Month: August 2014

The 33 Most Surreal Places On Earth

So many other-worldly places exist right on our planet, and we never even knew about it. Here are 33 landmarks that look like paintings and scenes from science fiction movies.

Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia

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earthporm.comDuring the rainy season, the world’s largest salt flat becomes the world’s largest mirror. The Salar was born when several prehistoric lakes joined into one. The salt flat is so reflective, it’s used to calibrate satellites.

Tianzi Mountains, China

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michaelyamashita.comThese unqiuely tall and thin mountains are so alien that they were used in James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Formed underwater 380 million years ago, the flow destroyed surrounding sandstone, leaving only resilient stone pillars. Some of the columns have reached over 4,000 feet above sea level.michaelyamashita.com

natureflip.comThis 240-meter-long cave system has been one of Guilin, China’s most popular attractions for over 1200 years. The beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and pillars were all created through water erosion. In the present day, they are highlighted by multi colored lights which create a truly surreal environment.amusingplanet.com

Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland

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all-that-is-interesting.comIce caves are temporary structures that form at the edge of glaciers when flowing water melts a hole into glaciers. The tightly packed ice has very few air bubbles and absorbs all light except for blue, giving the ice its unique color.amusingplanet.com

Antelope Canyon, Arizona, United States

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all-that-is-interesting.comThis canyon was formed by millions of years of flowing water that carved out a deep, yet narrow crevice. Since significantly less light makes it down to the deeper depths, the walls often appear to be different colors.wikipedia.org

Bigar Waterfall, Romania

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500px.orgThe locals call this waterfall “the miracle from the Minis gorge.” The moss formation which the falls travel over is 8 meters tall, creating one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Wyoming

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mostbeautifulplacesintheworld.orgGrand Prismatic Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented microbes, which grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water.wikipedia.org

nationalgeographic.comNo, the above images are not surrealist paintings. They’re photographs of “dead valley,” where trees stand against a background of the highest sand dunes in the world. Once a thriving forest, the approaching desert has killed all life.wikipedia.org

Turquoise Ice, Lake Baikal, Russia

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reddit.comLake Baikal is the oldest freshwater lake in the world. In the winter, the lake freezes, but the water is so clear that you can see 130 feet below the ice. In March, frost and sun cause cracks in the ice crust, which results in the turquoise ice shards we see at the surface.mymodernmet.com

nationalgeographic.comOne third of the plant life on Socotra Island is found nowhere else on planet Earth. One of the most bizarre forms of life is the dragon blood tree, which resembles an umbrella.abduzeedo.com

Zhangye Danxia Landform, Gansu, China

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laboiteverte.frThese colourful rock formations are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits laid down over 24 million years. Wind and rain then carved amazing shapes into the rock, forming natural pillars, towers, ravines, valleys and waterfalls.telegraph.co.uk

Tunnel of Love, Klevan, Ukraine

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500px.orgThis tunnel was shaped over many years, as trains traveled the line three times time a day, molding the surrounding trees. Now abandoned, the track is a romantic spot for an afternoon stroll.inhabitat.com

Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand

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sites.psu.eduThousands of tiny glowworms hang to the ceiling of this grotto and radiate a luminescent light, creating a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie.waitomo.com

dailymail.co.ukThe farming techniques in Yuanyang County have created a landscape which is truly amazing from the air. These rice fields are located on the slopes of Ailao Mountain, where the terraced levels help create flat surfaces along an uneven landscape.travelchinaguide.com

reversehomesickness.comOver millions of years, the hotsprings in Pamukkale have transformed the landscape. Although it may look like these terraces are made of ice and snow, Turkey has bikini weather all year round. The ground is just coated in white limestone.wikipedia.org

imgur.comDue to its extensive habitat of fauna and flora, this flowing river appears in yellow, green, blue, black and red as you travel along it. The rocks here are around 1.2 billion years old, and those who visit call it the most beautiful river in the world.wikipedia.org

Patagonia Marble Caves, Chile

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whenonearth.netFormed by thousands of years of waves crashing against calcium carbonate, these caves have smooth, swirling walls, which reflect the lake’s azure waters.atlasobscura.com

profissaoviajante.comAround 50 to 60 million years ago, intense volcanic activity in the area formed a lava plateau. Over time, the lava cooled and fractures created columns that are so perfect, they almost look artificial.wikipedia.org

Fly Geyser, Nevada

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ppcdn.500px.orgFly Geyser was accidentally created when a well was drilled and left uncapped. Minerals and algae started to rise from the geyser and accumulated to form an alien-like mound.allaroundnevada.com

Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius Island

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whenonearth.netStrong ocean currents continually drive sand from the shores of Mauritius into the abyss below, creating this one-of-a-kind underwater waterfall.gearthblog.com

aqu52.files.wordpress.comThis tabletop mountain is one of the oldest mountains on Earth, dating back two billion years when the land was lifted high above the ground by tectonic activity. The sides of the mountain are sheer vertical cliffs, with several waterfalls, making it nearly impossible to climb.wikipedia.org

Aogashima, Japan

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earthporm.comAogashima is a volcanic island located 200 miles off the coast of Tokyo. Even more amazing than the view is the geography – there’s a smaller volcano within the volcano island.earthporm.com

blogspot.comLike the Giant’s Causeway, this cave was formed by lava cooling and fracturing over millions of years. The jagged formations on the outside are entirely nature’s doing.wikipedia.org

anatoly.proUnderneath the water of Cenote Angelita is another flowing body of water. The river is full of hydrogen sulfate, which is much heavier than normal salt water. When it sinks to the bottom, it forms a flow of its own.huffingtonpost.com

boredpanda.comThis silver mine is coated in crystals as big as 50 feet long and 4 feet wide. They Were formed by hydrothermal fluids rising from the magma chambers below. This is a must see on any cave lover’s bucket list.wikipedia.org

Hidden Beach, Mexico

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ppcdn.500px.orgThis magnificent hidden beach was created by a military explosion test in early 1900s. The surrounding islands were deemed a nature park, with the hidden beach only accessible by swimming through a fifty foot tunnel.huffingtonpost.com

Lake Natron, Tanzania

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amazingstuff.co.uk/This lake has a uniquely high salt content. Salt-loving microorganisms thrive and produce red pigment, colorizing the water. For other animals, the salt is deadly and many calcify (effectively turning into stone) after taking a dip in the water.abduzeedo.com

The Eye of Africa, Mauritania

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abduzeedo.comFound in the middle of the Sahara Desert is a deeply eroded bowl, over 24 miles in diameter. The natural formation is so impressive that for a long time, scientists believed it was the site of an asteroid impact.abduzeedo.com

parrikar.comThe isolated highlands of Iceland have some of the most superb natural sights in the Northern Hemisphere. The mindblowing glaciers, craters, lakes and geysers are breathtaking by day, but when night falls, the area becomes one of the best places to witness the aurora borealis.earthporm.com

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

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therichestimages.comPlitvice National Park is the largest of its kind in Croatia and the oldest in Southeast Europe. Over thousands of years, water flowing over limestone and chalk created natural dams and eventually, beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls.

10 Sci-fi Gadgets We Wish Actually Existed

10 Futuristic Technologies That Will Never Exist

 

Part of the joy of science fiction is seeing all the awesome toys, and imagining how they could exist in the real world. And so many of science fiction’s coolest gadgets have come true, including Star Trek’s PADDs and communicators.

But the sad truth is, a lot of the most fantastic technologies in science fiction are fantastic for a reason — they can’t ever exist in reality. Here are 10 amazing technologies that will never exist in real life.

1. Lightsabers

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Aside from the sheer impracticality of this weapon — and not to mention how hazardous it would be to wave one of these around — the Star Wars lightsaber will almost certainly never come to be. The first engineering challenge would be in figuring out a way to stop the beam of light about two feet from the source. Light simply does not work in this way, unless there’s something to obstruct or absorb it. Similarly, a highly concentrated beam of light wouldn’t be able to cut through materials, or face resistance when striking another lightsaber. Assuming, therefore, that it’s not actually a “light” saber, but rather some kind of plasma-beam saber (one that’s available in a delicious assortment of colors), the intense heat would likely melt the handle — and possibly burn the Padawan to a crisp. There’s also the power source to consider; these suckers pack quite a punch, deflecting laser beams and cutting through solid metal walls, so they would likely require something substantially more powerful than a pair of double-A’s. A power source that powerful doesn’t, and can’t, exist.

2. Human Teleportation

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A staple of the Star Trek universe is the capacity to beam, or teleport, humans from one location to another. As legend has it, Gene Roddenberry came up with the idea as a work-around to filming expensive scenes involving ships taking off and landing. But his idea slashed both the budget and common sense. Yes, quantum teleportation has been demonstrated in the lab — but spawning a pair of entangled photons across vast distances is a far cry from teleporting an entire human body. Moreover, Star Trek‘s teleportation scheme involves what’s called “destructive copying,” meaning that the source person must be obliterated (as evidenced in the TNG episode “Second Chances” when you accidentally get two Rikers). So, even if teleportation is somehow possible, it doesn’t solve the problem that you’d be stepping into a suicide machine. And finally, the physical and energy requirements of teleportation simply won’t allow for it. The system would have to be capable of the instantaneous scanning, recording and relaying of all 1045 bits of information that make up the human body, then transmit all this data to the destination, and finally compile the person without so much as putting a single molecule out of place. You go first.

3. Time machine

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Thanks to Albert Einstein we know that time travel is possible. If you think about it, we’re all time travellers, inexorably moving forward into the future without even having to think about it. But more conceptually, Einstein’s theories have suggested that “wormholes” can connect two disparate regions of space and time, potentially allowing for the creation of time machines. Okay, great — so knowing that, now what do we do? Well, according to physicist Michio Kaku, we would need to extract the energy of an entire star or black hole — easier said than done. And then there’s the challenge of stabilizing the wormhole and ensuring that the aperture (or wormhole entry point) remains open for the return journey (one way trip into the past, anyone?). But even if physics is on our side, metaphysics is not. The “grandfather paradox” suggests that any technology that lets you kill your own ancestor can’t possibly exist, because it would break the cosmos. But there’s an even tougher paradox to consider: If time travel is possible, then where are all the time travelers from the future?

4. Faster than light travel

10 Futuristic Technologies That Will Never Exist

Unlike time travel, which at least has some (reasonably) viable science behind it, the suggestion that we’ll eventually be able to travel faster than the speed of light (FTL) is a clear and present violation of Einsteinian physics. The universe has a built-in maximum clock speed against which all linear processes are measured, including the propagation of matter and information. There has been some speculation that Einsteinian relativity allows for FTL particles to exist, what are called tachyons — but recent insights have largely put this idea to rest. First, there is simply no evidence for their existence. And second, they couldn’t possibly exist because their presence would allow for FTL information transfer — a clear violation of causality. And more to the point, even if they are eventually discovered, it’s highly doubtful that we could take advantage of the tachyon phenomenon to create a warp or Alcubierre drive. The intense energy requirements alone violate plausibility — an estimated energy equivalent of -1064 kg would be required for the effect — which is more than the mass of the entire Universe itself! Lastly, it would be impossible for the ship to send signals to the front of the FTL bubble, meaning that the crew members could not control, steer, or stop the ship — kind of a problem. And assuming the ship could somehow be stopped, its massive expenditure of gamma rays and high energy particles would completely annihilate anyone waiting at the destination.

5. Generation ships

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With all due respect to fans of Robert Heinlein and Larry Niven, no interstellar ark awaits you in the future. The idea behind generation ships is that, given the extreme distances between solar systems, and considering the needs of biological humans, we’ll need to build a kind of Earth in microcosm to make our intrepid spacefarers feel at home as they make their journey. A fundamental problem with this vision, however, is the tremendous scale involved for what should be a rather lean-and-mean expedition. Any ship carrying colonists to another planet would have to be extremely sensitive to resource and material constraints, thus making suspended animation a much more reasonable solution for a large group of colonists. Not only the that, the dubious ethics of raising a family on a starship, along with the tremendously vast timescales involved, would likely prevent anything like this from actually coming about.

6. Gravitational shielding

10 Futuristic Technologies That Will Never Exist

Gravitational shielding (or anti-gravity) — which is not to be confused with free fall orbit, or balancing the force of gravity with another force like electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift — is the idea of creating a place or an object that is free from the forces of gravity. First proposed by H. G. Wells in his classic novel The First Men to the Moon as a way to advance spaceflight, this goal has turned out to be unreachable, according to generations of scientists. As appealing as it would be to figure out a way to somehow negate a fundamental property of matter, this prospect will have to remain within the realm of science fiction. Again, it’s a simple violation of Einsteinian physics. But this hasn’t stopped experimental physicists and engineers from trying, leading to such speculative non-starters as Thomas Townsend Brown’s 1920s era “gravitator” or Eugene Podkletnov’s gravitoelectric coupling technique (1996) in which he claimed that an object weighed less over a spinning superconductor — both of which were complete vaporware and never proven.

7. Personal force fields

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While it is certainly conceivable that a spacecraft could eventually surround itself with a protective layer of charged plasma or a powerful electromagnetic force, the idea of a personal force field poses a different problem altogether. The very essence of the force field is to either absorb or reflect massive amounts of incoming energy. Consequently, it would have to exert an equal or greater amount of force outwards to prevent the energy from passing through the shield (yes, I know — physics is ruining everything). The only cosmological force suitable for a personal force shield would be electromagnetism, because the other forces, namely gravity and the strong and weak forces, are either way too weak or are constrained across short distances. The problem with electromagnetic force, however, is that it only works on charged objects — and humans are electrically neutral. Moreover, even if we could somehow develop a device that envelopes a person with a powerful shield, there’s no guarantee that the person inside it wouldn’t be fried by the thing; it would be impossible to make the force field omni-directional.

8. Reanimation from cryonic suspension

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A fundamental problem with the state of cryonics today is not the idea behind it, but the method of preservation. We’ve believed since the publication of K. Eric Drexler’s Engines of Creation that reanimating a perfectly preserved brain will someday be possible, using molecular nanotechnology. A critical assumption behind this theory, however, is that the brain needs to be perfectly preserved, to avoid what’s called “information theoretic brain death.” Simply put, if there’s too much damage to the cells in your preserved brain, there will be no way to bring you back. And unfortunately, virtually every cryonic preservation that has been done to date has experienced problems. Despite the use of sophisticated cryoprotectants, every preserved brain has undergone severe fracturing during the freezing process. It’s also very likely that the cells will turn to mush during thawing (unless the cryopreservants do their job — which has obviously never been tested). Now this is not to suggest that reanimation from some other preservation scheme won’t eventually be possible, such as brain plastination or chemical preservation. Turning bodies into popsicles just probably isn’t the best way to do it — but as cryonicists like to say, it’s still the second worst thing that can happen to you.

9. Continuity of consciousness after uploading

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While the prospect of uploading our minds into supercomputers remains a distinct possibility, it’s an open question as to whether or not we’ll also be capable of transferring our consciousness as well. Most uploading schemes describe the copying of neural information from biological to digital substrate — but what’s often lost in the conversation is the question of how a person can suddenly be in two places at once. Destructive copying (similar to the teleportation problem), will still result in a perfectly replicated person who will adamantly insist that they’re the genuine thing — but so would the other 50 copies. As for the original source consciousness, it would cease to exist. This is what’s referred to as the “continuity of consciousness problem,” and it’s a matter of great contention in the philosophical, neuroscientific, and AI communities. Part of the problem is that we still don’t have a developed science to explain the nature of consciousness, so we’re left guessing. As futurist John Smart told io9, it’s likely an issue that will never be satisfactorily resolved. “This is an issue that will eventually start to take on religious or spiritual connotations,” he said, “people will just have to take a leap of faith and make the jump.”

10. Infinite data processing

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No matter how sophisticated our future technologies get, we’re inevitably going to have to face the fact that the death of the Universe will subsequently result in our demise as well. Even people living as uploads are going to have to eventually face their own oblivion — true cosmological immortality will not be possible. There will be no Tiplerian Omega Point, nor will we ever develop a form of computation that will allow us to crunch on for an infinity. But that doesn’t mean we won’t go down without a fight. Our descendants will likely embark on a series of cosmological engineering projects to stave off the inevitable, such as stellar husbandry (to increase the lifespans of stars) or somehow tap into the power of black holes. There’s even the possibility of dramatically increasing our computational clock speeds to subjectively extend the remaining time we have left. But none of these schemes will be able to counter the heat death of the universe or the Big Rip — nothing can escape the power of entropy or the ravaging effects of rapidly accelerating dark energy.

Top 15 Most Amazing & Exotic Houses in the World

Little boxes on the hillside aren’t for everyone. While some people might be content with a cookie-cutter home in a bland suburban neighborhood, others create truly one-of-a-kind homes with incredibly imaginative shapes and materials. In addition to the 70 amazing houses around the world that we’ve featured before, here are 15 jaw-dropping examples of architecture from a decaying wooden skyscraper in Russia to a mushroom-shaped home in Cincinnati that looks like it was custom-made for Dr. Seuss.

 

Bart Prince House – Albuquerque, New Mexico

(images via: BartPrince.com)

Architect Bart Prince is renowned for his incredibly creative approach to designing structures. The homes he has created look nothing like the boxy houses you and I live in; they’re quirky, they’re organic, and they’re most definitely one-of-a-kind. Prince says his designs start from the inside out, and that every home he builds has an idea behind it. Pictured are Prince’s own home in Albuquerque (top) and the Seymour residence in Los Altos, California.

Dar al Hajar – Yemen

(images via: Travel Adventures)

This striking rock palace is not a hotel or a museum. It’s not even a primary residence. Dar al Hajar was built as a ‘summer home’ by Imam Yahya in the 1930s, and it’s a stunning example of rock-cut architecture. Standing at the base of this imposing structure, you have to crane your neck to see the top. The palace has since been restored so that visitors can buy a ticket and get a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.

Bubble House – Tourettes-sur-Loup, France

(image via: Wikimedia Commons + Freaky Martin)

The ‘bubble house’ of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, France, is only 35 years old and has yet to be finished, but that hasn’t stopped the French ministry of culture from listing it as a historic monument. Designed in the 70s by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag for fashion designer Pierre Cardin, the bubble house is futuristic yet organic, with lots of built-in furniture and oval, convex windows. The design is meant to take optimal advantage of the volcanic Côte d’Azur landscape, and its windows certainly provide a beautiful view of the Mediterranean.

Wooden Skyscraper – Arkhangelsk, Russia

(images via: The Telegraph + English Russia)

Nikolai Sutyagin, a former gangster, began building this ‘wooden skyscraper’ in Arkhangelsk, Russia with the intention of it being only a two-story building. But, a trip to see wooden houses in Japan and Norway convinced him that he hadn’t used roof space efficiently enough, so he kept building. “First I added three floors but then the house looked ungainly, like a mushroom,” he said. “So I added another and it still didn’t look right so I kept going. What you see today is a happy accident.” The multimillionaire became a pauper after his possessions were destroyed during a stint in prison, and the house is now decaying around him, but he still lives in the bottom floor with his wife.

The Upside-Down House – Szymbark, Poland

(images via: Fresh Home)

Polish businessman and philanthropist Daniel Czapiewski built The Upside Down House as a statement about the Communist era and the end of the world. It took 114 days to build because the workers were so disoriented by the angles of the walls. It certainly attracts its fair share of tourists to the tiny village of Szymbark, who often become dizzy and ‘seasick’ after just a few moments inside.

Hang Nga Villa – Dalat, Vietnam

(image via: Travel Blog)

Looking like something out of a child’s fairytale gone wrong, the bizarre-looking structure in Dalat, Vietnam was built by the daughter of Ho Chi Minh’s right-hand man. Madame Hang Nga created the Hang Nga Villa – now known simply as ‘Crazy House’ – to reflect her interest in art and architecture. Made of concrete, the house now serves as a restaurant and reception area for an adjacent French colonial-style hotel in a jolting contrast in architectural styles. The inside is said to be even stranger, with all the kitschy decor you can handle, including a giant eagle with red Christmas light eyes, “for the Americans”.

Toilet-Shaped House – Suweon, South Korea


(images via: Reuters)

The world’s one and only toilet-shaped house was built to mark the launch of the World Toilet Association, a campaign for more sanitary restrooms worldwide. Sim Jae-Duck, nicknamed “Mayor Toilet”, had the 4,508-square-foot concrete and glass structure built in his native city of Suweon, South Korea. At the center of the home is a glass-walled “showcase loo” that produces mist to make users feel more secure. Sim, who was born into a toilet and has made clean restrooms his life’s work, now lives in the home.

Eliphante & Hippodome – Cornville, Arizona

(images via: Apartment Therapy)

Called the ‘Eliphante house’ for the look of its entrance, this sculptural home was created by artist Michael Kahn and his wife Leda Livant with found materials over a period of 28 years. Eliphante and several outbuildings occupy 3 acres of land and incorporate rocks and scraps from construction sites. There was never any kind of floor plan for Eliphante – it just sort of evolved. Ms. Livant’s residence on the property is the ‘Hippodome’, a mosaic-covered creation that looks like a hippo emerging from a lake.

Inversion House – Houston, Texas

(images via: Flickr user Kevin O’Mara)

When two old studio buildings owned by The Art League in Houston were set to be demolished, they decided to take the opportunity to turn them into a temporary art installation. Artists Dan Havel and Dean Ruck sculpturally altered the two buildings, peeling off the exterior siding of the front building to simulate the appearance of a funnel-like vortex. The opening was actually a tiny hallway (only kids could fit through it) that passed through the two structures and emptied out into an adjacent courtyard.

Shoe House –  South Africa

(images via: LukeCole.com)

The ‘shoe house’ of South Africa is the work of artist and hotelier Ron Van Zyl, who built it for his wife Yvonne in 1990. The shoe houses a little museum of sorts, showcasing Van Zyl’s wood carvings. The shoe is part of a complex that includes an eight-chalet guest house, camp site, restaurant, pool and bar.

Mushroom House – Cincinnati, Ohio

(images via: Agility Nut)

Architect Terry Brown created this much-maligned ‘mushroom house’, an unusual piece of architecture situated in a rather upscale area of Cincinnati. Brown’s architectural style developed when he began experimenting with materials like wood, colored glass, shell, ceramics and various metals to create irregular shapes that mimic those found in nature.  A professor of architecture and interior design at the University of Cincinnati, Brown frequently had to defend the unique design of the house against complaints by neighbors before passing away in 2008.

Floating House – Ukraine

(images via: Aphasia Design)

An optical illusion? Trick of Photoshop? Nobody really seems to know much about this supposed ‘floating barn’ which was reportedly located in Ukraine and may or may not still be standing. Cantilevered barns do exist – mostly in the Appalachian region of the United States – but usually aren’t quite this dramatic looking. Real or fake, it’s certainly pretty striking.

Space House – Signal Mountain, Tennessee

(image via: Coast to Coast AM)

The ‘Space House’ in Signal Mountain, Tennessee was built by Curtis King and his sons in the 1970s and is quite a draw for curiosity seekers in the area, who have been filing by and taking photos for decades. Six concrete support pillars look like landing gear beneath the main part of the building. The Space House sold on the auction block in March 2008 but the buyer defaulted, so it’s being offered for “whatever the public is willing to pay” on December 14th.

Crooked House – Sopot, Poland

(image via: The World According to Google)

From Poland comes another interesting building, the ‘Crooked House’. The design was inspired by the drawings of Polish artists Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg, which have a whimsical and Dali-esque feel. It’s not actually a house – it’s part of a shopping complex. But, it’s very cool all the same, with its surreal angles and blue-green glass

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Hundertwasser Haus – Vienna, Austria

(images via: Wikipedia)

Austrian artist Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser may not be well known across most of the world, but anyone who has visited Vienna knows of his iconic creation, the Hundertwasser Haus.  It’s an apartment complex characterized by patchwork paint, undulating floors, the incorporation of vegetation and a façade with seemingly no rhyme or reason to its structure. Hundertwasser reportedly took no payment for designing it, considering it a public service to prevent something ugly going up in its place.

10 Weird Historical Coincidences

10 The “My Way” Killings

Five attractive friends singing together at a karaoke party

People in the Philippines love karaoke. The country is full of karaoke bars, and singing is a large part of their culture. For the most part, karaoke is a playful activity, but some people have taken it very seriously. On more than one occasion, people in the Philippines have been murdered while performing Frank Sinatra’s 1969 song “My Way.” The deaths have been called a coincidence by some because the song is a popular karaoke tune, but many Filipino karaoke bars have banned the song.

In some places, the term “videoke rage” has been used to describe deaths. In one case, 29-year-old Romy Baligula was shot to death by a security guard after he wouldn’t stop singing the song. The song has been known to spawn riots and many people refuse to sing it because of the trouble it might cause.

 

9 July 11, 1991

solar eclipse

On July 11, 1991, a wave of unexplained UFO sightings occurred over Mexico City. The events were witnessed by thousands of people and investigated by the Mexican government. Coincidentally, the UFOs were seen during a total solar eclipse.

During the eclipse, people in Mexico City reported a large metallic disk in the sky. The object was videotaped by multiple people and broadcast on the news. The event was one of the first widely reported UFO sightings in Mexico City, and since that time, the area has become a hotbed of unexplained activity.

The connections between the solar eclipse and the UFOs have caused some to speculate that the aircraft were predicted by the Dresden Codex of the Maya calendar. The calendar identifies the July 11 eclipse as the Sixth Sun of Quetzalcoatl and says it will bring about changes and cosmic awareness. In 2010, a story appeared on the Internet that suggested the United States was keeping the events of July 11, 1991 hidden from the public. It also suggested that the US government was fighting a secret war against aliens near the continent of Antarctica.

 

8 Chris Benoit And Wikipedia

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In June of 2007, professional wrestler Chris Benoit murdered his family and committed suicide. Benoit was a popular member of World Wrestling Entertainment, and the news of his death shocked people all over the world. Over a three-day period, Benoit strangled his wife and suffocated his seven-year-old son. He then used a weight machine to hang himself. In the wake of the tragedy, it was revealed that Benoit had previously been accused of abusing his wife and was prone to fits of rage. Some felt he might have experienced a case of “roid rage,” been a severe alcoholic, or had brain damage.

In a strange coincidence, 14 hours before the police discovered the bodies of Benoit and his family, his English Wikipedia page reported on the death of Nancy. It said: “Chris Benoit was replaced by Johnny Nitro for the ECW World Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues, stemming from the death of his wife Nancy.” The event has been called an “unbelievable hindrance” by the police, who seized the computer of the man who posted the information.

Chris Benoit did not leave a suicide note, but sent out a series of texts before killing himself that said: “My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane, Fayetteville Georgia 30215.” The circumstances surrounding his death may have been bizarre, but the evidence points to Benoit murdering his family, despite what some might think.

 

7 Windshield Pitting And Operation Castle

Mushroom Cloud of Operation Castle-Bravo

Starting in April of 1954, people in Bellingham and Seattle, Washington started to report unusual holes, pits, and dings in their car windshields. The reports quickly spread to different areas of the state and thousands of people were affected. At first, it was thought to be the work of vandals, but after parking garages and secluded neighborhoods were targeted, the reports began to spread.

By April 15, 1954, close to 3,000 windshields were affected, and police released a statement indicating that 95 percent of the cases were caused by public hysteria. Others put forth the theory that the damage was being caused by the infestation of flea eggs, cosmic rays, or nuclear fallout.

On March 1, 1954, the United States started Operation Castle—a series of high-yield nuclear tests carried out at Bikini Atoll, a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean. They are approximately 7,700 kilometers (4,800 miles) from Seattle. The initial test of Operation Castle was named Castle Bravo, and it was the first dry fuel thermonuclear hydrogen bomb detonated by the US.

After Castle Bravo was set off, it became clear that the US government had misjudged its power. It was approximately 1,000 times more powerful than each of the atomic bombs used during World War II and the nuclear fallout surrounded the island and spread quickly. The event was the most significant case of accidental radiological contamination in US history.

After Castle Bravo was detonated, five more nuclear tests were carried out in the area. The amount of nuclear fallout released into the atmosphere was difficult to measure because the data was skewed by previous explosions. By coincidence, the timeline for Operation Castle falls directly in line with the 1954 Windshield Pitting Epidemic. The city of Seattle is located in a region where it is possible that nuclear fallout from Bikini Atoll could have hit.

 

6 Sirente Crater And Triumph Of The Church

DCF 1.0

During the reign of Emperor Constantine, Christianity became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. It remains unclear what caused Constantine to favor Christianity and the event has become known as the Triumph of the Church. During his childhood, Constantine was exposed to a form of Christianity by his mother Helena but wasn’t baptized until shortly before his death. Officially, Constantine and Licinius legalized Christian worship in A.D. 313.

The Sirente crater is a seasonal lake located in central Italy. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere. In the late 1990s, the area was studied by Swedish geologist Jens Ormö, who suggested that ridges near the site indicated the crater was formed by a bolide collision. A study performed by the Sirente Crater Group concluded that the lake was created by the impact of a meteor with the force of a small nuclear bomb.

However, other scientists have pointed to a lack of evidence for a collision and hypothesized that the lake was formed by human excavation. The area is littered with small pieces of exploded bombs and grenades, which has caused some to wonder if explosives might have played a factor.

The existence of the Sirente Crater has caused people to re-examine why Constantine converted to Christianity. Jens Ormö has noted that Constantine and his army were once camped only 60 mi (97 km) from the Sirente crater before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. The coincidence between the two events is speculative, but still interesting.

 

 

5 Violet Jessop

Titanic-redo

Violet Jessop was an ocean liner stewardess that survived three separate disasters on Olympic-class ocean liners, including the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The three ships were the largest and most luxurious boats of the early 20th century, but coincidentally, they experienced horrible accidents early in their careers.

Violet Jessop was an Irish emigrant who worked her first job as a stewardess with the Royal Mail Line on the Orinoco. On June 14, 1911, Jessop was on the RMS Olympic when the boat crashed with the cruiser HMS Hawke. At the time of the accident, the Olympic was the largest civilian liner in the world. It took heavy damage and flooding in the crash, but was able to make it back to Southampton.

On April 10, 1912, Violet boarded the RMS Titanic on the ship’s maiden voyage. Four days later, the boat hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. During the sinking, Violet was asked to set an example for the people who did not speak English and were having a hard time following directions. She was able to board the 16th lifeboat and given a baby to look after.

After the outbreak of World War I, Jessop worked as a stewardess for the British Red Cross. On November 21, 1916, she was onboard the HMHS Britannic when the ship hit a mine and sank in the Aegean Sea. The Britannic was the largest ship to be lost during World War I, and 30 people died in the tragedy. As the ship went under, Jessop was forced to jump off her lifeboat and was pulled under the water. She hit her head on the ship’s keel, but was able to surface and be rescued. Before the Britannic was lost, Jessop made sure to grab her toothbrush because it was the one item she most missed in the aftermath of her Titanic experience.

 

4 Eleanor Rigby

eleanor-rigby

“Eleanor Rigby” was released by The Beatles on August 5, 1966, which was a week before the band’s last commercial tour. In 1966, McCartney gave an interview about how he came up with the lyrics for the song. He said that he originally came up with the idea of “Father McCartney” but figured it was inappropriate to use his dad’s name, so looked in the phone book and found “McKenzie.” Ultimately, the name “Father McKenzie” was used in the song’s lyrics.

McCartney came up with the name “Eleanor” from actress Eleanor Bron and “Rigby” from a store in Bristol named Rigby & Evens Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers. In 1984, Paul was quoted: “I just liked the name. I was looking for a name that sounded natural.” In the 1980s, a grave was discovered in St. Peter’s Parish Church in Woolton, Liverpool, with the name Eleanor Rigby on it. Even more coincidentally, a few yards from Eleanor’s grave is another tombstone with the last name “McKenzie” on it.

The cemetery is located near the spot where Lennon and McCartney first met, and the two spent a lot of time in the cemetery sunbathing as teenagers. In response to the news that there was a gravestone with the name Eleanor Rigby, McCartney said that he might have been subconsciously influenced by the name on the gravestone. The coincidence is one of the most famous in rock history and gave momentum to the “Paul is dead” conspiracy.

 

3 Death Of Ahmad Shah Massoud And 9/11

ahmad

Ahmad Shah Massoud was a military leader in Afghanistan who was assassinated on September 9, 2001—two days before 9/11. At the time of his death, Massoud was the head of the United Islamic Front (Northern Alliance) and strongly opposed the Taliban. He was a central figure in the resistance against the Soviet Union in the 1980s and became a hero in Afghanistan after the war.

On September 9, 2001, two men posing as journalists killed Ahmad Shah Massoud in a suicide bombing. The culprits placed a bomb in a camera and blew it up while meeting with the military leader. One of the assassins died in the explosion, and the other was reportedly shot and killed while trying to flee the scene. Despite an attempt by the Northern Alliance to keep the news quiet, Massoud’s death was almost immediately reported by the BBC and North American news outlets.

Several months before 9/11, Ahmad Shah Massoud gave a speech to the European Parliament that warned against a major terrorist attack in the United States. It is thought that he was murdered by Al-Qaeda to help protect Osama bin Laden and the Taliban in the wake of 9/11. Osama likely felt he could take control of the Northern Alliance with Massoud out of the picture. Al-Qaeda has never taken responsibility for the assassination.

 

2 Peshtigo And Great Chicago Fires

chicago

On October 8, 1871, the Midwestern United States experienced an enormous firestorm that burned 6,100 square kilometers (2,300 sq mi) of land around Peshtigo, Wisconsin. The event is the deadliest fire in US history and killed 1,500 to 2,500 people. On the same day, the United States experienced the Great Chicago Fire, the Port Huron Fire, the Holland Fire, and Manistee Fire.

The 1871 firestorm was caused by strong winds and forest fires. After gaining enough energy, the blaze quickly developed into a massive wall of fire that reached a speed of 160 kph (100 mph) and produced tornado-style winds. The fire was so hot that sandy beaches were turned to glass, and people were incinerated. The fire jumped over the waters of Green Bay and destroyed 12 separate communities in the area. It tossed rail cars and houses into the air and left thousands of people with nothing.

Some 400 kilometers (250 mi) south of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, the city of Chicago experienced one of its largest fires in history on October 8, 1871. The Great Michigan Fire also started on October 8th and burned a large number of cities in the area. When looking over the destruction, some have come to wonder what triggered the fires.

The coincidence has caught the attention of a group of researchers who have proposed that the fires were all started when Comet Biela broke up over the Midwest. Meteorites are not known to start or spread fires, as they are cold to the touch when reaching the ground. However, it has been suggested that the methane in comets could potentially ignite if the object is large enough and hits a dry patch of land that has experienced forest fires. Others have suggested that an airburst over a forest fire–riddled area could cause a massive firestorm. On October 8, 1871, people all over Wisconsin reported seeing a series of spontaneous ignitions, balls of fire, blue flames, and a lack of smoke usually representative of a firestorm.

 

1 Chelyabinsk Meteor And 2012 DA14

Fire-Meteor

On February 15, 2013, an asteroid entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the southern Ural region of Russia and exploded. The event was witnessed by thousands of people and became the largest known airburst since the 1908 Tunguska event. The blast produced a light brighter than the Sun, and the shock wave was felt by people all over the area. The energy of the explosion was equivalent to 20-30 of the atomic bombs used at Hiroshima.

The asteroid was not detected by the authorities before the airburst, and the event surprised many people. It wounded 1,500 and damaged over 7,000 buildings. The meteor was caught on tape by multiple sources, which shows a giant fireball in the sky—followed by an enormous explosion of light. It was reported that the meteor made the ground hot, and the city smelled like gunpowder after the explosion. The event was an extremely rare occurrence and the only time in history that a meteor has been known to cause human injury.

Approximately 16 hours after the Chelyabinsk Meteor hit Russia, another asteroid named 2012 DA14 came within 27,700 km (17,200 mi) of the surface of Earth. The asteroid gained a new record for the closest passage to Earth for an object of its size (30 meters or 98 ft).

Despite the incredible rarity of the Chelyabinsk Meteor and close approach of DA14, it has been determined that the asteroids are in no way related because they had significantly different orbits. The coincidence is just crazy because the two events are so rare.

This Traffic Jam Was Stuck In Belgian Forest For 70 Years

These spooky apocalyptic images are not a scene from “Walking Dead”, they were actually taken at one of the biggest car cemeteries in the world – the Chatillion Car Graveyard, Belgium.

According to an urban legend these cars were left behind by US soldiers from World War II, who could not ship them back to the US so they decided to hide them in a forest until they could come back and retrieve them. The locals disagree and say that it’s simply an old car dump of vehicles made after the WWII.

At one point there were four car graveyards in Chatillon with as many as 500 retro vehicles. Unfortunately, most of the cars were stolen or removed by the locals and due to environmental issues the whole graveyards was cleared in 2010.

h/t: amusing planet

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Theo van Vliet

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Marcel Wiegerinck

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Image credits: Marcel Wiegerinck

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Image credits: Marcel Wiegerinck

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Rosanne de Lange

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Image credits: Theo van Vliet

10 most haunted places around the world

1) The Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, Australia

(John T Collins/National Library of Australia/Wikimedia Commons)

Abandoned asylums, for my money, are the creepiest places ever, and Australia has a good one. The Beechworth Lunatic Asylum — originally called Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum — is located in Victoria, Australia. It served as a mental hospital from 1867 until 1995. At its highest capacity, 1,200 patients lived there. About 9,000 patients died in its 130-year history, and there’s little doubt those souls are haunting it this very day. Visitors can take a nighttime ghost tour, to which I say, no thank you.

2) The Princess Theatre, Australia

(Wikimedia Commons)

Elsewhere in Australia, you’ll find the Princess Theatre, which is haunted by a ghost named Frederici. According to lore, Frederick Baker, or “Frederici,” was an Italian baritone singer who died on stage in 1888. He was finishing a performance as Mephistopheles in Faust when a trapdoor dropped beneath his feet and he fell beneath the stage, dying from a heart attack. For many years, the Princess Theater saved an open seat for Frederic at every opening-night performance.

3) The Bhanghar Fort, India

(Himanshu Yogi/Wikimedia Commons)

If you’re not scared yet, head over to India, where you’ll find the Bhanghar Fort in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The fort was built in 1573 and remains today a ruin of several temples, palaces, and smaller living units.

According to legend, the fort became cursed when a wizard who lived in the town fell in love with the princess of Banghar. Drawing on his skills in black magic, rather than on his interpersonal skills, he tried to woo the princess with a bowl of magic potion. It didn’t work. She figured out the play and threw the bowl against a large boulder. The boulder was disturbed enough to start rolling, and it rolled right in the path of the wizard. As the wizard faced down the boulder, he cursed the town, saying that it would be destroyed and become uninhabitable. He was crushed to death. Soon after, the town was invaded and pillaged. Most of its inhabitants, including the princess, were killed. Those who lived abandoned the fort.

The wizard’s curse remains, of course, and the ghosts of those killed continnue to haunt the fort. The Archaeological Survey of India, which manages the site, forbids anyone from staying at the fort after dark.

4) Aokigahara, Japan

(Wikimedia Commons)

If you’ve ever visited this haunted place, you’re way braver than I am. At the base of Mt. Fugi, you’ll find Aokigahara, Japan’s globally infamous Suicide Forest. Hundreds of people have journeyed into the forest to kill themselves amidst its dense trees and vines, so many people that the local police do annual sweeps to clear away the bodies. They no longer publicize the number of bodies discovered, out of fear that those numbers actually encourage suicides. In 2004, 108 people committed suicide there. Signs around the forest placed by local police plead with suicidal visitors to reconsider: “Your life is a precious gift to your parents” and “Please consult with the police before you decide to die.”

Understandably, many people believe that the forest is haunted by the souls of those who have died there. Others point to a different haunting origin, though. According to one legend, during times of famine in ancient Japan, families couldn’t feed themselves. Some would be abandoned in Aokigahara, where they died of starvation. Those ghosts haunt the forest today, of course.

It’s an all around terrifying place.

5) Iulia Hasdeu Castle, Romania

(Constantin Barbu/Wikimedia Commons)

The Iulia Hasdeu Castle was built by Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu in Campina, Romania after the death of his 19-year-old daughter, Iulia. Hasdeu dedicated the castle and the rest of his life to lulia. He became a practitioner of spiritualism in an attempt to reconnect with her spirit, and designed one room in the castle solely for the purposes of these daily spiritual exercises. Its walls are all black. Iulia reportedly haunts the castle still, walking through the courtyard in a white dress and holding daisies. Oh, and she still plays the piano each night.

6) Hell Fire Club on Montpelier Hill, Ireland


(Joe King/Wikimedia Commons)

The Hell Fire Club on Montpelier Hill was built as a hunting lodge in 1725 and reportedly became a gathering place for a small group of Dublin elites who met for debauchery and devil worship.


(Joe King/Wikimedia Commons)

Tales of animal sacrifice, black masses, cloven-hoofed men, and murder surround the structure. It’s another popular destination for tourists and ghost tours.

7) Manila Film Center, Philippines

(Michael Francis McCarthy/Wikimedia Commons)

This one doesn’t look like your typical haunted castle, creepy forest, or old ruin, but its story is sad and terrifying.The Manila Film Center is reportedly haunted by the ghosts of workers killed during a tragic construction accident. At 3 a.m. on Nov. 17, 1981, scaffolding at the site collapsed burying about 169 workers in quick-drying cement. No rescue teams were allowed at the site for nine hours. Reports differ on just how many workers were killed, but it’s possible that several bodies remain entombed in the structure.

8) Dragsholm Slot, Denmark

(Niels Elgaard Larsen/Wikimedia Commons)

Back to haunted castles: Dragsholm Slot, or Dragsholm Castle in Denmark. The original castle was built in 1215. In the 16th and 17th century, parts of it were used to house prisoners of noble or ecclesiastical rank. It was rebuilt in a Baroque style after 1694, and is thought to house at least three ghosts: a grey lady, a white lady, and the ghost of one its prisoners, James Hepburn, the 4th Earl of Bothwell.

9) Raynham Hall, United Kingdom

(Nigel Jones/Wikimedia Commons)

The are lots of haunted places in the United Kingdom. The most famous is the Tower of London, but that’s kind of played out, so here’s a slightly less famous haunted spot: Raynham Hall in Norfolk, which is haunted by the “Brown Lady,” so named because she appears wearing a brown brocade dress.

The Brown Lady is thought to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686-1726). The sister of Robert Walpole (the first prime minister of Great Britain), she allegedly had an affair with a local lord, Lord Wharton. According to one story, her husband, Charles Townshend discovered the affair and locked her in their home at Raynham Hall. Another story claims that it was Lord Wharton’s wife who somehow managed to arrange her entrapment. Either way, Dorothy was locked up. She died, and her soul was freed to haunt the castle.

The Brown Lady has been spotted many times, first in 1825, when guests at a Raynham Hall Christmas party retired to their rooms. The most recent sighting was Sept. 19, 1936, when a photographer for Country Life magazine snapped an iconic photo of her. It appeared in Country Life and then again in Life magazine. It was probably a smudge on a lens or a double-exposure. Or maybe not. Either way, the Brown Lady became famous.

10) Château de Châteaubriant, France

(Wikimedia Commons)

We’ll end with another story of a woman locked in a castle. This one comes from France. TheChâteau de Châteaubriant was built in the 11th century. The haunting dates to the 16th century, and the story of Jean de Laval and his wife Françoise de Foix. King Francis I asked de Laval to assist him at court, and Françoise joined him there, becoming the lady in waiting to the queen. She also became King Francis’ mistress. She died on Oct. 16, 1537 under mysterious circumstances. It was rumored that de Laval had learned of her affair and locked her in a room until he could poison her. Now, every year, on Oct. 16, Françoise walks the halls of the Château.

Top 10 Safest Countries In The World

Source:

We have listed the safest countries based on statistical analysis report from “Federal Bureau of Investigations “. Now with no further introduction let’s move on to see the safest places around the world. Pack your bags and start the journey.

10. Singapore

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 19.98

Safety rate variable: 80.02

Based on the statistics, Singapore is the tenth safest country in the world with a very low crime rate. It is the world’s 7th cleanest city in the world too. The main reason behind Singapore being such a safe place is the kind of  penalties and punishments imposed whenever someone is involved in a crime. Whether it is a small traffic issue or a serious offense, when the citizen commits it, there are harsh punishments. The strong laws of Singaporean government and better Singapore police force run a firm ship to keep the country as well as its residents safe. This doesn’t mean that the crime issues in Singapore are nonexistent. The fact is that they are far less when compared to other countries.

Burglary, housebreaking and other property crimes are getting rarer here. Confrontational crimes and violent acts are lesser in Singapore. Guns & other firearms are firmly controlled by the police and Singaporean government. Singapore also has less drug-related crimes. As with recreational drugs, firearms and other illicit activities, they are completely banned here. Even if someone happens to involve in drug distribution or its use, severe punishments and other consequences needs to be faced.

Apart from receiving the title “one of the cleanest countries in the world”, Singapore is equally reputed among other important commercial hubs in the world.  Singapore includes one of the world’s best healthcare infrastructures. WJP, the United States based World Justice Project – Rule of Latex Index 2014 honored this country for its nonexistence of political violence, low crime levels and assurance in law enforcement authorities.

9. Bahrain

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 19.79

Safety rate variable: 80.21

Bahrain is a cluster of small desert islands, which holds the ninth place in the list of safest countries in the world. The country encompasses around 665 square kilometers as its total land area with an overall population of about 1250000, which includes 235000 non-nationals too. The widely spoken language at Bahrain is “English”. The region has well-developed finance & regional tourism industries. In the recent years, this country has offered a very safe shelter for people wanting to escape from persecution – which is supposed to be very common in environments like Sharia, Saudi Arabia.

Besides its strict laws and orders, Bahrain offers ultimate freedom to its residents, which is something you will not find in its neighboring countries. They pose relaxed attitudes towards the availability of pork and dress codes. The overall street crime rate is reported to be very low here. Burglary and Robbery is controlled with common intelligence precautions. Violent crime is very rare and firearms are strictly prohibited.

8. Georgia

safest countries in the world

Crime rate variable: 19.57

Safety rate variable: 80.43

Georgia is situated at the junction of Asia and Europe. This country shows a combination of diversity and uniqueness. It welcomes its visitors with Black Sea coastline, curative climate, national parks, Caucasus mountain range, mineral waters, delicious cuisine, rich culture, UNESCO Heritage Sites and popular Georgian hospitality.

The crime rate in Georgia is reported to be very low and is exactly why it has made it to eighth place in the safest countries in the world list. Apart from its safety measures, the attractions in the county are incredible. Right from Tbilisi’s old town architecture to its sparkling beaches and nightlife drives people to visit this country every year. The establishment of professional laws reduces the overall crime rates in different cities of Georgia. The best thing is that it increases one’s standard of living.

Based on the recent investigations, 98% Georgians, who took part in the survey, said that they feel 100% safe being at Georgia territory. Thus, the country goes one among the world leaders in the safety level. The World Economic Forum has honored this country by providing 34th rank in the national physical security. To ensure that there is proper safety, Georgian police patrols each street in the towns and cities every day. There was a time when corruption in Georgia was at its peak and used to be a big annoys for tourists. However, the good news is that now it has turned down so much that it could make it to this list, which is something to be appreciated.

7. Luxembourg

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 18.75

Safety rate variable: 81.25

According to a survey conducted by Mercer on the annual quality of living, Luxembourg offers a very satisfied lifestyle to its residents. Besides its low crime environment, this country also has well-developed economy. In fact, it has the world’s highest gross domestic-products. This factor makes this country to be one of the world’s richest countries too.

Another survey by ECA International in the year 2010 reported that this country takes seventh rank, out of 254 cities across the world in terms of facilities and lifestyle for expatriates. The best thing about this country is the kind of job opportunities it offers. When compared to other regions, Luxemborg offers increased earning ways.

6. Malta

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 18.54

Safety rate variable: 81.46

The Department of State claims that Malta has a very low criminal activity. In fact, the crime rates over here have outranged the criminal statistics of United States, which is truly commendable. In the past few years, there were no terrorist attacks in this region. This is exactly why it makes it a safe place to visit and live in.

Talking about natural disasters – they are extremely rare! According to the World Risk Report 2013 Framed by “United Nations Institute for Environment & Human Security in Bonn and Alliance Development Works”, named Malta as the world’s 2nd safest country when it comes to natural disasters. According to their report, Malta has low exposure to floods, earthquakes or rising sea levels.

5. United Arab Emirates

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 18.01

Safety rate variable: 81.99

 

Taking the fifth place in the list of top 10 safest countries in the world is none other than United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on the RSO report (U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi’s Regional Security Office), the U.S. government categorizes UAEs overall crime rate to be “Medium”. When compared to the other similar sized nation worldwide, Abu Dhabi has a very low crime rate. Over here, weapons are rarely used. The violent crimes and property crimes occur infrequently. Moreover, the Department of State has great conscious about international terrorism.

Even though UAE is vigilant due to continued threats of terrorist groups including al-Qai’da, the country has still managed to create a safe & secure public image against terrorism and crimes. The punishments of certain crimes are so scary that it daunts individuals from committing it.

4. South Korea

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 17.40

Safety rate variable: 82.60

The next place making it to the list of safest countries in the world is none other than South Korea. The crime rates in Korea are unbelievably low. It is rare to see any crimes happening. If you happen to live here, you’ll know why! If you wish to settle here, then you are making a good decision. No more worrying about those random beatings, muggings, theft, robbery, kidnapping etc. And the best part – using guns is strictly illegal.

Apart from the above, South Korea remains far from natural disasters. Yeah, you might have heard about tropical storms causing damages at South Korea but it is rare to observe them. While considering volcano eruptions, South Korea had only one active volcano called Mount Baekdusan, which took place over hundred years ago and now there is no sign about it.

 

3. Hong Kong

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 16.57

Safety rate variable: 83.43

Unbelievably, the crime rate of Hong Kong is far lower than USA and Europe. So it is no wonder why it has achieved the reputation of being the third safest country in the world to live. Serious crimes are very rare here. Most of the places here are busy, much like 24/7. This can be a reason why residents and tourists constantly feel safer.

Hong Kong has a very low crime rate. In fact, it is hard to notice. This factor becomes a major reason to be one of the safest places to live (for both men and women). Moreover, the Hong Kong government encompasses high safety standards. Therefore, the travelers, expats and tourists feel safe. Since I have been here once, I would love to share you this. The people are very welcoming and police officers are polite, helpful and omnipresent. They regularly control restaurants, bars and buses. They often ask people to show their ID to make sure that everything is fine. So, it is recommended to have some kind of identification if you happen to visit Hong Kong (especially while enjoying nightlife). Low violence offence makes this nation a perfect place to settle down.

2. Taiwan

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 16.26

Safety rate variable: 83.74

Taiwan is one of the best and safest places to live, as there are less violent crimes and robbery. People are more friendly, kind-hearted and welcoming. So, if you plan to live here, you don’t have to worry about it. Believe it or not, people of Taiwan are more honest.

It is the country where you can see people helping you before you approach. Many tourists reviewed that they never felt worried or scared in Taiwan. Moreover, it is the perfect place for women to reside. No more nerve-racking about what could particularly occur when a woman goes out late night. In this established country, every citizen feels very safe.

1. Japan – The Safest Country In The World

safest country in the world

Crime rate variable: 13.11

Safety rate variable: 86.89

Topping this list of safest countries in the world is none other than “Japan”. The reason behind this is its rare crime activities. On the other hand, its culture becomes one of the main reasons honoring this country. I am sure you must have heard how well disciplined Japanese are and therefore, they will never involve in activities, which brings shame to their country.

Possession of firearms is strictly prohibited according to their laws. Firm gun control, strict laws and wealthy economy makes sure that the one living there is 100% safe. According to the 2010 GPI (Global Peace Index) framed by IEP (Institute for Economics and Peace) report, Japan has also been ranked as the 3rd peaceful country in the world. With homicides, terrorism and violent crimes highly unlikely in Japan, this place becomes extremely safe for one to reside.

 

 

 

10 Most Dangerous Cities in the World

Traveling around the world is a great way to spend your vacation time, but not all cities are as charming as the ones in the travel brochures. While every large city has its problems, some are a little worse than others. According to the research published by the Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice, a private organization and part of the Mexican Employers’ Association, there are 10 most dangerous cities in the world. The ranking is based on official crime statistics provided by local governments, though Middle Eastern cities were not included in the report, as the New York Daily News notes. Check out the list of 10 most dangerous cities in the world.
Most Dangerous Cities in the World

1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras

San Pedro Sula Honduras
Photo: David Amsler

For the second year in a row, the city of San Pedro Sula had the world’s highest murder rate, surpassing Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez. It topped the list of most dangerous cities in the world a second time with a rate of 169 intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants – an average of more than 3 murders a day.

2. Acapulco, Mexico

Acapulco Mexico

Acapulco was once a popular tourist destination. These days, however, the stunning beaches see only a handful of vacationers. Drug cartels are a problem throughout Mexico and it has only been getting worse over the past decade. Large numbers of dead bodies are a common occurrence in this port city, making it a nerve wracking place to hang out.

3. Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas Venezuela

The capital of Venezuela, Caracas has one of the biggest homicide rates in the world, with 122 homicides per 100,000 residents. The city is under everyday pressure of drug cartels, street fighting and armed robberies. Its citizens and visitors should always be alert no matter which area they visit. If you are going to visit Caracas, make sure you don’t go to this city alone. And when visiting this city, don’t go out alone.

4. Distrito Central, Honduras

Distrito Central Honduras

While no large city is immune to violence, Distrito Central has surpassed the usual amount of violence. There is one of the highest murder rates around the globe. The dangers can be attributed to extreme poverty, government corruption and a heavy Mafia presence. Distrito Central is actually three cities blended into one. The high level of violence deters all but the most reckless of tourists.

5. Torreón, Mexico

Torreón Mexico
Photo: Eneas De Troya

Although Torreón is one of Mexico’s most important industrial and economic centers, it is also one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While organized crime and drug trade may not be prolific in Torreón, this Mexican city still has one of the highest murder rates – 87 homicides per 100,000 residents.

6. Maceió, Brazil

Maceío Brazil

Brazil has a whopping 14 of the world’s most violent cities. Maceió is the capital of the Alagoas state and sees around 135 murders per 100,000 residents each year. The city is by far the most dangerous in the country, topping even Rio de Janeiro, which most people know for its favelas, or slums. Brazil may host a large part of the Amazon rainforest, but its most populated areas are not places you want to hang out in.

7. Cali, Colombia

Cali, Colombia

Many of the cities on this list are in Latin America and for good reason. Drug cartel violence abounds in many of these cities and Cali, Colombia is no exception. With nearly 80 homicides, it’s not a very safe place to live. Colombia has never had a great reputation and it’s unlikely to become a tourist destination anytime soon.

8. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

Nuevo Laredo Mexico
Photo: Benjamín Fuentes

Nuevo Laredo is a border town known for its turf war. Although the risk of crime in Nuevo Laredo is biggest at night, crimes such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery can also happen at all hours of the day. Since 2006, 60,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence, according to published reports. If you are going to visit Nuevo Laredo, be sure to stick to well-known and well-populated routes and don’t travel at night.

9. Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Barquisimeto, VenezuelaPhoto: David~

Though Barquisimeto has just over a million residents, the city sees murders almost every day. The city is the capital of its region and features a surprisingly high number of universities and other places of higher education. Despite once being a thriving tourist destination, the area is now so dangerous that many tourists avoid it.

10. João Pessoa, Brazil

João Pessoa Brazil

The capital city of Paraíba, João Pessoa is in easy reach from the land and sea. João Pessoa is the easternmost city in Brazil and is one of the greenest cities in the world. Unfortunately, the city has high homicide rate due to the generally violent crime found across Brazil. With 71.59 homicides per 100,000 residents, it’s definitely not one of the best places to visit on your vacation.

Despite being in some of the most beautiful areas of the world, these cities simply present too much danger for the average traveler. It’s safer to find a place where you aren’t as likely to catch a stray bullet. Are you planning to go to any of these cities?

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 skyscrapper that has completed in 2013…

As 2013 gets underway, here’s a look at the ten tallest skyscrapers set to complete around the globe this year (+ interactive image).

This list includes four towers in China, a Abu Dhabi complex by Foster + Partners and North Korea’s infamous “Hotel of Doom”. Surprisingly, Renzo Piano’s The Shard wasn’t tall enough to make the list.

Eton Place Dalian Tower 1

1. Eton Place Dalian Tower 1 – 383 metres

The highest building scheduled to finish in 2013 is the 383-metre tower of Eton Place Dalian (above), a mixed-use complex for the city in north-east China. Designed by architects NBBJ, the glazed skyscraper is yet to reach full height, but once complete it will become one of the top twenty tallest buildings in the world.

The Domain by Foster + Partners

2. The Domain – 381 metres

London firm Foster + Partners is in second place with apartment block The Domain, the largest of three towers nearing completion on the site of the old Central Market in Abu Dhabi (above). The building topped out at 381 metres in 2012 and forms part of a larger masterplan for the Aldar Central Market, which also incorporates shopping centre The Souk.

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2

Above: image c/o JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, via CTBUH

3. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel tower two – 355 metres

In third position is a tower at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai, by Archgroup Consultants. The first of the hotel’s two skyscrapers was completed in 2012 and stands at 355 metres, making it the tallest hotel in the world. At exactly the same height, tower number two will follow this year and was designed to mirror its partner (above).

Chongqing World Financial Center

4. Chongqing World Financial Centre – 339 metres

The second building on our list from China is the Chongqing World Financial Centre (above), a 73-storey office tower under construction in the nation’s third-largest city. The skyscraper has not topped out but is set to have a height of 339 metres, making it the fourth tallest building due to finish in 2013.

Mercury City Tower

5. Mercury City Tower – 339 metres

At number five is Moscow’s Mercury City Tower (above), which has already overtaken Renzo Piano’s The Shard as Europe’s tallest skyscraper. Featuring a shimmering facade of golden glass, the 339-metre mixed-use tower was designed by Russian architect Mikhail Posokhin and the late American architect Frank Williams.

Modern Media Centre

6. Modern Media Centre – 332 metres

The sixth tallest skyscraper to complete in 2013 will be the Modern Media Centre in Changzhou (above), with a height of 332 metres. The building will contain 57 floors to accommodate production facilities for television, film, animation and radio.

Ryugyong Hotel

7. Ryugyong Hotel – 330 metres

North Korea’s notorious Ryugyong Hotel (above) is finally due to complete in 2013, 24 years behind schedule, and takes seventh place on our list. Nicknamed the “Hotel of Doom”, the 330-metre pyramidal building in Pyongyang was first under construction in 1987. Building work stopped in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union placed the city in an economic crisis and didn’t resume until 2008.

Al Yaqoub Tower

8. Al Yaqoub Tower – 328 metres

The eighth building on our list is the Al Yaqoub Tower (above), a 328-metre apartment and hotel building for Dubai. Designed by UAE firm Eng. Adnan Saffarini, the building is set to become the world’s second-tallest clock tower, only surpassed by the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca.

The Landmark by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

9/10. The Landmark and Deji Plaza phase two – 324 metres

Ninth position is shared between two buildings; the mixed-use Landmark tower in Dubai Abu Dhabi by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (above) and an office tower rising up over the Deji Plaza shopping centre in Nanjing, China (below). Both towers have a height of 324 metres, but the former features a curved profile while the latter has a rectilinear form.

Deji Plaza Phase 2

The list was compiled using data provided by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). It doesn’t currently include the skyscraper that construction firm Broad Sustainable Building claims to be building in just 90 days in Changsha, which would top this list and become the the world’s tallest building if completed on schedule.

The CTBUH recently published a summary of skyscrapers constructed in 2012, finding that the total number of skyscrapers constructed around the world failed to increase for the first time in six years. This time last year they also predicted what the tallest buildings in 2020 might be.

See all our stories about skyscrapers »

Top 11 most dangerous jobs in the world

1.Construction worker


Construction worker（建筑工人）(Photo/Xinhua)

Many accidents happen at construction sites. Workers often do their jobs under giant steel beams or on the uneven surfaces high above the ground. The most common cause of death among construction workers is falling. Explosions, electric shocks, loud noises, high and low temperature, solvents, smoke, asbestos and incorrect lighting can also be dangerous to construction workers.

2.: Land mine remover

Land mine remover（排雷工）(Photo/Chinamil.com.cn)

De-mining, or mine clearance, is the process of removing land or sea mines from an area. Since manual mine clearance is much more effective than any automated method, human workers are still used to do the dangerous work of deactivating the world’s land mines.

3: Fisherman

Fisherman（渔民）(Photo/Xinhuanet)

Working in the fishing industry is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Fishermen have to work long hours every day, sometimes in darkness, without time for breaks. The heavy equipment used to catch fish is rife with potential for accidents. And though GPS technology helps to direct fishing boats, but in bad weather conditions and fatal accidents still happen

4: Lumberjack

 

Lumberjack（伐木工）(File Photo)

The slopes of the mountains on which most logging is done make lumberjack work quite dangerous. Carrying heavy equipment up steep terrain with a slope of 70-80 degrees often leads to accidents, especially in extreme weather. There is also a very real danger of being injured by a falling tree.

5: Target girl

Target girl（标靶女郎）(File Photo)

A target girl is a female assistant in circus performances such as knife throwing, archery or sharpshooting. The assistant stands in front of a target board or is strapped to a moving board while an impalement artist throws knives or shoots projectiles so as to hit the board but miss the assistant. The potential for injury or death is part of the visual thrill for the audience.

6:Mine worker

Mine worker（矿工）(Photo/Xinhua)

Working in a mine is undoubtedly a tough job. This job requires working outdoors, usually underground, for long periods of time. Workers are often exposed to large amounts of silica dust causing silicosis, which leads to inflammation and nodular lesions in the lungs. There are also the much-covered instances in which miners are killed in mine collapses, blasts, fires or landslides.

7:Lion tamer

Lion tamer（狮子训导师）(File Photo)

Taming lions sounds an interesting job, but it is actually very dangerous due to the obvious risks of toying with the powerful instinctive carnivores.

8:Alligator wrestler

Alligator wrestler（鳄鱼跤手）(File Photo)

Wrestling an alligator is a dangerous but exciting activity. To win an alligator-wrestling competition, wrestlers must place their heads between the jaws of real alligators there for a set period of time, an activity with obvious dangers.

9:Helicopter cable worker

Helicopter cable worker（直升机线路员）(File Photo)

Helicopter cable workers are those surreal-looking workers who fix various cables and power lines from a helicopter. The special conductive clothing these linemen wear allows them to work on high-voltage transmission lines with their bare hands.

10:Mountain Guides

Between ice, long falls, jagged rocks, wind, low air pressure, and a whole slew of other dangerous sounding conditions there is a reason that climbing mountains is not know for its safety.

 11:Astronauts

Although most people probably don’t consider this profession when thinking of dangerous work, since the beginning of the Russian and American space programs about 430 astronauts have gone to space. With 34 deaths that is a 7.5% mortality rate which is significantly higher than many other professions on this list.