Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 120
October 26, 2021
October 25, 2021
October 24, 2021
October 23, 2021
October 22, 2021
Australia Pelted With Grapefruit-Sized Hail
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
It’s currently the middle of spring in Australia, and yet earlier this week the land of giant spiders, snakes, and crocodiles endured storms that pummeled Queensland with grapefruit-sized hailstones!
A massive storm rolled into Australia’s east coast from Tuesday to Wednesday, blanketing the ground with so much hail it looked like snow in some areas. Meanwhile, other places were getting pelted with giant hailstones confirmed to be the largest ever recorded in the country.
Giant hail hammers Mackay, Australia as wild weather sweeps across Queensland #australia #mackay #queensland #storm #weather #hail https://t.co/6WFTcuxduq via @Strange_Sounds pic.twitter.com/i4bc6oufoU
— Strange Sounds (@Strange_Sounds) October 19, 2021
The 6.3-inch balls of ice rained down on the Land Down Under at a “velocity of well over 100 kilometers an hour (62 mph),” according to forecaster Shane Kennedy from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
Shopping centers across the Mackay region took the brunt of the beating, with one in Coffs Harbour even being evacuated after a ceiling collapsed from the storm. At the same time, water flooded in through the roof of a center in Toormina as 400 people gathered inside for shelter.
The State Emergency Service reportedly responded to more than 280 calls for assistance on Wednesday afternoon, mainly to homes with skylights, with even more coming in as people arrived home from work.
Spring in Australia…
️ A large-scale multi-agency response is continuing in Coffs Harbour right now after a freak hail storm hit just before 3pm. 280+ calls for help so far and more expected as residents return home. Extensive damage reported across city @nbnnews @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/kPtfpBijQH
— Olivia Grace-Curran (@livgracecurran) October 20, 2021
Residents of the area took to social media with images of smashed windshields, dented car roofs, shattered skylights, and fist-sized hailstones.
The previous record for largest hailstone was around 5.5 inches, according to Kennedy.
By Meghan Yani, contributor for Ripleys.com
EXPLORE THE ODD IN PERSON! Discover hundreds of strange and unusual artifacts and get hands-on with unbelievable interactives when you visit a Ripley’s Odditorium!
October 21, 2021
October 20, 2021
Is That Gum I Swallowed 7 Years Ago Still In My Stomach?
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
You probably have heard many myths and superstitions over the years: Don’t break a mirror or you’ll have seven years of bad luck. Don’t start shaving body hair young or it’ll grow back darker and thicker. Eating a watermelon seed will cause a watermelon to grow inside you. And, of course, don’t swallow your gum or else it will take seven years to digest!
It is a great way for parents to ensure their kids didn’t swallow gum, which can be a choking hazard. But it may also cause some individuals to fear accidentally swallowing the sticky substance long after they’ve grown up.
We’re here to break the good news! While the body technically doesn’t digest gum, it will pass it. It actually does so in just a few short days, research proves.
Gum’s Chewy OriginsIt’s unknown where the 7-year timeframe comes from, but the theory more than likely stemmed from the fact that many companies used to label their gum as “indigestible.”
The main ingredients in gum are sweeteners, flavoring, preservatives, and softeners, which the stomach has no problem breaking down. These ingredients are found in everyday items you consume on the regular.
However, it is the gum base itself that is indigestible. It was made originally from chicle, a sap from a sapodilla tree, which is what the ancient Mayans chewed. Modern gum has since been made with synthetic polymers or elastomers, and similar rubber-like ingredients, to help speed up the manufacturing process and keep up with demand. You might be thinking, “Then, is it okay to even be chewing gum in the first place?”
The answer is yes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) puts limitations on certain ingredients. So even if swallowed, the synthetic components only sit in your stomach for a week at the most. It goes through a similar process as parts of majorly fibrous foods.
One of the two main types of fiber, insoluble fiber, is considered indigestible but is fine to eat and is actually encouraged. It can be found in foods like nuts, seeds, beans, and corn. The way these types of substances are released from the body is through your stool.
Once the gum is swallowed, it’ll find its way to your small intestine, which absorbs sugars and nutrients. Following the same path as insoluble fiber, the gum base (AKA the indigestible part of the gum) is moved to the colon. It’ll be passed during a future bowel movement to ensure it escapes the body.
Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You ShouldDon’t try swallowing gum at home. Large amounts of the chewy matter can lead to blockages in the intestine. It may also lead to choking if swallowed wrong. It’s recommended that children don’t try chewing gum until they can fully understand the importance of not swallowing it. Though, don’t fret if you happen to swallow a piece of your go-to flavor on accident. It’ll be out of your system within a week, give or take!
By Sam McCormack, contributor for Ripleys.com
EXPLORE THE ODD IN PERSON! Discover hundreds of strange and unusual artifacts and get hands-on with unbelievable interactives when you visit a Ripley’s Odditorium!Source: Is That Gum I Swallowed 7 Years Ago Still In My Stomach?
October 19, 2021
The Man-Made Jungle Paradise Located In An Airport
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Air travel can be a real hassle. But if you happen to have a stop at Changi Airport in Singapore, you’re in for a lush layover.
The Crown Jewel of Air TravelThe main attraction is the Jewel, a donut-shaped glass building featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, known as the HSBC Rain Vortex. The 130-foot-tall waterfall uses recirculated rainwater that drops seven stories down from the roof, creating a cylindrical cascade. When the water hits the floor, it travels through a large acrylic funnel, creating an inverted waterfall for two levels in the airport located below the ground level.
Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'vc9ZCNkQSfpZXLr7rpVS3A',sig:'GR8CY6f_Dhft6T-6o7ldBcXnqQHd15oAoQHw1NZsyrA=',w:'474px',h:'364px',items:'1201794444,1146447801,1177474397',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});
The effect is magnified at night when the waterfall is the centerpiece of a 360-degree light and audio exhibit. The installation was designed by Los Angeles-based design firm WET, which also created the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Design director Peter Kopik said the waterfall was built to be a continuation of the building, explaining, “It’s like the roof is pouring in and the building is getting completed in a liquid form.”
Even More to ExploreIf the Rain Vortex isn’t enough to tempt you to have a layover at Changi Airport, perhaps the Shiseido Forest Valley will. It is spread out across five levels and reaches 100-feet high, with multiple trails for guests to explore. It’s filled with more than 900 trees and palms and about 60,000 shrubs. Special species from China, the United States, and Australia were chosen for the enclosure because they’re most likely to survive the structure’s temperature, humidity, and sun exposure.
At the top of the forest is Canopy Park, where people can walk the entire perimeter and get different views of the Rain Vortex. There are additional gardens, activities, and restaurants to explore. Attractions include suspended nets that you can bounce or walk along, a glass bottom bridge, hedge and mirror mazes, a sculptural playground, and even something called “foggy bowls.”
Editorial credit: DerekTeo / Shutterstock.com
The Jewel is located near Terminal 1 in an area that used to be a parking lot. The attraction spans 1.46-million square feet and cost about $1.25 billion USD to build. It was constructed specifically to attract more tourists to the airport and make it one of the most desirable places to kill time between flights. After all, wouldn’t you rather explore an indoor forest and waterfall for a few hours instead of sitting in a crowded airport lounge with just your smartphone for entertainment?
Take Your Own Step Out of the Box!Challenge yourself to get a little weird, try new things, and step out of your comfort zone with inspiration from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Out of the Box, available now on Amazon and at most major retailers.
By Noelle Talmon, contributor for Ripleys.com
STEP OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Experience the stories of adventurers near and far, from a three-year-old mountain climber to hair-hangers and acrobats. Leave inspired by unbelievable talents, breathtaking bucket list-worthy locations, and curious discoveries, all from people just like you as you uncover the pages of Ripley’s newest annual book!Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog
- Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s profile
- 52 followers
