Strange News from Wyrdology

Wyrdology Fortean Social Network

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-11-25T10:46:09+00:00

This blog is now part of the new Wyrdology social network, a place for all lovers of the weird, the unusual and the strange to share their interests. You can join the fun here: Wyrdology Fortean Network

Microsoft, Wal-Mart Sued for Alleged Mind Control

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-11-14T12:15:12+00:00

A Canadian man is suing Microsoft, Wal-Mart and others for a variety of reasons including alleged brainwave control, satanic rituals and witchcraft! The case is being brought by Jerry Rose of Vancouver Island who is demanding $2 billion in damages. ...It's certainly true that companies such as those named have huge, powerful marketing departments - but mind control?

"Baby Ogopogo" Discovered

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-11-13T08:56:46+00:00

The Ogopogo - also known as the Canadian Nessie - is a creature believed to live in British Columbia's Okanagan Lake. ...You could see a little head tucked in and a straight tail with no fins." ...We should know more in February when the results of DNA testing are expected to be released.

The Taiwan Triangle - Move Over Bermuda?

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-11-01T17:59:18+00:00

The NZ Herald reports that the recent unexplained crash of a fighter jet over the Taiwan Strait has people wondering if the area might be as fearsome as its better known Bermuda counterpart. ... Over the last 20 years a minimum of five fighter jets, three commercial planes and one helicopter have come down in the region. ...The local authorities are keen to avoid any fear of flying damaging the local tourism industry and argue that the area simply has a very high volume of air traffic, so "the chances of crashes are proportionally higher".

Cyprus Government Hunts Kouris Creature

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-29T16:53:13+00:00

The Famagusta Gazette reports that officials from the Cyprus government are hunting for a strange sea creature said to have been spotted in the waters of the Kouris Dam. ...Officials from the Cyprus Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs are searching dam trying to find the mysterious creature. ... Perhaps that's a good thing - the officials plan to try and coax it out using raw meat and live hens as bait.

Scientists Clone Glow-in-the-Dark Cat

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-28T08:48:41+00:00

The idea is that the genetic engineering techniques being explored at the Institute might one day be used to help save endangered species or even help cure disease in humans. ...Given that the cat's being trotted round TV studios I worry about the risk of him running off and spreading his modified genes in the wild. I've nothing against genetic experimentation in the lab but it really mustn't be allowed to escape into the wild in the way that GM food has done; it's a genie that can never be put back in the bottle.

Talking With Aliens: A Universal Translator?

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-24T09:39:43+01:00

Even assuming the aliens use symbol-based communication, how do we learn their language when we have no cultural historical or cultural reference points? ...The Telegraph reports that Dr John Elliott of Leeds Metropolitan University is working on a computer program to help analyse alien messages and work out their language. Elliot's theory is that any language must have a structure and it should be possible to decode some of that structure - for instance identifying verbs and adjectival phrases - even if we don't know the meaning of the "words".

Scotch Tape Emits X-Rays

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-23T07:28:18+01:00

The researchers were sceptical about the Russian reports, however they found to their surprise that X-rays were indeed emitted when Scotch tape was peeled in a vacuum. ...One theory is that splitting a crystal separates out positive and negative charges that then neutralise each other and release energy as light or - in this case - X-rays. ...The researchers are keen to avoid worrying people about using sticky tape and stress that their experiments require the tape to be peeled in a vacuum.

Heart Attack? Play Some '70s Disco!

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-20T10:14:38+01:00

Disco music from the 1970s is rather looked down upon today, however the BBC reports that it could help to save lives. ...Unfortunately the music of the brothers Gibb doesn't have any magical powers in itself, but it could help anyone performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient. ... Researchers from the by the University of Illinois College of Medicine found that students practising CPR whilst listening to Stayin' Alive averaged a CPR rate of 109 BPM.

ET Vote Obama?

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-13T10:22:44+01:00

We already know that zombies support Barack Obama for president, now it appears that aliens might also be showing an interest in him. ...The UFOs were seen by several people, so they aren't just lens flare or other camera artefacts. ...Or maybe they really were aliens, but they're not interested in politics - just big Bruce Springsteen fans!

Forest Poltergeist Follows Teenager Home

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-10T09:28:59+01:00

The West Sussex County Times on the case of a young man from Horsham, South England, who went on a camping trip - only to have a forest poltergeist return the visit! ...Even Stephen's mum Caroline, who describes herself as "more sceptical about these things", is convinced and has called in the Sussex Paranormal Research Group. ...If that's the case then it's possible that Stephen's paranormal abilities were awakened by a night of fright and that the manifestations in the Foster home come not from an external entity but from his subonscious.

Virgin Mary Appears in Springfield

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-10-06T08:36:35+01:00

As many as 300 people at a time crowded to view the apparition, many chanting, singing or even crying. One witness said she found it comforting that the Virgin Mary should appear at a time of such upheaval in the US. A cynic might say that such times make people more prone to clutch at straws and give religious interpretations to a random pattern of light and shade.

Mind Over Cancer?

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-24T08:16:18+01:00

The researchers found that young women who suffered traumatic negative emotional events were more at risk of developing breast cancer later in life than those who maintained a happy, optimistic attitude. ...It's possible that being diagnosed as having cancer may have affected their view of their past emotional state, something that's hard to measure objectively at the best of times. So this research is inconclusive, however it's yet more evidence that the possible link between mind and body is at least interesting enough to deserve further study.

New Species Discovered - On eBay!

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-24T07:55:20+01:00

The fossilised insect, which had been preserved in amber, was bought by Dr Richard Harrington for just £20. After examination by experts the insect was confirmed as being a new species - now, of course, probably extinct. ...Yet even a bug can give you a place in history - the new species has been named Mindarus harringtoni.

Clouded Leopard Photographed in Borneo

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-18T09:30:52+01:00

Scientists from the Sebangau Felid Project have captured pictures of a rare Clouded Leopard in Borneo’s Sebangu National Park, Central Kalimantan ...“We are very excited by this evidence that they occur at Sebangau - a great deal remains to be discovered about these beautiful felids, which are a flagship for conservation in South-East Asia” ...These are all at risk as the Park, one of the largest deep peat-swamp forests in the world, is very susceptible to forest fires and also at risk from illegal logging.

Scientists Find Portal to Underworld

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-18T09:18:54+01:00

Scientists in Mexico have discovered what local legend says is the portal to the Mayan Underworld, Xibalba, on the Yucatan peninsula. ...The maze of caverns and tunnels was believed by the ancient Mayans to be the entrance the the underworld for the souls of the dead. ...Xibalba means “Place of fear” and was believed to be ruled by the spirits of disease and death, “the Lords of Xibalba”.

New Bird Species Found

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-17T11:26:08+01:00

The olive-backed forest robin is around four and a half inches long with a fiery orange throat. ...The bird was first spotted back in 2001 but was initially thought to be from a known species, however Brian Schmidt of the Smithsonian realised it had a different appearance. ... The new discovery brings the total number of known species in Gabon to 753 - there may still be many more unknown ones.

Stretford UFOs Were Balloons

webmaster@wyrdology.com — 2008-08-17T11:14:23+01:00

The Manchester Evening News reports that last week’s rash of UFO reports in the Stretford area were the result not of alien activity but of children. ...Balloons of some sort are a frequent cause of UFO reports that later become IFOs (Identified Flying Objects). Stephen Mera of the Manchester Association of Paranormal Investigators and Training commented: “I think we'll see more of these throughout the summer.