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It’s Saturday, which means it’s time to dive into the strange and quirky stories that surfaced this week. If you’ve fallen behind on the weird happenings from around the globe, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a roundup of some of the most bizarre headlines.
This week brings a mix of controversies, including debates in fashion, art, sports, and law. We also have a survival story with Taco Bell, the revelation of a supposed immortality elixir, and a strange incident involving a creature with a temporary anus.
10. A Unique Bridge Suspension Story
Another doping scandal has rocked the sports world, as Norwegian bridge player Geir Helgemo tested positive for testosterone. The most bizarre part? Helgemo is a professional bridge player.
In September, during an event in Orlando, testing revealed that the bridge player had tested positive not only for synthetic testosterone but also for a female fertility drug, clomifene. As a result, the World Bridge Federation (WBF) suspended him until November 20 and revoked all titles and points earned during the 2018 World Bridge Series. Before this, he was ranked the No. 1 bridge player in the world.
The WBF shared that Helgemo explained how the drugs entered his system, though the details were not made public. Unsurprisingly, the president of the Norwegian Bridge Federation, Kari-Anne Opsal, confirmed that the substances were not intended to enhance performance. You may wonder why these substances are even tested for, and that’s because the WBF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, meaning it follows the World Anti-Doping Agency's guidelines.
9. Armageddon't
The 1998 disaster film Armageddon has long been criticized for its implausible storyline. However, a recent study published in the journal Icarus may have sealed its fate. Scientists conducted computer simulations and concluded that even if humans managed to destroy an asteroid heading toward Earth, the forces of gravity would cause it to reassemble in space.
The potential danger of an asteroid collision is a legitimate worry. After all, it’s happened before, with catastrophic results. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created a computer model to simulate collisions and observe how the asteroid breaks apart. Their findings suggest that the fragments blown away in an Armageddon-like scenario would likely reassemble due to the gravitational pull of the asteroid.
Dr. Charles El Mir believes the simulations indicate that a much stronger force would be required to shatter an asteroid completely than previously assumed. Scientists once believed larger asteroids would be easier to break because they contained more imperfections. However, new findings reveal that these larger asteroids have bigger cores, which generate a stronger gravitational pull that would draw the fragments back together.
8. A Costly Set of Wheels
The Geneva Motor Show is currently taking place in Switzerland, with plenty of exciting news for car enthusiasts, including the reveal of the world’s most expensive new car.
The vehicle is called La Voiture Noire (‘The Black Car’) and was created by French automaker Bugatti. This one-of-a-kind car was made to commemorate the company’s 110th anniversary. Many reports claim that this hypercar is now the most expensive new car in the world, surpassing the Rolls-Royce Sweptail, the previous record-holder. However, the true price of either car has not been disclosed, making it difficult to confirm. Estimates for the Bugatti range between $11 million and $12.5 million, with an additional $6 million in local and luxury taxes.
La Voiture Noire is a sleek, jet-black car with a body made of carbon fiber. It features a 16-cylinder engine that produces 1,500 horsepower. While the company has not disclosed its top speed, the specifications are thought to resemble those of the Bugatti Chiron. A company representative explained that the design of La Voiture Noire pays homage to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, a rare car from the 1930s, with only four ever made.
The identity of the buyer of La Voiture Noire remains a mystery. Bugatti has simply described them as 'an enthusiast of the brand.' Speculation suggests that the car’s exclusive owner might be Ferdinand Piech, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche and a former CEO of Volkswagen.
7. The Mystery of the Transient Anus
A marine biologist believes he may have uncovered a unique feature in a species of comb jelly: a transient anus, a characteristic that seems to be found nowhere else in the animal kingdom.
Some simple creatures, like jellyfish, have just one opening through which they consume food and expel waste. More complex animals have a digestive system with a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. It was previously believed that comb jellies followed this pattern, except for the warty comb jelly, which appeared to lack an anus.
However, Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, found that the warty comb jelly does indeed have an anus... sometimes. His research revealed that the opening only appears when the jellyfish needs to defecate, and it vanishes afterward. As waste builds up in the jellyfish's body, its gut expands, eventually touching the epidermis. The two fuse, forming a temporary hole for excretion, but once the process is complete, the opening disappears completely, leaving no trace even under a microscope.
Tamm believes that the discovery of this peculiar anus is not merely a bizarre oddity, but could represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of animal anatomy.
6. Is Lake Erie A Person?
Voters in Toledo, Ohio, approved a groundbreaking measure that grants Lake Erie the same legal rights as humans. This marks the first instance in the United States where a natural resource has been given legal status.
The primary goal of this move was to protect the Great Lake from pollution. In 2014, agricultural runoff from surrounding tributaries caused a toxic algae bloom in the lake, leading to a state of emergency. Nearly half a million people were left without access to drinking water, prompting Toledo’s residents to seek new ways to safeguard the lake.
This resulted in a recent referendum that passed with 61% of the vote. The Lake Erie Bill of Rights grants the lake legal standing, meaning it can now 'stand' to sue those responsible for polluting it.
As anticipated, the measure has already been challenged by a group of farmers, who argue that it is unconstitutional and unlawful. They claim the law is too vague to enforce and violates their rights. It remains to be seen if the law will hold up in U.S. courts, with many legal experts doubting its chances, especially since Lake Erie extends far beyond Toledo's jurisdiction.
5. The Elixir of Life
In October of the previous year, archaeologists in China were exploring a noble family’s tomb in Henan Province. Among the many fascinating artifacts they uncovered—such as clay pots, jade objects, and a lamp—they discovered a pot containing a yellowish liquid. Initially, they suspected it was wine, but subsequent analysis led them to conclude it was an elixir of immortality.
The wine theory made sense at first. The liquid's color and its alcoholic smell seemed to support the idea that it was wine, a substance commonly used in rituals at the time. However, lab testing revealed that it contained alunite and potassium nitrate, two ingredients mentioned in ancient Taoist texts as key components of longevity elixirs.
Considering the liquid was found near the body of a deceased nobleman, it’s safe to assume that the elixir didn’t grant immortality. Nonetheless, Chinese researchers are thrilled by the find. Shi Jiazhen, head of the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in Luoyang, noted that this is the first time such an elixir from ancient China has been discovered.
4. Taco Bell Saves Lives
A man stranded in the snowy expanse of Central Oregon managed to survive for five days by relying solely on Taco Bell sauce packets.
Jeremy Taylor, an experienced outdoorsman, set out for a trip in Deschutes National Forest with his dog, Ally. Unfortunately, a heavy snowfall caused his car to get stuck on a forest service road. He spent the night in the vehicle, hoping for better conditions by morning, but the snowstorm worsened instead.
The next day, Taylor and Ally tried to hike their way out, but the snow was too deep. They were forced to return to the car. The pair spent five days stranded before being rescued by a snowmobiler who spotted them. During this time, Taylor’s only food was a handful of Taco Bell hot sauce packets.
Despite the hunger, both Taylor and his loyal dog remained in good health and high spirits. After the ordeal, Taylor humorously posted online, saying, 'Taco Bell fire sauce saves lives!' The unusual story caught the attention of the fast food chain, which rewarded Taylor with a year’s worth of free Taco Bell, plus all the sauce packets he could handle.
3. Mona Lisa, The Early Years
Art experts speculate that Leonardo da Vinci may have been the creator of a charcoal drawing known as the Nude Mona Lisa, possibly a study or preparatory piece for his famous painting.
The Nude Mona Lisa, also referred to as the Monna Vanna, is displayed at the Conde Museum in Chantilly, Oise, France. Although it was previously thought to have been created by one of da Vinci's students, recent research has led art historians to reconsider this theory. Investigations by the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France (C2RMF) have cast new light on its origins.
The notion that da Vinci may have been the artist of the drawing emerged in 2017 when restoration expert Bruno Mottin from the Louvre dated the piece to da Vinci's lifetime. Initially, Mottin dismissed Leonardo as the creator, suspecting that it was made by a right-handed person.
However, recent findings suggest that Mottin was mistaken by the shading at the top of the drawing, which appeared to be done with a right hand. The rest of the artwork, though, clearly shows the marks of a left-handed artist. Investigators have pointed out 'left-handed charcoal marks' throughout the drawing. Additionally, the piece uses 'sfumato,' a technique favored by Leonardo, which blends color transitions, similar to his famous use in the Mona Lisa.
Conde Museum curator Mathieu Deldicque suggests that the drawing is 'almost certainly a preparatory study for an oil painting.' However, he admits that the exact origins of the piece can never be fully confirmed.
2. Do Hipsters All Look The Same?
A man became upset with a technology magazine after they published an article claiming that all hipsters looked alike. He threatened legal action for using his image without permission, only to later discover that the photo actually depicted someone else who bore a striking resemblance to him.
The MIT Technology Review featured an article discussing the 'hipster effect.' This paradoxical phenomenon describes how individuals who are perceived as hipsters—people who pride themselves on rejecting mainstream culture—end up resembling each other. For the piece, the magazine used a stock photo from Getty Images showing a man who embodied the typical hipster look: a white man in his thirties with a beard, flannel shirt, and a knit cap.
This led to an outraged letter from someone claiming to be the person in the photo. He called the article 'nonsense' and 'slanderous,' stating that he would pursue legal action for the unauthorized use of his image.
The editor-in-chief understood that simply calling someone a hipster wasn't a criminal offense. They also knew the magazine had the appropriate license and had followed proper usage guidelines for the image. To double-check, the magazine reached out to Getty to verify if the model had signed a release. Getty responded, confirming that the model's name was not the same as the complainant's. Once this was revealed, the accuser realized the man in the photo wasn't him, though they probably looked quite similar.
1. Tiny Handbag Makes Big Splash
Paris Fashion Week wrapped up on Tuesday, drawing in a crowd of fashion-forward attendees eager to witness the latest couture trends. However, one particular accessory stole the spotlight, raising eyebrows about whether the trend of downsizing has gone a step too far. This accessory was a micro-handbag measuring a mere 5.2 centimeters (2 inches) in length.
This tiny creation, called the Mini Le Chiquito, was designed by French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus. It's a scaled-down version of the already petite Le Chiquito bag, which was introduced last year. Despite its hefty price tag of over $500, the Le Chiquito sold out at numerous retailers. The original bag, measuring 12 centimeters (4 inches) by 6 centimeters (2.5 inches), may have been too large for some, prompting the need for an even smaller version. There's no word yet on the price of the Mini Le Chiquito.
