curiosities

When “Blowing Smoke Up Your Ass” Was Much More Than Just A Saying

Discover the shockingly literal and thoroughly disturbing 18th-century medical origins of the idiom "blowing smoke up your ass."

By Krissy Howard • Aug 21, 2017

When “Blowing Smoke Up Your Ass” Was Much More Than Just A Saying

Discover the shockingly literal and thoroughly disturbing 18th-century medical origins of the idiom "blowing smoke up your ass."

By Krissy Howard • August 21, 2017

The Two Theories Of How ‘Big Ben’ Got Its Name

Nobody is sure exactly why we all call it what we call it.

By All That's Interesting • Aug 21, 2017

News

The Two Theories Of How ‘Big Ben’ Got Its Name

Nobody is sure exactly why we all call it what we call it.

By All That's Interesting • August 21, 2017

Life Inside The Young Pioneers: The Soviet Union’s Answer To The Boy Scouts

Whether practicing with grenades or shooting Germans, the Young Pioneers of the World War II era were forced to grow up all too fast.

By Gabe Paoletti • Aug 18, 2017

Life Inside The Young Pioneers: The Soviet Union’s Answer To The Boy Scouts

Whether practicing with grenades or shooting Germans, the Young Pioneers of the World War II era were forced to grow up all too fast.

By Gabe Paoletti • August 18, 2017

The Strange Story Of The Voodoo Hex Party To Kill Adolf Hitler

On January 22, 1941, a group of young people went out into a cabin in the woods of Maryland and tried to kill Adolf Hitler. Their weapons were a dressmaker’s dummy, a Nazi uniform, a few axes, a box of nails, plenty of rum, and a strong faith in the...

By Mark Oliver • Aug 14, 2017

The Strange Story Of The Voodoo Hex Party To Kill Adolf Hitler

On January 22, 1941, a group of young people went out into a cabin in the woods of Maryland and tried to kill Adolf Hitler. Their weapons were a dressmaker’s dummy, a Nazi uniform, a few axes, a box of nails, plenty of rum, and a strong faith in the...

By Mark Oliver • August 14, 2017

16 Fascinating Photos Of Two-Headed Animals Found In Nature

From turtles and snakes to cows and pigs, two-headed animals are not only astounding but perhaps not quite as rare as you might think.

By Krissy Howard • Aug 5, 2017

16 Fascinating Photos Of Two-Headed Animals Found In Nature

From turtles and snakes to cows and pigs, two-headed animals are not only astounding but perhaps not quite as rare as you might think.

By Krissy Howard • August 5, 2017

The Bizarre, Disturbing History Of Kangaroo Boxing

If you’ve been to any sort of Australian sporting event, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the boxing kangaroo. Whether pictured on a flag being waved in the crowd or sold as a plush toy in the gift shop, the image of the boxing kangaroo has become a national...

By Joel Stice • Aug 2, 2017

The Bizarre, Disturbing History Of Kangaroo Boxing

If you’ve been to any sort of Australian sporting event, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the boxing kangaroo. Whether pictured on a flag being waved in the crowd or sold as a plush toy in the gift shop, the image of the boxing kangaroo has become a national...

By Joel Stice • August 2, 2017

Horse Diving: 21 Vintage Photos Of The Cruel, Forgotten “Sport”

Not even 50 years ago, crowds in tourist spots like Atlantic City were lining up to watch diving horses perform death-defying stunts.

By Joel Stice • Jul 31, 2017

Horse Diving: 21 Vintage Photos Of The Cruel, Forgotten “Sport”

Not even 50 years ago, crowds in tourist spots like Atlantic City were lining up to watch diving horses perform death-defying stunts.

By Joel Stice • July 31, 2017

33 Unbelievable Vintage Photos From The Heyday Of Alligator Farms

These surreal photos of alligator farms from the early 20th century capture the heyday of this bizarre trend that swept across the United States.

By Laura Martisiute • Jul 27, 2017

33 Unbelievable Vintage Photos From The Heyday Of Alligator Farms

These surreal photos of alligator farms from the early 20th century capture the heyday of this bizarre trend that swept across the United States.

By Laura Martisiute • July 27, 2017

How The Conjoined McCoy Twins Beat The “Freak Show” System That Had Exploited Them

Born into slavery and then sold into the circus, Millie and Christine McKoy ultimately took back their own destiny.

By Krissy Howard • Jul 27, 2017

How The Conjoined McCoy Twins Beat The “Freak Show” System That Had Exploited Them

Born into slavery and then sold into the circus, Millie and Christine McKoy ultimately took back their own destiny.

By Krissy Howard • July 27, 2017

The Little-Known Story Of The Sole World War I Battle Fought In America

The residents of the Massachusetts town braved the falling shells and swarmed the beach to look in awe at the battle before them.

By Gabe Paoletti • Jul 24, 2017

The Little-Known Story Of The Sole World War I Battle Fought In America

The residents of the Massachusetts town braved the falling shells and swarmed the beach to look in awe at the battle before them.

By Gabe Paoletti • July 24, 2017