Mysteries, Secrets, and More: Buzz Week in Review
by Mike KrumboltzOct 23, 2009
Mystery, intrigue, secrets — aspiring sleuths and spies had a field day in the Buzz this past week. The search spotlight returned to a famous aviator missing for decades, and to a secret plane that the U.S. Air Force is preparing for its maiden voyage. And that's not all — there was also the bizarre case of a commercial pilot and co-pilot who overshot their destination by 150 miles. Read up on these case files and more with the Buzz Week in Review.
Gone but never forgotten
For several years in the 1930s, Amelia Earhart was one of the most famous people on the planet. The plucky aviator was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, and in 1938 she set out to circumnavigate the globe with her navigator. As we all know, the pair was never heard from again. This weekend, a movie detailing Earhart's amazing life hit screens, and in the process, has dusted up tremendous interest in her unsolved disappearance. Lookups on "amelia earhart missing" and "what happened to amelia earhart" both soared to huge gains. A popular article from USA Today details the lingering fascination with the world's most famous missing person. Seven decades later, people are still looking for her.
Psst. Wanna see a space plane?
If so, too bad, because there's not a whole lot of information on the new X-37B project. A buzzy article from Space.com explains that "the unpiloted, reusable military space plane" will launch in April, but nobody seems to know what purpose it's going to serve. According to the article, the plane's "assignment and what agency owns it remains undisclosed." A few more details were available on other blogs. Apparently, "the intent of the craft is to serve as a testbed for dozens of technologies in airframe, propulsion and operation, and other items in the hopes of making space transportation and operations significantly more affordable." Fox News hosts a slideshow of the X-37. Consider it for your eyes only.
Whoa, was that Minneapolis back there?
Ever been driving down the highway, when all of a sudden you realize you missed your exit a few miles back? Well, apparently that doesn't just happen to drivers. It can also happen to commercial airline pilots. In a story that's getting tremendous buzz, two pilots for Northwest Airlines somehow managed to overshoot their destination by 150 miles. The reason given by the crew: "They said they had been having a heated discussion about airline policy." Hmm, if that sounds a bit fishy to you, you're not alone. Government officials have launched an investigation. Web searches on "northwest flight" and "lost pilots" both posted big gains.
Also buzzing this week...
• A baby born midflight was granted "free flights for life."
• William Shakespeare keeps on publishing.
• The Balloon Boy is this year's must-have Halloween costume.
