September 26, 13:00IOL

Review of Unusual World News: From Japanese Esports Player to Singapore's Rules

The weekly review of unusual world events presents various stories, ranging from the diet of a Japanese esports player to the strict rules in Singapore.

Eel Helps Achieve Success

The Japanese prodigy in esports, Yuki Kurihara, claims that a diet rich in eels helps boost his stamina and alertness. This 11-year-old athlete, who has already shown brilliance at his debut in the Asian Games, maintains his concentration by consuming these slippery creatures.

If Kurihara wins the game Puyo Puyo Champions, which is similar to Tetris, after defeating opponents significantly older than him three times, he will become the youngest gold medalist. Kurihara, who joined the national team at age 10, stated that before major competitions, he eats eels to enhance his energy and focus.

Pakistan is Delighted with Gorillas

A new trend involving dancing to music featuring gorillas is observed in the metropolis of Lahore, Pakistan. Artists dressed in giant ape costumes have gone viral performing dance moves.

Student Sirat al-Arudj mentioned that before the gorilla appeared, the atmosphere at the university party was quite dull. However, when the agile silver gorilla-like figure started waving its arms, the energy level of everyone present increased significantly. Shayen Zahoor, CEO of the gorilla costume company, noted that the video uploaded to Instagram garnered a million views in just two days.

Singapore's Strict Rules

When visiting Singapore, especially on public transport, caution should be exercised, as violating the rules can result in significant fines. The city-state, known as the 'Fine City,' has numerous norms to ensure impeccable citizen behavior.

The latest tightening of rules concerns sitting in seats on double-decker buses: if a passenger defecates, urinates, or spits in such a bus, the fine will be a substantial $3900. Singapore banned chewing gum back in 1992 and prides itself on its cleanliness. Nevertheless, officials stated that when applying the new rules, they will exercise 'prudence and fairness' to avoid stigmatizing those affected.

Conclusion of the Puzzle Battle

Despite the participants of the World Puzzle Championship looking like amateurs with puzzle elements in their decorations or quirky hairstyles, the 1700 contestants proved to be highly determined. One organizer emphasized that it is a 'real battle, not a friendly gathering.'

Tension was palpable from the start, as some participants began opening detail packets using their teeth, and their fingers moved rapidly. Dutch postgraduate student Maartje van der Meer exclaimed upon placing the final piece for victory, noting that it was 'pure adrenaline and chaos... My hands were shaking, but it was amazing.'

Similar stories

super.abril.com.brSeptember 14, 24:00

Cozumel's pygmy raccoons demonstrate social learning by creating toys from trash

On the Mexican island of Cozumel, located in the Caribbean Sea, lives the pygmy raccoon, a remarkable and rare creature. Although similar to the common raccoon, this small mammal is distinguished by its yellowish-gray fur, black spots around its eyes, and a dark band on its throat. Currently, the species faces a critical situation, with estimates indicating that only about 200 individuals remain in the wild.

The existence of the pygmy raccoon is restricted to the island of Cozumel, a place globally known for its coral reefs, clear waters, and as the main stopover point for cruise ships in Latin America. It is common for these animals to be seen scavenging through trash cans looking for food scraps among tourists.

However, in January of this year, tourists witnessed unusual behavior. A young raccoon chose to ignore the food waste in a trash can and instead picked up a receipt. It then carried the piece of paper to a bowl of water, where it repeatedly dipped it and rolled it in the sand until it formed a cohesive sphere. After creation, the animal remained there, interacting with its own artifact, which is equivalent, in human terms, to making its own toy.

A subsequent study, published in the journal Wild, revealed that this act was not an isolated event. The habit appears to be a capacity passed between members of a family of pygmy raccoons. This finding represents the first documented evidence of what is called 'material culture' within the Procyonidae family, which includes raccoons, coatis, and opossums.

The concept of 'material culture' refers to the physical objects that a group produces, uses, and leaves behind; in the animal kingdom, this can include tools, clothing, toys, or even furniture. Generally, these items are learned through observing other members of the same species.

Researchers observed exactly this pattern of behavior in Cozumel. The younger sister was the first to learn how to make her own balls. The mother also tried to replicate the process but soon abandoned the activity. The authors suggest that the maternal abandonment might be related to consuming a daisy shortly before, which would have diminished her abilities.

In one of the detailed records in the article, the research team saw the two sisters playing 'football' with each other and with the mother. However, the family trajectory had a melancholic end. Shortly after the invention of the toy, the first raccoon became seriously ill and died. One of the possible causes for the animal's sudden death was malnutrition and toxic contamination caused by a new tourist complex nearby, which had damaged part of the raccoon's habitat.

With the loss of the raccoon, scientists feared the end of this tradition, since material culture depends on individuals who possess the necessary knowledge for its maintenance. However, days later, the surviving sister repeated the procedure: she used a hamburger wrapper found in the trash, moistened the object, and pressed it against the sand, thus starting to play with her new ball. The team is now eagerly awaiting to see if this skill will continue to spread among the pygmy raccoons.