WEIRD

‘A Village Fair, with a Church behind,’ by Isack van Ostade

The Hidden Pooper in Isack van Ostade’s ‘A Village Fair, With a Church Behind’

Art conservators for the UK’s Royal Collection were in for quite a surprise when they set about cleaning a 17th-century oil painting.

The mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’ has confounded historians for more 150 years.

The Unsolved Mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’

What really happened to the crew of the ‘Mary Celeste’? Delve into the theories and speculation surrounding this enduring maritime mystery.

There are a lot of people who don’t think Shakespeare was actually Shakespeare.

8 Shakespeare Conspiracy Theories

Discover the controversial conspiracy theories that challenge Shakespeare’s authorship, from the Baconian Theory to the Alien Theory and beyond.

The Tragic Murder of Bridget Cleary, the Irish “Fairy Wife”

Bridget Cleary’s husband burned her because he thought she’d been replaced—by a supernatural being.

The connection between Area 51 and UFOs started with a top-secret aircraft.

The Conspiracy Theory That Made Area 51 Synonymous With Aliens

Conspiracy theorists were right to think the government was hiding something.

At least the Grim Reaper has some scenic stomping grounds.

The Macabre Origins of 10 Idioms About Death

You may want to know the ghoulish beginnings of these well-known death idioms before you shuffle off this mortal coil, kick the bucket, or get laid out in lavender.

The British royal family has been dogged by conspiracy theories for more than 1000 years.

10 Bizarre Royal Conspiracy Theories

From secret love children to political assassinations to accusations of vampirism, the British royal family has been the subject of many bizarre conspiracy theories over the course of its history.

The Fountain of Youth, painted in 1546 by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Florida’s “Fountain of Youth” Could Be a Radioactive Water Spigot, Some Locals Claim

Punta Gorda locals have been swearing by the mystical properties of a radioactive water fountain for a century.

‘Very Bad Lies’: When Kids Believed Bubble Yum’s Secret Ingredient Was Spider Eggs

Did Bubble Yum gum really contain spider eggs? Learn about the schoolyard urban legend that threatened the success of this popular chewing gum back in the 1970s.

Decades after the footprints that popped up in northern California, they were alleged to be a hoax.

The Hoax That Led to the Word ‘Bigfoot’

When 16-inch-long tracks began popping up on northern California logging sites in 1958, workers dubbed the culprit ‘Big Foot’—but decades later, the whole thing was revealed to be a hoax.

The Southernmost part of the United States (or not).

Wild Misconceptions About Florida

Florida is known for its alligator sightings, weird crimes, and Disney World. But how much of what you think you know about the Sunshine State is true?

Cravings, Rabbits, and Witches: The Creepy Retro Explanations for Birthmarks

According to some strange old theories about the origins of birthmarks, a blemish on your behind meant you had the mark of the devil.

One Florida town experienced a golf ball rain.

8 Weird Disasters from History

From beer floods to meat showers, history is full of peculiar—and putrid—disasters.

The long-snouted fellow in the center is a very slithy tove.

‘Wug,’ ‘Gostak,’ and 8 Other Weird Old Nonce Words

Nonce words are only meant to serve one particular purpose—here are some of the best examples.

Winston Churchill needed a good dentist.

For Sale: Winston Churchill’s Gold-Mounted Dentures

Plagued by oral issues, the British prime minister carried two sets of dentures with him at all times.

Is the call really coming from inside the house?

15 Origins of Urban Legends

From what inspired Candyman and the Mothman to the tales about alligators in the sewers and killers calling from inside the house, we're breaking down the origins of popular urban legends.

An Edison phonograph exhibit with a talking doll in Paris, 1889.

Listen to Thomas Edison’s Eerie Talking Dolls Speak After More Than a Century of Silence

Modern technology has helped these dolls find their voices—and when they speak, it’s downright creepy.

10 Wild Bigfoot Conspiracy Theories

Sasquatch sightings have been reported in every state but Hawaii over the course of several centuries. In the process, a number of bizarre theories have been put forth to explain how the mysterious beasts came to be—and how they manage to evade us.

This simple cereal has a particularly intriguing backstory.

10 Incredible Things That Were Invented By Accident

Not every great invention was created according to plan. From penicillin to breakfast cereal to popsicles, these everyday items were all invented entirely by accident.

First MUZZY Commercial - Je Suis La Jeune Fille!

Remembering Muzzy, the Clock-Eating Alien Who Haunted ’90s Kids

If you watched television in the 1990s, you probably saw an ad for a green blob that could teach you French.

Search of the Internet Revealed No Evidence of Time Travelers

The researchers analyzed search engines, search data, and social media in hopes of turning up evidence of time travelers.

The Legend of ‘Bum’ Farto, the Key West Fire Chief-Turned-Drug Dealer Who Vanished

In 1975, Bum Farto had it all. A dead body and a drug deal gone wrong changed everything.

'I see, sir. And when did you order the Uber Eats?'

Canada’s Worst 911 Nuisance Calls Include Complaining About a Bad Haircut

Losing your nose ring in the shower is a bummer. It’s not an emergency.

Barbie and Ken are just two members of the Barbie bunch.

Our 26 Favorite Stories of 2023

From Celine Dion’s “erotic motorcycle” to the crafty female platypus who faked a pregnancy in order to bust out of the Bronx Zoo, 2023 was full of some pretty great stories.

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