From the Turkish Spider-Man to a record-breaking polygamist: 10 stories from our world that are hard to believe (11 photos)

The world is full of amazing events and incredible characters that any screenwriter would envy.





Sometimes reality is so paradoxical that it is impossible to invent it on purpose.

1. Three Giants and Copyright



Until 1986, Turkey had no copyright law for films. This led to such masterpieces as Three Giants, where Captain America and Mexican wrestler El Santo fought a chain-smoking Spider-Man villain to the soundtrack of a James Bond film.

There was also a series called "Turkish Star Wars", which shamelessly borrowed footage and music from "Star Wars", "Star Trek" and "Battlestar Galactica" (the same scenes could be shown several times, sometimes even backwards). The plot suddenly turned towards Hong Kong action films of the 70s with their recognizable choreography, and then became overgrown with zombies, mummies and ninjas. In the finale, the main character splits the villain in half with a blow of his hand and flies into space on the "Millenium Falcon".

2. Prolific Fish





The sunfish (Mola mola) is capable of producing a colossal number of eggs in one season - 300 million pieces. This is an absolute record among all vertebrate animals on the planet.

3. Orca Breakfast



In February 2023, a pair of orcas named Port and Starboard attacked and killed at least 17 sharks in one day off the coast of South Africa. The orcas ate only the liver of each victim.

The orcas' tactics were ruthlessly effective: they rammed the sharks to stun them, then grabbed them by the fin and flipped them belly-up. In this position, many sharks become immobilized. The orcas then began to eat only the nutrient-rich liver. It can be up to a quarter of the shark's body weight.

4. A Professional's Feat



Photographer Robert Landsburg saved his photographs from the eruption of Mount St. Helens at the cost of his own life. Realizing that he would not survive the pyroclastic flow, he lay down on his backpack with films, covering it with his body. Seventeen days later, rescuers found his body under a layer of ash, and the footage he saved became invaluable documentary evidence of the disaster.

5. Awkward Pause



English speakers feel awkward when there is a pause in a conversation that lasts longer than four seconds. But Japanese speakers can feel comfortable with up to eight seconds of silence.

6. Chess Scam



In 2023, a Kenyan chess player attempted to enter a women's tournament under the guise of a woman in order to win a cash prize. He wore a burqa to disguise himself, but was found out. Suspicions were raised by his unexpectedly high level of acting, his silence, and his rough men's shoes that gave him away.

7. The Rocker Seducer



Mick Jagger's ex-wife Jerry Hall and Keith Richards are rumored to have persuaded the rocker to see a specialist for his sex addiction. Both were delighted when he finally signed up for a sex therapist. The delight, however, was short-lived, because Jagger soon seduced the doctor as well.

8. Questionable Reforms



Turkmenistan's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, banned beards and dogs in the capital. He also ordered all hospitals and libraries outside the capital to be closed, saying that patients should go to the main city for treatment, and Turkmens don't read anyway. In addition, the books they should read (like Niyazov's Ruhnama) should be in every home. Turkmenbashi also renamed the days of the week, obliged adult children to support their parents, fired almost all mid-level medical personnel, banned new teaching methods, abolished ballet, circus, and opera (he admitted that he once went to an opera in Leningrad and didn’t understand anything, which means the Turkmens don’t need it).

9. Injustice in a Unique Building



The Burj Khalifa is so tall that its residents have to consider not only the time, but also the floor. Those who live above the 80th floor are forced to break their fast two minutes later than everyone else during Ramadan, and those who live above the 150th floor have to wait an extra three minutes. The thing is, the sun is visible longer at this height.

10. Record-Breaking Swindler



Swindler Giovanni Vigliotto set a world record for the number of marriages: from 1949 to 1981, he married 105 women, never divorcing any of them. His wives were unaware of each other's existence. He used different fictitious identities for his scams and entered into marriages in 27 US states and 14 other countries.