Weird News Tidbits

can we keep one thread for mildly funny stuff?

 

the sicko stuff can just GTFO. no one wants to read that ■■■■

			 
		
			
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			<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6584229.stm'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6584229.stm</a>
			 
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							<div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;color:rgb(0,0,0);">'Kryptonite' discovered in mine</div>
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											<img height="152" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42835000/jpg/_42835709_kryp_nhm_203b.jpg" width="203" alt="_42835709_kryp_nhm_203b.jpg">
											<div style="font-size:10px;color:rgb(102,102,102);">Very definitely not green</div>
										
									<b>Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes.</b>
							<p>A new mineral matching its unique chemistry - as described in the film Superman Returns - has been identified in a mine in Serbia.</p>
							<p>According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman's powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals.</p>
							<p>The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum.</p>
							<p>"I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either - although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange," he told BBC News.</p>
							<p><b>Rock heist</b></p>
							<p>Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.</p>
							<p>Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral's chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in the literature - albeit literary fiction.&nbsp;</p>
							<p>"Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide -&nbsp;<span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);">and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luthor from a museum in the film Superman Returns.&nbsp;</span></p>
							<p>"The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite."</p>
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6584229.stm
'Kryptonite' discovered in mine
_42835709_kryp_nhm_203b.jpg
Very definitely not green
Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes.

A new mineral matching its unique chemistry - as described in the film Superman Returns - has been identified in a mine in Serbia.

According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman's powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals.

The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum.

"I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either - although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange," he told BBC News.

Rock heist

Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.

Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral's chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in the literature - albeit literary fiction. 

"Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide - and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luthor from a museum in the film Superman Returns. 

"The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite."

 

So in other words, it is not the same and they haven't found it at all but it looks good in the paper and gets his name up in lights.

So is this life imitating art, or the other way round?

19 September 2014 Last updated at 01:48


 

Slippery banana study wins Ig Nobel

By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News

_77662666_507310241.jpg

 

Research that investigated why bananas are slippery when you step on them has won one of this year's Ig Nobel prizes. 

The spoof awards that have become almost as famous as the real Nobels were handed out at their annual ceremony at Harvard University, US. 

Kiyoshi Mabuchi's Japanese team measured the friction of banana skin in the lab, and showed why apple and orange peel are not quite so hazardous. 

The Kitasato University group received the physics Ig for their insights.

It is another classic of its type. The awards, which are run by the science humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research, can seem quite ridiculous at first. 

But when you delve deeper, you often see a serious intention beyond just the tongue in cheek.

The Japanese scientists are interested in how friction and lubrication affect the movement of our limbs.

The polysaccharide follicular gels that give banana skins their slippery properties are also found in the membranes where our bones meet.

"This concept will help to design a joint prosthesis," Kiyoshi Mabuchi told BBC News.

_77681378_77681377.jpgIn their paper, the Kitasato group describes its experimental set-up
 
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29253796

'Beer goggle' study wins Ig Nobel award

 

By Melissa HogenboomScience reporter, BBC News

_69838809_tv019283517.jpgA team won an Ig for discovering mice lived longer after heart surgery if they listened to opera music

 

A team of researchers who found that people think they are more attractive when drinking alcohol, have scooped an Ig Nobel prize for their work.

 

The researchers from France and the US confirmed the "beer goggle effect" also works on oneself. 

Ig Nobel awards are a humorous spoof-like version of their more sober cousins, the Nobel prizes. 

Winners have 60 seconds to make a speech to avoid being booed off stage by an eight-year-old girl. 

Titled "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder", the team were awarded one of the 10 awards (listed below) at a packed gala ceremony at Harvard University, US.

Other winners included a patent for trapping and ejecting airplane hijackers and a UK team scooped an Ig for observing that a cow is more likely to stand up the longer it has been lying down.

	10,000 birds checked for ‘bum bombs‘
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	Oct 03, 2014 11:48AM<div>

CHINESE security officers have carried out an ‘■■■■ security check‘ on 10,000 doves, fearing a potential terrorist attack.

State-run media outlet People‘s Daily reported that the “■■■■ security check for suspicious objects” took place at the start of the week before this week‘s National Day celebrations in Tiananmen Square – due to government fears of a potential terrorist attack.

The 10,000 doves released underwent unusual scrutiny, each having its feathers and ■■■■ checked for dangerous materials, state-run media reports said, reflecting government jitters over possible attacks.

The symbols of peace were released at sunrise in Beijing‘s symbolic heart of Tiananmen Square in a ceremony for the Oct. 1 holiday to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People‘s Republic of China.

Beijing domestic security police officer Guo Chunwei was quoted in the Jinghua Times as saying workers checked the wings, legs and ■■■■ of each pigeon ahead of time to ensure they were “not carrying suspicious material.” The entire process was videotaped, and the birds were then loaded into sealed vehicles for the trip to Tiananmen Square, the newspaper said.

A similar report appeared in the Beijing News, and the People‘s Daily tweeted about it in English: “10,000 pigeons go through ■■■■ security check for suspicious objects Tue, ready to be released on National Day on Wed.”

http://news.optuszoo.com.au/2014/10/03/10000-birds-checked-for-bum-bombs/

 

 

Surely this is a joke?

Communist regime has symbol for peace anally violated in the name of peace.

Sounds plausible.

Don’t think id want to win a spoof award.

Don't think id want to win a spoof award.

Spoof is ok, it's spüf you need to be concerned about.

 

Don't think id want to win a spoof award.

Spoof is ok, it's spüf you need to be concerned about.

 

hmmm...bit too close, may cause confusion

Communist regime has symbol for peace anally violated in the name of peace.
Sounds plausible.

Hammer and sickle (sp) ouch.

Honestly, I was checking for bum bombs. You just can’t be too careful these days.

'Beer goggle' study wins Ig Nobel award

 

By Melissa HogenboomScience reporter, BBC News

_69838809_tv019283517.jpgA team won an Ig for discovering mice lived longer after heart surgery if they listened to opera music

 

A team of researchers who found that people think they are more attractive when drinking alcohol, have scooped an Ig Nobel prize for their work.

 

The researchers from France and the US confirmed the "beer goggle effect" also works on oneself. 

Ig Nobel awards are a humorous spoof-like version of their more sober cousins, the Nobel prizes. 

Winners have 60 seconds to make a speech to avoid being booed off stage by an eight-year-old girl. 

Titled "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder", the team were awarded one of the 10 awards (listed below) at a packed gala ceremony at Harvard University, US.

Other winners included a patent for trapping and ejecting airplane hijackers and a UK team scooped an Ig for observing that a cow is more likely to stand up the longer it has been lying down.

 

Imagine working on that. You'd seriously question your own relevance on the way to work every day, waiting to get shut down and hoping some big admin brass guy doesn't cast his eye over it before it's completed. In saying that, I wonder how long you could stretch out a study like like...

not weird but Ebola mentioned earlier in this thread. The US just discovered that their health system is not necessarily better placed to win the battle than impoverished African nations after a Liberian man died of the disease in a Dallas hospital last night. Even without aerosol spread (thank our lucky stars!) , modern transport methods makes this virus unimaginably dangerous.

not weird but Ebola mentioned earlier in this thread. The US just discovered that their health system is not necessarily better placed to win the battle than impoverished African nations after a Liberian man died of the disease in a Dallas hospital last night. Even without aerosol spread (thank our lucky stars!) , modern transport methods makes this virus unimaginably dangerous.

Rubbish, anything which is not placed in West Africa is better placed than them!

 

not weird but Ebola mentioned earlier in this thread. The US just discovered that their health system is not necessarily better placed to win the battle than impoverished African nations after a Liberian man died of the disease in a Dallas hospital last night. Even without aerosol spread (thank our lucky stars!) , modern transport methods makes this virus unimaginably dangerous.

Rubbish, anything which is not placed in West Africa is better placed than them!

 

The US is able to isolate, educate and provide the right facilities to control the spread. Africa has none of those systems in place.

 

 

not weird but Ebola mentioned earlier in this thread. The US just discovered that their health system is not necessarily better placed to win the battle than impoverished African nations after a Liberian man died of the disease in a Dallas hospital last night. Even without aerosol spread (thank our lucky stars!) , modern transport methods makes this virus unimaginably dangerous.

Rubbish, anything which is not placed in West Africa is better placed than them!

 

The US is able to isolate, educate and provide the right facilities to control the spread. Africa has none of those systems in place.

 

 

In theory, yes, but realistically, their health system is not in a good position at all to deal with something like this. A significant proportion of their population simply don't use the health system because they can't afford it, and are unlikely to seek medical care until their symptoms are severe. Many such people probably don't even know what ebola is, given poor education levels and a lack of interest in global affairs.

 

Then the way Thomas Duncan (the guy who died in the US) was dealt with after he did present to hospital was an absolute shambles. Despite having flu-like symptoms and telling them he had recently travelled from Liberia, he waited five hours before being seen and was then sent home with antibiotics. He then ended up in emergency a few days later. Then the authorities proceeded to botch the quarantine of his family and others he had been in contact with.

 

They're obviously better-resourced than most African countries, but I wouldn't have any confidence in them being able to contain the disease if it started to spread among the population.

 

'Beer goggle' study wins Ig Nobel award

 

By Melissa HogenboomScience reporter, BBC News

_69838809_tv019283517.jpgA team won an Ig for discovering mice lived longer after heart surgery if they listened to opera music

 

A team of researchers who found that people think they are more attractive when drinking alcohol, have scooped an Ig Nobel prize for their work.

 

The researchers from France and the US confirmed the "beer goggle effect" also works on oneself. 

Ig Nobel awards are a humorous spoof-like version of their more sober cousins, the Nobel prizes. 

Winners have 60 seconds to make a speech to avoid being booed off stage by an eight-year-old girl. 

Titled "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder", the team were awarded one of the 10 awards (listed below) at a packed gala ceremony at Harvard University, US.

Other winners included a patent for trapping and ejecting airplane hijackers and a UK team scooped an Ig for observing that a cow is more likely to stand up the longer it has been lying down.

 

Imagine working on that. You'd seriously question your own relevance on the way to work every day, waiting to get shut down and hoping some big admin brass guy doesn't cast his eye over it before it's completed. In saying that, I wonder how long you could stretch out a study like like...

 

 

 

Beer got me into this mess, and as [insert preferred messiah here] is my witness, beer is going to get me out of it. 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beer got me into this mess, and as [insert preferred messiah here] is my witness, beer is going to get me out of it. 

 

Dionysus was the Greek God of Beer so he's the man for the job I think.