Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 45
January 19, 2023
London Tree Rental Company Boosts Holiday Sustainability
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
If you find it hard to part with your tree after Christmas and still find yourself holding on to your old evergreen, fret not! A company based out of London may be of service in sustainably handling your holiday tree leftovers.
Every holiday season, millions of people worldwide deck their halls with boughs of holly, wait with bated breath for Santa to slide down the chimney, and adorn their Christmas trees with cherished ornaments.
Since its 16th-century origins, the Christmas tree has been a household holiday staple. However, this timeless tradition wreaks havoc on our planet, with close to 36 million trees being harvested each year. After the holiday cheer comes to a close, many of those trees can end up in landfills. And that’s all for the sake of four weeks of festivities.
With the average Christmas tree taking as many as 15 years to grow to a desirable height, it’s important for people to find more sustainable solutions.
Rentable Christmas TreesWant to decrease your Christmas carbon footprint without having to buy a fake tree? If you want the real deal, London Christmas Tree Rental has you covered. This eco-conscious company allows you to rent Christmas trees.
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A post shared by London Christmas Tree Rental (@londonchristmastreerental)
Yep, you read that right the first time! You can actually rent a Christmas tree that comes in its own pot. Come January, simply return the tree back to the same hub you received it from. And if you bonded with your tree, it’s possible to rent the same one the following year! London Christmas Tree Rental even encourages customers to name their trees.
How It WorksLondon Christmas Tree Rental was founded by Jonathan Mearns and Catherine Loveless. After making their way through the post-holiday graveyard of discarded Christmas trees on the streets of London, Jonathan knew it was time for a change.
The company allows customers to place orders online and pick up trees from nearby rental hubs or have them delivered. There are five sizes to choose from, ranging in height from three to seven feet. The shortest option costs just £39 (around $50).
Once the rental period comes to an end, you can have the company pick up the tree or you can return it to the hub you got it from. Once the tree grows to be seven feet tall, it is “retired” and gets planted in a local forest.
Rentable Christmas Trees Are All the RageDespite being in business since 2018, London Christmas Tree Rental experienced a surge in popularity in 2020 thanks to a viral tweet. Dr. Alexandra Lautarescu shared her love for the company on Twitter, dubbing them a “sustainable Xmas gem.”
Not academia related but I’m way too hyped about this sustainable Xmas gem
London Christmas Tree Rental lets you RENT a tree in a pot. In Jan he goes back to live on a farm (can get the same one back next year).When he reaches 7ft he “retires” & gets planted in a forest. pic.twitter.com/Fnmc1LddEr
— Dr Alexandra Lautarescu (@AleLautarescu) December 5, 2020
Since being published, Alexandra’s tweet has accumulated over 60.9 thousand likes and has been shared over 9,000 times!
It’s never too early to start planning for the next holiday season, and with a company that is working to reduce harmful waste, you can’t go wrong with a rentable holiday tree for your next seasonal occasion!
By Steph Weaver, 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: London Tree Rental Company Boosts Holiday Sustainability
January 18, 2023
January 17, 2023
New Thought-Controlled Implant Requires No Brain Surgery
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Brain-computer-interface systems are all the buzz these days. Whether we’re talking about wearable interfaces like EEG Technology’s Unicorn Hybrid Black or more permanent fixtures like Elon Musk’s Neuralink. These devices are intended to help humans interact hands-free with the latest technology, often to their physical betterment. For example, Musk has major plans for Neuralink, like restoring sight to the blind and “full body functionality” to those with spinal cord injuries.
The new CEO of Twitter has even pledged to get chipped once the bugs are ironed out of the device. Whether this happens remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, putting the Neuralink chip in his head will prove invasive. We’re talking open-brain surgery.
But a recent announcement may change the future of thought-control technology. Researchers have successfully installed control devices via the jugular veins of four patients, and the results look promising. Here’s everything you need to know about the innovation and what it could mean for people with paralysis.
Hope for Incurable ConditionsAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain. It has no cure and leads to the progressive degeneration of motor neurons. With these neurons lost, the body becomes increasingly unable to control muscle movements. Over time, ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) leads to the inability to eat, speak, move, or breathe.
Late physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking had ALS. Image credit: NASA/Paul Alers
Fortunately, scientists are now pursuing a promising new line of research that could assist patients living with ALS. Known as Stentrode, the device allows people with paralysis to control assistive technologies through their thoughts alone. Four men have already undergone implantation with the device.
What do we know about these patients? All have significant upper-limb paralysis and impairment in speech and lung function due to ALS. Despite the experimental nature of the procedure, the patients came through surgery with flying colors and have successfully controlled computers with their minds.
The Future of Thought-Control TechnologyHow did implantation work? The participants had Stentrode implanted in a large vein known as the superior sagittal sinus, which aids with fluid drainage from the brain into the jugular. Because the vein lies next to the motor cortex, it’s the ideal location for the device to read neural signals.
Stentrode resembles a standard stent used for improving blood circulation, as in the above illustration, and is implanted in much the same way.
Stentrode has the appearance of a net-like structure and houses 16 electrodes. Physicians use a catheter to feed the device, via the jugular, into the superior sagittal sinus. Once in the right location, they expand the mesh to sit flush along the sinus wall. A wire runs from the electrodes down to an electronic device located in the chest. This device transmits and records brain signals sending them to a computer.
It doesn’t require cracking noggins, and so far no long-term side effects have been reported. (Physicians have focused on issues such as blood vessel blockage, blood clots, and device migration.) What’s the takeaway from all of this? For starters, Musk might want to think twice before letting anyone saw into his skull!
By Engrid Barnett, 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: New Thought-Controlled Implant Requires No Brain Surgery
January 16, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 14, 2023
January 13, 2023
Bigfoot Footage Captivates Believers and Skeptics Alike
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
A resurfaced video shows what some believe is a Bigfoot sighting near Tunica, Mississippi. Described by one viewer as “probably the best footage ever recorded,” the creature was snapped rummaging around in a Mississippi swamp. The property is owned by a man named Josh Highcliff, who was hunting hogs on October 24, 2013, when he came across the legendary ape-like being.
The SightingHighcliff posted the footage on YouTube with the title, “I think I saw a skunk ape — please help.” A skunk ape is what Bigfoot is called in Florida and is gets its name for its strong odor. These folkloric creatures are also known as Sasquatches. “I always heard stories of skunk ape and honey island swamp monster from these parts but never thought about it being real ever,” Highcliff explained.
He describes the encounter on his video’s page, revealing that he was in the swamp around 6 p.m. not too far from the road. Dressed in camouflage gear, he was sitting still on a tree and waiting for the sun to go down because the hogs become active after dark. Highcliff then heard a noise and “could not believe my own two eyes.”
Behind him was a “black thing crouched by a dead cypress about 50 yards away.” At first, he thought it was a hog, but then he noticed the large shoulders, hands, and head of the creature, which appeared to be digging out a stump.
Captured on VideoEven though he was a hunter, Highcliff’s first instinct was to run instead of shoot the beast. He explained that time appeared to slow down, but he had the forethought to start filming the encounter on his iPhone because he didn’t think anyone would believe his story.
“I guess I pushed the record button twice ’cause it stopped blinking red… but I pushed it again,” he explained. When a truck on the nearby road passed by, the “thing” stood up, which prompted Highcliff to run. He believes it may have been seven-feet tall based on the size of the stump and his experience estimating animals’ size due to his hunting skills.
Convinced it was not a bear, Highcliff wondered if the whole thing was a prank and pondered, “Has anyone seen anything like this in Mississippi?” He also expressed grief that he didn’t stay longer and capture more of the creature on film.
Shared with the WorldThe video has thousands of views and comments, and many believe it’s proof of Bigfoot’s existence: “I doubt this is a man in a suit. The way it breaks the tree shows its [sic] got some serious muscles,” wrote one user.
Another added, “It looks so natural, like it’s in it’s [sic] element. When you hear the crack of the wood when it rips it out it sounds like it’s got some real strength. Pretty convincing.”
A self-identified skeptic wrote, “I have to say that this is by far the best and most convincing footage I have ever seen.”
Could it Be Real?While the video was uploaded several years ago, people keep watching and commenting on it. But not everyone is certain it’s evidence of Bigfoot’s existence. One user said, “Like if this is not Bigfoot, I’m convinced it’s an escaped gorilla!”
In addition, since Highcliff was hunting hogs, would he really be afraid of Bigfoot and run away? According to Independence Ranch, a wild boar is extremely dangerous to hunt due to its razor-sharp tusks and “equally sharp mind.” They are unpredictable and erratic. Would a Bigfoot sighting scare a genuine hog hunter who’s used to that type of behavior? You be the judge.
By Noelle Talmon, 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: Bigfoot Footage Captivates Believers and Skeptics Alike
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