Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 234
December 3, 2019
The Mystery Of Cattle Mutilations – Ripley’s Believe It or Notcast Episode 26
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
For the past several decades, cows have been found all over the American West mutilated in strange and horrific ways. Often drained of blood, with tongues and sexual organs removed, ranchers, local police, and even the FBI have struggled to explain these mysterious mutilations.
This week on the Notcast, we talk to a rancher who witnessed the results of cattle mutilations himself, before diving deep into the theories as to whether aliens, cults or just natural predators are to blame.
Possums “Playing” Dead?
For more weird news and strange stories, visit our homepage, and be sure to rate and share this episode of the Notcast!
Source: The Mystery Of Cattle Mutilations – Ripley’s Believe It or Notcast Episode 26
December 2, 2019
The Mysterious 1,300-Foot-Long Serpent Mound
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
In Southwest Ohio, a 1,300-foot-long mound resembling a snake winds itself into the minds of archaeologists, curious tourists, and locals alike.
And it’s been there for… well, no one’s exactly sure.
Serpent Mound, as it’s known, is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. As you might guess, it’s a lengthy man-made mound of dirt, its head facing the east and its tail curling toward the west. And at that head, a large oval invites speculation—some think it’s a large eye; others think it may represent an egg. Yet another interpretation is that it’s a depiction of a serpent swallowing nothing less than the world itself.
Adding to the attraction’s interest, there are also signs of an ancient meteor impact crater adjacent to the landform where Serpent Mound was built. It’s also not lost on some scholars that many civilizations assign supernatural powers to reptiles like snakes.
But as it turns out, indigenous cultures in this region commonly built these earthworks. For example, other similar structures can be found at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Miamisburg Mound State Memorial, Shrum Mound, and a few other sites not far from here. So, Serpent Mound isn’t exactly alone.
Each earthen mound has its own story to tell about the people of the past whose culture once thrived in the rolling hills of present-day Ohio. NPS Photo / Tom Engberg
“Conical burial mounds represent places on the landscape where the dead were interred with grave goods that were often made from material that is far from home,” shares Don Miller, an archaeologist specializing in Ohio Valley prehistory. “Like volcanic rock (obsidian) from Yellowstone, shells from the gulf coast, and minerals from the Appalachian mountains.” But, he clarifies, “We don’t know what exactly is within the serpent.”
“There are hundreds of conical burial mounds and hilltop enclosures remaining in Ohio,” he adds. But there are “very few effigy mounds.” That means, earthen mound structures resembling animals.
Serpent Mound is also accompanied by three nearby Native American burial mounds, all of which contribute to its story.
Enduring Mystery
While the jury’s still out on exactly who created Serpent Mound, the earthworks neighboring Serpent Mound have been attributed to the Adena culture, circa 800 B.C. – A.D. 100; and the Fort Ancient culture, which dates to 1000-1650.
Archaeologist Frederic Ward Putnam conducted an excavation of the site in the late 19th century, but no artifacts allowed him to attribute the mound effigy to any particular group. Then, in 1991, radiocarbon dating revealed an approximate age of 900 years. That revelation encouraged archaeologists to determine Serpent Mound was the work of the Fort Ancient culture.
But, not so fast. More tests conducted in 2014 support the initial assumption that the Adena culture was to credit. And, so it would seem, the mystery hasn’t quite been completely solved.
“The Fort Ancient people built small diameter, low height platform burial mounds within the center of their villages,” Miller says. But “the Serpent mound definitely does not fit this model.”
International Fan Club
In 2008, Serpent Mound was one of a handful of Buckeye state earthworks acknowledged by the United States Department of the Interior, in a recommendation that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organization include it on the World Heritage List (whew—that’s a mouthful!).
If added to that list, Serpent Mound would be in impressive company, for sure: the World Heritage List is an inspiring collection of natural wonders like the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt.
A fitting designation for the world’s largest serpent effigy, we’d say. Especially one with so many ssssssssssssecrets.
By Bill Furbee, contributor for Ripleys.com
December 1, 2019
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November 27, 2019
Science Says There’s Always Room For Dessert
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
It’s Thanksgiving and you’ve just stuffed yourself to the brim with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and just about everything else on the table. And then, they bring out the pie. Eh, you still have some room—let’s be honest, there’s always room for pie. Even when your pants’ button is about to pop, your “dessert shelf” is still empty. So, why does our brain tell us it’s okay to eat the pie, even after the grandest spread of the year?
You can thank your appetite-producing hormone, ghrelin.
Dessert Confuses Our Hormones
Basically, there are two energy balancing hormones that control our body’s want and need for more food: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a mediator of long-term energy balance regulation produced in fat cells and other types of tissue. It suppresses appetite and is our natural instinct to stop eating when we’re full. Ghrelin, on the other hand, is a fast-acting hormone, that plays a role in meal initiation. It is produced by cells lining the stomach and induces appetite. 
When our levels of ghrelin are high in the bloodstream, we feel hungry. After we fuel our bodies with food, ghrelin levels go down and leptin levels go up—we’re full! At least, this is supposed to be how things work. But that doesn’t explain why we still crave the pumpkin pie after our Thanksgiving feast.
To no surprise, when our body is confronted with the temptation of sweets, these hormones get a bit confused. There’s a good chance ghrelin could be leading us to eat high-fat, high-calorie, sugary treats—like pumpkin pie—even when our stomachs are full. Researchers suggest that it’s because ghrelin increases specific reward aspects of eating. Basically, eating dessert gives us all the warm and fuzzy feelings; go figure.
The Fat Mice Study
Researcher, Jeffrey Zigman, explains that rewards, like pumpkin pie, give us sensory pleasure and motivate us to work to obtain them. The effects of ghrelin on overeating were tested by conducting studies using mice.
Scientists observed whether mice that were full of food preferred a room where they previously found high-fat pellets versus a room that had regular bland food. When the mice were injected with ghrelin, they preferred the room with the fatty food. The mice without the ghrelin had no preference. These findings suggest that the mice with ghrelin pursue fatty food because they remember how pleasurable it was. The continued to return to the area that contained the fatty foods, while the uninjected mice gave up on the treats much easier.
Treat Yo’self
While ghrelin doesn’t give a totally complete answer as to why we’re able to scarf down dessert after a whole plate of turkey, this hormone certainly plays a role in it. Other research suggests that ghrelin stimulates stress-eating or reward-eating—A.K.A. “I deserve this pie.” Maybe we’re treating ourselves after a long week at work or the end of a pre-holiday diet or for surviving a period of stress or anxiety; no matter what the reason may be, we always have a reason for indulging in some dessert.
So when you go around the table with friends and family discussing what it is you’re thankful for, you can proudly say “ghrelin,” and take that last bite of pie.
Benjamin Franklin’s Beef (Or, Rather, “Turkey”) With The Bald Eagle
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Of all the historical figures associated with the founding of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) stands apart. He was an individual known for his pithy wisdom, crazy experiments with lightning and kites, and useful inventions like bifocals. A true Renaissance Man, he proved a central figure of the American Enlightenment. He also acted as the third president of Pennsylvania and founded many civic organizations.
So, how could an individual known for his great wisdom and intellect suggest that the turkey be our national emblem? The simple answer is, he didn’t. Keep reading to find out what Franklin actually wanted to see as America’s national symbol, as well as what he thought about bald eagles and turkeys.
Ben Franklin’s National Symbol
Following the momentous adoption of the Declaration of Independence by Congress on July 4, 1776, America desperately needed a national symbol. Benjamin Franklin was appointed to a three-person task force—along with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams—to design a seal representative of the newly formed country.
According to internet fodder, this is about the time Franklin brought up the possibility of making a fat, flightless bird America’s emblem. Of course, such a declaration would have been followed by an awkward, extended pause by Jefferson and Adams. Except this never happened at all.
In truth, Franklin didn’t want birds on the Great Seal of the United States. Instead, he envisioned a more complicated concept. An image of the Biblical patriarch Moses standing on the shores of the Red Sea, his arms extended for the wave-parting miracle that allowed the Jews to flee from slavery in Egypt. Franklin also wished to see Pharaoh depicted in an open chariot with the motto “Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God.” Talk about complicated branding!
Despite the lack of practicality inherent in the seal’s design, Jefferson and Adams were both on board with the idea, too. The Continental Congress, however, felt underwhelmed. They tabled the proposed scene from the Book of Exodus, turning to nature for inspiration instead.
The Controversy Over A National Bird
On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress officially adopted the Great Seal of the United States. And its centerpiece? The majestic American bald eagle. Two years later, the Society of the Cincinnati, an association of Continental Army veterans, issued a new medal featuring the nation’s winged symbol.
Now, it was Franklin’s turn to be less than impressed. In a letter to his daughter dated January 26, 1784, he lamented, “For my part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country.” Instead of focusing on the inherent beauty and grace of this avian species, he targeted its “bad moral character.”
At this point, you may be wondering: how can birds be accused of immorality? Well, Franklin had plenty of thoughts on the subject.
He argued that the bald eagle “does not get his living honestly” and is “too lazy to fish for himself.” Instead, Franklin noted that the eagle preferred to steal prey from the smaller, diligent fishing hawk. Then, in a lively literary twist, he compared the miscreant bald eagle with its feathered cousin the turkey.
Since the bird on the Cincinnati Medal had accidentally come out looking more like a turkey than an eagle, this made Franklin’s attack all the more humorous. “I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey.”
In his defense of turkeys as superior to bald eagles, Franklin notes that they are more respectable and brave. “He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”
The Great Seal Controversy
Although Franklin never formally put forth the turkey as a potential emblem of the United States, he may have considered the rattlesnake. In a letter dated December 27, 1775, from the anonymous “American Guesser” (who many scholars now believe was Franklin) to the Pennsylvania Journal, the author listed the many attributes of this reptile.
They include the snake’s lack of eyelids—a sign of vigilance—and their tendency to only attack when provoked, and after sounding a fair warning. The “American Guesser” also appreciated the fact that rattlesnakes were never the aggressors, yet they always finished the fight with a decisive and fatal blow.
Whether or not Franklin was the “American Guesser” is a story for another time. Of course, considering Franklin’s penchant for moralizing animals, he’s a likely source. But one thing’s for sure, as much as he loved the turkey, he never considered it an appropriate emblem for the USA.
By Engrid Barnett, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: Benjamin Franklin’s Beef (Or, Rather, “Turkey”) With The Bald Eagle
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