Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 180
October 3, 2020
October 2, 2020
Particularly Peculiar Prescriptions
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
In the 17th edition of the Ripley’s annual—Mind Blown!—your mind will be blown away by more than 1,200 strange stories, unusual feats, and hair-raising oddities from around the world.
Aside from the colorful in-depth features, the science behind some of the weirdest facts, amazing photographs, and contributions from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! fans, the infographics in the book provide some of the wildest tidbits, tucked away within the pages. Let’s shine a light on one of these Mind Blown! infographics and learn more about Peculiar Prescriptions.
In 1973, an obese 27-year-old Scottish man went on the most extreme diet imaginable, fasting for 382 days under medical supervision. He lost an extraordinary 276 pounds!
If you thought the obsession with men and women’s eating habits was a modern problem—think again. In the Victorian era, there were several cases of young, pre-teen to teenage girls who made names for themselves by refusing food and sometimes even water. These fasting girls were known far and wide for their ability to go long periods without eating and, in some cases, for the magical powers they claimed to possess because of this practice.
Perhaps the most well-known of the fasting girls was Mollie Fancher who was also dubbed the Brooklyn Enigma. Fancher lived from 1848 to 1916, and at 16, she experienced a severe accident where she became caught on a carriage and was dragged behind it, leading to serious side effects.
Molly Fancher, “The Brooklyn Enigma”
She lost most of her senses like sight, taste, touch, and smell, and she was also paralyzed. If that wasn’t enough, she stopped eating or drinking anything and claimed to have powers such as clairvoyance. People who observed her stated that her stomach collapsed to the point where one could feel her spinal cord on the other side. Fancher started eating again after about 16 years, but no one was able to confirm or deny whether or not she was truly miraculous.
Moving onto some extra calories…
Beer spas are all the buzz in Europe, Japan, and even parts of America, because the yeast in bubbling brews is believed to boast cleansing properties and ease muscle and joint soreness.
But are there actually health benefits to kicking back a few cold ones? Research has proven that beer contains antioxidants and B vitamins, as well as ethanol and silicon, which help prevent osteoporosis and can grow new bone tissue.
Next up…
For those suffering from sleep apnea, researchers in Switzerland have stumbled upon an effective, albeit impractical, new treatment option—playing the didgeridoo.
Before you just didgeridoo it—the facts:
The didgeridoo is a very long cylindrical wind instrument invented over 1,500 years ago, by Indigenous Australians. In 2009, the results of a Brazilian research study revealed that people who learned to play the didgeridoo had some mild improvement in their sleep apnea, thought to be related to the circular breathing required to play this instrument. This type of breathing allows a didgeridoo player to create continuous sound without interruption, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth simultaneously, using air that has been stored in the cheeks. Breathing this way is thought to strengthen the muscles in the upper airway, making them less likely to collapse during sleep.
And last, but not least…
The treatment known as fecal bacteriotherapy involves a healthy person donating their poop so it can be liquified and transplanted into a sick person’s rectum, recolonizing their intestines with the healthy donor’s bacterium in the process.
Yes, fecal transplants are a marvel of modern medicine. Just recently, in fact, a 47-year-old man had a transplant to cure his random bouts of drunkenness.
His journey began after a fateful trip to the hospital for intoxication where he tested for 17 times more alcohol in his system than the average person. That’s two times the legal limit! Yet, he hadn’t had anything alcoholic to drink. It turns out it was a raging case of ABS! Scientifically known as auto-brewery syndrome, ABS causes gut fungi and bacteria to ferment contents of the intestines, resulting in alcohol production that causes spontaneous drunkenness.
The anonymous man was sent home from the hospital with the standard prescription of an antifungal drug and a low carb diet but, to no avail, a month later, he was ticketed for driving under the influence. This left doctors with only one extreme option: transferring poop into his butt—and not even his own—a fecal microbiota transplant. This man’s case was so severe, he went for the idea and it worked! It’s been three years since his surgery and the only intoxication he’s experienced has been on his terms!
We told you these were some peculiar prescriptions! For more mind-blowing facts and unbelievably awesome stories, check out the 17th edition of Ripley’s best-selling annual book, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mind Blown!
THE STRANGEST STORIES OF THE YEAR
Now that you’ve read the strangest stories of the week, how about the strangest stories of the year? Ripley’s all-new annual is an all-true collection of incredible facts, unexpected stories, and stunning photography!
A Rat Among Men: Rodent Wins Esteemed PDSA Gold Medal
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
[September 28-October 4, 2020] Foul-mouthed parrots, an Orlando inception, and high-speed garbage—all round-up in this week’s weird news from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Birds of a Feather Curse Together
Five African gray parrots at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Centre were separated this week after encouraging each other to swear. Although the park received no complaints about foul-mouthed friends and their antics, zookeepers thought it was best to separate the troublemakers to prevent them from ruffling the feathers of younger visitors. The park’s CEO, Steve Nichols, said the behavior was noticed quickly, and that, while it’s common for parrots to swear, the park has “never had five at the same time.” Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade, and Elsie have been relocated to different zoo areas in hopes that they will acclimate to their surroundings and start mimicking the more appropriate, natural calls of other birds in their colony. Nichols acknowledged the humor in the situation, saying, “When a parrot tells you to f*** off, it amuses people very highly. It’s brought a big smile to a really long year.”
The Most Wonderful Way to $1 Million
Now through December 7th, you have the chance to not only help the environment, but make a million dollars while you do it! The California juice company, The Wonderful Co. is seeking a new innovative way to dispose the skins of their pomegranate fruits. To claim the million dollar prize, one must submit a plan to the company outlining a way they can remove the 500,000 tons of pomegranate husks they go through each year. Each pitch will be put through a four-stage review process before the final plan is chosen. Should yours make it to the first place podium, consider yourself a millionaire!
The High-Speed Vehicle We’ve All Been Waiting For
English design engineer Andy Jennings set a world record this week with the high-speed vehicle we’ve all been waiting for: the trash can! Jennings, of York, England, competed in the Straightliners Land Speed Record event at Elvington airfield, where he wasted no time setting the record for the World’s Fastest Trash Can. Jennings turned garbage into gold using parts of an electronic scooter and a motorcycle engine to construct a vehicle that reached speeds over 43 miles per hour!
NASA Astronauts Take Voting to Another Level
Have you heard the one about how astronauts vote? They planet ahead! Staying distanced while voting has been a hot topic this year, but that’s no issue for NASA astronaut, Kate Rubins, who intends to cast her ballot from space! Rubins is currently in Russia preparing to take off to the International Space Station where she’ll be staying for six months after her mid-October launch. Rubins and three other U.S. astronauts will vote using an electronic ballot that Johnson Space Center’s Mission Control will forward to the space station. They will fill out their ballots at the same time as those voting on Earth, then send it straight to the County Clerk’s Office via email to be recorded. “It’s critical to participate in our democracy,” said Rubins. “We consider it an honor to be able to vote from space.”
A Rat Among Men
A heroic rat has redeemed his species’ bad reputation by earning a gold medal for his exceptional work in discovering landmines and saving lives in Cambodia! Magawa, an African-Giant Pouched Rat, was awarded the PDSA’s Gold Medal after sniffing out 39 landmines and 28 other unexploded items throughout his career. People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British veterinary charity, presented Magawa with a tiny gold medal that reads, “For animal gallantry or devotion of duty.” The well-earned award is the animal equivalent of the Medal of Valor here in the United States. While undergoing training by APOPO, a Belgium-based organization, Magawa learned to use his memory and sense of smell to detect landmines. According to Christophe Cox, chief executive of APOPO, “Rats ignore scrap metal and only sniff out explosives, making them fast and efficient landmine detectors.” Whereas humans with metal detectors can search an area the size of a tennis court in four days, rats like Magawa can do it in 30 minutes all by themselves! “Magawa’s work directly saves and changes the lives of men, women, and children who are impacted by these landmines. Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death for local people,” said PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin. Three cheers for Magawa!
Big congratulations to Magawa, a Tanzanian rat just awarded gold medal for “life-saving bravery” for his work detecting 39 dangerous land mines and 28 explosives in Cambodia
Born in 2014 pic.twitter.com/y4FpWlVtrw
— Africa story Live (@AfricaStoryLive) September 28, 2020
By Meghan Yani, contributor for Ripleys.com
THE STRANGEST STORIES OF THE YEAR
Now that you’ve read the strangest stories of the week, how about the strangest stories of the year? Ripley’s all-new annual is an all-true collection of incredible facts, unexpected stories, and stunning photography!
Source: A Rat Among Men: Rodent Wins Esteemed PDSA Gold Medal
CARTOON 10-02-2020October 1, 2020
September 30, 2020
September 29, 2020
Prepare To Be Blown Away… Ripley’s Annual On Sale Now
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Over the past year, Ripley’s editors, writers, and researchers have been on the hunt for all-new and all-true stories from around the world, and what they found will truly blow you away!
In the 17th edition of this best-selling annual series, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mind Blown! takes you on a deep dive into our strange and wonderful world, from incredible people to unbelievable animals.
In fact, some of the stories take things to a hair-raising level—facial hair, that is. Brian and Jonathan are childhood best friends with a knack for creativity. Known as The Beard Bros, the two use their artistic abilities to dress up their whiskers with everything from flowers to cheese puffs! Back in 2014, a friend convinced the pair to put a few flowers in their beards for a photoshoot. After the overwhelming amount of love they received for this idea, the duo was on a mission to create more content just like it. Today, The Gay Beards fearlessly push social constructs and decorate their facial hair with anything from flowers to food, glitter, and even cupcake sprinkles.
Jonathan (left) and Brian, The Gay Beards
Every colorful and compelling photograph featured in Mind Blown! is truly worth a thousand words, but artist Phil Vance of Sonora, California, takes this expression to a literal level. He creates masterpieces entirely from handwritten text! Vance’s elaborate portraits honor historical figures like Mark Twain, Einstein, and Picasso. But his methods are anything but ordinary. Vance relies on the written word, to create shadows, contours, patterns, and details in his artwork. The famous words of his muses are compiled to blend into one image from a distance. But up close, they fragment into phrases, as if the viewer is peering into the thoughts of each subject.
The Joker by artist Phil Vance
Alongside these in-depth features, discover the science behind some of the weirdest facts, an inside look at the Ripley’s exhibit collection, and contributions from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! fans. There’s no telling where your curiosity will take you when you uncover the pages of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mind Blown!, on sale now at all major retailers.
Stay tuned for a closer look at some of the book’s unbelievable talent and featured stories, here on Ripleys.com. And, for live interviews with these curious creators themselves, follow along with us on Facebook or Twitch!
Source: Prepare To Be Blown Away… Ripley’s Annual On Sale Now
September 28, 2020
WATCH: Unlocking Lincoln Featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
A thick, two-inch tuft of hair clipped postmortem from the head of Abraham Lincoln was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at auction for more than $81,000. We received a lot of questions and worked with experts in the fields of science and medicine to answer them. Watch Unlocking Lincoln Featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris as Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, medical historian, bestselling author, and host of the Smithsonian Channel’s “The Curious Life and Death Of…”, DNA expert Dr. Dean Hildebrand of the BC Institute of Technology, and John Corcoran, Ripley’s Exhibits and Traveling Shows Director, dive deeper into this exhibit’s history and answer some truly curious questions.
Find Out:
What makes this acquisition so special
Why a lock of hair would be kept postmortem
What we can learn from this hair
If DNA verification is possible
How this exhibit debunks one of the many Lincoln conspiracy theories
… and much more
Unlocking Lincoln Featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris originally streamed live on Ripley’s Facebook. Follow us on social for more live programming and curious content.
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Lincoln’s hair arrived at Ripley’s Warehouse on September 17, 2020.
Source: WATCH: Unlocking Lincoln Featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris
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