strange stuff

From strange crimes to strange celebrity deaths, read all of the latest weird and strange stuff news stories on Newser.com

Stories 1001 - 1020 | << Prev   Next >>

Train No Longer Rests on Whale Sculpture

Runaway carriage had come to rest on artwork

(Newser) - The front carriage of a Dutch metro train that landed on a sculpture of a whale's tail after plowing through the end of an elevated section of rails was painstakingly lifted clear of the artwork Tuesday and lowered to the ground. The train was left precariously balanced on the...

Whale&#39;s Tail Saves a Runaway Train
Whale's Tail Saves
a Runaway Train
Nov 2, 2020 8:11 AM CST

Whale's Tail Saves a Runaway Train

It's 2020, so why not?

(Newser) - The driver of a metro train in the Netherlands is a very, very lucky man. Incredible images show that a sculpture of a whale's tail saved him and his train from a nasty plunge, reports DutchNews.nl . The otherwise empty train broke through a barrier at the end of...

Kanye's Birthday Gift to Kim: a 'Special Surprise From Heaven'

Some think it's sweet he gave her a hologram of late dad Robert Kardashian; others think it's creepy

(Newser) - Kim Kardashian caused quite a buzz online this week after she posted pictures of her and a bunch of close friends partying on a private island for her 40th birthday, and she apparently isn't done with her celebration. This time, the reality star shared her gift from husband Kanye...

Ever See a Building Walk Before? Here's Your Chance

Historic 85-year-old school moved to new site via 200 robotic 'legs' in Shanghai

(Newser) - It took nearly three weeks, but the Lagena Primary School in Shanghai has been relocated to its new home. If you happened to have been in the Huangpu district earlier this month, you would've seen exactly how it was moved 200 feet to its new space, and you probably...

Cleaner 'Flabbergasted' to Win Election Against Overconfident Mayor

Russian mom Marina Udgodskaya wins in landslide against incumbent Kremlin ally

(Newser) - A Russian mayor running for reelection thought he'd found a "willing patsy" to run against him, a requirement of sorts to ensure at least the appearance of a democratic process. But Marina Udgodskaya—a local mom of two who used to clean Povalikhino's City Hall and says...

Undercover Operation Catches Rogue Turkey

Expert poses as a victim, then grabs 'Gerald'

(Newser) - A wild turkey's five-month reign of terror in Oakland ended Thursday when it fell for a sting operation. The aggressive turkey, called Gerald, had been terrorizing Grand Lake residents and prompted the closing of the city's Morcom Rose Garden, KGO reports. "I swear I was getting flashbacks...

Engineers Have a New Inspiration: This Beetle
'Super Tough' Beetle Could
Inspire Us to Do Better
new study
Oct 21, 2020 5:13 PM CDT

'Super Tough' Beetle Could Inspire Us to Do Better

Researchers say the bug's crush-resistant shell can be a model for planes and buildings

(Newser) - It's a beetle that can withstand bird pecks, animal stomps and even being rolled over by a Toyota Camry. Now scientists are studying what the bug's crush-resistant shell could teach them about designing stronger planes and buildings, the AP reports. "This beetle is super tough," said...

A Town Called Asbestos Gets a New Name
Asbestos, Quebec,
Gets a New Name
Oct 20, 2020 4:30 AM CDT

Asbestos, Quebec, Gets a New Name

Canadian town is now 'Val-des-Sources'

(Newser) - Asbestos, Quebec, doesn't exactly have a nice ring to it. And after more than a century, residents have changed it. The Canadian town was given the name at the end of the 19th century because, at the time, the world's largest asbestos mine was located there, the BBC...

Profanity Filter Presents Challenges for Paleontologists
Conference's Profanity Filter
Is a Little Too Efficient
in case you missed it
Oct 18, 2020 3:30 PM CDT

Conference's Profanity Filter Is a Little Too Efficient

Paleontologists weren't allowed to use the word 'bone'

(Newser) - Paleontologists who gathered online for an annual conference this week encountered an unexpected challenge: For a while, they weren't allowed to use the word "bone." This wasn't some creative exercise. As the Guardian explains, the gathering of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology had to contend with...

Town Haller: Trump's Smile Rocks, but My Vote's for Biden

Paulette Dale drew attention for complimenting president at town hall

(Newser) - There were plenty of attention-grabbing moments during President Trump's Thursday night town hall in Miami, but one attendee managed to steal some of the spotlight from him when she gushed over his looks. "I have to say, you have a great smile," Paulette Dale said to a...

Pilot Reports Man in Jetpack More Than 1 Mile Above LA

'We just saw a flying object like a flying suit that’s passing by us'

(Newser) - Something strange has been happening in the skies over Los Angeles. For the second time in six weeks, commercial pilots have reported seeing a person in a jetpack high above the city. In the latest incident, air traffic controllers warned Wednesday that a pilot preparing to land had seen somebody...

People With These Names Should Watch Their Step

A California-based firm compiles a rather odd list

(Newser) - What's in a name? Your odds of breaking a toe or looking silly in public, it seems. That's according to Uplift Legal Funding, a company that lists the top 10 names of the "most accident-prone" men and women, Today reports. Seems the firm made its list by...

Weird Pitfall for Tesla Owners: Pricey Butt-Dials
Tesla Owner's Butt-Dial
Proves to Be Costly
in case you missed it
Oct 11, 2020 6:13 AM CDT

Tesla Owner's Butt-Dial Proves to Be Costly

Driver trying to get a refund for accidental $4K upgrade, and he's not the first

(Newser) - Tesla makes it pretty easy for owners to get upgrades with snazzy new features for their cars. It's all done via app. But as one driver tells CNBC , the process might be a little too easy. Ali Vaziri says he essentially butt-dialed a $4,280 software upgrade, and now...

Facebook Rejects Onion Ad for Very Unexpected Reason

Algorithm deemed innocent ad 'overtly sexual'

(Newser) - A Canadian company trying to sell onion seeds was surprised to find that Facebook rejected its ad. The bigger surprise came over the reason: Facebook declared that the accompanying image was "overtly sexual," reports the BBC . However, no scantily clad model was involved. Instead the ad showed whole...

After VP Debate, Fans Call for Jeff Goldblum on SNL

They want him to revisit his role from 'The Fly' after real fly landed on VP Pence's head

(Newser) - Thanks to the unexpected star of Wednesday night's vice presidential debate, Jeff Goldblum is now making headlines. Goldblum himself had nothing to do with the event, but the fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence's head , hanging out for two minutes before taking off for more nonpolitical...

Golfer Gored by Elk
Golfer Gored by Elk
Oct 7, 2020 2:51 AM CDT

Golfer Gored by Elk

Denver incident is apparently first of its kind in at least 15 years

(Newser) - "The golfing went pretty good throughout the day until we got to the back nine and saw all the elk." That's the word from a golfer's hospital bed after his Colorado golf outing went awry over the weekend. The elk in question numbered more than 100,...

White Male Professor Accused of Posing as Female Immigrant

University of New Hampshire professor allegedly used Twitter account to go after progressives

(Newser) - A white male University of New Hampshire chemistry professor is accused of posing as an immigrant woman of color on Twitter to make racist and sexist comments and attack users who supported racial justice, per the AP . The university has not named the professor whom it said was being investigated....

Prosecutor: Inmates Were Forced to Listen to 'Baby Shark'

3 former employees have been charged

(Newser) - Two former Oklahoma jail employees and their supervisor face misdemeanor cruelty charges after investigators found they forced inmates to stand handcuffed for hours and listen to the children's song “Baby Shark" on repeat, a prosecutor said Monday. At least four inmates were secured to a wall with their...

Tripadvisor Review Could Land American in Jail
Tripadvisor Review Could
Land American in Jail
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Oct 3, 2020 2:00 PM CDT

Tripadvisor Review Could Land American in Jail

Thailand resort sues Wesley Barnes after he posts slams online

(Newser) - Wesley Barnes did not enjoy his stay at the Sea View Resort in Thailand, as he made very clear in online reviews. Now the American faces two years in prison on defamation charges as a result, reports AFP . It appears the review that got Barnes into potentially deep trouble was...

This City Is Selling Off Its Swans for $400 a Pop

Lakeland, Fla., says due to overpopulation, it costs $10K a year to feed them all

(Newser) - Got an extra $400 lying around? Love swans? If you're near Lakeland, Fla., or can get there, you're in luck. CNN reports that, starting sometime in the next few weeks, the city will be selling off about half of the 80 resident swans that live on Lake Morton....

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