Weekly Weird News for 4 March 2022

Weird isn't always mysterious

Hi everyone. This newsletter is a few hours late because it’s been a rough week for news in more ways than one. First, with the events in Ukraine rightly eclipsing the lighter news, I figured it would be more difficult to find fringe stories. It was. But I managed to find a few. One theme that I noticed (not just this week) is how tabloid or paranormal “news” sites will emphasize a “mystery” aspect where it’s not altogether appropriate. Instead, because they can’t immediately see a logical cause to a dramatic event, it’s worth hyping the mystery angle for clicks. When I collect these stories, I try to track down more credible sources including local news, professional and scientific sources, or people who are more familiar with the subject. My first story for this week was actually the last one I collected and it was from a dubious source. I found nothing much else but questionable sources and speculation, so I sought out the experts myself and now have a much better writeup than those other “weird” news sites.

The furry green snake

A Thai animal keeper found an interesting snake specimen in a swampy area in Sakan Nakhan province. A video of the animal was posted to social media. It shows a water snake covered in what appears to be green hair. It’s quite strange and striking leading people to speculate about it being a previously unknown animal, a hoax, or a genuine anomaly. When I couldn’t find any credible info in the articles online, I posted to my knowledgeable Twitter neighborhood asking for professional input about the furry snake.

More than one person said the snake was covered with green “hair” algae. Normally the snake would shed and this would not be an issue, but there may be some problem with this animal where it cannot shed or that the algae growth was particularly rapid. Another helpful commenter (thank you Tangmo Mopet!) provided the link to the type of snake in the video. Thai wildlife investigator Nick Chomngam posted to his YouTube channel a video showing him examining the snake in person. He identifies it as Homalopsis nigroventralis (Deuve’s Water Snake, also known as “Deuve’s Mud Snake” or the “Mekong Masked Water Snake”). The video is in Thai, so I miss his commentary, but it definitely is an algae issue. This snake inhabits stagnant waters loaded with algae growth that seems to have coated the scales of the snake, but not its belly. Other snakes in shallow water environments may also experience algae growth but this is an extreme case. In this clip, you can see that bits of algae are freed when the snake moves. https://www.newsflare.com/video/481445/mystery-green-furry-snake-found-floating-in-swamp-in-thailand

Thanks so much to all who helped gather this information!

Nick Chomngam removes the snake from the water.

Snake on the left is a normal-looking mud snake of the same type. Note the head shape and markings even under the algae.

The entire video is below.

Collapsing road

A roadway in Wiltshire, UK subsided and buckled in what looks like serious earthquake damage. The B4069 near Lyneham had been closed for several weeks but locals still used it until it eventually became impassible because of the catastrophic damage. The underlying earth movement had been getting worse over the past year. Dumb tabloid headlines called it a “mystery” as “unexplained underground movements” continued, but the geological setting that led to this is no mystery. Even the locals were well aware that this is a problem area. Engineers already knew the road was underlain by a contact between rock types (including a clay layer) that is prone to weathering effects and mass movement. There is always a reasonable explanation behind these events but the “mystery” angle gets the clicks. Also, good engineering matters - but geology is the foundation to everything! https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/early-theories-why-wiltshire-road-buckled-and-cracked-24-02-2022/

‘No’ to masks and vaccines but YES to tin foil hats

In what might be the most upside-down weird story I’ve got for this issue, protesters in New Zealand are stating that they have illnesses that are connected to a Government plot to make them sick with a radiation weapon. These same people are wearing aluminum foil coverings on their heads (yep, a “tin foil hat”). The SAME PEOPLE are also protesting Covid restrictions and some are denying that the ubiquitous virus is making anyone sick. There’s a messed-up worldview in action. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/protesters-turn-to-tinfoil-hats-as-increasing-sickness-blamed-on-government-beaming-radiation-rays/FDCP6NEFJUQWWINL2GXI7OKS6E/

Bringing back the thylacine

The University of Melbourne received a $5 million gift to establish a research lab for de-extinction and marsupial conservation science. Their first project will be to restore thylacine genetic information to potentially bring back the extinct species. The “Tasmanian tiger” went extinct sometime between the late 1930s and the 1970s. Their ultimate goal is to resurrect the species. I’m not convinced that’s a good idea but the efforts will inform conservation science and genetics. https://about.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2022/march/no-longer-science-fiction-$5m-gift-brings-de-extinction-of-the-thylacine-one-step-closer

Mystery organism after the floods

A jogger in Sydney, Australia found a strange organism on the road that wasn’t readily identifiable. It’s about the size of a large coin. The finding was not near the sea even though it looked like an ocean creature. As usual, people volunteered their wildly uninformed two cents about it being an alien. What is more likely is that it’s a marsupial embryo that didn’t make it. Australia had experienced severe flooding recently. https://nz.news.yahoo.com/confusion-over-disturbing-find-on-sydney-street-063137765.html

He didn’t break a tooth

A couple visiting one of my most-visited vacation spots, Cape May, New Jersey, dined at the long-standing Lobster House restaurant. This time, they got an extra surprise when one of the chilled on the half-shell clams contained a pearl. Clams produce a coating over an irritant just like oysters. But clam pearls are typically not perfectly round or as “pearlescent” as oyster pearls. So even though this pearl is large, it’s a bit flattened and not as valuable but it’s still a lovely natural jewel. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2022/02/28/new-jersey-couple-pearl-the-lobster-house-cape-may/

Bat eating spider

A common spider found in Ireland and the UK has been discovered consuming a baby bat in an attic in England. The noble false widow spider, an invasive arachnid, is venomous. This is the first time one has been documented eating a mammal. A man found two bats caught in the web after he walked into it. One larger bat had not been bitten and was released. The smaller one was being eaten by the spider. The spider’s bite is similar to those of black widows and, if delivered to a human, may require hospital treatment. https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2022/0301/1283666-spider-research/

Bear negotiator wanted

Recall last week’s news that the bear domestic invasion going on in Lake Tahoe, California ended up being THREE bears behaving badly. Now, Montana could use some help. The Department of the Interior’s US Fish and Wildlife Service is looking for a grizzly bear conflict manager. The job entails dealing with confrontation issues between bears and humans regarding property, encounters, or predation of livestock. They may be required to arrange the trapping or euthanization of some bears. With human-bear encounters on the rise, you really have to be dedicated to this job. If you’re interested in applying, here’s the link. https://slate.com/technology/2022/03/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-grizzly-conflict-manager.html

Mainstream cryptids

I’m contemplating a project (@PopCryptid) that examines cryptozoology in science and pop culture. I’m just getting started, but here is an example of how the idea of “cryptids” (“hidden” legendary animals) is now mainstream in our popular culture. A designer created a 3D printed shoe called The Cryptide Sneaker that leaves a strange trackway. He named it after cryptid animals, notably Bigfoot and Yeti, that leave strange tracks. Not gonna lie, I’d totally love to give this shoe a try in some soft ground in the Pennsylvania wilderness. https://hackaday.com/2022/03/02/3d-printed-shoes-make-bigfoot-tracks/

Pastor deluged with criticism and curses

Finally, in an update about the cocky and exuberantly accusatory witch-finding Pastor Greg Locke, he’s gotten a bit of blowback from the crazy sermon where he threatened several women in his congregation for being witches. The Tennessee preacher says he’s gotten deluged with negative comments and even threats for speaking about the issue. He seems to be portraying this as his righteous cause and everyone who doesn’t agree is ignorant about the dangerous reality of witchcraft and Satanism. He is doubling down on the accusations, seemingly as a way to muster support from those who believe in literal demons. There are quite a few people out there so he’s not lonely, if he manages to survive the glitter and sex-toy attacks against him. https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-locke-says-hes-being-threatened-with-death-hexes-sex-toys.html

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