Articles

The word “mummy” was derived from the Persian/Arabic word mummiya, which means “tar,” as the ancient Arabs initially thought that the weirdly wrapped bodies uncovered from their ancient tombs were covered in the sticky black substance. However, the ancient Egyptians not only mummified their deceased human counterparts but also mummified animals—in the millions. From sacrifices

Ancient recreations remain one of the most captivating corners of science. It gives people a way to directly experience and interact with history. We can smell, see, and touch things that are long gone. But some recreations also reveal unknown facts or settle sticky debates. From taste-testing Neanderthal pancakes to finally understanding a deadly sugar

Some people may consider the Super Bowl the biggest sporting event in the world. These people are probably American and wrong. The biggest sporting event in the world is a tournament that only occurs once every four years, and it can be a challenge even to qualify. I am referring to the World Cup, of

Even if you’re prone to superstition, you might find the idea of a cursed film laughable. Yet some productions have been so wrought with bad luck it has seemed like the only logical explanation to some. But whether or not you are a believer, you might want to count yourself lucky for not being involved

Not everyone is into makeup or cares about the latest trend. If you are that type of person, good for you. However, thousands upon thousands of people are looking for the newest thing. You may spend hours scrolling through social media, watching for the next big thing. By contrast, some want to be trendsetters. They

Spirits and spirits go hand-in-hand when so many ghost stories get chalked up to people being under the influence. Perhaps it’s due to an ironic twist or the fact that these places often give away free samples, but there are a plethora of places where alcohol gets brewed that also have a ghost story attached

Many people over the centuries have turned to astrology to guide their lives. Some rely on the stars to help determine the best time to do things. Many look to the stars for insight into major life changes. And it’s no different for leaders of both ancient civilizations and modern governments. Throughout history, leaders have

Crime is inevitable, even in a world run by Pilgrims and Puritans. Where there is crime, there is punishment. Starting back in 1608 with our first documented execution, America established a penal system based on Old English ideals. This made way for some pretty not-so-great methods of punishment when it came to the New World.

Living in the shadow of a large dam means you have placed your trust in the engineers who designed it. Because if there were any errors in their calculations, the result could be a deadly catastrophe. When a dam breaches, the consequent water surge can carry away all before it, destroying property and killing humans

For centuries, bizarre physical conditions, strange health-based occurrences, and questionable treatments have gained widespread attention, only to be exposed as frauds. Often the people behind these medical hoaxes are ordinary individuals who manage to fool physicians or scientists. Sometimes, a medical practitioner is in on the scam. From a woman birthing rabbits to eyewear that

Crime is a fact of life; there’s no getting around it, and one can only hope to contain it. In today’s society, there are so many laws one can easily commit a crime and not even know it. Crime can mean many things, from jaywalking to murder and everything in between. And sometimes, criminal acts

The process of taking a movie from an idea in someone’s head to the screen is a long and arduous journey, one which is often not completed. Some films never make it past the initial pitch, some are scripted but never funded, and others make it pretty far into production—with actors hired and locations scouted—before

The magic of princesses, true love’s kiss, and fights against evil witches and wizards have made fairytales beloved by children worldwide for decades. But beneath the cutesy facade of these bedtime fables, many tales have sinister meanings that neither kids nor adults are aware of. Not all fairytales are what they seem at first glance.

Hoarding is a surprisingly common issue. It is difficult not only for the hoarder but also for friends and loved ones. In many cases, hoarders are unaware or unwilling to accept that they have a problem. This denial can allow possessions to take over the person’s life. There are obvious reasons this can be a

It is difficult to give accurate statistics regarding the number of children that go missing every year, given that this type of data is not available in many countries. However, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing every year in the United States alone, and 112,853 children in the United Kingdom. The term “missing” can

The advent of commercial television in the late 1940s astonished Americans by giving them the ability to watch and listen to events occurring across the continent and around the world. Even though few people could afford the pricey TV sets at that time, they were able to experience the thrill of watching programs by gathering

Tuvalu is the world’s second-smallest country. Only Vatican City has fewer citizens. However, the Vatican sits smack-dab in the middle of Rome. Its urban location gives its people access to a much larger community. Tuvalu doesn’t have that luxury. The nine-island chain is completely alone in the South Pacific Ocean. It sits 1,000 miles (1,609

An ancient land with a rich and vibrant culture, Scotland is known for its outstanding landscapes, beautiful people, and storied past with a penchant for the dark and disturbing. It’s also the country that was home to the infamous grave robbers Burke and Hare, which has consequently made tourist attractions out of the creepy criminals.

Most prosthetic wearers do not have things easy. The prosthesis journey is full of pain and an underlying necessity. While they might face additional challenges, prosthetic wearers are just like anyone else. This means that sometimes prosthetic wearers find themselves in entanglements with law enforcement. Consider the following strange tales involving the police and prosthetics.

From the mysterious icy opening of the original Frankenstein novel, written by Mary Shelley, to the arctic horror of John Carpenter’s The Thing, it’s no secret that the desolate, desert tundra biome makes for an excellent horror story backdrop. The yawning, chilling snowscapes found at the top and bottom of the planet are scary enough,