12 Trivia Tidbits for Wednesday, July 10, 2024
A despondent robot, a tree flash mob, a Taylor Swift NDA... these tidbits are the real deal.
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Alternate Names for Donkey Kong
When Universal tried to sue Nintendo in 1983, claiming that “Donkey Kong” was an infringement on “King Kong,” a deposition revealed some absolutely bonkers names they had floated for the character, including Bill Kong, Kong Dong, Kong the Kong, Kong Boy and Kong Man.
Taylor Swift Wouldn’t Let Ethan Hawke Talk to His Own Kids
Hawke had to sign an NDA that mandated he couldn’t tell anyone, not even his own teenage daughters, that he was appearing in the music video for “Fortnite.”
Somebody Yoinked a Replica of France’s Excalibur
According to the 11th century balad “The Song of Roland,” the Durandal Sword has been jammed in stone for over 1,300 years. A replica that dates back to the 1780s has been stolen, and the local mayor doesn’t seem to have much hope of recovering it: “We will miss Durandal.”
What’s the Cost of a Human Life?
Boeing pled guilty to criminal fraud in two plane wrecks that killed 346 people. They’ll pay a $244 million fine, and invest $455 million in safety and compliance programs, which comes out to a smidge over two mil per soul.
A Bureaucracy Bot Has Hurled Itself Down the Stairs
A short, mobile robot designed to handle administrative tasks for a South Korean city council was seen circling one particular spot at the top of a set of stairs before tumbling down them. The robot was capable of riding an elevator, making this action seem somehow deliberate.
The James Webb Space Telescope Has Found the Stinkiest Planet to Date
Researchers have detected a gas giant 64 light years away that’s primarily made up of hydrogen sulfide. That means it’s basically one huge egg fart.
Fund Your Copenhagen Vacation By Cleaning Up Trash
As tourist destinations struggle with housing crises and overcrowding due to tourism booms, Copenhagen came up with a novel plan. They’re incentivizing tourists to participate in sustainable activities, from taking public transportation to picking up garbage, by offering perks like free coffee and kayak rentals.
Neuroscientists Have Witnessed the Physical Phenomenon of Curiosity
Researchers had subjects try to make sense of “visually ambiguous situations” while undergoing brain scans, and were able to witness the neurological activity that occurs when a person feels curious.
The U.S. Is Falling Behind in Elevators
Despite inventing the elevator, the U.S. is woefully behind other, lesser countries in their implementation. American elevator regulations require larger spaces than other countries, causing their construction to be around five times more expensive. As a result, New York City alone has half as many elevators as Switzerland, despite having roughly the same population and far more tall buildings.
Trees Have Flash Mobs
A 900-mile stretch of beech trees in Europe all release their fruit at nearly the exact same time, an act that’s likely directed, somehow, by the summer solstice. It’s the largest known coordinated activity among trees in the world.
EVs Use Fake Noise to Sound Like Real Cars
Advancements in electric engines have made EVs nearly silent, but it turns out that two-ton death machines that can sneak up on you are extremely dangerous. And so, they’re now mandated to include speakers, called Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems, that pump out “vroom vroom” engine noises like an uncle trying to feed baby.
The Most Stressed Cities in the U.S.
Based on metrics ranging from weekly hours worked to amount of adult binge drinkers, researchers have found that Cleveland, Detroit and Baltimore are the most stressed cities in the country. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Fremont, California, South Burlington, Vermont and Fargo, North Dakota are all livin’ the easy life.
