We like to think we know about the animal kingdom; fish swim, birds fly, and rabbits multiply. But there are some animals that are not what we expect them to be. They defy the logic of what we expect of them or of animals in general. The following animals are the very definition of odd.
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Here at Listverse, we like to remember that history is full of bizarre, obscene, and depraved moments that you’ll rarely get to hear from the teachers at school. Sure, they’re scandalous, but that’s what makes them fun—and interesting. Some people would prefer an idealized, sterile version of events without all the sex, violence, and corruption,
Cosmetics have been a key part of most women’s lives for centuries. From ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, makeup has had an important role to play, not only in the way that women have been perceived by others but also in the way that they felt about themselves.
We’ve all seen Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. Consequently, we’ve all wished we could have a hoverboard, laser gun, lightsaber, and, well, everything else. Inevitably, the reality set in that our cars won’t fly, the doors at the supermarket only open because of motion sensors, and we’ll never be able to vaporize our
Each US state has its own flag. They fly over capitols, adorn courtrooms, and appear on everything from bumper stickers to coasters. They’ve become accepted parts of local culture. Few people stop and think about where the designs of these banners came from, but, in fact, each has a complex web of history, symbolism, and
When plastic weathers down to 5 millimeters (0.2 in) or less, the debris is called microplastics. Often invisible, these particles are turning into the nemesis of the scientific community and the natural world. Far from being somebody else’s problem, nearly every person is touched by plastic fragments on a daily basis—when we eat, when we
Serial killers are known to be lethal with weapons in their hands, but they can also incite fear with their pens as the following creepy letters have proved. They were written by some of the most notorious and twisted killers in history. The letters became tools to taunt the police, make demands, hurt the victims’
When we talk of border walls, the first ones that come to mind are the Berlin Wall, the North and South Korea Wall, and the wall that President Donald Trump wants to build along the US border with Mexico. Although Trump’s proposed wall has generated arguments and counterarguments, no one seems to notice the other
From approximately 23 million to 2.6 million years ago, the megalodon shark (aka Carcharocles megalodon or “the Meg”) was one of the largest and most powerful apex predators to have ever lived. This gigantic beast stalked the oceans, doing little else other than devouring everything in its path—it was the ultimate killing machine. With credit
Serial killers don’t just come out of nowhere. They often have a history of antisocial behavior throughout infancy and early adolescence. Psychiatrist Dorothy Lewis of New York University concluded that a murderer is made through a lethal combination of childhood abuse, neurological disturbances, and psychiatric illness. As FBI profiler Jim Clemente explained, “Genetics loads the
We often think of ghost towns as forgotten, desolate burgs located in remote areas with little human population. That’s what makes them ghost towns, at least. As we are about to find out, however, that is not always so. There are ghost towns around and sometimes even inside famous, bustling cities. In some cases, people
Next to eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise, getting adequate sleep is a staple cornerstone to a healthy life. But did you know that sleeping can also be dangerous? There are actually a number of things that can go wrong when you close your eyes and slip into unconsciousness—and for some people, the
During the Cold War, the American nuclear threat following the drop of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima resulted in the creation of a nuclear weapons program in the Soviet Union under the dictator Joseph V. Stalin, who governed the USSR from the 1920s until his death in 1953. During this program,
There are few aspects of criminology more divisive than profiling. Some see it as a valuable tool that can provide insight into the minds of killers and actually help apprehend them, while others regard it as mere guesswork or a novelty act akin to a mentalism trick. This list isn’t meant to determine the worth
If you hear “ancient Egypt,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you see the Great Pyramid of Giza with the Sphinx in the foreground, Tutankhamun’s burial mask, or some animal-headed deities. Or maybe you thought of mummies. Mummies might certainly have come to your mind, but how much do you really know about ancient Egypt’s famously
While most people think the idea of mind control is something that belongs in the movies, the fact is that various forms of mind control are operating around us all the time. From advertising on television, the Internet, or billboards to repeated mantras spoken in the press day after day to shape public opinion, mind
Sometimes, NASA is forgotten in the midst of exciting space news from private companies. The government organization that has not been to the Moon since the 1960s can seem insignificant next to ambitious goals to travel to Mars set by companies like SpaceX. But a new probe has NASA back on the front page of
Elections are usually the exclusive province of living people. Typically, certain requirements must be met before someone can run for office, such as a minimum age or living in the area one wishes to govern. Having a pulse kind of goes without saying. But none of that has stopped dead people from defeating their living
In the world of laboratories, foam is not the froth that makes beer look crisp. Appearing as gels, solids, and even at the quantum level, foam is earmarked to improve the lives of humans in remarkable ways. This flexible substance spawns innovation in combat, operating theaters, and robotics. It also fosters a safer environment for
Virus. The word is usually met with fear and understandably so. These microscopic collections of biological chemicals have been responsible for countless cases of death and sickness. The very mention of a deadly viral pandemic can send entire neighborhoods, cities, or even geographic zones into a state of sheer, frenzied panic. Viruses are invisible to
In today’s society, it often seems as if you cannot turn on the news without hearing about the ways in which big businesses use their deep corporate pockets and political might to influence politicians and elections. While their presence has become more prevalent, especially in the US as a result of Supreme Court decisions such
Vampires are not real. The idea that the dead can come back to life and sustain themselves on blood is, from a scientific point of view, laughable. However, there are some humans out there who have vampiric qualities, whether their personalities drain others or they prefer the darkness of night to the light of day.
We often marvel at the modern inventions that have made our lives so much easier than those of our ancestors. Sure, some of these products have been deadly, but most have transformed our lives for the better. Yet many of the conveniences we’ve grown to rely on have existed for thousands of years in some
They walk among us! No, not aliens. Royals have a long and illustrious history of shrugging off their robes and crowns and getting stuck in with the general public. Sometimes, they did so because they had no choice or because they wanted to suss out what the “real” people thought of their rule. Other times,
The ancient Greeks had a thirst for mythological monsters. This obsession spread throughout the world and continues to the present day. However, many of the creatures were inspired not by the imagination but by science and nature. It has been discovered that the sites of the ancient myths were often places where large numbers of
The idea of a language with no speech sounds like an oxymoron at first, yet throughout the history of the world, humans have found countless surprising and innovative ways to communicate—often in complex conversations—without the use of speech as we know it. The concept itself is not as alien as it might seem. Morse code
While you’ve probably heard of Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Susan B. Anthony, history is filled with amazing women whom most people have never heard of. Whether this is due to the misogynistic nature of past historians or simply because people failed to take note of their work while they were alive, many women have
Many people do not believe in cults. Despite the fact that very real cults have existed throughout history, many ordinary folks like to cast them aside as just a “conspiracy theory.” The problem is that, in many cases, such thinking is akin to an ostrich voluntarily dunking its head in the sand. Cults exist, and
Police interrogation is designed to extract a confession from a suspect. Officers have several tactics they use to draw out a confession even if the accused is innocent. They can even legally lie to suspects in various ways to get them to falsely admit to committing a crime. You’re probably thinking that there is no
Metal is one of the most notorious and controversial music genres out there. The genre has been associated with violence, and it’s not hard to see why. To the average listener, metal songs can sound rather hostile and angry. Metal bands are synonymous with loud music, weird costumes, and radical behaviors. Some have even gained
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