Weird News: What on the Moon?

Parking Problem

In December 2022, Mark Lucas, owner of HCS Furniture in Buckinghamshire, England, parked his 6-month-old work van in a stacked car park in central London, the BBC reported. It’s still there. In this type of structure, mechanical platforms and lifts are used to stack the cars on top of each other, saving space. When Lucas went to retrieve the electric van, he was told he couldn’t because “the stacking system had malfunctioned.” He and his co-owner, Steve Davies, rented another van, which they thought would be a temporary fix, but after a couple of years, “we gave the hire van back and took out another loan to buy a second van,” Davies said. In January 2024, Lucas was told the garage repairs were unlikely to happen before May 2024, but losses would be recoverable from the responsible party. But the partners can’t claim losses until the van is freed. “While we’re trying to grow the business, we can’t because we have all this,” Lucas said.

The Aristocrats!

Prince Laurent, 61, of Belgium, lost a court battle on April 7 in which he argued that he should receive social security benefits from the government, The Guardian reported. The prince argued that his work entitled him to the same support received by entrepreneurs, and that he was arguing over “principle” rather than money. But he was quick to point out medical costs and his concerns over his family’s well-being to the court. However, the court ruled that his duties were more akin to the civil service, which is not covered by social security. Laurent received about $426,000 last year and lives in his home rent-free.

What on the Moon?

Here’s a little factoid you may have missed: There are 96 bags of human waste left on the moon from the Apollo space missions. In an effort to curb any more space contamination, NASA is offering $3 million to anyone who can figure out how to recycle feces and other human waste in space and on the moon, United Press International reported on April 9. The LunaRecycle Challenge technology will be used on long spaceflights and at long-term outposts.

That Escalated Quickly

Part of the “fun” of hiking is the exertion involved, but now the Lingshan Scenic Area in eastern China has made climbing to the top effortless, Oddity Central reported on April 7. The location has installed a series of linked escalators, scheduled to open in May, from the foot of a 1,500-meter-high mountain to the top. What was a two-hour trek will now take just a few minutes, and the views will be accessible to the elderly and those with disabilities.

Kentucky Fried Chompers

KFC has introduced a calorie-free (and fluoride-free) way to satisfy your chicken itch: fried-chicken-flavored toothpaste. The New York Post reported on April 9 that the toothpaste’s flavor is “inspired by all of KFC’s 11 herbs and spices. This toothpaste is irresistible, coating your teeth in flavor before leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean.” KFC partnered with toothpaste manufacturer Hismile to produce the paste for a limited time; it’s available only on the Hismile website for $13 -- if it’s not sold out. But wait! There’s more! You can also snap up the KFC-branded electric toothbrush, which will set you back $59.