Depiction of Civil War wounds glowing blue at Shiloh, reflecting the ‘Angel’s Glow’ phenomenon.
The Mystery of “Angel’s Glow” in Civil War Wounds
“Angel’s Glow” at the Battle of Shiloh puzzled doctors for over a century. Modern microbiology now points to bioluminescent bacteria as the likely cause. Read more...
Artistic depiction of the Mississippi River running backward during the 1811 New Madrid earthquake
The Night the Mississippi Ran Backward: The 1811 New Madrid Earthquake Explained
During the 1811 New Madrid earthquake, eyewitnesses reported the Mississippi River flowing backward in violent surges. This blog examines the science and history behind the event. Read more...
Depiction of Project Habakkuk prototype on Lake Patricia, illustrating Britain’s WWII ice aircraft carrier concept.
Project Habakkuk: Britain’s WWII Ice Aircraft Carrier
Project Habakkuk was Britain’s plan to build a colossal WWII aircraft carrier out of reinforced ice. Tested in Canada, the idea was bold, strange, and nearly real. Read more...
Depiction of Tsutomu Yamaguchi surviving both Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings.
The Man Who Survived Both Atomic Bombings
Tsutomu Yamaguchi endured both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His extraordinary survival and later testimony make his story one of history’s most remarkable. Read more...
Depiction of Yoro, Honduras during the Rain of Fish, with small fish scattered after a storm.
The Day It Rained Fish in Honduras
Each year in Yoro, Honduras, storms leave the ground covered in live fish. From waterspouts to underground springs, no theory fully explains the Rain of Fish. Read more...
Smoke rising from vents in the abandoned town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, caused by the still-burning 1962 mine fire.
The 1962 Centralia Mine Fire Still Burning Beneath Pennsylvania
The 1962 Centralia mine fire began as a routine landfill burn and became an unstoppable underground blaze that emptied a town and still smolders today. Read more...
Samurai firefighters raising a matoi while battling a blaze in 1600s Edo
Japan’s 1600s Samurai Firefighting Squads: The Warriors Who Battled Edo’s Flames
During the Edo period, samurai firefighting squads protected Tokyo with discipline and daring, tearing down buildings to stop flames from consuming the city. Read more...
Depiction of the 1970 Oregon exploding whale incident with whale blubber raining down after detonation.
The Exploding Whale of Oregon: The 1970 Disaster That Became Legend
When an 8-ton whale washed ashore in Oregon, officials used dynamite to remove it. The explosion sent blubber raining over spectators and became a viral legend. Read more...
Medieval papal courtroom
The Cadaver Synod: The Bizarre Medieval Trial of a Dead Pope
In 897, Pope Stephen VI exhumed his predecessor and placed the corpse on trial. The Cadaver Synod exposed the political chaos consuming the medieval papacy. Read more...
Depiction of the 1814 London Beer Flood with porter beer rushing through the streets of St. Giles
The London Beer Flood of 1814: When a Brewery Disaster Drowned a Neighborhood
In 1814, a massive porter vat exploded in London, sending a flood of beer through the streets of St. Giles. The bizarre disaster killed eight and became a lasting historical... Read more...
Soldiers and engineers cutting down a poplar tree in the DMZ during Operation Paul Bunyan,
Operation Paul Bunyan: The Cold War’s Most Over-the-Top Tree-Cutting Mission
In 1976, the U.S. launched Operation Paul Bunyan, an astonishing show of force involving chainsaws, gunships, and bombers — all to cut down one DMZ tree. Read more...
Soldiers in 1932 Western Australia attempting to control a flock of emus during the Great Emu War
The Great Emu War of 1932: Australia’s Strangest Wildlife Conflict
In 1932, Western Australia fought a bizarre battle against thousands of crop-destroying emus. The military intervention failed — and the “Emu War” became legend. Read more...