In 2014, Prayuth Chan-ocha became Thailand’s prime minister after leading a successful coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.[1] While we do not get to hear much about Prayuth (also spelled “Prayut”) over here, he remains a very controversial figure in Thailand, where he is known for his irrational behaviors and controversial

If the rest of the week has got you down, this might be able to lift your spirits a little. Here, we gather all the stories that amuse, inspire, and encourage in one handy-dandy list. It works well as a complement to Saturday’s offbeat list. This week has been full of stories of people doing

May is the unofficial start of summer, what with the pool parties, beach vacations, and Memorial Day barbecues. That’s the part that most of us look forward to. But it is also a month of airport anxiety, body shaming, and frenzied moms hoping for the perfect gift as least once in their lives. However, there

Many of us have tasted and fallen in love with the unique and mouthwatering flavor of KFC’s deep-fried chicken. At the very least, you might recognize the colonel and his famous red bucket of chicken. On top of this, you’ve probably read countless news stories about the franchise—good and bad, true and false. But here

Falling in love can be one of the most mesmerizing, powerful, and life-altering experiences we can go through. It changes us both inside and out, on every level. We become radically different people with drastically changing outward behaviors when we fall in love, though it’s all too often fleeting, leaving us sobered and hungover when

Art is a strange thing, but the business of art is stranger. If a painting has been authenticated as a masterpiece, it can command huge prices in galleries and auction houses. The dealer gets a fee, the auction house gets a fee, and the buyer gets a masterpiece that will appreciate in value. They have

The majority of scientists agree that living creatures evolved through natural selection. That is, we dump unfavorable body parts and develop favorable ones. While it is a slow process, it usually leads to the creation of entirely new—and often strange—animals over thousands or millions of years. Many of these animals had strange features that would

Most people view snails and slugs as pests. But these slimy streakers are far removed from one-dimensional garden destroyers. They amaze scientists with their abilities, and certain individuals have become the darlings of mass media. The slow creatures can also get a little creepy. They hide inside humans and, thanks to the military, have evolved

Every year, surprising discoveries are made all over our planet, in our solar system, and even farther out in the deep void of space. These findings push forward our understanding of the reality we live in, often challenging previous notions of universal physical laws. When a discovery falls outside the boundaries of our understanding—sometimes with

Plenty of truths pretend to be mysteries or facts. Dedicated researchers whittle away at puzzles, sometimes making great new finds without solving the whole shebang. However, real progress means ousting the pretenders—those pesky facts that convince scholars of their authenticity for years when, in reality, they are mere misconceptions. From a dangerous vitamin everyone loves

Proving guilt or innocence is, even today, a difficult thing. Innocent people often find themselves under suspicion for crimes that they did not commit. Some people are unlucky enough not only to be suspected but also tried, convicted, and executed for crimes of which they were subsequently proven to have been innocent. In some cases

The future is now, and the machines have made their way into our lives. Throughout history, human beings have sought to complement their lifestyles and accomplish their tasks using a variety of technologies, beginning with simple, rudimentary stone tools and leading up to the elaborate robotics of today (and tomorrow). So it’s really no surprise

Certain American serial killers are always talked about. There will always be documentaries and books written about Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy. The faces of these monsters are known internationally. The same cannot be said for Donald Henry “Pee Wee” Gaskins. Born and raised in rural South Carolina, Gaskins was a troubled

Serial killer Ted Bundy, who confessed to killing 30 women and teenage girls in seven states between 1974 and 1978, once described himself as “the most cold-hearted son of a b—ch you’ll ever meet.” He killed for the sheer thrill of it and enjoyed playing a dragged-out game of cat and mouse with law enforcement.

Animals have always been a massive part of medical research. They are most commonly utilized in clinical trials, where we test the effectiveness and safety of new medications before moving on to human trials.[1] While animal testing is very crucial to the success of human medications, there are amazing lines of research involving animals in

A meteor is the fireball that occurs when a space rock (called a meteoroid) burns during its entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.[1] For this reason, every space rock that falls naturally to Earth inevitably becomes a meteor, be it of greater or lesser intensity. This concept serves as a starting point for the following list.

A new week is on the way, and we want to help you start it off on a happy note. That’s why this list has some of the most inspiring and positive stories that have happened over the last few days. If you would like to read about bizarre and outlandish occurrences instead, check out

A hybrid is the love child of two different species. Some are born in nature, while others blend together in a petri dish. However, a special club exists within this strange world—hybrids that are seen for the very first time. When hybrids are created by scientists, novelty is not a factor. Hybrids can save critically

Festivals—a hectic schedule of your favorite bands playing live, a pilgrimage into the great outdoors, a chance to meet like-minded new friends, and a lifetime of memories. At least, that’s what promoters would have you believe. So what happens when these expectations are not a reality and the event is plunged into chaos? These following

Just about everyone reading this has likely had a McDonald’s cheeseburger in their time or at least recognizes the restaurant’s famed Golden Arches. And you may have read countless articles on the negative effects of the fast food giant and seen countless stories in the news of food safety-related issues. But that’s not what we’re

For centuries, scientists have grappled with the storage vaults of the mind. Better technology and knowledge of the brain brought some clarity, but they also made the strangeness of memory more evident. From survival mechanisms that mess with mathematics to false recollections and anti-memories, researchers are not to be outdone by nature’s weirdness. Scientists have

People from the 19th and early 20th centuries were fascinating, to say the least. Inspired by the Industrial Revolution and groundbreaking scientific discoveries, the average householder developed an interest in inventions, “improving” their lives by using cutting-edge (untested) science and technology in every aspect of their social and domestic lives. Unfortunately, their enthusiasm often ran

Prehistory squeezed out an inexhaustible list of captivating creatures. Everyone already knows about the raptors, mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, and similarly legendary beasts, but that’s barely scratching the surface of nature’s creativity. From sea lion–like whales that popped above water to give birth to the VW Beetle–sized armadillo that gave up its shell for the benefit

Are we alone in the universe? Ever since humankind discovered the existence of other planets and solar systems, we have been wondering if we might be contacted by another intelligent species one day. International SETI science projects and amateur backyard astronomers alike have directed their telescopes to deep space to find transmissions that might have

Scientists are at it again. This time, they are creating new viruses and bacteria in their laboratories. Scientists usually prefer altering already-existing or extinct bacteria and viruses to produce new strains that will defeat our immunity, vaccines, and drugs. Sometimes, they prefer creating new viruses and bacteria from scratch. However, these strains are not always

There’s no doubt about the connection between nerds and scientists. Often, the culture of one feeds the other. Perhaps it is because the phenomena of the natural and technological worlds become building blocks when creating fantastic fictional worlds. However, it is not always the scientists who inspire nerd culture to provide the elements to create

Serial killers have long been the focus of ghoulish fascination in the minds of the public. True crime readers experience the vicarious thrill of walking in the minds of vicious murderers, and Listverse may have published a few serial killer lists in the past. For most of us, this is as a harmless, if macabre,

Comets go missing. Yes, we know that sounds weird. Comets are huge and have distinctive tails, so they tend to stand out. And it isn’t like they can be stolen by aliens, or something. Nevertheless, sometimes they just disappear. Missing comets are a puzzle to astronomers. Most of the time, they suspect the comet broke

Except for scientists who experiment on lab rats, many people scream at the sight of these creatures or try to kill them. The blanket perception is that rats are useless vermin. However, the truth is more unusual. These highly intelligent mammals have jobs in the military and medical sectors. They rescue their fellow rats and

To help you end the week on a positive note, we have gathered into one list all the news that might lift your spirits. This is where you’ll find a nice mix of feel-good stories combined with significant achievements and tales of true togetherness. If you prefer something weird and wacky, check out the offbeat