Do fish sleep? Sleeping underwater poses some challenges, even for fish. To ensure they get enough oxygen and evade predators, fish have found unique ways to get the rest they need. Did you know it’s possible to castrate a male frog using atrazine, a widely used herbicide? Find out how and why in this article. Countless witnesses tell of balls of light that float above ground during thunderstorms. This eery sight has nothing to do with UFOs, and everything to do with bizarre, inexplicable physics. Learn how the tiny Baljenac Island, also known as Croatia’s giant fingerprint, served the residents of the nearby islands in the Adriatic Sea. A lack of pollinators in its natural environment means the Creeping Devil has to clone itself to survive. This distinctive cactus is so unusual that a black market specimen can fetch $4000. The race to launch a commercially available flying motorcycle is heating up as two companies compete in technologies that herald a new era in transport. In Christianity, Kikimora is undoubtedly a demon. But in pre-Christian Slavic mythology, although Kikimora is considered evil, there are exceptions. Pankration was a physically exhausting, often deadly ancient sport. Lost for over a millennium it has come to the fore of martial arts once more. Tracing the origin of the phrase ‘on the lam’ is tricky. But we get a sense of it’s roots via Babylon, Victorian children and Prohibition era gangsters. Pelorus Jack was a dolphin who guided ships in colonial New Zealand. The Māori believed that he was a taniwha named Tuhirangi in the guise of a dolphin. Militaries have many nicknames for their troops, but none are as pervasive as G.I. in the United States. How did US troops get their name? It would appear that ostrich knowledge is back to front. For instance, ostriches have three stomachs. However, the ostrich head in sand story is a complete myth. The Dyson sphere is an intriguing theory that explores future human capabilities and guides thinking in detecting extraterrestrial alien civilizations. You’d think answering a simple question like why people yawn would be simple. However, it’s not straightforward despite extensive scientific research. Insults never die they just evolve. Medieval insults were surprisingly creative and some are still relevant to frustrations we face in modern life. The canine nose is hundreds of thousands of times more sensitive and far more adept at tracking targets than even the keenest hunter. Scientists now think Earth’s oxygen, dust particles, and the Earth’s magnetotail combine to provide the conditions for Moon rusting. The first rule about Skinwalkers in Navajo culture is don’t talk about Skinwalkers. Regardless, the story holds a fascination for many non-Native Americans. Australia is famous for its deadly animals. Its plants pack a punch too. The Gympie gympie tree needs a body swerve if you’re averse to excruciating pain. A murder of crows. The collective term is not endearing. So why? Thank medieval hunting tradition and the expansion of the English language. If visuals were the only consideration then the penis snake could win the most appropriate name ever. However, it’s not a snake, but a species of caecilian, or limbless amphibian.
Do Fish Ever Get Any Shut-Eye?
Atrazine: The Herbicide that Castrates Male Frogs
Ball Lightning Is Real But What Exactly Is It?
Baljenac: Croatia’s Giant Fingerprint Island
The Rare Walking Cactus: Creeping Devil Regenerates to Survive
Farewell Gridlock: Flying Motorcycles are Here
The True Origins of Kikimora
Pankration: The Olympic, Ancient, and Deadly Precursor to the UFC
On the Lam: Breakout Night at the Museum
Pelorus Jack: Covert Operative or Cuddly Compass?
Don’t be Singing the GI Blues: How US Troops Got Their Name
Resolving the Ostrich Head in Sand Phenomenon
Star Power: The Potential of the Dyson Sphere
A Sleepy Guide to Why do People Yawn?
Cussing at Camelot: Medieval Insults to Use on Your Peasant Friends
Cadaver Dogs: Trained to Smell Dead Bodies
The Moon is Rusting and it Might be Earth’s Fault
Navajo Skinwalkers: The Terrifying Beast That Cannot Be Named
Gympie-Gympie: The Sting You’ll Never Forget
What do you call a group of crows?
The Penis Snake: Contender For Most Appropriately Named Creature
Alexandre Villaplane: A Tarnished Legacy in the History of French Football
Despite his footballing achievements, Alexandre Villaplane is best remembered for his traitorous behavior during World War II. This article tells the story of one of France’s most infamous athletes.
