curiosities

Humongous Fungus, The 2,500-Year-Old Michigan Mushroom That’s As Heavy As Three Blue Whales

First documented in the 1980s, the Armillaria gallica mushroom in Crystal Falls, Michigan, was dubbed the "humongous fungus" because it spans 91 acres and weighs 440 tons.

By Caroline Redmond • Sep 14, 2025

Humongous Fungus, The 2,500-Year-Old Michigan Mushroom That’s As Heavy As Three Blue Whales

First documented in the 1980s, the Armillaria gallica mushroom in Crystal Falls, Michigan, was dubbed the "humongous fungus" because it spans 91 acres and weighs 440 tons.

By Caroline Redmond • September 14, 2025

The Strange History Of Flagpole Sitting, The 1920s Trend Of Perching Atop Towering Poles For Days Or Weeks On End

Sparked by a publicity stunt performed by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, flagpole sitting was a popular test of endurance in the United States during the 1920s, before falling out of fashion during the Great Depression.

By Genevieve Carlton • Sep 14, 2025

The Strange History Of Flagpole Sitting, The 1920s Trend Of Perching Atop Towering Poles For Days Or Weeks On End

Sparked by a publicity stunt performed by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, flagpole sitting was a popular test of endurance in the United States during the 1920s, before falling out of fashion during the Great Depression.

By Genevieve Carlton • September 14, 2025

A Necklace Made Of Beetle Carcasses Was Just Uncovered In A 2,500-Year-Old Grave In Poland

Made by stringing beetle exoskeletons along a preserved blade of grass, this eye-catching artifact may seem strange, but others like it have repeatedly been unearthed throughout Europe.

By John Kuroski • Sep 12, 2025

News

A Necklace Made Of Beetle Carcasses Was Just Uncovered In A 2,500-Year-Old Grave In Poland

Made by stringing beetle exoskeletons along a preserved blade of grass, this eye-catching artifact may seem strange, but others like it have repeatedly been unearthed throughout Europe.

By John Kuroski • September 12, 2025

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Uncovered 8,800-Year-Old Houses That Were Part Of The Oldest Farming Settlement In The Aegean Islands

Alongside these five structures unearthed on the island of Gökçeada, researchers also found the remains of crops like wheat and peas as well as animals like sheep and pigs.

By Austin Harvey • Sep 9, 2025

News

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Uncovered 8,800-Year-Old Houses That Were Part Of The Oldest Farming Settlement In The Aegean Islands

Alongside these five structures unearthed on the island of Gökçeada, researchers also found the remains of crops like wheat and peas as well as animals like sheep and pigs.

By Austin Harvey • September 9, 2025

A 500-Year-Old Skeleton Wearing Thigh-High Leather Boots Was Unearthed In London

Leather was a highly-valuable material during the Tudor era in the U.K., which makes this discovery all the more unusual.

By Bernadette Deron • Sep 8, 2025

News

A 500-Year-Old Skeleton Wearing Thigh-High Leather Boots Was Unearthed In London

Leather was a highly-valuable material during the Tudor era in the U.K., which makes this discovery all the more unusual.

By Bernadette Deron • September 8, 2025

The Full Story Of Cleopatra’s Death, The Alleged Snake Bite Suicide Of Egypt’s Storied Queen

Cleopatra died after reportedly allowing a venomous snake to bite her in Alexandria on August 12, 30 B.C.E. — but some scholars say she may have actually been murdered.

By Kaleena Fraga • Sep 7, 2025

The Full Story Of Cleopatra’s Death, The Alleged Snake Bite Suicide Of Egypt’s Storied Queen

Cleopatra died after reportedly allowing a venomous snake to bite her in Alexandria on August 12, 30 B.C.E. — but some scholars say she may have actually been murdered.

By Kaleena Fraga • September 7, 2025

Why Humanity’s Grand Legacy May Be All The Chicken Bones We Left Behind On Earth

In 2018, a team of researchers argued that the sheer amount of chicken bones on the planet — which belonged to birds specifically bred for human consumption — meant that they may be the most notable fossils of our age.

By All That's Interesting • Sep 7, 2025

Why Humanity’s Grand Legacy May Be All The Chicken Bones We Left Behind On Earth

In 2018, a team of researchers argued that the sheer amount of chicken bones on the planet — which belonged to birds specifically bred for human consumption — meant that they may be the most notable fossils of our age.

By All That's Interesting • September 7, 2025

11 Interesting Events You May Not Have Learned In History Class

An unknown beast that led a deadly rampage through 1760s France? An unexplained explosion as powerful as 1,000 atomic bombs in Siberia? These little-known, interesting events bring history to life more than any textbook ever could.

By Katie Serena • Sep 6, 2025

11 Interesting Events You May Not Have Learned In History Class

An unknown beast that led a deadly rampage through 1760s France? An unexplained explosion as powerful as 1,000 atomic bombs in Siberia? These little-known, interesting events bring history to life more than any textbook ever could.

By Katie Serena • September 6, 2025

The Smurl Haunting: Inside The Alleged Demonic Attacks In Pennsylvania That Inspired ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’

The Smurl haunting dragged on for years between 1974 and 1989, eventually causing the desperate family to call in Ed and Lorraine Warren for help.

By Austin Harvey • Sep 3, 2025

The Smurl Haunting: Inside The Alleged Demonic Attacks In Pennsylvania That Inspired ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’

The Smurl haunting dragged on for years between 1974 and 1989, eventually causing the desperate family to call in Ed and Lorraine Warren for help.

By Austin Harvey • September 3, 2025

Cynthia Albritton, The Groupie Who Made Dozens Of Plaster Casts Of Rock Stars’ Penises

Better known as Cynthia Plaster Caster, Cynthia Albritton made models of the erect penises of celebrities like Jimi Hendrix, Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra, and MC5 bandmembers Dennis Thompson and Wayne Kramer.

By Katie Serena • Aug 31, 2025

Cynthia Albritton, The Groupie Who Made Dozens Of Plaster Casts Of Rock Stars’ Penises

Better known as Cynthia Plaster Caster, Cynthia Albritton made models of the erect penises of celebrities like Jimi Hendrix, Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra, and MC5 bandmembers Dennis Thompson and Wayne Kramer.

By Katie Serena • August 31, 2025