Food is not only a necessary part of life but one that plays a very important role in many different cultures, religions, and homes. It can bring people together, whether bonding over creating a new dish or passing down recipes from one to another. Food can be an indulgence for some, a reward for others,

Weed remains a firm favorite of recreational smokers. Not considered as damaging as drugs whipped up in a seedy laboratory, marijuana hides behind a “natural” look. However, this leafy habit can induce some hair-raising side effects. From heart attacks and shrinking brains to first psychotic episodes and the loss of happiness, pot may not be

When we think of sunken cities, most of us think of Atlantis. According to Plato, it was a city of immense wealth, being rich in natural minerals and lush vegetation. Atlanteans were said to have built fantastic temples, displayed wealth, and created magnificent statues to the gods. Having once been a privileged and favored people,

Our genes do more than just determine our characteristics. They also influence other unbelievable things like our lifestyles, spending habits, eating preferences, and smelly armpits. That sounds weird, but it’s true. This is the result of the way that evolution works. People with the most favorable genes survive, while people with unfavorable genes die off.

If anything happened in the news over the last few days that might put a smile on your face, you will probably find it on this list. For the weirder stuff that is likely to bemuse or astound you, check the offbeat list as well. We have quite a few touching animal stories this week.

Behind the beady eyes and nighttime “ribbit” lurks a fascinating creature. Frogs and toads hop a weird line in life. They take buffalo taxis and use dating websites. Throughout human history, froggy feet have also left memorable prints, having inspired everything from famous novels to some of the earliest pregnancy kits. Centuries of studies could

Police use a number of different interrogation techniques to extract confessions from suspects. There is no one-size-fits-all method, so they have to depend on a diverse range of tactics. Sometimes, they even employ multiple techniques on a single suspect. Some interrogation methods lead innocent people to claim guilt for crimes they never committed and have

Supposedly, it is the job of art to provoke a reaction in its audience. Unfortunately, some people have a more extreme response than others. For example, people with Stendhal syndrome may experience anxiety, disorientation, nausea, hallucinations, and temporary madness brought on by exposure to art. Sufferers feel overwhelmed in the presence of what they perceive

There’s just something inherently fascinating and creepy about people in masks. Perhaps you’ve read the Goosebumps book or loved the film The Mask. On the other hand, perhaps you’re thinking of a creepy masquerade ball or the emotionless, bloodstained visage of Michael Myers. But there really is something extra horrifying about masks that it’s difficult

Human beings have always been fascinated with magic and myth. We like to believe that we might stumble on something that will make us extra special, be it alien parents or scientific experiments with unforeseen consequences. Sometimes, we like to believe that ordinary objects are imbued with supernatural powers that will heal the sick, curse

Valentine’s Day is a fun but frivolous holiday that has managed to remain in our lexicon after all these years. But what are its historical roots? Well, there was a real St. Valentine. As we so often do, we reached back to this figure and embodied parts of his personality into a single day that

Schools in the United States have set aside the month of February to teach history as it relates specifically to African Americans, their impact on sociopolitical events, and their contributions to society as a whole. Every kid who grew up in America knows of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but there were thousands of amazing

Every drug can have side effects, but we don’t usually pay attention to the labels on the bottles, probably because generally, only a minority will experience the side effects. And they’re not usually that terrible—maybe a rash or a bad bout of diarrhea. However, some drugs have some weird and often nasty side effects, like

Earth has suffered five big extinctions and innumerable little ones. A potential sixth mass extinction, the only one created by the planet’s own inhabitants, looms. So in the spirit of collective mass improvement, now’s the perfect time to look back at scenes of chaos and turnover of life that we hope to avoid in the

History, unfortunately, is littered with the crimes of men and women. A small fraction of these killers have been labeled “butchers” due to the intense savagery of their exploits. One of these criminals, the so-called Butcher of Mons, murdered five people between 1996 and 1997. This unknown killer’s crimes happened in the small nation of

In this beautiful world we inhabit, how easy it is to carry on about our seemingly peaceful, simple lives, completely and entirely oblivious to so much going on around us, good or bad. So many people, so many things, and, most of all, so many events all around us remain completely hidden from our knowledge.

Cicada 3301. Many have heard of it, and the few who haven’t will eventually learn about the secret group that has turned heads. With puzzles, cryptic books, and a scavenger hunt around the world, this secret cult goes the extra mile. Why? Although that’s a very good question, even conspiracy theorists are having a hard

The lives of nuns can be surprisingly rich, and not just with spiritual experiences. Far from living out their existence in convents, these women can do amazing things. Historically, they have left behind mysterious cases of satanic possession and also worked on some of the greatest scientific projects. Modern nuns experience miracles, save endangered species,

If the rest of the week has got you down a little, perhaps this list can cheer you up. Here, we only talk about stories that are positive, amusing, or inspirational. Meanwhile, you can also check the Saturday offbeat list for a glimpse at some of the strangest news items that made the headlines. This

Several countries have disputed borders. This can be a problem for mapping services because they will usually need to give the territory to one country or label it as disputed. Google Maps is the most popular mapping service, so it is no surprise that the company often gets caught in the cross fire. Most nations

Serial killer Ted Bundy has been a main topic of conversation following the release of Joe Berlinger’s Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. The shocking docuseries used archival footage of the depraved killer’s trials and featured interviews with those affected by his crimes. Often overshadowed by his crimes, Bundy’s trials are among the

We live in a digital age where people prefer to communicate by text and email. Everything you post online leaves a footprint running right to you. So how can you send a message while leaving no trace you were ever there? Of course, you could write an old-fashioned anonymous letter. But every hastily written note

Crows are no ordinary birds. They have sparkling intelligence and a highly social nature. It took strange discoveries to prove just how far a crow’s mind can reach. Researchers made the birds go through kidnappings and tested fables and dead crows on them. The results were remarkable and, sometimes, a little creepy. From displaying abilities

The United States Congress is supposed to be making laws that benefit Americans. But as we’re about to find out, that is not always the case. These days, a lot of their bills are only passed to favor large corporations and some influential citizens. It’s little wonder Americans prefer cockroaches to congressmen. Nevertheless, there are

Pop songs have always been about living in the moment. The rock and roll lifestyle may be fun, but it is not exactly conducive to a long life span. Death has been a major theme of songs since the beginning. So it should not be a surprise that some of this music is shaped by

Unsettling as it may be, every person is controlled by psychological effects. Some are common, while others are thankfully rare. Either way, many of these complex processes are strong enough to override logic and empathy. There are deep roots to why sexists rarely change or certain strangers win trust more easily. As with all mental

We have attempted to domesticate certain animals and failed. This happens for several reasons. Most of the time, it is because some animals are so wary of humans that the creatures will flee at first sight. Others are just too aggressive to be domesticated, which may lead to attacks on and even the death of

Russian trolls have been in the news ever since they were accused of interfering in the 2016 US presidential elections. They were around before 2016, but nobody was paying attention. Meanwhile, they spent their time perfecting the tactics they used to disrupt the elections. The trolls used bots and fake social media accounts to post

The contributions of women to our society cannot be overstated, even if those individuals have not received the credit they were due in most historical accounts. Before our modern era, the common perception of women had more to do with their roles as mothers and homemakers rather than as scientists. But that is an incorrect

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, better known as Angola prison, has earned nicknames such as “The Bloodiest Prison in America” and “Alcatraz of the South.” Angola is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, and it was once known for its harsh working environments and brutal violence. The prison has since calmed down, but it