Curiosities

First documented in East Asia in the 19th century, bamboo torture involves suspending a victim above a bamboo shoot, then waiting for this fast-maturing plant to pierce through their body as it grows. Wikimedia CommonsBamboo torture is a brutal...

Claim: The release of U.S. government files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein exposed former President Barack Obama as a participant in a "ritualistic orgy empire" on Epstein's Little St. James island. Rating: A rumor that circulated online in November...

<!--qv q:id=7l q:key=vcaa:Though many of us with diaries of our own pray they never meet the light of day, some go on to become indispensable historic time capsules or hugely influential works of literature. From the World War II-era...

Wolverines might share a name with the Marvel character, but the real animals are impressive on their own. They resemble small, shaggy bears, yet they’re built for some of the harshest environments on Earth, with a whole set of adaptations...

A private art collector said they paid a furniture restorer $1,350 to clean up a copy of a 17th-century artwork by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.Public Domain/Private Collection/Europa Press 2020The Virgin Mary figure on a copy of a 17th century painting...

Claim: The founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company, Milton Hershey, founded a boarding school for orphaned boys. Rating: Rumors circulating online in October 2025 purported that Milton Hershey, a wealthy businessman and noted philanthropist best known for founding The Hershey Chocolate Company...

Your brain can make fake memories that feel real. In studies, scientists even planted them by... Source link

<!--qv q:id=7l q:key=vcaa:Stephen King’s stories keep crawling out of the pages and into both film and TV. There are still many of his novels and short stories that Hollywood hasn’t tackled yet. Some of the upcoming adaptations have been...

Pumpkin spice is the unofficial flavor of fall. This warm, cozy blend shows up in drinks, desserts, and even the candle aisle. Below, you’ll learn where pumpkin spice came from, what’s in it, and why it tastes so nostalgic. Ready to...

Claim: Iceland installed foldable, solar-powered shelter pods between alleyways for homeless people, as described in a November 2025 Facebook post. Rating: In November 2025, a rumor about a project to help homeless people in Iceland spread over Facebook (archived), getting tens of...