Weekly Weird News for 24 March 2023

Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining me for this rundown of weird news stories that you may have missed. Our world is full of surprises and things that make you pause and maybe shake your head. But, good and bad, here are a selection of strange observations for this week.

It’s a gas

In 2017, the astronomical world was abuzz with the discovery of Oumuamua, a space object with a funny shape and strange orbit. That led to some less-than-credible scientists to speculate it was an alien probe. One of those dudes went on to “scientifically” look for other anomalous space objects. Turns out, the overly imaginative scientists were wrong. But one of them isn’t giving up on his pet idea. He’s still pushing the ridiculous alien probe idea. Oumuamua was a comet that degassed as it got closer to the sun, making it move erratically. https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/theres-a-simpler-answer-to-oumuamuas-weird-orbit-outgassing-hydrogen/

St. Patty sky show

Last Friday night, many people celebrating St. Patrick’s Day saw streaks of light moving in the sky in Sacramento, California. The scene got people very excited. The story was all over the fringe news sites as people got nervous about space invaders. I’d have been worried about missiles from Russia but no one seemed to talk about that. Hmm. Anyway, the answer was that it was space debris - a broken-up Japanese satellite launched back in 2009 disintegrated in the atmosphere. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mystery-streaks-light-sacramento-sky-astronomers-answer/

St. Patty green goo

Also on St. Patrick’s Day, a puddle of green water appeared in a Brooklyn subway station. Some people were alarmed. Even the MTA officials didn’t have an answer for the cause of the ectoplasm-colored stuff oozing across the floor. The liquid appeared to have leaked from street level. It’s reasonable to think it’s just dyed water, considering the day, but anti-freeze was also suspected. https://gothamist.com/news/return-of-the-mysterious-green-subway-goo-just-in-time-for-st-paddys-day

A whale of time

A whale ran into a 44-foot long sailboat in the Pacific with 4 people on board. The violent bang was followed by an alarm from the high-tech boat notifying the owner that the craft was filling with water. As he determined the holes could not be plugged, the others were readying safety equipment and emergency gear. They launched their life raft. It all went pretty calmly as the group watched the ship sink. While they were prepared for a week or more adrift, thanks to preparation, knowledge, and help from others, they were rescued in about 9 hours. Damage resulting from whale encounters is rare. But it pays to be this prepared. https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/03/20/sailboat-hits-whale-pacific-rescue/

Wrong way zebra

Once again, this week, I have more of the ongoing reports of escaped wild animals. First, a zebra escaped from a zoo in Seoul, South Korea and ran through city streets for several hours. It was also captured and returned. It had escaped through a portion of its enclosure after damaging a wood structure. It may be that the animal just was pissed off at his kangaroo neighbor. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zebra-escape-zoo-seoul-south-korea-gallops-through-busy-streets/

Bobbing along

A bobcat living in a Texas zoo briefly escaped by breaking through wire fencing. It was safely captured. No one was injured. The enclosure was reinforced. Either zoos are having a really bad time of it these past few months with many high-profile thefts or escapes, or it’s just the media trend to report on them. https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/03/22/Ellen-Trout-Zoo-Lufkin-Texas-bobcat-escape/9171679506783/

Off to take over the world

Two Indian crested porcupines, named Pinky and Brain, were stolen or released from an animal park in central Germany. Officials say they didn’t just “escape” on their own, but, hey, maybe the names mean something. Brain found his way back home. Pinky is still missing but may have been spotted several miles from the zoo. https://apnews.com/article/germany-missing-porcupines-zoo-pinky-brain-680ad00a6b11ff8e34a8ee75348fe8b9

Rude guest ruins romantic moment

It’s always a thrill to experience the local wildlife when on vacation. But maybe not this kind of experience. A couple relaxing in the evening in a pool in Colorado had their moment interrupted by an animal that, at first, they thought was a dog. But it was a mountain lion, which approached them and swatted the man. The people scared it away and the man suffered scratches. Authorities are looking for the animal to relocate it farther away from people (or a less pleasant alternative). https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/03/21/mountain-lion-attack-colorado/

Conspiracy belief tragedy

Every few months, we hear of a family that suffers horrific tragedy due to being trapped by conspiratorial or paranoid beliefs. Here we go again. A family of two adults and two children and their aunt took their own lives by jumping out a window instead of being confronted by police in a Switzerland apartment. The evidence they left behind showed that they were entirely distrustful of the government, didn’t send the kids to school, and choose to isolate themselves from society. There were no signs that they contemplated suicide. The one boy survived but is in a coma. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65031382

Bag of rocks

We’ve heard stories of substituting rocks for valuables hidden in a bag. It’s a trope of fairy tales and scam artists. Well, commodities giant JPMorgan Chase fell for it. The London Metals Exchange discovered that a bag that supposedly contained over a million dollars worth of nickel, a key raw material for electric vehicle batteries, contained ordinary stones instead. It’s not rare that this still happens and it shakes the confidence in firms that deal with metal trading. https://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgan-bought-nickel-received-stones-not-new-commodities-warehouse-2023-3

Dad’s been sleeping a really long time

A family in Kansas lived for 6 years in a house with a dead body. No one outside suspected it and couldn’t figure out how it was possible. The house fell into disrepair and the neighbors noticed the elderly man who lived there was no longer around. As many as four people (and a dog) lived in the house. Police discovered the body and, using data from his pacemaker, discovered the man died in 2016. Officials are investigating social security fraud. https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/overland-park-family-lived-with-fathers-dead-body-for-6-years-police-say/

Show me the toes

A pastor claimed a miracle took place at his Missouri church - prayers re-grew a woman’s amputated toes. He told an audience on a livestream that it happened during a prayer session where three toes grew back on a woman who was injured during a shooting. Another pastor involved said that his friend re-grew a kidney in a past prayer meeting. He suggests that someday they will be able to raise the dead. In such a case as regrowing limbs, the proof is straightforward, and would, indeed, be a miracle. But the woman won’t provide proof. There is a website called Show Me the Toes! that details the claim and lack of proof. Clearly, this is BS but many people insist miracles happen and don’t need proof. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2023/03/22/james-river-church-leader-says-woman-regrew-toes-during-a-service/70028744007/

Nessie believers wanted

The Loch Ness Visitors Centre is hiring! They are looking for “Nessie’s number one fan” to be the first guest on their new immersive tour on the legend of Loch Ness. The Centre has recently upgraded its visitors’ experience. Positions for two managers are open if you have a passion for promoting the money-making monster myth. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23401071.loch-ness-visitor-centre-recruiting-1-5million-upgrade/

That’s it for today’s edition. Enjoy this happy calf for the rest of the week.