ADVERTISEMENT

This is your reminder that the world is unbelievably stunning, bizarre, and even scary. You need to slow down to really take it all in. Many of the strangest and most surreal facts about the world, as well as images by amateur and veteran photographers, end up being featured on the r/CantBelieveThatsReal online community, a place for awe-inspiring content.

We have curated some of the most striking stories and photos to share with you. They might appear surreal and unreal, but are, in fact, completely real. Keep scrolling to learn something new.

#1

In 1959, Police Were Called When 9-Year-Old Ron Mcnair, A Black Boy, Refused To Leave A Segregated Library In S. Carolina

Curiosities NASA astronaut posing in uniform with flag and model rocket

He later earned a PhD in physics from MIT, became an astronaut, and tragically died in the Challenger disaster. Today, the library that once denied him books bears his name.

drkmatterinc Report

RELATED:
    #2

    After A Woman Told Shaq His Shoes Were Too Expensive For Kids, He Walked Away From A $40M Reebok Deal And Signed With Walmart

    Man holding limited edition Shaq basketball shoes next to stacked Shaq shoe boxes

    He brought in Reebok designers to make $20 sneakers look premium. More than 400 million pairs have been sold.

    drkmatterinc Report

    #3

    Syndrome K Was A Fake Disease Invented By Italian Doctors Giovanni Borromeo And Vittorio Sacerdoti During WWII To Protect Jews Hiding In Their Hospital

    Black and white vintage portraits of two men

    They said it was fatal, disfiguring, and highly contagious, so they stayed away. The ruse worked and at least 20 lives were saved.

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Many of the photos and stories shared by members of the r/CantBelieveThatsReal are stellar. And yet, in this day and age, you’d be forgiven for being skeptical about everything and anything that you see online. Not only are many of the images you see on social media photoshopped and filtered, but now, with generative AI being so widely available, lots of content (read: slop) is outright fake but presented as human-made and monetized. For artists of all kinds, this is frustrating.

    Being skeptical of the information and content you stumble across online is a core part of media literacy. And yet, ironically, malicious actors can turn that skepticism against you by employing the so-called liar’s dividend.

    #4

    A Finnish Photographer Documented An Unlikely Bond Between A Female Grey Wolf And A Male Brown Bear

    Collage of bear and wolf interaction capturing curious animal behavior

    For ten nights straight, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the pair met and spent hours together. They even shared food, a rare glimpse of interspecies trust deep in the Finnish wilderness.

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    In 2009, A Quaker Parrot Named Willie Saved A Toddler’s Life

    Close-up of a green and white parrot presenting curiosities about exotic birds

    When the child began choking and turned blue, Willie screamed “Mama! Baby!” and flapped his wings until babysitter Megan Howard rushed in and performed the Heimlich. Willie was later honored at a Red Cross breakfast.

    drkmatterinc Report

    #6

    Christina Santhouse Had Half Her Brain Removed At Age 8 To Stop Constant Seizures

    Young woman and brain MRI showing large brain cyst curiosity

    Doctors said she would never drive or live normally. She got her license at 17, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years, and became a speech pathologist.

    theblckpill Report

    Brandi VanSteenwyk
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My neighbor boy was born with only half a brain (large area filled with just fluid) and with the exception of slightly evident weakness on the opposite side of his body, was pretty darned normal in every way. I last saw him as a teenager (I moved away soon after) and he was in every way, behaving like the average young person his age.

    View more comments

    The liar’s dividend is a way for people to protect themselves by claiming that real and legitimate information is supposedly misinformation or disinformation, simply because fake information exists at all. They might claim that the evidence that proves their guilt is allegedly false or deep faked, for instance, with AI.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “This approach has the benefit of muddying the waters so that people, especially those who traffic in misinformation, are able to evade or blunt scrutiny embedded in accurate words or actions that are then not believed by others,” Encyclopædia Britannica states.

    “In a world in which information can easily be falsified, a politician might claim that they did not do or say what they in fact did or said. The mistrust in the mainstream news media, for instance, allows political actors around the world to evade or blunt legitimate scrutiny of their words, decisions, or actions. The liar’s dividend pays off for those who sow mistrust and then use that same mistrust to their own advantage.”

    #7

    Laurence Tureaud Named Himself Professionally As Mr. T Because He Hated How His Father, Uncle, And Brother Who Returned From Vietnam Were Disrespectfully Called "Boy" By Whites

    Mr. T flexing muscles wearing gold chains and bracelets

    He wanted the first word from everybody's mouth when speaking to him to be "Mister."

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Ken Allen, The San Diego Zoo Orangutan Nicknamed “The Hairy Houdini,” Became A Legend For His Daring Escapes

    Orangutan with thick long hair, an unusual primate curiosity

    Each time he broke free, he’d calmly stroll around the zoo to visit other animals. He never hurt anyone, but he loved throwing rocks at Otis, a fellow orangutan he despised.

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    There Are Only 66 Years Between These Two Photos

    Historical photo of first airplane flight versus moon landing, history curiosity

    theblckpill Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My grandmother remembered the first car she saw and the first airplane she saw, and she lived into the 1990s!

    View more comments

    The r/CantBelieveThatsReal online community has been entertaining and inspiring photography-loving internet users for more than 6 years.

    Created in early 2020, the group was meant to be a place for everyone to share real images, videos, or moments that “look too crazy, surreal, or impossible to be true… but are.” The community remains vibrant and active to this day.

    Authenticity, high-quality content, and communal participation lie at the core of everything that the r/CantBelieveThatsReal group does. Everyone is encouraged to post the unbelievable but real things they find. However, there is a fundamental emphasis on sharing real, verifiable content.

    “Your content must depict real, unaltered events, objects, or phenomena,” the moderators stress.

    #10

    Hyundai’s Founder Grew Up In A Poor Farming Family In What’s Now North Korea. In The 1930s, He Stole A Cow To Buy A Train Ticket To Seoul And Start A New Life

    Portrait of elderly man with glasses and facial age spots

    Decades later, after building a global empire, he returned to his hometown with 1,001 cows to repay the debt a thousandfold.

    theblckpill Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    In 1825, Painter Samuel Morse Got A Letter Saying His Wife Was Ill. The Next Day, Another Said She Was Gone. By The Time He Rushed Home, She Was Already Buried

    Portrait of a historical figure demonstrating curiosities about inventions and discoveries

    Shaken by how slow news traveled, he set out to create a faster way to communicate: Morse code.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Just Allen Today
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He is my ancestor. My family name is Packard and my grandma's maiden name is Morse. I believe Samuel was her uncle.

    View more comments
    #12

    Researchers Taught African Grey Parrots To Buy Food With Tokens

    African grey parrot interacting behind glass with person's hand

    They were then paired up, one given ten tokens and the other none. Without any incentive to share, parrots with tokens began giving some to their partners so both could eat.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Colleen Glim
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Parrots have more compassion than a lot of humans

    View more comments

    According to the mods who keep the community running smoothly, the things that you’re allowed to share in the group include real photos or videos, CCTV or broadcast footage, firsthand captures, and verified historical footage.

    Furthermore, as a poster, you have to help the moderator team verify the authenticity of your content.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    So, you are encouraged to include a link to a credible source to prove that your content is, well, real. For example, you might share a news article, a reverse image link, etc.

    However, if you saw something firsthand and took a photo or video, you should describe where and when it happened. Meanwhile, if you are reposting someone else’s awesome content, don’t claim ownership. And don’t repost content that has already appeared in the group within the last half-year.

    #13

    A Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps Himalayensis) Warding Off Intruders By Showing Its ‘Fake Eyes’

    Vulture walking on a forest path illustrating curiosities about rare wildlife behavior

    Image: Credit to Husein Latif Photography.

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    In 2004, Police Uncovered A Secret Cinema, Bar, And Restaurant Hidden Deep Beneath Paris’s Catacombs, Complete With Electricity, Phone Lines, And A Barking-Dog Alarm

    People sitting in colorful lit underground cave curiosity

    When they returned three days later, everything was gone and a note was left behind: “Do not try to find us."

    drkmatterinc Report

    Michael None
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm concerned about what kind of movies have to be played at a secret underground cinema that leaves cryptic, pun not intended, notes when found.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #15

    After A Stroke At 43 Left Him Completely Paralyzed Except For One Eyelid, French Editor Jean-Dominique Bauby Wrote His Memoir The Diving Bell And The Butterfly By Blinking Each Letter As An Assistant Recited The Alphabet. It Took Him About 200,000 Blinks To Finish

    Book cover of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly next to a patient illustrating medical curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    Another way that the r/CantBelieveThatsReal maintains standards is that it forbids low-effort or off-topic content. In a nutshell, everything you post ought to match the theme of the subreddit, namely, “That looks fake, but it’s real.”

    Things like coincidences, pareidolia, or optical illusions that look generic and believable are better suited for other photography-related online communities.

    Furthermore, the moderators take a very strict approach toward the use of artificial intelligence. “This isn’t a place for AI-enhanced selfies or images altered to ‘look fake.’ If you used AI in any part of the creation process, do not post it here,” they stress.

    Moreover, you must avoid clickbait, misleading titles, and sensationalism. Shock value, excessive punctuation, and all-caps in your titles won’t get you much love in this community.

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    Scientists Discovered A Real-Life Kermit The Frog In Costa Rica, First Spotted In 2015 By Dr. Brian Kubicki. The Species, Hyalinobatrachium Dianae, Has A Bright Green Color And Cartoon-Like Face That Makes It Look Just Like The Famous Muppet

    Side-by-side images of a green frog and Kermit the Frog for real curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    In The Forearm There’s A Very Small Muscle That Contracts Only When Lifting The Pinky, Otherwise It Stays Invisible

    Michelangelo's Moses statue with detailed arm veins

    Michelangelo carved his version of Moses with a raised pinky and depicted that tiny muscle as contracted. One of many precise details in this stunning masterpiece.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are many details that some historians have said are secret messages about the Medici and religion. Also, he made very extraordinary changes to the statue which took a once-in-a-lifetime artistic eye to accomplish.

    #18

    When Alexander The Great’s Body Showed No Signs Of Decay Six Days After His Funeral, Ancient Greeks Believed He Was A God

    Ancient man reconstruction and burial illustration curiosity

    But historians believe he was likely paralyzed by a rare brain disorder, alive but unable to move or speak, suffering for days before being mistakenly buried alive.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Tell us what you think, Pandas!

    Which of these striking photos and stories impressed you the most, and why? Which ones did you upvote?

    What is your relationship with photography and history like? You can share your thoughts—along with the most impressive facts you recently learned and cool photos from your personal album—in the comments at the very bottom of this list.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #19

    Mario Puzo, The Author Of The Godfather Books Who’d Also Adapted Them To Film, Had No Idea What He Was Doing As He’d Never Written A Screenplay Before

    Man with glasses holding a cigar in curiosity photo

    After winning two Oscars, he decided to buy a book on screenwriting to learn how. In the first chapter, it said “Study Godfather I.”

    drkmatterinc Report

    Jessica Robinson
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Watch The Offer. The making of The Godfather is almost as wild as the story of the movie itself.

    View more comments
    #20

    “Radium Girls” Painted Glowing Watch Dials With Self Luminous Paint, Licking Their Brushes To Keep A Sharp Tip

    Vintage photos illustrating unusual human curiosities and medical anomalies

    No one told them the paint was radioactive. The radium settled into their bones, rotting their jaws from the inside. The condition became known as radium jaw.

    drkmatterinc , Mlumbrox Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad was part of the RaLa experiments, and he ended up dying from radiation exposure. He was part of a class action victory based on the fact that the government had a pretty good idea that it was more dangerous than they were saying.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #21

    In 2010, A Black Nigerian Couple In London Had A White Baby Girl With Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes

    Family with two children holding rare albino baby girl

    Doctors ruled out albinism, suggesting dormant white genes, a mutation, or both, sparking surprise and curiosity since neither parent had known white ancestry.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Shary Bobbings
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Geneticist here: Albinism is just the lack of production of melanine in skin, hair and eyes, due to a recessive mutation. That means that both parents can be carriers of the mutation, and have a normal phenotype. And also, there are not such things as "white genes". Being white and being an albino, are completely different things

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #22

    Cornealious Anderson III Was Convicted Of Robbing A Burger King In 2000 And Sentenced To 13 Years, But A Clerical Error Meant He Was Never Told To Report

    Man interviewed about delayed punishment curiosity

    He married, raised three kids, worked, paid taxes, and lived openly until his scheduled release, when he was arrested then freed by a judge.

    drkmatterinc Report

    StarCrossedFriday
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was probably too much work figuring out the spelling of his name over and over on the documents - if only they'd had the assistent who helped transcribe The Diving Bell and the Butterfly working for them 😅 Seriously, though - 13 years for robbing a Burger King? I've seen murderers and serial rapists get lighter sentences. Justice really is blind.

    #23

    Tigers Look Orange To Humans Because We Are Trichromats, But To Deer And Boars The Same Coat Appears Green Since Ungulates Are Dichromats

    Camouflaged tiger barely visible in dense greenery, nature curiosity

    This visual difference allows the tiger’s orange and black stripes to blend into the jungle, giving it effective camouflage while stalking prey.

    drkmatterinc Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ditto can appear green-like to red-green colourblind men. Like me.

    View more comments
    #24

    Extremely Rare Light Pillars In Russia Create A Dazzling Optical Phenomenon, Formed When Light Is Refracted By Ice Crystals In The Atmosphere. The Pillars Often Mirror The Color Of Nearby Light Sources

    Colorful light pillars above snowy landscape showcasing real curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These aren't limited to Russia. Any really cold place can have them if there is enough ice in the atmosphere.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #25

    Once-In-A-Lifetime Shot. A Bright Meteor Burns Across The Night Sky Right In Front Of The Andromeda Galaxy

    Bright green meteor streaking across star-filled night sky

    theblckpill Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #26

    A Woman Named Patricia Stallings Was Jailed For Life For Poisoning Her Child With Antifreeze

    Woman sharing personal story, showing human interest curiosity

    While in prison, she gave birth again. That child showed the same symptoms, revealing a rare genetic disorder, not poisoning. Her conviction was overturned and she was released.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It makes me think of other people who were falsely imprisoned. Sad.

    View more comments
    #27

    In 2010, 35 Year Old Steven Carter Found His Own Face In An Age Progressed Photo On A Missing Children’s Site

    Comparison photo showing noticeable human transformation, curiosity

    He knew he was adopted, but the image led him to learn that his mother had kidnapped him from his father when he was an infant 34 years earlier.

    theblckpill Report

    #28

    Wildlife Photographer Sha Lu Captured A Once-In-A-Lifetime Moment As A Tiny Vole, Held Mid-Air In The Talons Of A White-Tailed Kite, Locked Eyes With The Camera

    White bird flying carrying a small animal, showcasing wildlife curiosity

    drkmatterinc , shaluwtk Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #29

    The Canadian Naval Diving Class Of 2022 Marked Their Graduation By Taking Their Official Class Photo Underwater

    Royal Canadian Navy group photo taken underwater

    drkmatterinc Report

    Paint eater
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'I tried to scream, but my head was underwater' ahh picture

    View more comments
    #30

    Jim Sautner, The Buffalo Whisperer, Was A Canadian Rancher Who Raised A 2,000-Pound Bison Named Bailey D. Buffalo And Treated Him Like The Family Dog

    Massive bison inside a living room illustrating surprising real curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    Janissary35680
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    🎶🎵Oh give me a home...🎵🎶 (Somebody had to say it.)

    View more comments
    #31

    These Brothers Were Identical Triplets Separated At Birth, Raised By Different Families, And Reunited As Teens

    Three identical smiling men sitting side by side curiosity

    They shared the same quirks, hobbies, and even favorite foods, before discovering their lives had been manipulated for a secret nature vs nurture experiment.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Danni
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a heartbreaking documentary about their lives called "Three identical strangers" It's not an easy watch. The story is very sad.

    View more comments
    #32

    American Engineer Lonnie Johnson Invented The Super Soaker While Working With The U.S. Air Force. In 2013, He Learned Hasbro Was Underpaying Him, Sued The Company, And Won Nearly $73 Million In Royalties

    Curiosities photo of inventor holding a unique vacuum device

    drkmatterinc Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This guy is much more than the inventor of the SuperSoaker. He is the founder and president of Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc. They do a lot with "green energy," but the "Johnson thermoelectric energy converter" is the most promising. Remembering this guy for a squirt gun is like remembering Isaac Asimov as a prolific writer of postcards.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #33

    Chrome Beetle. Chrysina Limbata Is A Rare Scarab With A Highly Reflective Silver Shell, Found Only In The Mid-Elevation Forests Of Costa Rica And Western Panama

    Shiny metallic beetle resting on person's palm

    drkmatterinc Report

    #34

    Jeanne Louise Calment, The Oldest Verified Human In History, Celebrated Her 122nd Birthday On February 21, 1997

    Oldest woman celebrating 122 years with cake and smoking curiosity

    She passed away that August at 122 years and 164 days. She was also the last living person to have met Vincent van Gogh, whom she described as rude, ugly, and reeking of alcohol.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The possibility exists that she died early and her younger sister took over her identity in order to avoid d*ath duties tax to the government. Nobody since has lived more than 119 years. She destroyed her collection of early photographs.

    View more comments
    #35

    In 1783, A Boy Was Born With Two Heads. The Second Head Was Upside Down, With The Neck Pointed Straight Up

    Vintage drawing of a two-headed baby, anatomical curiosity

    Shockingly, the second head was fully functional. The boy claimed he could hear the other brain telling him things.

    drkmatterinc , wellcomeimages Report

    Foxglove🇮🇪
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He died at 4 years of age from a cobra bite. Interesting story, link below.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #36

    The Sky Looks Like Ocean Waves

    Storm clouds forming a rare pattern over an open road, weather curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    Kelly Scott
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's the tsunami of all tsunamis coming in.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #37

    Traditional Rawandan Hairstyle (1923)

    Vintage photos of man with unique traditional hairstyle

    drkmatterinc Report

    #38

    Moon Dust Isn’t Harmless Gray Powder. It’s Toxic, Razor-Sharp, And Charged With Static Energy

    Curiosities featuring microscopic lunar dust and Apollo astronaut on the moon

    Apollo astronauts came back sneezing, coughing, and rubbing their eyes after breathing it in. With no air or water to smooth it, each grain clings to everything and cuts deep into lungs and metal.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    #39

    Third Man Syndrome Is A Phenomenon Reported By Climbers And Explorers In Life-Threatening Situations

    Mountaineers climbing in harsh snowy conditions showcasing curiosities in extreme adventure

    They describe sensing an invisible companion who speaks to them, offers guidance, and gives them strength to survive when they’re on the edge of exhaustion or despair.

    theblckpill Report

    John O'Donnell
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most famously by Shackleton. TS Eliot heard about it, and put it in his poem The Waste Land.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #40

    In 2004, Ukrainian Presidential Candidate Viktor Yushchenko Was Poisoned With Dioxin, Leaving His Face Disfigured

    Before and after photos showing skin disease transformation curiosity

    He and his family believe Moscow ordered the attempt as he pushed for closer ties with Europe. Despite this, Yushchenko survived and won the presidency that year.

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #41

    Japanese War Criminal Hitoshi Imamura, Believing His 10-Year Prison Sentence Was Too Lenient, Built A Replica Jail In His Garden And Confined Himself There Until The End Of His Life In 1968

    Black and white portrait of man in traditional attire curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    #42

    In 2023, Archaeologists Unearthed A Perfectly Preserved 3,000-Year-Old Bronze Sword With An Octagonal Hilt In A Grave In Nördlingen, Bavaria

    Ancient skeleton with a preserved bronze sword curiosity

    Still gleaming, the Middle Bronze Age weapon was buried with a man, woman, child, and other grave goods.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Paint eater
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's super cool! (I love swords if you couldn't tell

    #43

    “Typhoid Mary” Was The First Known Asymptomatic Typhoid Case In The U.S.

    Curiosities vintage illustration warning about typhoid while cooking

    She felt fine, kept cooking, and used aliases to find new jobs. Wherever she worked, outbreaks followed. Investigators tied dozens of clusters to her, with estimates above 100 infections.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    liam newton-harding
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This glosses over the fact she knew she had it...she knew she was a carrier...she knew people were dying.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #44

    The “Snow” In The 1939 Wizard Of Oz Was Made Entirely Of Pure Asbestos

    Curiosities showing iconic wizard and scarecrow characters in a magical scene

    drkmatterinc Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Note. This is white asbestos, chrysotile, which is at least 100 times less dangerous than blue asbestos. White asbestos is sufficiently safe that no two authors can agree on how dangerous it is. White asbestos is not banned in some countries. Chrysotile comes from the rock serpentine, which has been used for carving statues for millennia.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #45

    Left: Mars. Right: Earth

    Striking rock formations resembling Mars landscape

    theblckpill Report

    ghtqbmfs5q
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There’s probably a million other planets out there that look similar

    #46

    This Photo, Taken From Indiana Dunes, Shows The Chicago Skyline Glowing At Sunset, Nearly 50 Miles Away

    People watching a unique sunset over the ocean highlighting natural curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are places in Michigan, when temp inversion happens, you can see the Chicago skyline like it's on the horizon...from 60+ miles away.

    View more comments
    #47

    Valonia Ventricosa Also Known As Bubble Algae Or Sailor's Eyeballs Is A Species Of Alga Found In Oceans Throughout The World In Tropical Regions. It Is The Largest Single Cell Organism

    Hand holding a large green Ventricaria ventricosa sea sponge specimen

    magicalpink19 Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #48

    Photographer Robert Landsburg Sacrificed His Life To Document The Mount St. Helens Eruption. As The Volcano Exploded, He Kept Shooting Until The Ash Closed In, Then Lay Over His Camera To Protect The Film

    Black and white photo of man and mysterious smoke cloud curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Photographer Robert Landsburg didn't actually sacrifice himself. He knew he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of making it out alive, so he chose to document what he could and protected his camera.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #49

    Ernie Hudson, Who Played Winston In Ghostbusters (1984), Auditioned To Voice The Same Character In The Animated Series. He Was Rejected Because Producers Said He Did Not Sound Enough Like Winston From The Movie

    Curiosities actor and animated character from ghostbusting movies

    drkmatterinc Report

    Maudelin
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ernie Hudson has such a wonderful voice, I could listen to him all day. And shame on those producers.

    View more comments
    #50

    Black Sand Dunes On Mars. While Earth's Sand Is Mostly Made Of Bright, White Quartz, Mars Tells A Different Story. Its Dunes Are Rich In Dark Basalt, A Volcanic Rock That Gives The Martian Landscape Its Deep, Shadowy Tones. (Photo: NASA Curiosity, 2015)

    Desert sand dunes showing unique natural real curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    Debby Keir
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same in the Canaries and many other volcanic islands.

    View more comments
    #51

    Korean Broadcaster MBC Set Up Its News Desk On A Rooftop To Use The City Itself As A Backdrop Rather Than Relying On A Green Screen

    Outdoor and indoor views of a rooftop news studio curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    ghtqbmfs5q
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would you want to be outside with all that smog? Have they not heard of windows?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #52

    The Only Surviving War Elephant Armor In The World, Made In India In The Late 17th Century

    Medieval Indian elephant armor displayed in museum with riders

    drkmatterinc Report

    April Pickett
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm surprised that elephant could move at all (the real one). That armor looks very heavy.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #53

    George Washington, The First U.S. President, Had Just One Tooth Left When He Took Office. He Wore Dentures Made From Brass, Lead, Gold, Animal Teeth, And Human Teeth

    Historic dental prosthetic with real human teeth curiosity

    This is one of only four surviving sets.

    drkmatterinc Report

    #54

    Weird Al’s Phantom Menace Parody 'The Saga Begins' Was Recorded A Month Before The Film’s May 1999 Release

    Weird Al Yankovic album cover The Saga Begins with shadow

    Lucasfilm refused Yankovic an early screening, so he pieced the plot together almost perfectly using rumors from Star Wars fan forums.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Firefly
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My favorite Weird Al song. I like it better than the original song American Pie.

    View more comments
    #55

    Can You Spot The Snow Leopard?

    Snow-covered rocky cliff with hidden animal blending in for natural curiosities

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #56

    This Is The World’s Quietest Room. It Absorbs 99.99% Of Sound And Measures At −20.6 Db, So Silent You Can Hear Your Own Heartbeat, The Rush Of Blood In Your Veins, And Even The Movement Of Your Joints

    Empty anechoic chamber with soundproof foam panels

    theblckpill Report

    John Dilligaf
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't know about my heartbeat or the blood moving in my veins, but at my age I often hear the movement of my joints

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #57

    Japanese Designer Yasuhiro Suzuki Created A Giant Zipper-Shaped Boat That Gives The Illusion Of Unzipping The Water As It Moves

    Side-by-side images of a floating USB and USB shaped boat

    drkmatterinc Report

    #58

    An 82-Year-Old Colombian Woman Discovered She’s Carried A Baby Inside Her For 40 Years Without Knowing. She Thought Her Stomach Pain Was From A Tumor, But Doctors Found Something Unbelievable Instead: A Calcified Fetus

    Detailed 3D ultrasound scan showing fetus inside mother's pelvic bone

    drkmatterinc Report

    #59

    Samuel L. Jackson Was Backstage At A Michael Jackson Concert When He Turned To Find Marlon Brando Reciting His Ezekiel Speech From Pulp Fiction

    Curiosities showing classic and modern gangster movie characters with guns

    Brando gave him a number. When Jackson called, it was a Chinese restaurant, yet Brando came to the phone. It was his trick for filtering calls.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Timbob
    Community Member
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Strange post. What’s it trying to say ?

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #60

    In 1980 The FBI Formed A Fake Company And Attempted To Bribe Members Of Congress. Nearly 25% Of Those Tested Accepted The Bribe, And Were Convicted

    Blurry black and white surveillance footage showing people in a room

    malihafolter Report

    Robin Roper
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Abscam was heavily fictionalzied in "American Hustle"

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #61

    In 1963, Teenager Randy Gardner Stayed Awake For 264 Hours, Setting The Only Verified Sleep Deprivation Record

    Brain scan images paired with historical neuro study photograph

    By day 11, he couldn't do simple math, saw street signs as people, and spoke in slurred monotone. Decades later, he blamed the experiment for years of insomnia.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And the current President of the US is sleep deprived. Never know it would ya?

    View more comments
    #62

    Windows Xp Wallpaper In ‘96 vs. 2025. It Looks So Different Because The Vineyard Was Cleared Due To An Infestation When The Photo Was Taken In 1996

    Curiosities comparing 1996 and 2025 landscapes in Sonoma California

    It was only a grassy hill for two or three years.

    drkmatterinc Report

    #63

    Naegleria Fowleri, Also Known As The "Brain-Eating Amoeba," End 97% Of Its Victims By Traveling Through The Nasal Passages To The Brain, Where It Feeds On Brain Tissue

    Microscopic view of amoeba with brain anatomy illustration

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    Timbob
    Community Member
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That could explain Trum…..Never mind.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #64

    Workers At Nuclear Power Plants Are Issued Special Iphones Without Cameras, Since Devices With Cameras Aren’t Allowed Inside The Facility

    Hand holding an old used iPhone showing Apple logo on screen

    drkmatterinc Report

    JoNo
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do they need to have phones with them? My husband works at a defence facility that has areas where phones can't be with them; he leaves it in his locker.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #65

    The Dynamite Tree In South America Produces Grenade-Like Fruit That Explode When Ripe, Bursting Apart And Shooting Seeds At Speeds Of Up To 160 Mph

    Close-up of a spiky tree and a circular seed pod in hand

    theblckpill Report

    #66

    At Expo 2025 In Osaka, A Japanese Company Unveiled A “Human Washing Machine” That Can Wash And Dry A Person In Just 15 Minutes

    Modern white futuristic pod-like vehicle with transparent canopy

    drkmatterinc Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    15 minutes? That's not going to save me any time.

    View more comments
    #67

    So Many Chinese Women Travel To South Korea For Plastic Surgery That Chinese Authorities Now Advise Them To Carry A Doctor’s Note, Since Their New Looks Often Don’t Match Their Passport Photos

    Before and after images showing facial transformation results

    drkmatterinc Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #68

    Last Image Of Karen Wetterhahn, A Professor Of Chemistry At Dartmouth College, Who Passed Away In 1997, Ten Months After Spilling Only A Few Drops Of Dimethylmercury Onto Her Latex Gloves

    Scientist working with equipment in lab curiosity

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    Lukas (he/him, it/its)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From a comment on Reddit: "On August 14, 1996, Wetterhahn, a specialist in toxic metal exposure, was studying the way mercury ionsinteract with DNA repair proteins and investigating the toxic properties of another highly toxic heavy metal, cadmium. She was using dimethylmercury, at the time the standard internal reference for 199Hgnuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. Wetterhahn would recall that she had spilled several drops of dimethylmercury from the tip of a pipette onto her latex-gloved hand. Not believing herself in any immediate danger, as she was taking all recommended precautions, she proceeded to clean up the area prior to removing her protective clothing. However, tests later revealed that dimethylmercury can, in fact, rapidly permeate several kinds of latex gloves and enter the skin within about 15 seconds." (continued below)

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #69

    Blood Falls In Antarctica, A Glacier That Looks Like It's Bleeding Due To Iron Oxides In The Water

    Blood Falls red waterfall flowing from Antarctic ice, natural curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except this is not what it actually looks like. In reality, it is a slow, rust coloured trickle

    View more comments
    #70

    The Wreck Of The USS Arizona Continues To Leak Oil Ever Since Pearl Harbour. The Ship Contained 1.5 Million Gallons Of Oil, Enough To Leak Continuously For 500 Years

    Rusty circular structure floating in water showing oil streak

    drkmatterinc Report

    ozzie (they/them)
    Community Member
    20 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i've been there, actually. you know what else is in the boat? the bodies of the soldiers who couldn't get out in time when it was sinking, or some form of remains, who knows.

    View more comments
    #71

    When The Challenger Broke Apart In 1986, The Crew Cabin Remained Intact As It Fell For Nearly Three Minutes

    Space shuttle explosion with shocked spectators reacting

    Evidence suggests several astronauts survived the blast and may have been conscious until the moment it hit the Atlantic Ocean at over 200 miles per hour.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder how many people from my generation were traumatized by watching this event live at school? Not something you can ever forget!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #72

    The Liquid Breathing Technology Shown In The Abyss (1989) Was Real

    Curiosities people examining a rat in a cage in a lab setting

    The rats seen in the film were actually breathing oxygen-rich liquid, part of real experiments still being explored today for treating severe lung injuries and other extreme medical or scientific applications.

    cantbelievethatsreal Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's easier for rats than humans. The liquid perfluorocarbons have a lower viscosity than water but much higher viscosity than air. So it's a struggle to breathe for humans, and mechanically assisted breathing becomes necessary to stop the lung muscles becoming over-tired.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #73

    John Cena And Jason Earles (Jackson From “Hannah Montana”) Were Both 31 Years Old In This Photo

    John Cena standing with teenage boy on sitcom set

    drkmatterinc Report

    #74

    The Show ‘River Monsters’ Ended Because Host Jeremy Wade Had Caught Every Major Freshwater Fish Species On Earth. With No New Creatures Left To Find, The Show Simply Ran Out Of Material To Explore

    Man holding a large fish with sharp teeth near a river

    theblckpill Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Has he put his hand in the mouth of every freshwater fish? I didn't think so. More show!

    View more comments
    #75

    Today, Investigators Are Searching For A Man Who Robbed A Popular Disney Springs Restaurant By Swimming Up In Scuba Gear And A Wetsuit

    Security camera captures masked person holding object during robbery

    He stole over $10k and escaped the same way, by swimming off into the water.

    drkmatterinc Report

    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That happened 8 months ago, and no one's made a movie about it??

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #76

    The Bath Mouthpiece Is A Life-Saving Device Designed To Provide Breathable Air During A House Or Hotel Fire When You Cannot Evacuate The Room

    Black and white patent drawing showing a vintage toilet device curiosity

    drkmatterinc Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 day ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do NOT do this unless there's no alternative. In a deliberately lit prison fire, inmates who did this died by inhaling toxic fumes from the toilet.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #77

    In The 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger And Sylvester Stallone Were Intense Rivals

    Curiosities with famous action movie characters on motorcycles in rain

    Schwarzenegger once fooled Stallone into starring in “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot” by pretending he desperately wanted the part. Stallone rushed to take it, only to realize too late that the movie was a total disaster.

    theblckpill Report