Author: Christopher Stephens

Helicopters are incredible flying machines that test the limits of design and mechanics by their very existence. But which helicopters truly test the limits of aviation? What about helicopters that fly upside down? A helicopter that lifts far more than its own weight? Or a rotary machine that rivaled jet airliners in size? These record…

China is a vast country, and with the diversity of landscapes and historical traditions there is much to discover. Some of these insights may completely change your perspective on the Eastern world, modern and ancient. Here we share 10 new must know facts about the Middle Kingdom, from the origin of sauerkraut, to Caucasians native…

Ocean cities. Settlements in seas. Famed writer Jules Verne was on to something with “Propeller Island,” after all. In this account, we explore some of the most ingenious ways in which human settlements have taken a marine form that thrive in modern times, while paying respects to some real-life versions of Atlantis found below the…

“For the birds.” That’s a common saying, but prehistoric Earth was home to some birds that demanded some serious respect. These were birds to be reckoned with. Ones that could dip into the ocean and slice up fish with toothy monster bills, while others just ate small horses or made small airplanes their near peers…

World War I, or the Great War, started out as smaller scale conflicts amongst a hotbed of international hostilities and shifting alliances. While as famous as a conflict can get, World War I is often misunderstood or simply inadequately known. In this list, we share some of the most intriguing, downright shocking or just plain…

Dogs may be considered humanity’s best friend, but truth be told, humans are not always the best friends of dogs when it comes to putting their interests first in the process of selective breeding. Here, we profile some admittedly interesting, yet disturbing examples of breeding gone perhaps too far, ranging from facial deformation that was…

Forbidden places. It is precisely the fact that places are forbidden and inaccessible that makes the off-limits of this world fascinating. We’ve covered this in multiple previous articles, and it’s clear that the world has no shortage of places you’re just not allowed to go. With that in mind, here are 10 more examples of places you will likely never…

Innovation might be a given under the pressure of wartime, but it also leads to some truly mad creations. Here are perhaps the most definitively nutty weaponry creations from the countries participating in history’s deadliest conflict, World War II. 10. Kettenkrad Flying boats and cars may be well known concepts, but mixed-use vehicles got even…

In the history of military service, there are some who seem to represent great valor, but are actually among the most despicable of society’s criminal ranks. Others are simple frauds, fakes who sometimes manage to trick society’s most influential. We profile those noteworthy service personnel who were either criminals on another level, sophisticated imposters claiming…

Throughout history, both recent and ancient, the desire to correct or control human behavior has led folks to devise some truly weird punishments. In this list, we profile some punishments that are not only sometimes disturbing, but may leave you scratching your head because they are just too weird and in some cases, remarkably creative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ0R-MNveQ4 This is an…

“For the birds.” That’s a common saying, but prehistoric Earth was home to some birds that demanded some serious respect. These were birds to be reckoned with. Ones that could dip into the ocean and slice up fish with toothy monster bills, while others just ate small horses or made small airplanes their near peers…

The global pandemic of COVID-19, the new disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has not only taken its toll in human lives but continues to sow economic and social disruption. Amongst the very real health concerns, physical distancing and economic assistance efforts, there have been some remarkable incidents of panic and disruption, ranging from the…

Ocean cities. Settlements in seas. Famed writer Jules Verne was on to something with “Propeller Island,” after all. In this account, we explore some of the most ingenious ways in which human settlements have taken a marine form that thrive in modern times, while paying respects to some real-life versions of Atlantis found below the…

Medical practice. Understanding medicine would seem to make us feel more secure, but the reality is a little shocking. In this time of increasingly globalized health concerns, knowledge about the dark side of the medical field is also spreading. In this account, learn why a doctor forgetting more than their lunch or a hospital cyberattack…

Armor and shields. Protective combat gear has come a long way from chainmail, plating, and Roman shields. But let’s go beyond Kevlar and bulletproof glass to discover some of the most remarkable technologies and products, from graphene and liquid armor to anti-bullet foam. Then we go to the pages of history to check up on…

We encounter them every day, putting things like water, chlorine, acetic acid and sulfuric acid to work for us in mundane ways. Yet amongst the chemical soup, there are some substances that are just too deadly. In this list, we discover chemicals that are lethal beyond comprehension and learn what to never touch, breathe, or…

They are everywhere, but despite their mundanity and status as a subject of loathing by germaphobes and the health conscious alike, toilets are both more dangerous and less dangerous than you might expect — for the strangest reasons. In this account, discover the unsettling and shocking truths about toilets of the world that will make…

Throughout history, both recent and ancient, the desire to correct or control human behavior has led folks to devise some truly weird punishments. In this list, we profile some punishments that are not only sometimes disturbing, but may leave you scratching your head because they are just too weird and in some cases, remarkably creative.…

In the history of military service, there are some who seem to represent great valor, but are actually among the most despicable of society’s criminal ranks. Others are simple frauds, fakes who sometimes manage to trick society’s most influential. We profile those noteworthy service personnel who were either criminals on another level, sophisticated imposters claiming…

The swimming pool. Something of a mundane luxury, swimming pools in their various incarnations are now holding their own among the human made wonders of the modern world. In this deep diving account, we discover some of the most incredible and sometimes terrifying extreme swimming pools of the world. The deepest, the strangest and sometimes,…

The full array of nefarious and weird Nazi plots to take over the world which led much of World War II aggression are still not widely known. In this startling account, we learn some truly disturbing facts about Nazi intelligence plots in World War II as well as some truly shady business dealings and Nazi…

Luckily, most creatures are not out to get you. But we never stop to think how shockingly fast many species are, and just how slow humans are. Today, we discover which species are the fastest on Earth, how they reach insane speeds, and why even jumping in a car, boat, or some airplanes might not…

We encounter them every day, putting things like water, chlorine, acetic acid and sulfuric acid to work for us in mundane ways. Yet amongst the chemical soup, there are some substances that are just too deadly. In this list, we discover chemicals that are lethal beyond comprehension and learn what to never touch, breathe, or…

Alfred Hitchcock was right, in a way. Birds can be scary. But the nature of the threat can be a little different than expected. Today, we profile 10 bird species that are able to wreak havoc on the natural environment. Their ability to cause damage is generally caused by human introduction or assistance coupled with…