This Week

[August 11-17th, 2019] Tarantula migration, water bears on the Moon, a salmon cannon, and the rest of the week’s weird news from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Tarantula Migration Begins

Each year in the prairies of southeastern Colorado, thousands of tarantulas begin a mighty migration to find a mate. The brown tarantulas take 10 years to reach sexual maturity before crossing miles of desert searching for love. As they tap on the burrows of females, they fulfill their duty before dying in the Fall. Though the critters migrate en masse, they travel alone and, often, at night.

Salmon Cannon

The Whooshh Fish Transport System, also known as the Salmon Cannon, is an apparatus used to transport salmon over dams. Using a series of pressurized flexible tubing, migratory fish can be transported quickly and safely to spawn area. The device can move about 50,000 fish in 24 hours at an average speed of 22 miles per hour.

Surfing All 50 States

Three years ago, Ben Gravy, a surfer from New Jersey decided to surf all 50 states. Resorting to the wake behind tanker ships and even kayaks for states without coasts, he completed his journey in Anchorage, Alaska. The tidal bore he rode in Alaska pushed him and many friends over the finish line.

TV Santa Strikes Again

In the dead of night, 50 homes in Henrico County, Virginia, were approached by strange figures. They had human bodies, but television sets where their head should be. The next morning, residents found old TVs on their porches. Security footage shows the strange figures leaving the TV’s but nobody seems upset. Local police say the TV Santas aren’t a threat, but just unique individuals.

Water Bears On The Moon

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic invertebrates known for surviving the harshest environments on Earth. Now, scientists can add the Moon to the places water bears can be found. The creatures were deposited on the lunar surface when Israel’s lunar probe exploded. Sent in a dehydrated and frozen state, they won’t be doing anything up there, though future astronauts could resuscitate them.