26Trimethylaminuria
There is a rare human condition called Trimethylaminuria, also known as Fish Odor Syndrome, that causes a person's sweat, urine, and breath to smell like rotting fish. It is caused by a defect in the production of a particular enzyme.
27. A boy named David Hahn at the age of 17 attempted to build a nuclear reactor in his backyard, which at one point was emitting over 1000 times normal background radiation.
28. The Jumping Frenchmen of Maine were a group of lumberjacks in the 19th century who suffered a rare disorder which caused them to startle extremely easily, often described as an “uncontrollable leap.” Some affected individuals exhibited automatic or “forced” obedience after a startle response during which they automatically respond to simple commands such as jump, run or hit.
29. In one of the only confirmed cases of homicidal sleepwalking, a man drove himself to his in-laws, bludgeoned the woman and strangled the man and drove off while asleep. He turned himself over to the police and was eventually acquitted of murder.
30. Hoover was a "talking" harbor seal who mimicked human speech. After being orphaned as a pup, Hoover was rescued by George Swallow, who raised the seal in his backyard. Over time, Hoover taught himself phrases like "Hello there" and "Come over here!" in a thick New England accent.
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15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History
31Ann Hodges
There has only been only one confirmed case of a person being hit by a meteor. Ann Hodges was napping on the couch when the rock broke through her ceiling, bounced off her radio and bruised her upper thigh. The Sylacauga meteorite fell on her on November 30, 1954.
32. In 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad foreman, had a tamping iron--which was 43 inches long and weighed 13 pounds--shoot through his skull. He survived but Gage’s friends later remarked he was “no longer Gage.” He could not stick to plans, uttered “the grossest profanity” and showed “little deference for his fellows.”
33. David Johnson a.k.a “World Famous Bushman” is a busker who scares passers-by along Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. He has been active since 1980. When people approach, he shakes the bush towards the unsuspecting tourists and startles them, sometimes making gruff “oogah-boogah” noises.
34. Pedro Lascuráin (34th president of Mexico) holds the record for the shortest presidency in the world. He was in office for only 45 minutes and then quit.
35. A conservative think tank compiled a list of 700 scientists who publicly rejected evolution in favor of creationism. In response, the NCSE launched “Project Steve” and found 1,250 scientists named Steve who supported evolution.
