Another week has passed, and there’s a chance you’ve missed some truly bizarre stories. While you might have caught the big headlines, there’s a world of weird and wonderful news out there just waiting to be discovered. So, buckle up and prepare for a journey through some of the most offbeat stories from the past week!
The Secret Of The Observatory
Remember the mystery surrounding the sudden shutdown of the New Mexico observatory? It turns out it wasn’t aliens after all. The Sunspot Solar Observatory was temporarily closed, and staff evacuated due to a “security issue.”
Speculation ran wild, from alien detection to killer solar storms. However, the truth was far less sensational. The FBI was investigating a janitor for downloading and distributing child pornography. The remote location of the observatory meant evacuation was the safest course of action during the investigation.
Is Alcohol The Solution?
For some, it might be. A study by the University of Regina suggests that managed alcohol programs could offer a viable option for addicts who struggle with abstinence.
Withdrawal symptoms can be a major barrier to recovery, sometimes even deadly. Managed alcohol programs aim to stabilize addicts by providing safe, controlled amounts of alcohol, reducing the risk of both intoxication and withdrawal. This approach has reportedly led to fewer hospital visits, less involvement with law enforcement, and improvements in addicts’ overall well-being.
Buffet Bans Insatiable Athlete
Jaroslav Bobrowski, a German athlete, found himself banned from an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant after consuming 100 plates of sushi for less than $20!
As an Ironman competitor, Bobrowski follows a diet of extreme fasting followed by periods of overeating. He took full advantage of the restaurant’s offer, but the owner wasn’t pleased, primarily because Bobrowski didn’t order enough drinks, which is where the restaurant makes its profit. He also took multiple plates at once, slowing down the sushi carousel for other customers.
A Unique Pothole Problem
Residents of Toronto’s Kensington Market face a peculiar problem: a pothole-ridden lane that the city won’t fix. Why? Because the owner of the lane has been dead for 118 years!
City officials claim the lane is private property, belonging to Robert Brittain Denison since 1861. Denison died in 1900, and records of ownership have been lost. Despite being a busy thoroughfare, the city refuses to maintain the lane until ownership is established.
Sex Doll Rescue
Austrian firefighters responded to a call about a “suspicious” object floating in a river, feared to be a drowned woman. The object turned out to be a sex doll. Locals reported a body-like object in the water, prompting a full-scale rescue operation.
Upon retrieval, the firefighters discovered the object was a deflated blow-up doll. They posed for photos with their unusual “victim,” bringing a humorous end to the situation.
Drama In The Storm
The Weather Channel faced criticism for potentially exaggerating storm reports. A correspondent was seen struggling against a gale, while pedestrians casually walked by in the background.
The Weather Channel defended the reporter, claiming he was trying to maintain his footing on wet grass while the pedestrians were on concrete. The incident sparked debate about the authenticity of storm coverage and whether reporters sometimes overemphasize the drama.
A Place To Live Long And Prosper
Scientists discovered a new exoplanet in the same location as the fictional planet Vulcan from Star Trek. The exoplanet orbits the star 40 Eridani A, which was identified as Vulcan’s sun in Star Trek canon.
The exoplanet is a super-Earth, about nine times the mass of our own. It resides within the habitable zone of its star, raising hopes about the potential for life, though there’s no evidence of Vulcans just yet.
A Different Kind Of Sea Weed
Several Florida counties experienced an influx of marijuana bundles washing ashore. Dozens of drug bundles drifted onto beaches, creating a dilemma for beachgoers.
Some people chose to call the authorities, while others attempted to make off with the illicit cargo. One man was arrested for trying to take a 5-kilogram bundle, while another incident involved multiple people fighting over a washed-up package.
Ecstasy Makes Octopuses Like Each Other More Than Chewbacca
Scientists conducted an experiment where they gave ecstasy to octopuses to observe its effects on their social behavior. The results showed that the drug made them more sociable.
Normally solitary creatures, octopuses on ecstasy spent more time interacting with each other rather than avoiding contact. This research aims to inform the therapeutic applications of ecstasy for conditions like social anxiety and PTSD.
To The Moon And Back
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is set to become the first private tourist to fly to the Moon using SpaceX’s Big Falcon Rocket (BFR). The mission is planned for 2023, marking humanity’s return to the Moon since 1972.
Maezawa will invite six to eight artists to join him on the lunar voyage, hoping the experience will inspire them to create masterpieces upon their return. The BFR will loop around the Moon without landing.
From bizarre crimes to space exploration and drug-induced octopus parties, this week’s news has been anything but ordinary. These stories offer a glimpse into the strange and often unpredictable world we live in.
Which story surprised you the most? Leave your comment below!
