Nature
Gympie-Gympie: The Sting You’ll Never Forget
BY Febe Meyer
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.
Culture
What Do You Call a Group of Crows?
BY Donna Hobson
A murder of crows. The collective term is not endearing. So why? Thank medieval hunting tradition and the expansion of the English language.
Nature
The Penis Snake: Contender For Most Appropriately Named Creature
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.
Nature
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Pacific?
BY Steven Cruse
Hawaii is home to a population of feral Hawaii chickens crossbred from jungle fowl, domesticated chickens, and fighting cocks from Southeast Asia.
Culture
The Worlds Oldest Demon: The Night-Mare of Sleep Paralysis
An age-old terror, the sleep paralysis demon has tormented humanity throughout the millennia. Today, science triumphs over ancient superstitions, providing insightful explanations for these unnerving nocturnal experiences once attributed to the so-called ‘devil of dreams’.
Nature
Lungs or Legs? The Unusual Respiration of Giant Sea Spiders
Immerse yourself in the mystery of the Sea Spider—an aquatic stunner with spindly limbs that embraces life underwater by ingeniously absorbing oxygen through its skin, effectively breathing through its legs in a stunning dance with evolution.
Culture
Camazotz: Bat to the Bone, Arbiter of Justice or Pure Myth?
Everyone’s heard of Batman. How about a bat god? Camazotz was a Mayan deity associated with death and sacrifice whose name translates as “death bat.”
Nature
Eel Sex Ed: How Do They Reproduce?
For millennia, eels have baffled observers, including eminent minds like Freud and Aristotle. Despite their efforts, the enigmatic eel’s reproductive cycle remains one of nature’s most elusive and captivating mysteries.
Tech
Are We Cosmic Underachievers? The Kardashev Scale’s Verdict
While we may perceive Earth as technologically advanced, in the grand cosmic scale, we’re still novices. According to the Kardashev Scale, which measures a civilization’s level of technological advancement based on energy usage, Earth scores a humbling zero.
Science
How Much Horsepower Does a Horse Have?
BY Cal Harding
Ever wondered about horsepower? It’s a game of averages. Let’s delve into the answer to how much horsepower does a horse have.
Culture
When Were Condoms Invented? A Revealing History
The history of the condom has not always been associated with comfort. We’ve tried linen, tortoise-shell (yes really), and latex. What does the future hold?
Visit
The Grim Tale of The Island of the Dead Dolls
BY Steven Cruse
Drenched in a chilling history spanning five decades, the Island of the Dead Dolls beckons the brave. Venture forth as a visitor, and behold the eerie spectacle that unfolds, immersing yourself in this macabre nightmare.
Sport
Extreme Ironing: The Strangest Extreme Sport You’ve Never Seen
BY Steven Cruse
Could it be the next Olympic sport? Probably not. But Extreme Ironing is a fun way to experience the outdoors and catch up on housework.
Nature
Can the Pistol Shrimp Hurt a Human?
The Pistol Shrimp has a petite body and large claws like a gunslinger in the Wild West. Its 210-decibel claw snapping sound is louder than a gunshot.
Visit
Is the Bolton Strid the Most Deadly Stretch of Water in the World?
BY Steven Cruse
Discover the Bolton Strid, a little-known, 65 mile stretch of the River Wharfe in Yorkshire, known as a treacherous death trap.
Visit
The Secret History of Poland’s Crooked Forest
BY Steven Cruse
A peculiar crooked forest in Western Poland is the subject of some colorful and outlandish conspiracy theories that try to explain its secret history.
History
When Were Mirrors Invented?
Polished obsidian, bronze, and copper were used as mirrors for thousands of years until Justus von Liebig invented the modern mirror in 1835.
History
The Danse Macabre: The Waltz of The Dead
For centuries, Europeans participated in a celebratory Dance of The Dead. The Danse Macabre is believed to be the precursor to the celebration of Halloween.
