Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 251
September 13, 2019
September 12, 2019
Pterodactyls And Other ‘Flying Dinosaurs’ Were Actually Di-not-saurs
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
From the United States to Germany, Brazil, and China, Pterodactyls inhabited many different locations from the late Triassic period to the end of the Cretaceous Period. But, unlike their Tyrannosaurus rex or Stegasaurus neighbors, they were not dinosaurs. Believe It or Not! these winged creatures were actually flying reptiles. Soaring through the air for more than 160 million years, Pterodactyl is the common term for those in the Pterodactylus, or Pteranodon, genera.
Di-not-saur
While we have been trained as children to view pterosaurs as members of the dinosaur world, they display many different features than the average dinosaur. One of the most observable traits is the limb structure of the airborne family. Pterosaurs had limbs that stuck out from the sides of their bodies, similar to lizards and crocodiles. Dinosaurs had limbs located beneath their bodies.
Pterosaurs and dinosaurs had a common ancestor, but they evolved separately. This evolution gave the pterosaurs differentiations in leg and bone formation, unlike the common dino. However, both went extinct around the same time, 66 million years ago.
Taking Flight
Before birds and bats, pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to fly by flapping their wings, lifting themselves up to travel through the air. The Pterodactylus and other Pterosaurs had wings made of skin, muscle, and other membranes that stretched from a giant fourth finger to their ankles. Their bones were hollow, similar to birds; some of them even had hair-like coats.
The largest Pterosaurs could fly as fast as 67 mph, and their wingspan varied depending on their genera. For example, the Quetzalcoatlus northropi had an enormous wingspan of 36 feet. But the Nemicolopterus crypticus had a wingspan of just 10 inches.
Dinner is Served
Typically, pterosaurs had long necks and pelican-like throats to catch fish. Most had needle-like teeth, but some had no teeth at all. And, many had crests made of either bone or flesh that were likely used to attract mates.
In general, pterosaurs were meat-eaters who ate lizards, baby dinosaurs, eggs, insects, fish, squid, crab, and carcasses. They also ate fruit, depending on where they lived. But, they weren’t immune to being prey. It’s believed that they were part of the diet of meat-eating dinosaurs.
Unfortunately, no descendants of pterosaurs live on earth today, and remains of this species are a rare find. As the bones of pterosaurs are so fragile and preserved so poorly, fossils are usually incomplete when discovered. To form a picture or conduct research surrounding a particular species, paleontologists must often gather information from several fossils, or draw conclusions from related pterosaurs that are better known.
By Noelle Talmon, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: Pterodactyls And Other ‘Flying Dinosaurs’ Were Actually Di-not-saurs
September 11, 2019
September 10, 2019
Seven Bones Of Christian Saints From The 17th-Century
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Since the inception of Christianity, holy relics and artifacts linking the power and wisdom of apostles, saints, and even the messiah on earth, have been a staple of the religion.
While splinters of the cross or the blood of Jesus Christ himself may prove difficult—if not impossible—to authenticate, many churches have long used the remains of mortal saints to attract pilgrims and worshipers.
From the fourth century to the 1700s, a saint’s death usually resulted in his or her body being divided up and sold to surrounding churches. These cathedrals would house these newly-christened relics in ornate boxes or glass so that they could be honored by worshipping masses. Considered more valuable than gold or jewels, many reliquaries were adorned with the richest materials a church could afford.
Incentivized to have the most compelling relics to attract pilgrims, the 17th-century saw widespread competition among churches to draw the attention—and money—of traveling pilgrims. During this time, visiting relics could result in official forgiveness by the church. The praetorium of Pontius Pilate, for example, was visited by so many pilgrims over the centuries that its stairs became worn down by people’s knees. The stairs saw so much traffic that they had to be covered in the 1700s to protect them from being completely worn away.
In response to the indulgences granted by these pilgrimages and growing discontent with the cult of saints, protestant reformationists destroyed many of the holy relics spreads across Europe. Though many were likely forgeries or had dubious provenance, many were the real bones of saints.
When Robert Ripley visited Italy in 1925, he was presented with a humble reliquary of an old local church. Inside are seven leg bones of unknown saints, adorned with gold and silver thread tied into glittering flowers.
Ripley made it a point in his travels to visit many of the remaining holy sites and relics left in the world. Of great interest to his readers, these sites also continued to be huge tourist draws for world explorers and pilgrims alike.
Ripley at the “Well of Jacob” in the West Bank, 1936
Ripley with the “Abisha Scroll” in Jordan, 1936
Ripley in the “Garden of Eden,” Iraq, 1933
Ripley and the “Anchors of Noah’s Ark,” Tunisia, 1933
Source: Seven Bones Of Christian Saints From The 17th-Century
What Were Washington’s Teeth Really Made From? – Ripley’s Believe It or Notcast Ep. 014
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
We’ve all heard the story of George Washington, the Founding Father who led America’s colonies to victory in 1781, having wooden teeth. It reminds us that even the greatest heroes have flaws. Some stories even say he carved his teeth himself, a reflection of the admirable ability for a person to solve their own problems. This idea may make for a great story and compelling lesson in character, but is any of it true?
This week on the Notcast, we look through historical accounts and Washington’s own writings to find out what his teeth were actually made of and why his dentures were treated like a state secret.
For more weird news and strange stories, visit our homepage, and be sure to rate and share this episode of the Notcast!
Source: What Were Washington’s Teeth Really Made From? – Ripley’s Believe It or Notcast Ep. 014
September 9, 2019
Killer Victorian Era Fashion
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Imagine you were living in the late 1800s. Yes, it can be hard to put yourself in a time without the Internet, cell phones, television, or even—dare we say it—indoor plumbing. But, let us take you on a journey through the time period many deem so incredibly romantic, with the promise that, if your irregular bathing habits or lack of vaccinations wouldn’t do you in, your fashion sense certainly might.
Victorian Dresses: Drop-Dead Gorgeous
Women of the time were constantly in danger as a result of their fashion choices. For example, crinoline skirts, or hoop skirts—which were all the rage in the Victorian era in the homes of every economic class—were particularly dangerous. The volume that the skirt added to women would make them consistently unaware of their size, potentially causing them to go up in flames if they got too close to a fire grate, or even the candle lighting a tiny room. There was a similar issue with ballerinas and their tulle skirts, but that’s another story…
The skirt had another problem as well. Working women attempting to care for themselves or their families by joining the industrial revolution could easily be caught in the cogs of the machinery. Factory jobs and these voluminous skirts were simply not a safe combination. In fact, some workplaces even banned these outfits, due to their dangerous nature. Of course, the crinoline skirt wasn’t the only article in Victorian fashionistas’ closets that linked to tragedy.
Dye-ing for a Good Time: Scheele’s Green
The color green was extremely popular in Victorian society, especially an intense hue called Scheele’s Green, created in the 1770s. Unfortunately, this shade of green was created by a chemist who used, among other ingredients, potassium and arsenic. The color was known to cause the side effects of arsenic poisoning, such as sores, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and tissue damage.
Naturally, one would assume these women were unaware of the problem, but by the late 1800s, people were informed. In fact, in The British Medical Journal once said of the woman in the green dress, “She actually carries in her skirts poison enough to slay the whole of the admirers she may meet within half a dozen ball-rooms.” This didn’t stop women from desiring the color, and moreover, the real damage was inflicted upon those who brought the garments to life—such as the textile workers and dressmakers—as they worked directly with the fabric.
Via Wellcome Collection
Men’s Fashion: Sporting and Deadly
It’s easy to assume that women were the only ones affected by deadly fashion pieces, but the truth is men’s fashion was just as perplexing and just as dangerous. Men’s hats were often made with mercury—an element used to soften the fur from rabbits, and other small creatures, so it may be utilized for hat making. Again, those who created the hats were most at risk and suffered the greatest, experiencing a number of physical and psychological side effects. Gives a whole new meaning to the term Mad Hatter, doesn’t it?
What’s more, rich and fashionable men, who wore detachable collars, would sometimes choke to death as a result of their elegant choices. The collars contained starch in order to keep them stiff throughout the day. When men gave themselves over to the drink, it left them at greater risk to potentially pass out, asphyxiate, and die—a tragedy that occurred frequently enough to give it the name “father killer.
Turn Out the Light…
Imagine wearing any one of these garments and the potential for harm that surrounded you: open flames, machinery, drinking too much, and choking to death. These potential dangers don’t even touch upon the long list of risks associated with Victorian fashion. Corsets had the ability when worn tight and often enough, to absolutely destroy your organs. Skirts could be tangled in carriage wheels leading to the possibility of being dragged for miles behind the wretched vehicle!
Frankly, it would be enough to make anyone want to stay home in bed… that is, until you learned about the dangers of our nightwear. Many of the popular nightgowns and shirts for both men and women were made of flannelette—a type of cotton decorated to look like wool flannel. This highly-flammable material posed a risk of, when exposed to a measly candle spark or flame, catching people on fire while they slept.
All-in-all, Victorian fashion may have looked prim, proper, and perfect inside the history books, but as we all know, the price of fashion can be killer.
By Julia Tilford, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: Killer Victorian Era Fashion
September 8, 2019
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