Thalassophobia is the relatively well-known fear of deep bodies of water, but a slightly more niche water-related phobia is submechanophobia, which is a fear of submerged man-made objects. There’s something deeply unsettling about the fact that these objects—be they small statues or large buildings—are underwater where they don’t belong. Plus, over time, aquatic life takes
Month: August 2024
Losing a child or loved one is an anguish that only those who have experienced it can fully understand. Some dedicate their lives to finding that person. Unfortunately, many never do. Approximately 170,000 people are reported missing every year in the United Kingdom. While most are quickly solved, many missing people vanish, never to be
Humans have pattern-finding brains. If we look at chaos, our brains will try to impose order on what we are seeing and pick out things that we might recognize. As far as we know, people have always liked to look at the stars, so it is understandable that people have always liked to tell stories
We’re only human. Sometimes, we make mistakes; sometimes, we do it right. Historical figures and celebrities are no different from us—they’ve done bad (and some have done A LOT of bad). However, sometimes, these figures, usually viewed as evil, have done a good thing that we never really hear about. Here are some good things
In the tech world, some of the best ideas don’t always make it to the finish line. We’ve seen incredible innovations come and go, not because they weren’t brilliant but because they got lost in the shuffle. Maybe they were a little too ahead of their time, or maybe they just didn’t get the right
Imagine biting into a fruit so rare and exquisite that its price rivals luxury items. These aren’t your typical supermarket finds—they’re the crown jewels of the produce world. Cultivated with care, often in limited quantities, these fruits are prized for their unique flavors and flawless presentation. Their allure transcends taste, symbolizing opulence and exclusivity. They
It may seem like there’s a ton of money to be made in the film industry, but that’s actually not the case. Not always, at least. In many instances, actors stick their necks out to do a movie they are very passionate about or are very inspired to produce, and they come away broke! Forget
People will do whatever it takes to achieve their beauty goals, and there are some crazy products and methods that help consumers reach smoother skin, fewer wrinkles, and perfect makeup. Some high-end beauty products contain ingredients that are unconventional with a promise of working/ However, many don’t realize that some of their everyday cosmetics have
Miracles involving food have always been very popular—just ask the five thousand who Jesus miraculously fed with just five loaves of bread and two fish. While researching my book of food folklore, I discovered many saints have expressed their blessed nature through the medium of food. Here are ten times saints manifested their divine abilities
Everyone loves a good underdog story. The tale of David and Goliath resonates with people; it’s a story of facing an impossible challenge and finding the will to win against all odds. In this list, we’ll spotlight ten real-life Davids who took on their own Goliaths. Whether battling Hollywood, defying expectations in sports, or fighting
“And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is
Have you ever listened to a song and realized you had never really paid attention to the lyrics? This goes beyond simply mishearing the lyrics. Who hasn’t sung the wrong lyrics from time to time, right? This involves not truly understanding what the song is about. That’s how you end up singing something inappropriate at
Invasive species are like uninvited guests who overstay their welcome. They show up unannounced, take over the place, and leave a mess behind. But what if, instead of shooing them away, we invited them to dinner—literally? Believe it or not, eating these ecological troublemakers could be a delicious way to save our environment. From Asian
We live in a world where we are consistently taught that everything is about preparation and plans. However, our better judgment lets us realize that this position is not 100% correct in day-to-day life. The same is true of warfare. Throughout history, military strategists have emphasized the importance of preparation, tactics, and leadership in securing
When adapting a sprawling, intricate book series like A Song of Ice and Fire into a TV show, it’s no surprise that some characters had to undergo significant changes. In Game of Thrones, many fan-favorite characters were reimagined, simplified, or had their storylines altered to fit the show’s demands. These changes have sparked plenty of
In the animal kingdom, males usually act as the dominant sex. Their size and muscle mass often dwarf the females, and their high testosterone breeds aggression. They then use those gifts to fight each other for territory and mating rights. Females generally hang back, care for the babies, and stay out of the males’ way.
Sometimes, the best ideas are those we didn’t even know we had. A stroke of luck can lead to the purest and most profound genius. An accidental uncovering of a new food, invention, idea, or product can become a world-changing moment. Even if it’s one we didn’t realize at the time! So many great things
Financial success often overshadows the true value of work; however, a group of professionals labor tirelessly, not for wealth or recognition, but because they believe in the power of their contributions. These unsung heroes are the ones who quietly shape our society, providing essential services and care that often go unnoticed. They are the backbone
The history of the world, as it is usually taught, is overwhelmingly straight. Some historians are so unwilling to suggest any sort of queerness took place in the past that it has become a joke. If two same-sex individuals are known to have written each other love letters, lived together, shared a bed, and been
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) is perhaps best known to the wider world today for his marriage to “Frankenstein” author Mary Shelley or as one of the great romantic poets of the English language. But he was both of these things and more. No stranger to a scandal, Shelley was a political radical and a publisher
In the cutthroat world of big business, even the mightiest companies can stumble—and when they do, the results can be spectacularly costly. These aren’t just minor errors; they’re monumental blunders that incinerate billions of dollars, turning what seemed like brilliant strategies into legendary failures. In this list, we’ll explore ten of the most staggering examples
While box office disappointment is not necessarily a reflection on the quality of a motion picture, it is surprising to discover a really inspiring movie that initially failed to win over audiences. It is easy for films with a lot of heart to be labeled corny or overly sentimental, which can be one of the
Do you know where your name came from? If you go by one of the ten names on this list, you’re about to find out that the inspiration behind your name isn’t so great. Sure, some names are pretty obvious and even uniquely positive regarding where they came from. Take the Spanish-language names Angel and
Throughout history, humanity has always been fascinated by the unexplained. From ghosts and witches to extraterrestrial beings and mythical islands, the paranormal occupies a vast and enigmatic space in our imaginations. According to a 2024 Gallup survey, nearly 75% of Americans believe in some form of paranormal phenomena, such as extrasensory perception (ESP), haunted houses,
When Outbreak was released in 1995, it gripped audiences as a thrilling tale of a deadly virus that seemed, at the time, far removed from our everyday reality. Yet, as the years passed, the film’s fictional narrative began to feel eerily prophetic. What once seemed like a dramatized Hollywood scenario has, in many ways, become
Few fictional works have had a more significant impact than Star Wars. This sci-fi fantasy franchise captures the imagination with its laser swords, space battles, engaging characters, and intriguing mythology. These qualities make it beloved by audiences of all ages. That said, they also make it ripe for parody. Star Wars has seen countless spoofs
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the five main oceans. We know that it covers about 32% of the earth’s surface. There are about 25,000 islands located inside of it, and it has the largest array of plants and animals than any other ocean in the world. There are thousands of things
When we think about the National Archives, the big moments come to mind—like signing the Declaration of Independence or landing on the Moon. But tucked away, some stories aren’t as well-known, yet they’ve quietly influenced our world in unexpected ways. Take Dave Cutler, for instance. You might not know his name, but his work at
There are quite a few interesting, strange, and memorable phobias out there. Some of them are pretty common, and expected. Take the fear of sharks, for example (galeophobia). Then, there’s the fear of snakes (ophidiophobia). Or the fear of the supposedly bad luck one gets from the number thirteen (triskaidekaphobia). There’s even the fear of
We move through life trusting that the systems around us—the buildings we enter, the products we use, the infrastructure we rely on—are designed to keep us safe. It’s a belief so ingrained that we hardly ever question it. But every now and then, something happens that shatters this sense of security. These aren’t the headline-grabbing