Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 406
June 14, 2017
New Fossils Are Oldest Homo Sapiens Ever Found
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
The oldest known humans previously found were 195,000 years old, but new remains found in Morrocco date back over 300,000 years. These new “oldest homo sapiens” push the timeline of humanity back over 100,000 years.
This new information challenges leading ideas about the origin of our species, and how mankind developed over time.
Discovery
The original site was discovered in 1961 when miners found a fossilized human skull. Original scientists thought the site was just 40,000 years old and belonged to Neanderthals, but as digging progressed, the scientists eventually found much older sites buried under the original.
At the time the site was occupied by early hominins, it would have been a cave, but the covering rock and much sediment were removed by work at the site in the 1960s (Picture credit: Shannon McPherron, MPI EVA Leipzig, License: CC-BY-SA 2.0).
The team, led by Jean-Jacques Hublin of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, recovered more human fossils and stone tools, along with new evidence the site is 300,000 years old.
Differences from Modern Humans
New research techniques disproved earlier theories that the remains at the site were Neanderthals, but these oldest homo sapiens do have some key differences from modern man.
Skulls found at the site show that their faces would have been very similar, but the interior space of the skull means they had differently shaped brains.
Genetic testing on fossils in 2016 support the new human timeline by estimating the human split from Neanderthals to have happened about 400,000 years ago.
Dated to 300 thousand years ago these early Homo sapiens already have a modern-looking face that falls within the variation of humans living today. However, the archaic-looking virtual imprint of the braincase (blue) indicates that brain shape, and possibly brain function, evolved within the Homo sapiens lineage (Picture credit: Philipp Gunz, MPI EVA Leipzig, License: CC-BY-SA 2.0).
The Stone Age
Hublin’s team also managed to recover stone tools used by these people in what is called the Middle Stone Age.
The Age is defined by a move from clunky, blunt stone axes and hammers, to lighter, more portable cutting and shaping tools. Scientists still debate whether homo sapiens or Neanderthals first entered this age and whether this might have led to modern man’s superiority.
Some of the Middle Stone Age stone tools from Jebel Irhoud (Morocco). Pointed forms such as a-i are common in the assemblage. Also characteristic are the Levellois prepared core flakes (j-k) (Picture credit: Mohammed Kamal, MPI EVA Leipzig, License: CC-BY-SA 2.0).
They also wonder how long multiple human species ran around together. The recently discovered homo naledi, for example, interacted with us and even had their own cultural rituals—a habit long-thought exclusive to homo sapiens.
June 13, 2017
Centralia, PA — the Ghost Town That’s Still on Fire
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Here at Ripley’s, we love to remind our readers of weird historical events. Whether it’s a river of molasses in Boston or a freak plane crash into the Empire State Building, we want to make sure you’ve heard of it.
On May 27, 1962, the people of Centralia, Pennsylvania put into motion a course of action that would have ramifications that would continue to be felt to this day.
The Story of the Centralia Mine Fire
Smoke rising from the ground in Centralia|CC Jrmski
It was a Sunday. The citizens of Centralia were getting ready for their Memorial Day festivities to take place a day later. But there was a problem they still hadn’t dealt with: Clean up of a landfill before the celebration.
The city council had met earlier that month to discuss the best way to go about cleaning up the 300-foot wide, 75-foot long pit, and they had decided on fire. This isn’t surprising; burning trash was a common practice then.
The only problem is that Centralia had been a major coal mining area in the past, and the landfill was located on top of an old coal mine.
They set the fire on May 25th. Using hoses, they sprayed the flames to keep the fire under control, and they waited for the smoldering trash to burn itself out. Little did they know they’d be waiting for 54 years.
Extinguishing Efforts
The fire latched onto an old coal seam from the mine and slowly spread throughout the mines under the city.
Even though the visible flames were doused throughout the day on the 25th, more fires were spotted on May 29th. This pattern of putting out fires and finding them sprouting up again days later would continue for weeks. And when there weren’t visible fires, residents complained about the constant smell of smoldering trash and coal.
Authorities tried for years to extinguish the fire. They pumped water into the mines often. They covered the surface with clay, seek to smother the blaze. They pumped a slurry of ash, water, and rocks into the mine, but nothing worked.
Eventually, they had no choice but to give up, and the city was condemned.
Wikimedia user Mredden
Lasting Effects
Wikimedia user Brian W. Schaller
The Centralia mine fire has led to the city having to be abandoned. Families were relocated to neighboring towns. As of 2013, there were only seven residents allowed to remain in the city.
The surface of the streets is no longer hot like they were since the fire has moved down deeper into the earth. But smoke can still be found creeping out of the ground in places. The ground has been so weakened by half a century of fire that a sinkhole can open anywhere at any moment. Portions of Route 61 had to be closed and redirected since it’s not safe to drive. And since coal produces deadly carbon monoxide, the air isn’t safe to breathe in certain areas.
Mine fires are burning on every continent except Antartica. But not all of them result in the ghost town outcome that’s happened to Centralia.
Smoking crack through Route 61|Wikimedia user JohnDS
Special Place
Believe it or not, Silent Hill, the horror-survival video game, is based off this smoldering ghost town. While the story might take place in Maine, Silent Hill resembles Centralia.
Silent Hill 1
In the first game, the fog is referred to as snow but in the movie and later in the series, it’s referred to as ash. The game is usually infused with a fog like state where you’ve seen the notorious Pyramid Head drag his feet through the town.
Silent Hill 2
Centralia Church via Wiki Commons
Silent Hill Movie Church
Centralia’s Route 61 was a major highway that has been closed because it has been continuously cracked by the steam leaking out of the ground. Silent Hill is known for creating a melancholy vibe that makes you feel abandoned and hopeless when exploring the vacant cracked pavements.
Silent Hill 3
Throughout the game, the main character is usually noting how the town looks abandoned and it seems people rushed and fled something. The gems within the story have led many people to compare Centralia to “Silent Hill”.
Silent Hill Downpour
While the video game series was supposed to continue with none other than Norman Reedus, we will never know if the canceled “Silent Hills” would have continued the path of Centralia’s mysterious fog.
Silent Hills
Silent Hills Norman Reedus
So if you’re ever in the mood to visit this eerie town, just grab a joystick! We might be joining you for the magically dark adventure.
June 12, 2017
The Top 10 Strangest and Wackiest of Father’s Day Gifts!!!
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Believe it or not, Father’s Day is just around the corner! Relax, don’t worry. We have an array of fascinating gift ideas to make you the favorite child this year.
10. Mailbox Enthusiast
What better way to say you’re the best catch than gifting your dad an out-of-this-water Catfish mailbox? Looks like someone is going to be the talk of his neighborhood!
Buy Now
9. Golf Club Drink Dispenser
Is your dad a huge golf player? Well, they no longer have to wait for a drink when they have their very own golf club electric drink dispenser! He can now bring his favorite choice of beverage disguised as a club! Who would have thunk!?
Buy Now8. Beer Hair
And the drinking doesn’t stop there. Your father can now lather his hair with a deliciously crafted IPA shampoo and conditioner. There’s nothing better than smelling like your favorite beer!
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7. Guacamole goes with everything
What better way to show your love than giving the person you cherish the most delicious of all sides, avocados! This floating planter will have you saying “Holy Guacamole!”
Buy Now6. Toolbox Grill
Nothing says I love you more than gifting your dad a great toolbox that comes equipped with a portable charcoal grill. Your fathers need to grill will forever be granted.
Buy Now5. BACON!
What’s the best way to treat those pesky cuts than with bacon strips! Only the coolest of dads will be rocking this look. Oh, there’s also a prize inside!
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4. Ripley’s Weird Minute
Dad can enable Ripley’s Weird Minute on his very own Alexa device to get his daily 60 seconds of oddities. Exclusively on the amazon echo, our show has fresh content six days a week, bringing daddy the strangest and most extraordinary news stories. Looks like someone is going have chills down his spine!
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3. Zombie Repellent
The best way to tell dad you care is equipping him with the ultimate protection. Your old man can now live through the apocalypse with a minty fresh mouth.
Buy Now 2. Dragon Fists
Why not gift dad the power of the master, Bruce Lee? The motion activated gloves, yes motion activated, also come with some sweet sound effects. We’re positive your father will forever be thankful you’ve given him these fists of fury!
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee
Buy Now
1. Ripley’s Odditorium
Ok, we might be biased here, but the best gift you can give your father is taking him to one of the many BIONs near you! You’ll be able to find a shrunken head, an authentic vampire killing kit, one-of-a-kind artwork, tons of hands-on interactives, and an out-of-this-world spinning vortex tunnel! If you buy online, you can get 25% OFF a single attraction ticket with the Promo Code: DAD1. You can always print this coupon or show it on your phone when you visit this Sunday, June 18th!
Find your location HERE!
Source: The Top 10 Strangest and Wackiest of Father’s Day Gifts!!!
June 11, 2017
June 10, 2017
June 9, 2017
Cooking With Cannibals on Cool Stuff, Strange Things
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Cool Stuff, Strange Things
Hosted by Ripley’s lead researcher, Sabrina Sieck, let Ripley’s Believe It or Not! introduce YOU to the coolest stuff and strangest things.
Today: Cannibalism
Cooking With Cannibals
Today, in the jungles of New Guinea, the Korowai tribe are among the last cultures to practice cannibalism. To them, it is a revenge ritual. The act of consuming human flesh is a bid to ward off evil, particularly the khakhua—a demonic creature that brings inexplicable death and must be killed, dismembered, and eaten by the cannibals to be stopped.
Everything is consumed, except for the teeth, hair, bones, fingernails, toenails, penis, and head, which are kept as trophies and displayed as warnings for other khakhua.
From rituals like this to history and horror stories, cannibalism has remained a taboo topic.
Pre-history
In 2010, 800,000-year-old butchered bones were found in Spain’s Gran Dolina Cave, indicating that cannibalism was rife among western Europe’s cavemen. But, a mammoth would make for a much better prehistoric dinner party platter. Let’s talk nutrition facts:
One mammoth can feed 25 hungry Neanderthals for a month, but cannibalizing a human would provide the crowd with only a third of a day’s calories. For our size, we aren’t packed with a ton of juicy calories. According to estimates, boars and beavers pack about 1,800 calories into each pound of muscle compared to a measly 650 calories from a modern human.
So, why eat them? Because human and animal remains were tossed away together at Gran Dolina, researchers speculate that for our early ancestors, human meat wasn’t a ritual delicacy, religious feast, or last resort, it was a casual everyday meal. Could people have piqued the pallet
Cannibals Among Us
In 2016, the BBC’s Greg Foot set out to scientifically determine what human flesh tastes like. He wasn’t about to taste test his own flesh, so he settled for analyzing its protein content and aroma, which, believe it or not, accounts for up to 80 percent of perceived taste. Greg had a biopsy of his leg muscle taken and found it was similar in composition to chicken and beef. He even said it smelled like “beef and ale stew,” revealing it would probably taste like a combination of lamb and pork. Some “experts” would agree.
Norwegian art student Alexander Selvik Wengshoel had to have his hip operated on in 2010. After convincing the doctor to give him his femur once it was taken out, he decided to boil the bone and try his own flesh, considering it an art project. Finding it tasty, he went on to roast the meat with some potatoes and pair it with wine. According to Alex, it tasted like wild sheep.
American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer described human flesh as filet mignon. And Germany’s infamous Armin Meiwes, who posted an ad on the internet looking for what he called a “young, well-built man who wanted to be eaten” noted the taste of pork, but with a stronger and bitter flavor. Behind bars for life, Meiwes is now a vegetarian.
Disclaimer: In the U.S., there are no laws specifically against cannibalism; however, the act of cannibalism typically violates laws against murder and the desecration of corpses. Hopefully, you haven’t lost your appetite for the weird because we will be back next week with more Cool Stuff and Strange Things. bone appétit!
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Source: Cooking With Cannibals on Cool Stuff, Strange Things
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