There’s an old adage that says “crime doesn’t pay.” Unfortunately, a lot of criminals steal things to make money precisely to ensure that crime does pay them. Now for some criminals this doesn’t pan out at all. But for others, it actually works out much better than you’d think. Sometimes the difference between crime failing…
Author: Ian Fortey
The universe is full of millions of tons of debris of all shapes and sizes. Out in space these are meteoroids. The moment it hits our atmosphere, it becomes a meteor. And if it actually makes it through the atmosphere and hits pay dirt, we call it a meteorite. Literal tons of this stuff hits…
The word “mutation” tends to have a negative connotation, in no small part thanks to science fiction. We think of mutations as something gone wrong. But mutation is also how things improve. Throughout human history, there had been some remarkable mutations with some incredible side effects. 10. Shovel Teeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_KmR5Si-7U Mutation is what has allowed…
In the United States there is only one Supermax prison currently still in operation: ADX Florence in Colorado. This is where the worst inmates in the country are held, especially terrorists and those that have made a habit of escaping from other facilities. The Unabomber is there, as well as El Chapo, the Boston Marathon…
For a family that lives its life on public display, the Royals have an uncanny knack for getting embroiled in scandal and intrigue. Some of this plays out publicly, but some of it seems to be hidden away in some dark places. Every family has their secrets, but not every family ruled over nations and…
Terraforming is the process of modifying things like atmosphere, ecology, even surface topography of another world to make it hospital for life as we know it. Think of it like buying a run-down house with no insulation and holes in the floors then fixing it up so you can live in it. Except, you know,…
They say crime doesn’t pay, but that statement seems to be only true for those who get caught. Fortunately for the justice system there are a lot of criminals out there making it far too easy to round them up through some of the most ridiculous mistakes imaginable. 10. The Door Pusher Who among us…
Technology is ever moving forward, but its acceptance is a fickle thing. We are almost cursed with abundance these days, so consumers are able to be discerning about which technology they want to spend time and money on. Even a good idea may have to fall by the wayside if it’s marketed incorrectly or its…
Science is a helpful tool to explain the world around us. Observation, experimentation and some intuition go into determining how things work and why. One of the best things about science is that it’s malleable. Science isn’t trying to be a religion, it’s just trying to explain things. If we learn something new, science changes…
The human mind loves a good mystery. It’s almost impossible to resist the urge of a puzzle, if only for a moment. Where it’s a Rubik’s cube, a riddle, or if reality TV is any indication, an unsolved murder, we want to know what the answer is. Unfortunately, sometimes the mystery proves to be far…
Sometimes history has a way of twisting a story to make villains into heroes or heroes into villains. Someone in the right place at the right time can be credited with an amazing invention, or maybe they just stole it and said it was theirs. In any event, there are plenty of people who have…
There are 118 chemical elements that run from gases to liquids to solids. Some of them we’ll never run across in our lives because of how rare or dangerous they are. Others are so common we barely give them a second thought. But some of the elements that make up our world have far more…
Back in 1910, Eugene Burton Ely became the first pilot to successfully take off in a plane from the deck of a Navy ship. Other ships were soon adapted for launching planes, and by 1927 the US Navy had built two Lexington-class aircraft carriers which became the foundation for the future fleet. The US still…
Queen Victoria’s reign extended from 1837 all the way until 1901. It was one of the longest in British royal history, and it was characterized by a lot of change and upheaval for the country. She was so influential they named the entire time period after her and to this day the word Victorian brings…
Earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanoes are the big three natural disasters in the world that everyone wants to avoid. Unlike the first two, volcanoes are often a little easier to deal with because at least you can see where they are and plan accordingly. Sometimes, anyway. But for all we understand about them, there are a…
The land of the rising sun is fascinating to many of us in the West. The land that gave the world samurai and sushi holds a lot of mystique, but some of it is just straight up myth, even in the modern world. 10. Anime is Not The Biggest Form of Entertainment Anime is a…
The modern prison system has been criticized all around the world. There are few countries that couldn’t benefit from some kind of prison reform. That said, at the very least most modern prisons don’t hold a candle to those of the past. In a bygone era, sometimes one that was only a few years ago,…
Every year the world deals with volcanos, tsunamis, hurricanes and more. But these are the “normal” natural disasters. There are plenty of others that haven’t really happened in our lifetime, or even at all yet. And that’s the scariest part about them. They haven’t happened yet. But they could. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sga8SK5BVxA This is an encore of…
Given the size and age of the universe, it’s no wonder that mankind has only scratched the surface when it comes to understanding it. Astronomers can answer many questions about space, but there are some mysteries that we may never solve. 10. How Stars Explode When a star has essentially burned itself out, a couple…
One thing you can always count on is that the moment you deny something to people, or charge them prices they can’t afford, an entrepreneur is born. Getting people things cheaply, even when it’s not legal, happens all over the world. And during wartime, when resources become scarce, black markets can spring up to meet…
Everyone has heard of body language and most of us have at least a basic understanding of how it works. Some signals are unmistakable. A person who actively moves away from you or scowls when you speak probably is not your friend. A person who is constantly smiling and touching you very likely wants to…
In 2019, organic food sales were worth $109 billion. That’s a good sized industry. Unfortunately, it’s also one wrapped up in a lot of myth and misinformation. Not everyone is honest about how organic food works, how it’s made, and what the potential benefits are. 10. Organic Food is 100% Organic If there’s one thing…
New species are still being discovered all the time. Maybe it’s because of that so many people are, if not outright convinced, at least open-minded to unusual beasts being real. Things that you might even consider monsters. But often when we discover a monster, it is a very real life explanation that’s a bit less…
Sometimes history has a way of twisting a story to make villains into heroes or heroes into villains. Someone in the right place at the right time can be credited with an amazing invention, or maybe they just stole it and said it was theirs. In any event, there are plenty of people who have…