The beluga is an icon of the sea. The porcelain body is recognizable at a glance, but few are aware of the whale’s amazing abilities and propensity for making the news. From talking like a person and sharing a rare biological quirk with humans to carrying military equipment to surprised fishermen, belugas are more than

Jihad is associated with Islamist terrorist groups killing innocent people and blowing things up until everyone in a nation or region converts to Islam and accepts sharia law. As we are about to find out, this is just an abused and unacceptable interpretation of jihad, and there have been some other odd uses of the

Gestures are a crucial and irreplaceable part of how we communicate with each other, whether it’s serious conversations that have to be ended with the “talk to the hand” sign or casual occasions like asking the waiter how much the drink costs in a crowded bar. It’s not just a substitute for the spoken word,

On average, we spend over two hours per day in the kitchen preparing meals and cleaning up, so it’s no surprise that many are always on the lookout for a gadget to make the job quicker and easier. Clever inventors have developed numerous items that have changed the way we cook. Electric mixers have replaced

When our distant ancestors left the trees to walk the savannas, physical changes occurred that can still be seen today. Some are vestigial and no longer needed, while others endure as efficiently as always. In fact, modern humans can thank several ancient perks for their survival, including laughter and eyebrows. Human evolution is far from

They say that “necessity is the mother of invention.” Every day, a new scientific breakthrough occurs or a new product is invented to solve a problem or fulfill a need. Scientists and inventors often spend years researching and refining their discoveries. However, it is surprising to find out that many common household items were created

For most of us, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. How we eat this meal has certainly evolved over the ages, from a simple fuel-up of milk and bread to the myriad forms it can take today. Whether we enjoy a big, cooked breakfast or grab a quick, convenient one on the

There are countless beautiful destinations to visit around the world. But some places are either too dangerous, too protected, or too mysterious to explore. Several locations across the globe—from man-made buildings and structures to natural habitats that contain dangerous species, religious mysteries, and secrets—make these areas forbidden to outsiders. 10 The Red ZoneFrance Not all

Throughout human history, we’ve found all manner of ways to measure just about anything. And why not? Having a standardized means of quantifying the world around us can certainly be helpful. Some of our chosen methods, however, have been decidedly strange. We’ve covered oddball units of measurement before, but we’ve gone and found ten more

For the Vikings, reputation was the most important thing in life. In their eyes, a person’s deeds were the only thing that survived them long after they were gone, so they loved to celebrate the actions of their ancestors and friends while trying to make a name for themselves personally, whether that be by exploring,

Saint Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century is the first recorded case of stigmata, the marks of the crucifixion left on the body. Since then, there have been around 400 people who’ve claimed to have the stigmata, of which around 25 are believed to be alive today. Almost all stigmatics are women, notable

There are a variety of ways that you can die depending on where you are and what you’re doing when it happens. Although some individuals peacefully pass in their sleep, others have to go through immensely uncomfortable and drawn-out deaths. Death itself isn’t surprising. What’s astonishing is that you may die from the most mundane

The past few years saw an unprecedented slew of remarkable fossils. It is not always the biggest dinosaurs that are the most valuable to science. More important are the fragments that reveal behavior, extinct diets, missing ancestors, and the answers to tough puzzles. New finds can also introduce intriguing mysteries about unknown human species and

When we think of methods that governments and big corporations use to spy on us, we often think of computers, smartphones, and maybe surveillance cameras. As you are about to find out, these are hardly the only things that can be used to keep tabs on us. Seemingly innocuous items like toothbrushes, headphones, and children’s

Giving birth is a personal and intimate experience. Some choose to do so at home, while others opt for the amenities that the hospital can offer. In some cases, however, there simply is no choice in where the baby is coming once it decides to come. For the following women, the miracle of life happened

For many of us, the question of what happens to us after we die is a complex spiritual matter regarding the eternal state of our souls. But the more immediate, tangible question should be: Where do our bodies go once we no longer have need of them? The answer should be obvious—graveyards. Except for most

Most of us have an image in our heads of the world outside our own immediate surroundings. Even if we know that it’s not accurate down to the last detail, we’re comfortable with the fact that we at least have a vague idea of how things are out there. Unfortunately, a lot of that is

Assassinations do not always go as planned. While they can certainly still be messy when successful, they can be weird or even hilarious when they they fail. The ridiculousness of the plot and the weird or dumb reason that an assassination failed will often be exposed when we analyze the details of the attempt. For

Many of the world’s most famous landmarks are iconic symbols of a time gone by. They provide visitors from across the world with an insight into an era and a city’s heritage. Yet, despite their notability, there are some unique facts that you might not know about these world-famous landmarks, which draw tourists from all

Birds do more than fly and tweet. Their family life includes love triangles and dropping the kids off at a creche. Their stories also show how one island loved a duck and what happens when the world’s deadliest bird is kept as a pet. These feathered creatures stun onlookers with daring survival situations. Meanwhile, scientists

Ed and Lorraine Warren were a husband-and-wife team who went on to become world-renowned paranormal investigators following probes into high-profile cases like The Amityville Horror, the Annabelle doll, and certain spooky events that inspired the Conjuring series. In 1952, the Warrens founded the oldest ghost hunting group in New England, wrote numerous books on their

The odds of winning big at a casino are against you, but the casino will do everything in its power to convince you that your jackpot is just around the corner. From free booze, buffets, and hotel stays to flashing lights and loud noises, these establishments have pulled out every trick to convince you to

Ancient statues are considered relics from the distant past. However, they sometimes contain other relics like scrolls, letters, money, or other items of historical importance. The finds are often surprising and coincidental because nobody would expect to find such items in the statues. But as we are about to find out, the items are often

Fantasy movies often conjure the most fantastic make-belief creatures. But one need not look to fiction to find creatures so surreal that they beggar belief. Earth’s natural world has a sense of humor—there are giant versions of normal species and spiders that look like rabbits. In the darker corners, fish suddenly melt and large creepy

Look, up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No . . . it is the Moon! The Moon has been an intrinsic part of human culture from its beginnings. Since the first humans began to make art in caves, the Moon was already a special element of their paintings. And

Despite people traveling thousands of miles across the world to set eyes on a monument, there might be some locals who would gladly travel thousands of miles just to escape it. While you view a building or structure as a work of art, many locals may see it as a blight on their landscape or

Antarctica is surrounded by conspiracy theories and ice. Both are unsurprising considering that the continent is the most remote and the least understood on Earth. It is practically impossible to live there without specialized gear, buildings, and support from humans on a more livable continent. This has made Antarctica the perfect candidate for conspiracy theories

Most of us are pretty keen on staying out of prison. We have good reason, too. Part of the idea behind imprisonment is to deter criminal offenses. But this wasn’t always the case in Western societies. In the 16th and 17th centuries, a prison existed only as a place to hold offenders before their trial

A certain amount of hype has surrounded crime scene and crime lab jobs on TV and in movies for quite some time. We know that these personnel take pictures, put down little yellow numbers to mark evidence, and analyze DNA and fingerprints. This is the exciting, flashy stuff with which we have all become familiar.

Easter is here once again. Around the world, it is a time when we consume copious quantities of chocolate brought to us by small, furry mammals. It is traditionally the time for Easter egg hunts, bonnet parades, and chocolate bunnies. The origins of Easter celebrations date back to pagan times, when the long, cold European