The Weird Science Awards

steve smyth — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:13:03 GMT

It seems to me, after reading CosmicLog all year, the weirdest story is the unrelenting wave of God vs. Science...don'tcha think?
Weird because it just is...

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Michael — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:26:20 GMT

Chicken crosses road! Whoa! who cares?

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Dennis McClain-Furmanski, Dalworthington Gardens, Texas — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:22:00 GMT

The Case Of The Missing Crab Lice

From News Of The Weird, Nov. 25, 2007:

The prominent Rotterdam Natural History Museum in the Netherlands, which houses over 300,000 species, announced in October that it was missing a particular one that it fears is dying out: crab lice (pubic hair lice). In a June science journal article, researchers had hypothesized that the "Brazilian bikini wax" was in part responsible for the scarcity; said the museum's curator, "Pubic lice can't live without pubic hair." [Newsday-AP, 10-19-07]

Also covered by Annals of Improbable Research,
http://www.improbable.com/2007/10/19/dutch-museum-hunts-elusive-crab-lice/
including a follow-up stating that samples had been donated to the museum.
http://improbable.com/2007/11/20/five-old-crabs-and-a-fresh-one/

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Alan Boyle — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:21:25 GMT

I second Dennis' nomination for the case of the missing crab lice. If nine more people add their "seconds" (or is that thirds, fourths, fifths, etc.?) I'll add it to the voting list. The quicker you get an addition approved, the more time there'll be for your nomination to garner votes. So Dennis, round up your fellow members of the LFHCfS and form a voting bloc.

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Allen Coyle, Clearwater Florida — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:50:55 GMT

I third Dennis's nomination also.

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Chris M. Merrimack, NH — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:32:34 GMT

I fourth it. That is definitely wierd!

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Des Emery, St. Thomas, ON, Canada — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:57:01 GMT

I was itching for someone with the creds of a Dennis McClain-Furmanski to put a finger on a really weird science story and bring it into the light. Just be careful where you leave it.

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Tony, Sammamish, WA — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:18:16 GMT

I 4th it

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John Mack, Fairway, KS — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:45:13 GMT

I ditto Allen's thirding of Dennis's nomination.

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Tim Sapporo, Hokkaido — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:01:15 GMT

I fourth Dennis' nomination.

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gbc, Seattle, WA — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:37:11 GMT

I'll fourth it. Just think: if we can raise the awareness of this problem high enough we might be able to save one more species from extinction!

Hmmm...come to think of it I'm not sure I want to know what would take over their niche market if they were to go extinct. Save the Crab Lice, or Humankind is Doomed!

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steve smyth — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:32:26 GMT

when considering the final tally, remember to stare once more into those feral black holes...creeps me out some friggin' wicked every time...

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emmajean — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:22:31 GMT

Yes, let's completely embrace science and every experiment that SUPPOSEDLY will be for the betterment of society; and, let's remember the well-meaning scientists that brought us:
1) Killer Bees
2) Nuclear Bombs
3) The numerous toxins and chemicals that pollute our bodies and are killing our environment
(DDT, chlorocarbons, just to name a few)
4) All these “wonder” drugs we saw on TV :Paxil, Fosamax, Vioxx; that are now lining lawyer’s pockets because of harmful side effects and/or death.
I’m sure there are plenty other things I could add to the list if I had the time to do research.
I'm not saying we should live like the Amish; no one is saying that. But we should always question and possibly draw some lines in the sand...science is great, but anyone who embraces all experimentation without question or some kind of concern is foolhardy.

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Roy Fritz, Butte, Mt — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:19:15 GMT

Oct 19 meteorite striking earth is closer to believeing if you consider Chsrles F. idea that there was planet between us that was destroyed and life was sent to begin agin from there to here. Look at the asteriod belt that is just beyond our orbit in our solar system maybe were from there??

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lf — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:46:45 GMT

emmajean...that is pretty cynical to ignore the benefits while only looking at the negatives. Try to look at both sides. Oh yeah, also read up a bit on DDT. By banning DDT millions and millions of people in third world countries have died unnecessarily of malaria. The evidence for DDT's negative effects is sketchy and overblown. You are right - not all things are great for us, but not all of them are bad either.

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heather suhonen battle creek michigan — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:51:16 GMT

that was cool cant belive it...

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Elflin — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:59:18 GMT

Don't blame the scientists. Blame the marketers, blame the 'improve the bottom line' people. The drugs you mentioned were pushed by the drug companies to make money as fast as they could. There is very little money for pure research anymore. If you want to be a scientist, you had better produce marketable goods is the credo of most research today.

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quentin, philly — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:01:27 GMT

true drug companies push to make as much money, but scientist should have the moral backbone to try and help people instead of make as money as they can (same goes for hospitals/doctors, etc.)money and everyone's pursuit of this worthless non-paper contract with the devil lol is ruining humanity as we know it..i give the world 5 years before we kill ourselves and each other ...oh yea...the cats are the coolest,then i wouldnt trip over mine at night

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Alan Boyle — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:03:06 GMT

I'm still waiting for the ninth and tenth supporter for the case of the missing crab lice so that I can add it to the list... Don't bug out now!

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Noel, Washington, Dc — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:04:17 GMT

You all have waaayyy too much time on your hands!

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LupelansngMI — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:05:27 GMT

I ditto on Dennis's story...that's just nuts!

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Roanoke, VA — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:15:32 GMT

You Alls, Dont You Alls Wants Somes Glow In Theys Dark Kittes Mills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111??????? Anyways, Wells, Take Care! From: Aletha

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Heather, Persian Gulf — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:19:21 GMT

I vote for the see through frogs as being odd. Clear skin to see the insides is a good idea in a lab. But what happens to them in the wild?

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John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:28:27 GMT

crab lice rulez

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Drew, Bowling Green KY — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:33:59 GMT

I will 9th the crab lice. I would love to see it be fully voted on. I know that somewhere there are a bunch of highly educated people worried that pubic lice will become extinct and that is the top priority to them. Interesting place to live, huh?

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Troy — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:47:19 GMT

emmajean: Not to rain on your parade, but the device you are using to post messages on the Internet was created out of, and using many chemicals that are inherently dangerous and toxic.

So, step away from the keyboard, turn off the power, and find a recycling center where they will 'safely' turn your PC into a less harmful form.

By the way, do you breath? Then you are expelling CO2 into the atmosphere. Use electricity (other than the PC) such as lights, heat water.? Electricity is usually generated by a coal fired plant, or a nuclear reactor. Shame on you. (Note, I know that some people have hydroelectric power plants that supply their electricity, but they have their own environmental issues too) We won't even get into your other waste products... Ewwww

Also, for every person, (who is likely already depressed and thinking of bailing out on this world), who is taking an SSRI (one of your drugs above), there are many others who are living much better lives than they would without them.

Nuclear bombs: OK, I suppose you'd prefer speaking German or Japanese? Technology happens, if it had not happened here (USA, for our foreign friends), I know for a fact that Germany was working towards the technology and would have dropped one or many stateside if Hitler thought it would have expanded his empire. How many more lives would you have allowed the Japanese to take while we traded torpedoes and aircraft in daily battles with them? How many Chinese women would you send with the Japanese officers as sex slaves?

Sorry to rant, but there is more to the things that you mention than you appear to know about. And much 'safe' (well as safe as possible) experimentation IS done, before you see anything on the market. Please note that I do not presume to tell anyone on here that Nuclear bombs are meant to 'always' be safe. After all, they are meant to explode and cause death and devastation. But also please note, that to date, none have 'unintentionally' been made 'unsafe'. Please don't give me the inherently unsafe argument. So are cars, water, lightning, tornadoes, fly swatters, everything. It all depends on the use and the intention of user.

Other stuff: Pubic Hair Lice??? Nope, no way, not seconding, thirding, or anything'ing (not a word, I know) Just more Ewwww.

Thanks all...

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swr — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:48:11 GMT

Jeez, what's with all the cynacism on drugs? Bet no-one said that when penicillin was discovered. And guess what? There have been numerous deaths from that drug being prescribed. Maybe it's our litigious society we should be blaming. But that's another story in itself. I think the forum is for voting. So I 9th the crab lice story.

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Larry Maddox, Aguanga, Ca. — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:49:45 GMT

Speaking of science, I would like to know what benefits for mankind have transpired with the billions of dollars spent on space exploration. I personally like the crablice story.

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Joshua Moreno, Austin, TX — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:56:17 GMT

I think we should scratch the whole missing pubic lice issue Alan, there are far more pressing issues to comment about.

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kitty kat supporter — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:59:44 GMT

unfair boost/support for the crab lice by the Big Dog...BOO!!!

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JSAg — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:08:15 GMT

I too, am for the extinction of crab lice. This story should make it on to the list.

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Bob — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:11:31 GMT

Oh, I 10th the crab lice story. Definately needs to be added!

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ray c san antonio texas — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:16:21 GMT

the chupacrabra is real. i know cuz im Mexican

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Holly, Stockdale, TX — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:25:47 GMT

I can't believe that the scientific community puts money towards breeding see-through frogs when that same money could go toward curing AIDS or cancer or figuring out a way to cut or do away with our dependency on fossil fuels. Gah!

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Alice Schank, Westlake Village, CA — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:32:05 GMT

I found this link about a hybrid/mutant dog very interesting.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14383883/GT1/8404/

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Andy vasvari Brooklyn, NY — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:43:42 GMT

Such an amiable hogwash!!!
The cat simply bathed in an invisible ink that glows in UV light.
Would you let somebody as a human done similar thing for you? Bull......

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Paul Alan — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:47:57 GMT

If I remember correctly, space exploration has given us many wonderful things.ie velcro, Tang, pens that
write upside down, one-handed self adjusting wrenches,
oh yeah, global positioning systems.

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Alan Boyle — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:49:46 GMT

OK, I'll second the story about "Hybrid mutant downed in Maine" ... if we include the chupacabra coyote, we have to give recognition to the hybrid mutant.

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Grandma Jazz, Eden, SD — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:54:29 GMT

I think you missed the dried lettuce that causes diabetics to produce their own insulin. That is wonderfully wierd.

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J Hays — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:02:56 GMT

let's hear it for the chimp beating out the college students. How much did you say a college education cost this day in time, and a chimp won GO FIGURE

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Gillian Harvey-Keisker, Silicon Valley, Ca — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:18:04 GMT

How about nomination of the Asian countries that come up with ideas for "glow in the dark Kitties", "See-thru Frogs", and the likes of "Driving Miss Pidgeon"..Forget future medicines, let's see these follies as the next "Newest Pet Craze" endorsed by Paris Hilton of course.

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Katie, Port Orchard, WA — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:26:51 GMT

I'll third the mutant/hybrid story. The description "cross between a rat and a dog" is truly weird and does lend itself to make one say "ewwwwww"

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Read Me — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:40:53 GMT

See through frogs are useful because we don't have to keep killing them to see how their organs work. Duh!
Why wouldn't someone want an STD to become extinct? I only wish for those who suffer, that AIDs or other incurables would vanish. Cats that glow? Great! I have to vote for the grave sniffing break through. Finding evidence to put killers away is very important to society. It also answers a lot of questions and brings home loved ones to family members left behind. Imagine they could find your kidnapped child and bring him/her home to be properly burried and give you the chance to have closure and a goodbye....

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Ace Bettinger, Lincoln, Nebraska — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:58:35 GMT

"Speaking of science, I would like to know what benefits for mankind have transpired with the billions of dollars spent on space exploration."

Well Larry, the simiconductor trchnology that's letting you have a machine to type your response is due to the space exploration. Digital Imaging used to detect countless medical problems is a space program spin off. There are three NASA technologies used in the development of school bus designs.There are many things we use in our everyday life that are a result of technologies developed by the space program.
Some others are:
Programable Pacemakers
Ultrasound scanning
Enriched baby foods
Scratch resistant lenses
Golfball aerodynamics
These are just a few. Do an internet search of space technolgy spinoffs and you'll find many more. Oh and by the way when you sit down in front of your plasma screen t.v. tonight......Thank NASA.

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Bethesda, MD — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:14:46 GMT

Backwards Research goes Forward

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BG, Scottsdale, Arizona — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:20:52 GMT

I, too, have been following Cosmic Log for quite a while. I think that a close second to the "unrelenting wave of God vs. Science" arguments following Cosmic Log's articles is the ad hoc argument of "why are scientists wasting money on X (substitute any story for X) when the money could be going to cure AIDS or cancer or world hunger, etc.?" As if all AIDS and cancer research was briefly suspended so that some crazy Koreans could invent glow in the dark kitties.

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bill Clinton, New Yourk — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:42:45 GMT

I think there should be more research on pubic lice. I could use a career change.

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and she rode a pink poodle okc — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:27:31 GMT

I'm still waiting till odd animals show up at the rescue shelter, glow in the dark mutant kitties? wow, and I thought tattoos on dogs were weird!

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Ryan, St. Cloud, MN — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:39:52 GMT

I'd like to toss in a vote for the story of the bloodsucking, gender bending African bat bug. How can we ignore a story of deception, intrigue, and sexual avoidance that "doesn't exist anywhere else in the animal kingdom?

When stories of this amazing discovery include scientific quotes such as "We ended up uncovering a hotbed of deception," and "bizarre" how can we ignore it?

It gets my vote because it causes one to ask "Why?" more than most. Almost as much as why Kees Moeliker won the Nobel Biology Prize in 2003 for his discovery of homosexual necrophilia in mallard ducks? That one I'll never figure out.

vote away....

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Ryan, St. Cloud, MN — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:15:36 GMT

HOLD ON! I posted my last addition to this list minutes before an article titled "Study Reveals Why Monkeys Shout During Sex" was posted in todays news! I realize it is a last minute entry into the the category of weird science for the year 2007, but when the scientists interviewed for the article are quoted as saying "Counting monkey pelvic thrusts is admittedly "quite weird, but it's science," they have assured themselves a spot in this years running... and in turn have moved themselves to the top of my list above the African bat bug!

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Tess, Orlando, FL — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:31:58 GMT

couldn't we include Britney Spears under weird science? Surely she's a mutant species of something. . .

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Tom Shanarchie, Miami FL — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:41:45 GMT

Sure fire method of curing pubic lice:
1 shave half of the infected area (right or left)
2 pour lighter fluid on the remaining hair
3 light saturated area with a match
4 wait for lice to flee the fire onto shaved area
5 stab the fleeing lice with ice pick.

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Midge Baker — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:04:30 GMT

My favorite "weird story" was the one one about the attempt to have a chimp declared a person. It's Robert A. Heinlein's "Jerry Was A Man" come to life!

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Brak Silverbone, Tatebayashi, Japan — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:45:54 GMT

Related to the "God vs. science" thing, how about the Creationism Museum (or whatever it's called) down in Kentucky? (Or did that open in '06?)

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Tedjere Diegbe,Abuja, Nigeria — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:10:27 GMT

i posted my last addition to this list minutes before an article titled 'study reveals why monkeys shout during sex'was posted yesterday in the news! i realise it was a last minute entry into the category of weird science for the year 2007,but when the scientists interviewed for the article are quoted as saying 'counting monkey pelvic thrusts is admittedly 'quite weird,but it's science,' they have assured themselves a spot in this years running...and in turn have moved themselves a spot in this years running...and in turn have moved themselves to the top of my list above the african bat bug!

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Jones — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:38:54 GMT

The Da Vinci Code is the most intriguing story. There has been a mysterious air surrounding anything
Da Vinci and this story just adds to the mystic.

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Kally OK — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:55:18 GMT

Chimps smarter than collage students! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
( I bet that the college student vs. the chimp must have felt pretty stupid )

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adana — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:34:55 GMT

hello ben şeyma adanadan selamlar :)))))

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Timothy, North Reading, MA — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:06:21 GMT

Which one is the weridest? Wow, I dunno how me gonna choseie the weridest thingy. Which of you guys already picked one? Any advice?

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a p garcia — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:24:05 GMT

How about the LUV-LORN ASTRONUT and her continous story!

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Wayward Bill — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 06:56:14 GMT

Space billboards! why? Are ETs cruising by at light speed. Are they trying to get astronauts to spend those big bucks that they have accumulated while aboard the international space station? I baffled. Seems a big waste of time and money for a nil audience.

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GrandpaNate — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:19:32 GMT

The strangest story by far put on the net in 2007 was GrandpaNate's Legacy. It claims all the Earth History taught in our schools is a bunch of malarkey. According to GrandpaNate, primeval Earth was a near perfect sphere covered almost evenly with about 9,000 feet of water, and then he not only goes on to explain what raised the continents above sea-level, but explains why they are where they are. There is a short recap of his book @ HTTP://GrandpaNate.com/

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Cindy Millines Pensacola Florida — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:59:50 GMT

I am not sure whether Grandpa Nates Legacy is the strangest story ever told-or the truest! I ordered one of the copies and read it from cover to cover and although I am no earth historian-it sure seemed logical. This man certainly deserves to have the renowned scienctists to atleast look over his theory and maybe even debate him on the facts. I am not sure whether any more copies of this book are available but there is a shortened version posted on his website.

http://grandpanate.com/

Just scroll down to the earth recap section for a overview of his theory.

So I guess I would want to nominate this book for the weird science award-or I guess I would be seconding it as someone has already nominated it!

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Sherry Mae Sterling Co. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:27:23 GMT

GrandpaNate.com
has my vote for weirdest story! OMG! What if he's right! What if all the great scientists are wrong and some guy from Wyoming is right! That would be the weirdest story of all!
Oh come on! It could happen! They used to "KNOW" that the earth was FLAT!!
WOOOHOOO! GRANDPA NATE HAS MY VOTE!
I googled this guy... he's all over the internet!

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Jennifer Sjolin Rawlins Wy. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:08:47 GMT

GrandpaNate.com
got my vote for the weirdest story! It's about time someone looked beyond the big picture and what has been taught in shcools and text books for all these years. The only reason people beleive it anyways is because that's what been beat into us since day one.

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Nate Hughes Rawlins, Wy, — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:16:37 GMT

There is another short recap of GrandpaNate's story of the Earth's trek through time @ HTTP://PlanetEarthRevisited.blogspot.com/