World’s Strangest

Scientists have discovered carbon crystals inside a meteorite that crashed in Finland that are harder than naturally-occurring diamonds. The re-entry impact and heat are probably responsible for this unusual formation: The researchers were polishing a slice of the carbon-rich Havero meteorite that fell to Earth in Finland in 1971. When they then studied the polished surface [...]

The authors of an article in Focus magazine, a BBC publication, took a look at statistics in 35 countries to rank those nations according to their tendency towards the seven deadly sins. Australia was found to be the most “sin-prone” nation, with the US coming in second. Canada, Finland, and Spain rounded out the most [...]

Last week, I stumbled upon Uke Springsteen’s MySpace. Uke, who by day is Pat Healy, an editor at the Boston Metro, is a one-man cover band, using his ukulele to strum out renditions of popular Bruce Springsteen songs. (His remix of “Atlantic City” rivals The Band for best cover of the iconic song.) Perhaps not [...]

I saw that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was on the other day and I refused to watch it. It just seems so early! But I probably should have tuned in for two reasons: it might have been my only shot this season, and it would have been nice of me to acknowledge everyone’s favorite Christmas [...]

By David Clark As the economy sputters, everyone’s looking for new ways to save on food. So, we’ve collected a whole bunch of no-budget meal ideas for those of you daring enough to scrimp. 1. Tree Bark A classic meal of human desperation, tree bark has become a must-have during periods of scarcity. But you don’t have to [...]

Even if you’re not a particularly athletic person, there’s a sport out there for you. Whether you’re an avid ironer or are known for launching your cell phone 300 feet after dealing with an exceptionally annoying telemarketer, there’s something in the world that will play to your skills. Here are 10 of them. 1. Toe Wrestling. [...]

Some companies find their niche and stick to it. Others, though, have to adapt to changing markets in order to thrive. Here’s a look at some companies that switched industries at some point in their histories, usually for the better. 1. Avon David H. McConnell started Avon in 1886 without really meaning to. McConnell sold books door-to-door, [...]

This working bicycle is also a work of art! The Forkless Cruiser is a graduation project by Olli Erkkila, a student at the Lahti Institute of Design in Finland. Link From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by oezicomix.

Despite their astonishing record of losses when dealing with lumberjacks and beavers, trees are pretty tough customers. Their trunks, branches, roots and twigs are all more than capable of enduring a winter’s worth of freezing temperatures, snow, sleet and hail. Their leaves, though? Eh, not so tough. The broad, thin leaves of a broadleaf tree [...]

After my previous post mentioned Ted Turner’s promotional antics as owner of the Atlanta Braves, a reader suggested I write more about the man who became known as “The Mouth of the South.” In three decades of sports writing, I’ve never come across anyone quite so outrageous. So you don’t have to twist my arm. Moscow, [...]