World’s Strangest

Just in time for Halloween, Frankenweenie is hitting theaters today, giving viewers a chance to enjoy all the campiness of black-and-white classic horror films while still offering them something delightfully new and unique. In honor of the movie’s release, here are some things you should know about the development and creation of Tim Burton’s newest [...]

When you think about it, most album titles are a little cryptic (Fiona Apple, I love you, but that’s a lot of title). But there’s something especially intriguing about a record that goes by nothing but a few digits. Those digits are usually anything but random, so here are a few of those musical mysteries, [...]

Chicken nuggets and pizza, right? That’s what kids would eat if we let them decide for themselves, but we’re concerned about raising the quality, and sometimes regulating the quantity, of children’s nutrition. And of course, that leads to blogs that impress us one way or another. Nine-year-old Martha Payne posts pictures of her meals at NeverSeconds, [...]

Passive homes are popping up all over Europe and Japan, and, finally, here in the U.S. What is a passive home? A house that keeps its aggression at bay, of course! No, a passive home uses insulation and an airtight shell so that barely any heat escapes and barely any cold seeps in, which means [...]

If you live across the pond, you’ve likely seen the below Peugeot “Just Add Fuel” commercial (or should I say advert?). In all my years blogging for the _floss, I don’t believe I’ve ever posted a bonafide commercial. That speaks to how impressed I was with this one. I’ve always felt like the U.K. does [...]

It looks like an insignificant spec of dust, but if scientists are right, it could be the ancestor of us all. Meet Otavia antiqua, a microscopic, sponge-like African fossil that could be the earliest known [...]

A look at a transitory medical concept by Alice Shirrell Kaswell, Improbable Research staff The years 1974–2009 saw the inspiration, birth, and death of a medical ailment that puzzled some physicians, inspired others, and perhaps made no impact upon most. Its history played out in the pages of several medical journals. Here are [...]

As the Greek economy continues to tumble, there’s a glimmer of hope for "retirees" who are offered a luxurious retirement abroad by a British royalty: great food, great room with a view of the [...]

I live near some big homes in Los Angeles owned by some pretty big names in the entertainment industry. They love to go all out during the Holidays decorating their homes, starting with Halloween and then, of course, during Christmas time. Some even hire actors to play parts on their front lawns! No joke. All [...]

Whenever I’m traveling and people find out where I’m from, 90 percent of the time, the reaction is, “Iowa! Have you been to the Field of Dreams?” I’m a little embarrassed to say the answer is no, I’ve never set foot in Dyersville. But thanks to the purchase that was made earlier this week, I [...]