable moments shows MJ performing a gravity-defying dance move where he leans forward at a 45-degree angle while maintaining a straight spine. A study in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine explored this move, considering how modern dances can lead to new types of spinal stresses and injuries.
The study explains that the average person can tilt forward by about 20 degrees. A dancer with good core strength might manage 25 to 30 degrees. So, how did Michael Jackson manage to lean so far forward without falling while keeping his spine straight?
It wasn’t a trick involving wires or camera magic. MJ performed this move live during his concerts. The secret was a patented shoe with a triangular cutout in the heel, which could latch onto a peg sticking up from the floor, anchoring him in place. This shifted the fulcrum from the sacrum to the Achilles tendon. However, even with this innovation, the move still placed significant strain on the lower limbs and spinal muscles.
The authors of the study noted that dance moves like those pioneered by Michael Jackson, along with other artists influenced by him, have pushed neuroscientists to better understand the mechanics of spinal injury. As such moves evolve, new forms of injuries will continue to challenge neurosurgeons.
4. Scientists Embark on Another Search for Nessie
The Loch Ness Monster is widely regarded as the most well-known cryptid globally. Alongside a large group of passionate believers who travel to Loch Ness hoping to catch a glimpse of 'Nessie,' the creature has also piqued the interest of scientists over the years. Despite all this attention, there is still no solid proof that any extraordinary creature resides in Loch Ness.
The legend will soon be tested once again. In the coming month, an international team of scientists plans to gather hundreds of DNA samples to uncover what species inhabit the loch. This ambitious project is led by Professor Neil Gemmell from the University of Otago in New Zealand.
The strategy involves taking 300 water samples from different locations and depths within the loch. Each sample is expected to contain DNA remnants from the various animals that live there. These fragments will be extracted, sequenced, and compared to a known species database. If any results don’t align with known species, it could suggest the presence of an unknown creature lurking in the waters.
Even if the study fails to find any signs of the Loch Ness Monster, Gemmell believes it will still offer a thorough survey of the lake’s biodiversity. He expects the research to be completed by year’s end.
3. Robot Submarine Discovers ‘Holy Grail Of Shipwrecks’
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have confirmed the discovery of the San Jose, a Spanish galleon that sank three centuries ago while transporting a fortune in gold, silver, and emeralds valued at billions of dollars.
The confirmation was made using a small underwater robot named Remus 6000. It utilized long-range sonar to scan the seafloor and captured images of any unusual objects. With this method, the robot uncovered bronze cannons engraved with dolphins, a distinct marker of the San Jose.
Often referred to as the “Holy Grail of Shipwrecks,” the galleon may hold treasure worth up to $17 billion. It was first discovered in November 2015 off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, by the Colombian Navy. Since then, Spain and Colombia have been in a dispute over the legal ownership of the treasure. As of now, the exact location of the wreck remains confidential.
2. Child In Swingers Club Turns Out To Be Short Woman
Recently released police documents regarding an English swingers club shed light on an odd incident that occurred in July 2015. Authorities investigated a disturbing report that a minor had been present at a club featuring amenities like pole dancing, a spa, and a “fully equipped dungeon.” After further investigation, it was revealed that the “child” was actually an exceptionally short woman.
ClubF is a well-known establishment in Stanley, County Durham, that caters to swingers. Since minors are not permitted, a concerned neighbor called the authorities after seeing what appeared to be a child entering the venue.
Law enforcement responded and spoke with the staff, who assured them that the individual in question was an adult guest. The report does not confirm if the officers directly spoke to the woman, but it does clarify that she was described as a person of “shorter stature.”
1. Latin Is Too Filthy For Cake Maker
A supermarket in South Carolina decided that the Latin term summa cum laude was inappropriate and chose to censor it on a graduation cake.
Cara Koscinski ordered the cake online for her son, who had graduated with honors and been accepted into a college premed program. The inscription was meant to say, “Congrats Jacob! Summa Cum Laude Class of 2018.” However, Publix Super Markets' software flagged the word “Cum” as offensive and censored it. Cara even added a note in the special instructions to explain the meaning of the phrase and provided a source link.
Despite her efforts, the cake maker still deemed the phrase vulgar. When the cake was presented at Jacob’s celebration, it read “Summa – — – Laude.” Publix issued an apology and refunded the cost, though Koscinski remained baffled, as she believed she was the first to request that particular phrase on a cake.
