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...
The Somerton Man seated against a seawall on Somerton Beach, referencing the Tamam Shud mystery.
The Tamam Shud Case: The Somerton Man Mystery Revisited
In 1948, a man was found dead on Somerton Beach with no identity, a hidden pocket, and a cryptic message reading “Tamam Shud.” Decades later, the mystery endures. Read more...
Depiction of the Van Meter Visitor perched on a building in 1903 Iowa
The Van Meter Visitor: Inside Iowa’s 1903 Winged Mystery
The 1903 Van Meter Visitor terrified an Iowa town with its massive wings, blinding beam of light, and strange stench — a mystery still debated today. Read more...
Espresso channeling visible in a bottomless portafilter as uneven jets during extraction
The Science Behind Espresso Channeling — And How to Stop It
Espresso channeling happens when water cuts uneven paths through the puck, causing sour, bitter, and unbalanced shots. Understanding the science makes it preventable. Read more...
Vintage Savarin Coffee tin on a desk in mid-century Manhattan, representing the brand’s lost prominence.
Savarin Coffee: The Wall Street Favorite That Faded Into History
Savarin Coffee once defined New York’s premium coffee culture and fueled Wall Street mornings. Today, the once-iconic brand is largely forgotten — here’s how it disappeared. 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...
Diplomat in a Havana room experiencing sudden neurological symptoms associated with Havana Syndrome
Havana Syndrome: Symptoms, Evidence, and Global Recorded Incidents
Beginning in 2016, diplomats around the world reported sudden neurological symptoms now known as Havana Syndrome. The incidents span continents, and remain unsolved. Read more...
Silhouette of a winged, reptile-like creature flying over an African swamp, referencing the Kongamato legend
The Kongamato: Africa’s Mysterious Pterosaur-Like Cryptid
For generations, villagers and explorers have reported a winged, reptilian creature in central Africa’s swamps, the Kongamato, a pterosaur-like mystery that persists. Read more...
Freshly roasted coffee beans on a cooling tray releasing CO₂ to illustrate degassing after roasting.
Why Freshly Roasted Coffee Degasses for Days
Freshly roasted coffee exhales CO₂ for days after roasting. This slow degassing shapes extraction, aroma, and flavor, and determines when your coffee tastes its best. Read more...
Old industrial warehouse with faint Rykoff signage, representing the disappearance of Rykoff Coffee.
Rykoff Coffee: The Warehouse Giant That Quietly Disappeared
Rykoff Coffee fueled diners, cafeterias, and institutions for decades. Then, through mergers and consolidation, the warehouse giant simply vanished from the market. Read more...
Historical depiction of the 1919 Boston Molasses Flood with buildings damaged and streets coated in molasses.
The 1919 Boston Molasses Flood: A Sticky Disaster That Shook the City
In 1919, a giant storage tank burst in Boston’s North End, releasing a deadly wave of molasses that flattened buildings and sparked one of America’s earliest corporate negligence cases. Read more...
Mysterious traveler at a 1950s Tokyo immigration desk holding a passport from the nonexistent country of Taured.
The Taured Man: Inside the Passport Mystery Tokyo Couldn’t Explain
In 1954, a man arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport with a passport from “Taured,” a nation that didn’t exist — and then he disappeared without a trace. This is the... Read more...