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By definition, odds provide a measure of the likelihood of a particular outcome. Sometimes odds are very likely, like the fact that nothing good will come out of 2020 (and thankfully, we are almost past it!), and sometimes not so much.

But on very rare occasions, odds-defying things happen against all possible likelihood, proving that after all, this world of ours is inherently random. So this time, we’re taking the ride of a lifetime featuring this selection of nearly impossible odds as presented by the r/nevertellmetheodds subreddit.

Created in 2015, the online community has a whopping 1.7m members who are all in for bizarre and wonderful chances that shouldn’t have happened. The subreddit’s description says it’s all about “Nearly impossible feats of achievement, those with a great degree of difficulty or incredible odds,” so let’s find out what exactly all this fuss is about.

#2

Many Of You Might Have Seen This . But For Those Who Haven't

Many Of You Might Have Seen This . But For Those Who Haven't

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Joyce Melton
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Later that same day, he was elected president of Australia and married Gal Godot.

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#3

Small World

Small World

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AzKhaleesi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thats crazy I wonder if the Coach / Dad ever looked at him and thought hmmm he looks a lot like me.

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No matter what we think we know about odds-defying things, the truth is they do happen and they happen more often than we think. British statistician David J. Hand claims that even “extremely improbable events are commonplace.”

This is due to the improbability principle that’s comprised of five laws “analogous to the four laws of thermodynamics or Newton’s three laws of motion.” David insists that “These laws, the law of inevitability, the law of truly large numbers, the law of selection, the law of the probability lever, and the law of near enough, explain exactly why we should expect to encounter highly unlikely events, and indeed why we should expect to do so on a regular, even frequent, basis.”

#5

In 1990, A Panel Of The Windscreen On British Airways Flight 5390 Fell Out At 17k Feet, Causing The Cockpit To Decompress & Its Captain To Be Sucked Halfway Out Of The Aircraft. The Crew Held Onto Him For More Than 20 Minutes As The Copilot Made An Emergency Landing. The Pilot Made A Full Recovery

In 1990, A Panel Of The Windscreen On British Airways Flight 5390 Fell Out At 17k Feet, Causing The Cockpit To Decompress & Its Captain To Be Sucked Halfway Out Of The Aircraft. The Crew Held Onto Him For More Than 20 Minutes As The Copilot Made An Emergency Landing. The Pilot Made A Full Recovery

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#6

I Know Twins Have Similarities But God Damn

I Know Twins Have Similarities But God Damn

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Annanana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But the one thing that should have definitely been identical- their looks- for some reason is not...

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’ve aged in different ways, but it’s possible to see that when they were younger they would have been difficult to tell apart.

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Kaisa Koo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard these similar kind of stories identical twins separated in birth having similar lifestories. Like it's "written in the stars".

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Serial pacifist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish the one on the left also went to the same hairdressser as the one on the right.

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Kay blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope they don't allow twins to be adopted by different families anymore.

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Nicky Melville
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't that woman Linda and the other one Betty think it a bit of a coincidence that they had married and divorced two men who looked the same? ( Chuckle! )

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Yeah, you heard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were lots of other weird similarities too, if you Google them.

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Sawdust
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Presumably they were married to two different *women*, each named named Betty... (same for the two Lindas)...

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David Retsler
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Weirdest of all- they were BOTH 39 when they were reunited!!!

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Mary Peace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny that. Not just 39, but so many months, weeks, days, hours (and maybe a few minutes apart) old. Amazing stuff, eh?

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Annie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! One or two similarities sure. But so many! this is better than any fiction!

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Shirley Heyn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just think what they could have done together if they hadn't been separated. . .

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kkathleen517
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way. Is this for real? Cause holy shite. And they don't look like identical twins, fraternal maybe.

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Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else think this might have been a stunt for publicity? Or a glitch in the matrix?

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OliviaMarie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if Linda or Betty thought they married and divorced the same guy

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Jane W.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if they got together on what shirt to wear for the photo, but for some twins separated at birth, they also choose the same clothes and hairdo.

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KrabbyGramps666
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine one twin has an idea so the other twin somehow telepathically gets that idea in their head randomly hence the similarities. But hey that’s just a theory a twin theory.

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Samuel Chen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know about them, one was named just Alan tho, but it’s close enough.

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okpkpkp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The collar on their shirts. I remember those and thought they looked silly. I used, and still use button-down collars.

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Sandy Feuerbacher
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why did you feel it necessary to take the name of the Lord in VAIN - SHAMEFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Bacony Cakes
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

did the script accidentally clone two of the same asset for use

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jk nbt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sounds like the entanglement of photons at a distance phenomenon particle physicists have discovered

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This is where mathematics comes into play to define these principles and calculate what effect they have on each other. For example, the law of near enough “says that events that are sufficiently similar may be regarded as identical,” David explains.

In fact, this similarity is what precisely makes a dramatic difference. David adds the law of truly large numbers and the result is that “given enough opportunities, the probabilities of even very unlikely events can mount up to be almost certain.”

Those laws raise the number of opportunities for any unlikely happening to actually happen. Read more about David’s philosophy of probability in his book “The Improbability Principle.”

#8

Unexpected Reunion

Unexpected Reunion

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Martha Meyer
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a lucky coincidence for them! They probably would have never found out otherwise.

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#10

Two Strangers Sit Next To Each Other On A Flight And Meet Their Doppelganger

Two Strangers Sit Next To Each Other On A Flight And Meet Their Doppelganger

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#13

Lucky Nurse

Lucky Nurse

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#15

“And I Took That Personally” - Tsutomu Yamaguchi (Probably)

“And I Took That Personally” - Tsutomu Yamaguchi (Probably)

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#16

Neighbor Brings Owner Identical Cat

Neighbor Brings Owner Identical Cat

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#17

Saw This Photo Posted Here.. Noticed I Have The Photo The Grandmother Took That Day. (Bought At An Antique Shop Years Ago In Phx)

Saw This Photo Posted Here.. Noticed I Have The Photo The Grandmother Took That Day. (Bought At An Antique Shop Years Ago In Phx)

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#18

Lightning Striking Simultaneously On Chicago's Three Tallest Buildings

Lightning Striking Simultaneously On Chicago's Three Tallest Buildings

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#19

None Of Their Feet Are Touching The Floor

None Of Their Feet Are Touching The Floor

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#20

The First Time My Friend Visited My Apartment She Was Mind-Blown That My Shower Curtain Looked “Exactly” Like One Of Her Shirts. I Half-Seriously Said That Her Story Sounded Made Up And Promptly Forgot About It Until She Returned The Following Week To Demonstrate. I Forever Stand Corrected

The First Time My Friend Visited My Apartment She Was Mind-Blown That My Shower Curtain Looked “Exactly” Like One Of Her Shirts. I Half-Seriously Said That Her Story Sounded Made Up And Promptly Forgot About It Until She Returned The Following Week To Demonstrate. I Forever Stand Corrected

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#21

This Mother Deer Has Two Albino Fawns...

This Mother Deer Has Two Albino Fawns...

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#22

My Grandma Died On My Grandpa’s Birthday. My Grandpa Died On My Grandma’s Birthday

My Grandma Died On My Grandpa’s Birthday. My Grandpa Died On My Grandma’s Birthday

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Daria B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a sad birthday for the one who passed away afterwards. I'd be devastated.

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#23

This Is A Tomato That Accidently Grew Inside Of The Fence

This Is A Tomato That Accidently Grew Inside Of The Fence

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#26

Twins Married Twins To Give Birth To Another Twins

Twins Married Twins To Give Birth To Another Twins

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#27

Landslide Splits Just Before Hitting A Farm In Iceland. Happened This Morning. No One Got Hurt

Landslide Splits Just Before Hitting A Farm In Iceland. Happened This Morning. No One Got Hurt

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#28

Went To Take A Picture Of The Rainbow And Lightning Struck At The Same Time!

Went To Take A Picture Of The Rainbow And Lightning Struck At The Same Time!

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#32

This Is How The Newspapers Were Stacked Up At My Job

This Is How The Newspapers Were Stacked Up At My Job

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#33

Beluga Whale Saves An iPhone!

Beluga Whale Saves An iPhone!

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#34

We Were Seconds Away From Losing Our Home To The California Fire. Thank You To All The Firefighters That Saved Our Community!

We Were Seconds Away From Losing Our Home To The California Fire. Thank You To All The Firefighters That Saved Our Community!

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#36

The Cat Knocked My Daughter’s Fish Bowl Off The Dresser

The Cat Knocked My Daughter’s Fish Bowl Off The Dresser

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Pan Narrans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The perfect opportunity to get a decent size aquarium for the fish. A bowl is too small.

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#38

It's Gotta Be Weird To Go To The Mall One Day And Run Into... Yourself

It's Gotta Be Weird To Go To The Mall One Day And Run Into... Yourself

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#40

Two Drunk Guys Imitate Connor Mcgregor As He Drives Past

Two Drunk Guys Imitate Connor Mcgregor As He Drives Past

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Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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