2008 February 09 | HugeMistakes.com

Archive for February 9th, 2008

Want grandchildren ? Marry your cousin !

February 09, 2008 By: Bolkie Category: funny, idiot, odd, stupid, weird, weird science No Comments →

Marriages between distant cousins on Iceland seem to be far more productive then ‘normal’ marriages. On average more children and grandchildren are born as a result of marriages between men and women who are (distantly) related. This became clear after a study on the matter was published in the scientific magazine Science this week. Research was done under supervision of Agnar Helgason of biotech company deCode Genetics.

A study was made on all marriages on the island between 1800 and 1965. Surprisingly marriages between cousins in the third and fourth grade came out on top of the fertility scale. The researchers involved in the study suspect a biological reason is behind these figures. These cousins probably benefit from affinity within the family as well as a healthy amount of genetic mixture.

In many countries marriages and reproduction between cousins is strictly prohibited by law. The risk for diseases because of genetic resemblance is considered too large by scientists.

The oldest athlete in the Peking Olympic Games ?

February 09, 2008 By: Bolkie Category: funny, record, sports, weird No Comments →

A 67-year-old Japanese man is planning to compete in the Olympic Games in Peking next summer. Hiroshi Hoketsu, a horse rider who will turn 67 next month, is already a former competing athlete. But his last participation dates back to the 1964 Olympic Games, which were held in Tokyo. Should he compete, Hoketsu will be the oldest Japanese athlete to participate in the Olympics ever.

Unfortunately for mister Hoketsu he will not be the oldest athlete to have participated in the Olympic Games. In order to obtain that record he must also take part in the next Olympics, which will be held in 2012 in London. The record of oldest athlete is currently held by Oscar Swahn from Sweden. Swahn was 72 years of age when he took part in the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp.

Big Mac biggest symbol of globalization

February 09, 2008 By: Bolkie Category: funny, odd, weird, weird science No Comments →

The Big Mac menu, the most famous dish of the American fast-food restaurant McDonalds, is composed of about twenty ingredients and is therefore the best symbol of globalization. This is according to South African researchers.

The scientists from the University of Stellenbosch have analyzed the ingredients of this menu, which exists of a hamburger, french fries and a cup of coffee.

“We have discovered that this is a meal containing over twenty different ingredients, with their roots tracing back over the entire globe. It includes potatoes, originating from South America, flour and onions from the Middle East, coffee from Ethiopia and mustard from India”.

According to John Wilson of the research team this shows that modern foods are more varied than foods from traditional societies: “ …that such a meal contains more then twenty different ingredients is very impressive, especially when one keeps in mind that some traditional communities use only 50 to 100 ingredients in their cooking”.