Here's our weekly collection of this weird, weird world — from space rock vodka to an Australia museum declared to be a toilet. Check out worldcrunch.com for more!
Oui oui maxi baguette
WHERE?
Suresnes, France
WHAT?
French bakers recently reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the longest baguette, crafting a massive 140.53-meter loaf, surpassing Italy's previous record. At the event organized by the French Confederation of Bakers and pastry chefs, the bakers started kneading the dough at 3 am before baking it in a specially designed rotating oven. After validation by a Guinness World Records judge, the achievement was celebrated, with part of the baguette shared with the public and the rest destined for the homeless.
The world’s most beautiful fake human
WHERE?
Online
WHAT?
"Miss AI" is the world's first beauty pageant featuring computer-generated women. Many people thought the future would entail flying cars and robot chefs, instead we've started holding AI to woman beauty standards. Not cool, people. Organized by e-commerce giant Alibaba, the event will happen in May. Contestants, created using AI algorithms, will compete in various categories, sparking discussions about the intersection of technology, beauty standards, and societal norms.
This is not a museum, it’s the ladies’ bathroom!
WHERE?
Tasmania, Australia
WHAT?
The Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania is in a legal fight to keep its women-only exhibit, called the Ladies Lounge by Kirsha Kaechele, after it has been sued by a local man because he was barred from entering. The artist decided she will challenge the ruling by making the space "compliant" with regulations: the Ladies Lounge will turn into a women's toilet and a church. This way it will continue to operate as a women-only space under legal exemptions.
Martian Martini
WHERE?
Space
WHAT?
A new Vodka costing $200 will bring a whole new meaning to “on the rocks”. Shooting Star Vodka has infused their vodka with a meteorite discovered in 1977, other companies have used meteorites as filters but this is the first meteorite to have been used in the infusion process. Only 4,806 bottles existing on this planet. Each sip guarantees an out-of-this-world experience ... though you might see more stars than usual.
"Not quite my look" says dog
WHERE?
Taizhou, China
WHAT?
The Taizhou Zoo in China is facing criticism for displaying two Chow Chows dyed black and white to resemble pandas. Videos circulating on social media revealed the dogs' true identity, despite efforts to make them look like pandas. While zoo officials claim they clearly advertised them as "panda dogs," they have been accused of misleading visitors and mistreating the animals.
Rise of the planet of the apes
WHERE?
Southeast Asia
WHAT?
An adult male Orangutan named Rakus was seen treating their wound using medicine from tropical plants. Scientists watched Rakus chew up native plants into a paste to treat his pain and inflammation. Previous research had documented several species of great apes foraging for medicine but had never observed them treat themselves in this way. “This is the first time that we have observed a wild animal applying a quite potent medicinal plant directly to a wound,” said co-author Isabelle Laumer, a biologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany. The logical next question is whether Rakus can find relief from the Planet of the Apes series?