Ripley Entertainment Inc.'s Blog, page 75
July 27, 2022
July 26, 2022
Prehistoric Dance Of Death Discovered In Amber
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
In the Middle Ages, a curious theme developed across parts of Europe known as the Dance of Death or Danse Macabre (via Oxford Bibliographies). Both a visual and literary concept, there are many variations on the idea, but all contain the image of a skeleton dancing with mortals. Most scholars date the first Dance of Death image to the 14th century as a direct response to the high casualty rates witnessed during the Black Plague.
The Danse Macabre by Bernt Notke, late 15th century.
In nature’s riff on the Danse Macabre, scientists recently discovered a fragile flower, wasp, and fly larva locked in a chunk of amber. Frozen in time, the insects and plant specimens date to approximately 30 million years ago, according to scientists. The incredible biological time capsule has revealed new information about prehistoric ecosystems, and not all of it’s pretty.
The Tropical Ancient EcosystemWhen scientists initially stumbled across the wasp and flower trapped in golden-hued amber, they felt stunned by the exceptionally rare nature of the find. The flower belonged to a new species never before documented, which proved monumental in and of itself. But as researchers took a closer look, they soon discovered a third creature hidden within the depths of the bloom — a tiny developing fly larva.
The eagle-eyed researchers’ discovery led them to ponder whether the grouping was accidental or intentional. Published in Historical Biology, the study’s author, George Poinar, Jr., of Oregon State University hypothesized that the wasp’s presence near the fly larva was anything but a coincidence. Soon, a startling and gruesome tale emerged to support this theory.
Decoding Biological Systems of the Past
A tiny parasitic wasp and flower have been locked together in amber for 30 million years. Perhaps the wasp visited the flower for its pollen. Or perhaps it was targeting a fly larva INSIDE THE SEED POD, as a future meal for its young https://t.co/0mMAFeeNV3
— Mindy Weisberger (@LaMinda) July 21, 2022
Poinar collected the amber sample in the Dominican Republic, naming the wasp Hambletonia dominicana in the country’s honor. In his written observations, he described the graceful wasp as dancing. Yet, he remained puzzled when it came to the seemingly random juxtaposition of the two insects and the flower: “I felt that the only way I could proceed was to identify both organisms and look for biological features that could explain their ‘togetherness.’”
The tiny bloom trapped in the amber measures a mere 0.09 inches long, earning the moniker Plukenetia minima to celebrate its minimal size. It belongs to the Euphorbiaceae plant family, which includes rubber trees and poinsettias. The plant had no petals, a long stalk, and four seed pods.
It was inside one of these four pods where the fly larva chilled out. A closer examination of the tiny larva’s body shape and size indicate it to be the larva of a gall gnat, a species known for indiscriminately attacking flowering plants.
Enter a Parasitic WaspAdding to the drama of the gall fly larva housed in the flower is the unexplained presence of the wasp. But as Poinar continued to study the collection of prehistoric lifeforms, a gruesome picture of the past began to emerge: The wasp may have been attracted to the larva-infested flower to lay an egg on the outside of the seed pod. Once the wasp egg hatched, the young would burrow into the seed pod to enjoy a fly larva meal.
Thanks to the sticky amber that shrouded the insects and flower in immortality, we’re still able to puzzle over this tropical microhabitat today. It’s highly unusual for insects and flora to fossilize, so scoping them out in amber is a breathtaking discovery.
Poinar concludes, “The degree of preservation is so much more complete in amber than in other fossils. The amber fossils are life-like, which makes the characters easy to describe. It is like they just entered the amber.” The amber’s incredible preservation powers have ensured this prehistoric Dance of Death will continue offering up secrets and solving mysteries.
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!
July 25, 2022
July 24, 2022
July 23, 2022
July 22, 2022
Colorado Man Uses Nose To Push Peanut 12.6 Miles Up Pikes Peak
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
*We recommend playing “Running Up that Hill” for dramatic effect while reading this story.*
A 53-year-old Colorado man completed the trek up a 14,115-foot mountain last Friday after spending seven days pushing a peanut up the summit using his nose!
Bob Salem of Colorado Springs went through two dozen peanuts on his 12.6-mile hike to the top of Pikes Peak, aided only by a “homemade contraption” made out of a spoon taped to a CPAP sleep machine.
While he initially planned to have someone come with him to carry his gear, he ended up going it alone, carrying 40 pounds of stuff to his stopping points before turning around and pushing the peanut up as he crawled up the mountain. As his endeavor became a bit of a spectacle, Salem chose to push mainly at night to prevent being stopped for photos
Salem put his nose to the ground to accomplish the feat in celebration of Manitou Springs’ 150th birthday. He is only the fourth person to complete the peanut push and the first of the 21st century, having broken a world record set by Ulysses Baxter in 1963 by a full day!
🥜 Tonight at 10:00 on @KRDONC13: We’re Pushin’ P with Bob Salem.
He’s crawling 13 miles on his hands and knees to the top of Pikes Peak, flicking a peanut… with his nose.
Let’s get nutty! 🤪🥜
(With @sampagetweets) pic.twitter.com/5kjjQtyLJg
— Spencer Soicher KRDO (@spencersoicher) July 6, 2022
While the trail typically takes six to 13 hours to hike, going at it on hands and knees has a tendency to slow one down. Still, seven days isn’t too shabby, considering the first person to push a peanut up the Peak was Bill Williams, who took 22 days to accomplish his goal in 1929 as part of a bet.
When it was Baxter’s time to go nuts, he strapped a wooden salad spoon to his nose to help get the job done. Several of his peanuts crumbled, while others were stolen by hungry critters. The victorious legume has been on display in the Manitou Springs Heritage Center ever since.
Perhaps Salem’s peanuts will get to join its fellow record-setter for a moment in the spotlight!
By Meghan Yani, 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: Colorado Man Uses Nose To Push Peanut 12.6 Miles Up Pikes Peak
July 21, 2022
July 20, 2022
The Centuries-Old Italian Chapel Built Into A Sheer Cliffside
Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Nestled in the cliffs of Italy’s Monte Baldo mountain range is an impossibly situated holy site, the Santuario Madonna Della Corona (Sanctuary of the Lady of the Crown). Despite its blatant gravitational defiance, perched on the side of a rugged cliff, the chapel boasts centuries of history as a pilgrimage spot characterized by steep hikes, panoramic views, and meditative reflection. And it continues to attract those who pursue revelation and don’t fear heights!
Here’s what you need to know about this unbelievable religious structure.
The Legend of the Sanctuary of Madonna Della CoronaIf you’re wondering why the church would choose such a bizarre and inhospitable location for a monastery, you’re far from alone. But not all supernatural activity takes place on a flat surface at sea level. And no matter how inconvenient a site marked by something extraordinary may seem, there’s an innovative architect willing to give it a go. Of course, the sanctuary’s location also boasted otherworldly origins.
It all started in the 10th century when a handful of inhabitants of the Adige Valley spotted a sparkling light in the distance. Overcome with curiosity, they hiked towards the illuminated cliff on Corona Mountain, where the light clearly flickered. Arriving at the source of the light, they found a statue of the Madonna holding Jesus’ body after removal from the cross.
The villagers took such a shining to the statue that they decided to move it to the Adige Valley below for display and worship. But every day, they awakened to find the statue had somehow found its way back to the top of the cliffs.
A Thousand Years of HistoryA deep dive into ancient literature reveals the sanctuary has existed for more than 1,000 years, and numerous documents associate the location with Verona’s Abbey of St. Zeno. According to these documents, the Santuario Madonna Della Corona was once only accessible by a “dangerous path in the rocks.”
Back then, the sanctuary only appealed to the most stalwart of monks who retreated there to contemplate the mysteries of God and life silently. But now it has become a unique tourist attraction, especially among photographers in search of the perfect and most unique shots.
A 16th-century restoration project has ensured the chapel will continue to stand for many years to come despite its wildly precarious location. Even today, religious pilgrims continue to make the two-hour trip from nearby Brentano to the sanctuary. Along the way, they’ll enjoy unfathomable views and the chance to follow a trail of 14 bronze statues, symbolizing the Stations of the Cross.
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: The Centuries-Old Italian Chapel Built Into A Sheer Cliffside
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