There's a rise in thrill-seeking: extreme sports, extreme vacations, and extreme just-about-anything.
One extreme activity went way off-track, and the result was captured on video.
If you've never heard of "zorbing," it involves getting strapped into a giant inflatable ball -- like one of those hamster balls -- and getting pushed down a hill. Usually, it's done on grassy hills, but in the mountains of southern Russia, it's done on ski slopes.
Two men got inside a zorb ball, with a friend reportedly shooting the video.
Things get scary pretty quickly when the zorb goes off the side of the track and over a cliff. The video ends before you see it all, but one of the men inside -- a 27-year-old father -- was killed. His friend, a 33-year-old, was badly hurt but survived.
Thrill-seeking has become routine: zip-lining and parasailing are vacation standards. Even skydiving is mainstream.
There are a few theories about why people seek increasingly-extreme thrills. One is our brains. Researchers found people who thrill-seek often have low levels of dopamine -- a neurotransmitter that creates the feeling of an adrenaline rush. Less dopamine means you need a bigger thrill to get a satisfying rush.
Other theories focus on pop culture. Things like the ESPN "X-Games" and reality shows like "Survivor" and "Fear Factor" condition us to see thrill-seeking as good.
Another thought is that modern life is so safe and we're so obsessed with safety that some of just want a little danger in our lives.
Thursday, June 13 2013 1:45 PM EDT2013-06-13 17:45:09 GMT
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Beauty used to be in the eye of the beholder. Nowadays, a phone-app is making some of the judgments. More than 5 million people have bought the "Ugly-Meter" app. Here's how it works: You take a photo,
Beauty used to be in the eye of the beholder. Nowadays, a phone-app is making some of the judgments. More than 5 million people have bought the "Ugly-Meter" app.
There's debate about how a school in Georgia -- and the local police department -- handled a 6- year- old who apparently threw a violent temper tantrum.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:54 PM EDT2013-06-20 00:54:40 GMT
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:46 PM EDT2013-06-20 00:46:42 GMT
Nine Lafayette Elementary parents and students have occupied a Lafayette Elementary school classroom, in a sit-in style protest against the school's closing.
Nine Lafayette Elementary parents and students have occupied a Lafayette Elementary school classroom, in a sit-in style protest against the school's closing.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:54 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:54:41 GMT
Nine students at a Near North Side bilingual public elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a student accidentally discharged pepper spray.
Nine students at a Near North Side bilingual public elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a student accidentally discharged pepper spray.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:27 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:27:06 GMT
Now that obesity has been officially classified as a disease by the AMA, many are wondering how this will affect the 35.7 percent of Americans who are described as obese.
Now that obesity has been officially classified as a disease by the AMA, many are wondering how this will affect the 35.7 percent of Americans who are described as obese.
