MYTHS

Some early explorers went looking for an legendary land named “Ultima Thule”—which may have been inspired by Iceland.

10 Legendary (and Probably Made-Up) Islands

These imaginary isles all have a place in world history, literature, or mythology—despite not having a place on the map.

Krampus seems more suited to Halloween than Christmas.

8 Legendary Monsters of Christmas

Fans of 'The Office' may recognize Belsnickel, but you should also get to know other Christmas monsters like Krampus and the Yule Lads.

Myths around Santa's little helpers actually predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

How Did Elves Become Part of Christmas?

Myths about elves predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

Many on Howard Carter’s (pictured) team fell victim to King Tut’s curse—though Carter himself was spared.

9 Victims of King Tut's Curse (And One Who Should Have Been)

When King Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922, some believed the Egyptian pharaoh unleashed a powerful curse upon all who dared to disturb his eternal slumber.

Men prevent a vampire rising from its grave in a Romanian cemetery in this 19th-century illustration.

7 Frightening Facts About Europe’s Real-Life Vampires

The belief in real-life vampires predates Bram Stoker's legendary novel 'Dracula.'

Fax or Fiction: When Urban Legends Spread By Fax Machine

“Faxlore" marked the transition from oral urban legends to spam emails and copypasta.

If you see a magpie, have an onion ready.

The History of 12 British Superstitions

When it comes to weird and wacky superstitions, the United Kingdom has developed some real oddities

The 'Titanic' has been the subject of a number of myths.

8 Twisted 'Titanic' Myths, Debunked

Take a look at some of the more enduring misconceptions surrounding history's most famous vessel.

5 Myths About Women Leaders From History

Larger-than-life figures tend to inspire myths that fit their reputation, and this is especially true of history’s famous female leaders.

Common Misconceptions About Cats, From Why They Meow to Whether They Hate You

Why do cats *really* purr? What’s the truth about black cat adoption rates? Find out the answers to those and other cat-related queries.

11 Animals That Can Purportedly Predict the Weather

Groundhogs aren't the only creatures with the powers of prognostication. From badgers to woolly bear caterpillars, these other animals are said to predict the weather.

Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok being destroyed by sunlight in Nosferatu (1921).

11 Monster Myths Invented By Hollywood

From werewolves to vampires, many classic monster myths attributed to folklore actually originated with horror movies.

Here's What Really Happens When You Swallow Gum

If you've managed to get this far in life without swallowing gum, you may ask yourself: Can ingesting gum really hurt you?

10 Facts About King Arthur, the Legendary Ruler of Camelot

The legend of King Arthur has continued to evolve across generations. Though there’s little evidence to suggest the man existed, the world is still enthralled by the myth and the world of Camelot.

An illustration from Hunefer's Book of the Dead.

Common Misconceptions About Ancient Egypt

Did Napoleon really shoot off the Great Sphinx’s nose? Was King Tut murdered? Those answers and more on this ‘Misconceptions.’

Their little faces judge you when you input PEZ one by one.

How to Load a PEZ Dispenser Correctly, According to PEZ

A viral TikTok recently suggested that you can load your PEZ without unwrapping it. But does it actually work?

11 Lesser-Known Fairy Tales

Almost everyone knows the classic fairy tales like 'Cinderella' and 'Sleeping Beauty.' But you probably haven't heard of 'Hans-My-Hedgehog.'

No, the White Stuff on Your Baby Carrots Isn't Chlorine

The white stuff isn’t a sign that your carrots have gone bad—but they might appreciate a little water.

'The Beast of Busco' is said to have prowled Lake Fulk for over a century.

Indiana's Fulk Lake, Home to 'The Beast of Busco,' Is Up for Sale

The lake is known to locals for harboring the possibly real, possibly mythological 500-pound snapping turtle known as Oscar.

Despite what you may have been told, eating eggs won’t send your cholesterol levels through the roof.

7 Common Food Myths, Debunked

Here are seven somewhat harmless food myths that have been drilled into our heads for so long that we don’t even realize they’re fake.

Get in, loser, we're going planet-hopping.

11 Strange Stories From the National UFO Reporting Center

From alien encounters in England to elk abductions in Washington State, here are 11 eerie unexplained events.

Bigfoot Hunting Licenses—and a $25,000 Bounty—Could Soon be Up for Grabs in Oklahoma

The new bill introduced by an Oklahoma lawmaker would make it legal to hunt and trap Bigfoot—and offer a $25,000 bounty for the creature's capture.

A 1602 fresco by Domenichino showing Giulia Farnese with a unicorn.

You Can Get a Unicorn Hunting License From Michigan’s Lake Superior State College

Because the best way to find out if unicorns are real is to trek to the nearest forest and look for one yourself.

Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula (1958).

The 25 Greatest Vampire Movies Ever Made

Filmmakers have been making movies about vampires almost since the inception of motion pictures, and our public fascination with these creatures of the night has not yet dimmed. Here are 25 of the best of them.

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