Curiosities

Claim: U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta refused President Donald Trump's order to attack Iran by issuing "a formal legal rebuttal" that froze the chain of command until Trump's deadline to attack passed. Rating: In April 2026, a series of Facebook posts claimed...

<!--qv q:id=70 q:key=vcaa:You know the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," but does it really? -->You know the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," but does it really? <!--qv q:id=73 q:key=vcaa:The apples at the grocery...

The coin, found in Norfolk and thought to be from the ninth century C.E., is baffling numismatics experts.Andrew Williams/Norfolk County CouncilThe pendant bears some resemblance to coins minted in the 860s and 870s. Metal detectorists often stumble across treasures...

Claim: Jackie Mitchell, a 17-year-old girl, struck out baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig back-to-back in a 1931 game between the Chattanooga Lookouts and the New York Yankees. Rating: ContextBox scores in newspapers that covered the game recorded Mitchell's strikeouts. Some...

<!--qv q:id=70 q:key=vcaa:Few actors make versatility look as easy and genuinely fun as Stanley Tucci does. Whether as the tough-loving, and loyal fashion aficionado Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada, the chilling and deeply disturbed George Harvey in The...

Have you noticed that some texts and even everyday conversations can feel oddly “AI-ish” lately? These facts show why that’s happening, and why it doesn’t always mean a chatbot wrote the words. AI tools learn from human language, but the...

Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by the USS Vincennes over the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq War, killing all 290 people onboard.Wikimedia CommonsWreckage from Iran Air Flight 655. On July 3, 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 took...

Claim: A video authentically shows a Pakistani-flagged oil tanker burning in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by Iran in March 2026. Rating: ContextThe footage appears to show the Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige, which was reportedly struck twice in the Strait of...

<!--qv q:id=6z q:key=vcaa:There’s something bewitching about wandering through a picturesque Parisian neighborhood, where charming streets, glowing lights, captivating art, and café-goers basking in the atmosphere make it easy to lose yourself in the City of Love.-->There’s something bewitching about...

Sacha Schneider was using a metal detector to survey the steep slopes that overlook the village of Burg im Leimental when he discovered this nine-inch bronze relic that dates back to the Bronze Age.Nicole Gebhard. © Archeology BasellandThe front...