MYTHS

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.

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.

The Mothman statue in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

A New Documentary Investigates West Virginia’s Infamous Mothman

Point Pleasant residents first spotted the infamous cryptid in 1966—now, there’s a Mothman statue, a museum, and even a festival for it.

He's (probably) not hiding in your shower.

The Real-Life Origins of 15 Urban Legends

From Maryland’s Goatman to the "real" corpses in haunted houses, here are the sort-of true stories behind all your favorite urban legends.

Weekend at Errol Flynn’s: When John Barrymore’s Friends Stole His Corpse From the Morgue for One Last Prank

Drew Barrymore recently corroborated this epic Hollywood legend, but it’s still highly questionable.

Loch Ness Monster statue in Inverness, Scotland

Cryptid Currency: How the Loch Ness Monster Became a Force in Scotland’s Economy

Through cruises, museums, and other tourist attractions, the Loch Ness Monster adds roughly £41 million to Scotland's economy in a typical year.

Does Putting a Penny in the Microwave Really Make It Shrink?

Putting metal in the microwave is never a good idea—especially if you're inspired by a viral social media hoax.

Wouldn't you love to go down in history as the person who proved the existence of the Loch Ness Monster?

Is Nessie Out There? Keep Your Eye on This Loch Ness Livestream to Find Out

This round-the-clock livestream could very well be the key to proving if the Loch Ness Monster is real.

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