On Listverse, get ready for a recap of some of the strangest news stories that have been making the rounds. From science to bizarre human moments, there’s plenty to explore.
We’re diving into stories covering various fields of interest. We’ve got machine mishaps, controversies around high-tech gadgets, surprisingly intelligent crows, and even crickets possibly causing a “sonic attack.” Plus, we explore the science behind double-dipping and ponder mysterious signals from outer space.
A Doping Scandal
A 90-year-old cyclist was stripped of his world record after failing a drug test. Carl Grove from Bristol, Indiana, won the US Masters Track National Championships in the 90–94 age group, also setting a new world record. However, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped him of the record after he received two doping violations.
Grove’s sample tested positive for epitrenbolone. He was also using a supplement contaminated with clomiphene. His excuse? He claimed the drugs “more likely than not” came from tainted cow liver he ate the night before the race. He only received a public warning but will have to race again to reclaim his record.
An Expensive Fish
A massive bluefin tuna sold for a record 333.6 million yen ($3.1 million) at a New Year’s auction in Tokyo.
Kiyoshi Kimura, the “Tuna King” who owns a sushi restaurant chain, bought the 278-kilogram (612 lbs) fish. This special auction commemorated the closing of the Tsukiji fish market, which was among the largest seafood markets globally. Kimura expressed some buyer’s remorse, expecting to pay far less. His purchase doubled the previous record, reclaiming his title as the top bidder.
An Unexpected Comeback
Axl Rose has released his first new song in over a decade, featured in a Looney Tunes cartoon.
After tensions caused a long recording hiatus following the 1993 album, The Spaghetti Incident?, Guns N’ Roses released Chinese Democracy in 2008 to a lukewarm reception. Axl Rose went on another hiatus, touring and performing but not recording new material. He recently released “Rock the Rock,” with an animated version of himself alongside Looney Tunes characters, rocking out to stop an asteroid.
A Daft Mistake
Scholars from the British Museum admitted to being “daft” after realizing that an artifact they had been displaying as an ancient vase was actually the head of a mace turned upside down.
While researching the exhibit No Man’s Land, curators discovered their blunder. Comparing their object with a similar one at Yale University revealed that their “vase” was a weapon made for King Gishakidu of Umma. Now right-side up, the decoration depicts a net used to immobilize people for execution.
A Fallen Robot
A unique motoring accident occurred in Las Vegas, with camera footage showing a “self-driving” car committing a hit-and-run on a robot.
The robot, named Promobot and created by a Russian company also called Promobot, was run down by a Tesla Model S. The Russian organization has been capitalizing on the “accident” for exposure. As of now, neither Promobot nor Tesla has officially commented on the alleged hoax.
A Sonic Conundrum
Strange noises reported by US diplomats in Cuba, initially feared as a “sonic attack,” might just be crickets.
Since 2016, diplomats complained of vertigo, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. Scientists claim the sound is caused by the Indies short-tailed cricket, analyzing the audio sample to match the insect’s chirps. While the study hasn’t been peer-reviewed, researchers suggest the noises, not necessarily the symptoms, were cricket-related.
A Contentious Sex Toy
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) faced gender bias accusations after banning a female sex toy while showcasing male-oriented sex technology.
The Ose personal massager, developed by Lora DiCarlo, was initially selected as the CES 2019 Innovation Awards honoree but was later banned for being “immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA’s image.” Founder Lora Haddock argued the device fits the Robotics and Drone category, questioning the obscenity claim given the presence of VR porn and sex robots at CES.
A Smart Bird
Crows have been observed exhibiting an ability previously only ascribed to humans—they can infer the weight of an object by how it moves in the wind.
A study at the University of Cambridge showed that New Caledonian crows understand that items blown away by a breeze are lighter than those that remain still. During the experiment, crows were able to select the object that would earn them a reward in 73 percent of cases, suggesting they can infer weight.
A Double-Dipped Chip
Double-dipping—dipping a chip, taking a bite, and dipping again—exposes others to a surprising amount of bacteria, according to a new experiment.
Food scientists found around 1,000 more bacteria per milliliter of dip when double-dipping occurred compared to a single dip. This was described as a “significant amount,” more similar to person-to-person transfers of contagious diseases. The researchers also tested the five-second rule, deeming it a game of “Russian roulette” where the surface type matters more than the duration.
A Mysterious Signal
Astronomers have detected puzzling space signals from a distant galaxy.
These fast radio bursts (FRBs) were picked up by the CHIME telescope in British Columbia, emanating from a source about 1.5 billion light-years away. While the origin is unknown, scientists speculate possibilities ranging from colliding neutron stars to black holes. Some even suggest the signals could be from aliens, with Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb proposing they could be energy beams used to propel spacecraft.
Wrapping Up the Week’s Oddities
From athletic scandals to space enigmas, this week has delivered a fascinating mix of stories. Whether it’s the quirks of human behavior or the mysteries of the universe, there’s always something new and unexpected to discover.
What story surprised you the most? Leave your comment below!
