curiosities

The Incredible Story Of General Tom Thumb, The Three-Foot-Tall Sideshow Performer Who Became One Of The 19th-Century’s Biggest Celebrities

General Tom Thumb, born Charles Stratton, toured around the world with P.T. Barnum and was seen by an estimated 50 million spectators before his death in 1883.

By All That's Interesting • Apr 20, 2025

The Incredible Story Of General Tom Thumb, The Three-Foot-Tall Sideshow Performer Who Became One Of The 19th-Century’s Biggest Celebrities

General Tom Thumb, born Charles Stratton, toured around the world with P.T. Barnum and was seen by an estimated 50 million spectators before his death in 1883.

By All That's Interesting • April 20, 2025

Wall Built With Human Bones Discovered Underneath A Cathedral In Belgium

The macabre structure was found during work on a new visitor's center for the 700-year-old Saint Bavo's Cathedral.

By Natasha Ishak • Apr 17, 2025

News

Wall Built With Human Bones Discovered Underneath A Cathedral In Belgium

The macabre structure was found during work on a new visitor's center for the 700-year-old Saint Bavo's Cathedral.

By Natasha Ishak • April 17, 2025

Archaeologists Excavating An Ancient Maya City Discover A Child Sacrifice Altar From A Culture 700 Miles Away

A Teotihuacan altar found in a dwelling in the ancient Maya city of Tikal highlights the interaction between these two cultures — and the grisly rituals they both practiced.

By Austin Harvey • Apr 9, 2025

News

Archaeologists Excavating An Ancient Maya City Discover A Child Sacrifice Altar From A Culture 700 Miles Away

A Teotihuacan altar found in a dwelling in the ancient Maya city of Tikal highlights the interaction between these two cultures — and the grisly rituals they both practiced.

By Austin Harvey • April 9, 2025

The Mysterious Disappearance Of Ben McDaniel, The Scuba Diver Who Vanished While Cave Diving In Florida

Ben McDaniel disappeared in August 2010 and, despite intense searches of the underwater cave system where he was last seen, no sign of his remains has been found.

By Amber Morgan • Apr 4, 2025

The Mysterious Disappearance Of Ben McDaniel, The Scuba Diver Who Vanished While Cave Diving In Florida

Ben McDaniel disappeared in August 2010 and, despite intense searches of the underwater cave system where he was last seen, no sign of his remains has been found.

By Amber Morgan • April 4, 2025

A Dying Star At The Heart Of The Helix Nebula May Have Destroyed A Planet — And It Was Captured By NASA Telescopes

For 40 years, scientists have wondered why the white dwarf at the center of the Helix Nebula was emitting such strong X-ray flares. New observations suggest those signals could be the remains of a shattered, Jupiter-sized planet.

By Austin Harvey • Apr 4, 2025

News

A Dying Star At The Heart Of The Helix Nebula May Have Destroyed A Planet — And It Was Captured By NASA Telescopes

For 40 years, scientists have wondered why the white dwarf at the center of the Helix Nebula was emitting such strong X-ray flares. New observations suggest those signals could be the remains of a shattered, Jupiter-sized planet.

By Austin Harvey • April 4, 2025

A Three-Year-Old Girl Just Discovered A 3,800-Year-Old Canaanite Amulet At The Biblical Site Where David Defeated Goliath

Ziv Nitzan found an ancient Canaanite scarab amulet at Tel Azekah, the site where the Bible says David defeated Goliath.

By Austin Harvey • Apr 2, 2025

News

A Three-Year-Old Girl Just Discovered A 3,800-Year-Old Canaanite Amulet At The Biblical Site Where David Defeated Goliath

Ziv Nitzan found an ancient Canaanite scarab amulet at Tel Azekah, the site where the Bible says David defeated Goliath.

By Austin Harvey • April 2, 2025

Inside The Short But Mighty Life Of André The Giant, The 7-Foot-Tall Wrestler Who Died At Just 46

André the Giant's grew so large due to a hormonal disorder called acromegaly, but the condition that helped make him so famous also led to his death in 1993.

By Austin Harvey • Apr 1, 2025

Inside The Short But Mighty Life Of André The Giant, The 7-Foot-Tall Wrestler Who Died At Just 46

André the Giant's grew so large due to a hormonal disorder called acromegaly, but the condition that helped make him so famous also led to his death in 1993.

By Austin Harvey • April 1, 2025

Shadow People: Paranormal Beings That Lurk In Dark Corners — Or The Product Of Sleep Deprivation?

Shadow people are dark entities that have reportedly been spotted in dim rooms and abandoned buildings around the world, but there are several scientific explanations for their existence.

By Austin Harvey • Mar 31, 2025

Shadow People: Paranormal Beings That Lurk In Dark Corners — Or The Product Of Sleep Deprivation?

Shadow people are dark entities that have reportedly been spotted in dim rooms and abandoned buildings around the world, but there are several scientific explanations for their existence.

By Austin Harvey • March 31, 2025

An Air Force Officer’s Secret Journal May Hold New Clues About What Really Happened In The Roswell Incident

"It all starts in Roswell. It's the origin story of the UFO, the prospect of a government cover-up for alien contact."

By Natasha Ishak • Mar 30, 2025

News

An Air Force Officer’s Secret Journal May Hold New Clues About What Really Happened In The Roswell Incident

"It all starts in Roswell. It's the origin story of the UFO, the prospect of a government cover-up for alien contact."

By Natasha Ishak • March 30, 2025

The Bizarre Story Of Michel Lotito, The French Entertainer Who Ate Everything From Bicycles To Chandeliers

Claiming to have incredibly strong teeth and powerful gastric juices, Michel Lotito's biggest accomplishment was purportedly eating a Cessna 150 airplane — but not everyone believes he finished the whole thing.

By Amber Morgan • Mar 29, 2025

The Bizarre Story Of Michel Lotito, The French Entertainer Who Ate Everything From Bicycles To Chandeliers

Claiming to have incredibly strong teeth and powerful gastric juices, Michel Lotito's biggest accomplishment was purportedly eating a Cessna 150 airplane — but not everyone believes he finished the whole thing.

By Amber Morgan • March 29, 2025