curiosities

Historic Buildings Become Hotbed For Conspiracy-Minded History Buffs. Here’s Why Their ‘Impossible’ Construction Timelines Aren’t So Impossible After All

Cities are filled with construction projects that seem to take decades, if they ever get finished at all. Why did construction go so much faster in the past?

By Braden Bjella • May 8, 2026

News

Historic Buildings Become Hotbed For Conspiracy-Minded History Buffs. Here’s Why Their ‘Impossible’ Construction Timelines Aren’t So Impossible After All

Cities are filled with construction projects that seem to take decades, if they ever get finished at all. Why did construction go so much faster in the past?

By Braden Bjella • May 8, 2026

Who Were The ‘Butterfly People’ Children Said They Saw During The 2011 Joplin Tornado?

The real account of what children described encountering during the 2011 Joplin tornado — one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history — is far stranger than this viral rumor.

By Stacy Fernandez • May 7, 2026

News

Who Were The ‘Butterfly People’ Children Said They Saw During The 2011 Joplin Tornado?

The real account of what children described encountering during the 2011 Joplin tornado — one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history — is far stranger than this viral rumor.

By Stacy Fernandez • May 7, 2026

Why Was St. Christopher Depicted With The Head Of A Dog In Hundreds Of Historical Paintings?

A viral TikTok is raising a question that has puzzled historians for centuries: Why does one of Christianity's most beloved saints appear with the head of a dog?

By Stacy Fernandez • May 6, 2026

News

Why Was St. Christopher Depicted With The Head Of A Dog In Hundreds Of Historical Paintings?

A viral TikTok is raising a question that has puzzled historians for centuries: Why does one of Christianity's most beloved saints appear with the head of a dog?

By Stacy Fernandez • May 6, 2026

What Would Happen If The Carrington Event Of 1859 Hit Again Today?

In 1859, a massive geomagnetic storm disrupted electrical signals, illuminated nighttime skies, and even sparked fires. If it were to happen today, the effects could be even more devastating.

By Braden Bjella • May 4, 2026

News

What Would Happen If The Carrington Event Of 1859 Hit Again Today?

In 1859, a massive geomagnetic storm disrupted electrical signals, illuminated nighttime skies, and even sparked fires. If it were to happen today, the effects could be even more devastating.

By Braden Bjella • May 4, 2026

Power Line Construction In Germany Turns Up A 7,000-Year-Old Pit Filled With Beaver Remains

While preparing for power line construction in Alsleben, excavators happened upon a pit littered with orange teeth — which turned out to be a "garbage heap" of beaver carcasses dating back to the Stone Age.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 4, 2026

News

Power Line Construction In Germany Turns Up A 7,000-Year-Old Pit Filled With Beaver Remains

While preparing for power line construction in Alsleben, excavators happened upon a pit littered with orange teeth — which turned out to be a "garbage heap" of beaver carcasses dating back to the Stone Age.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 4, 2026

Couple Has Lived in Georgia For Over A Year — They Still Don’t Know About The ‘Stone Stairs Of Death’

There are no reported deaths directly tied to Savannah's infamous "Stone Stairs of Death." However, they often prove to be hazardous, which is why these historic stairs are affixed with a bright yellow warning.

By Madeleine Peck Wagner • May 3, 2026

News

Couple Has Lived in Georgia For Over A Year — They Still Don’t Know About The ‘Stone Stairs Of Death’

There are no reported deaths directly tied to Savannah's infamous "Stone Stairs of Death." However, they often prove to be hazardous, which is why these historic stairs are affixed with a bright yellow warning.

By Madeleine Peck Wagner • May 3, 2026

Did The Titanic Skip This Common ‘Good Luck Ritual’ Used On Ships?: ‘Doomed Before It Even Left The Dock’

The White Star Line chose not to christen the Titanic with champagne. Their reason for skipping the good luck ritual is not clearly known.

By Madeleine Peck Wagner • May 3, 2026

News

Did The Titanic Skip This Common ‘Good Luck Ritual’ Used On Ships?: ‘Doomed Before It Even Left The Dock’

The White Star Line chose not to christen the Titanic with champagne. Their reason for skipping the good luck ritual is not clearly known.

By Madeleine Peck Wagner • May 3, 2026

Inside The Myth Of Selkies, The Seal-Human Shapeshifters Of Celtic Lore

According to Celtic and Norse mythology, selkies are seals who can become human by shedding their "sealskin" on land.

By Andrew Milne • May 2, 2026

Inside The Myth Of Selkies, The Seal-Human Shapeshifters Of Celtic Lore

According to Celtic and Norse mythology, selkies are seals who can become human by shedding their "sealskin" on land.

By Andrew Milne • May 2, 2026

Astrogeology Student Walks Around Northern Arizona University. Then She Spots Something Underground — And Notices The Light Is On: ‘This Is Creepy’

A student at Northern Arizona University says she found an underground tunnel beneath campus. As it turns out, such tunnels have played a fascinating role in Flagstaff's history.

By Braden Bjella • May 1, 2026

News

Astrogeology Student Walks Around Northern Arizona University. Then She Spots Something Underground — And Notices The Light Is On: ‘This Is Creepy’

A student at Northern Arizona University says she found an underground tunnel beneath campus. As it turns out, such tunnels have played a fascinating role in Flagstaff's history.

By Braden Bjella • May 1, 2026

Violet Jessop, The Woman Who Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic — And Its Sister Ship

Not only did Violet Jessop survive the sinking of the Titanic and the Britannic, but she was also aboard the Titanic's other sister ship, the Olympic, when it collided with a cruiser in 1911.

By Katie Serena • Apr 29, 2026

Violet Jessop, The Woman Who Survived The Sinking Of The Titanic — And Its Sister Ship

Not only did Violet Jessop survive the sinking of the Titanic and the Britannic, but she was also aboard the Titanic's other sister ship, the Olympic, when it collided with a cruiser in 1911.

By Katie Serena • April 29, 2026

‘Lawnchair Larry’ Walters, The Man Who Flew To 16,000 Feet With Nothing But A Lawnchair And Weather Balloons

In July 1982, Larry Walters soared into federal airspace over Los Angeles on his flying machine made out of a lawnchair and 45 weather balloons.

By Aimee Lamoureux • Apr 27, 2026

‘Lawnchair Larry’ Walters, The Man Who Flew To 16,000 Feet With Nothing But A Lawnchair And Weather Balloons

In July 1982, Larry Walters soared into federal airspace over Los Angeles on his flying machine made out of a lawnchair and 45 weather balloons.

By Aimee Lamoureux • April 27, 2026

How Televangelist Benny Hinn Makes Millions By ‘Curing’ People Through Faith Healing

The ministries of Benny Hinn rake in some $100 million a year. Hinn claims all that money goes into his healing services, but he does own a private jet.

By Mark Oliver • Apr 27, 2026

How Televangelist Benny Hinn Makes Millions By ‘Curing’ People Through Faith Healing

The ministries of Benny Hinn rake in some $100 million a year. Hinn claims all that money goes into his healing services, but he does own a private jet.

By Mark Oliver • April 27, 2026