Weirdly Interesting

Weird History

History isn’t as stuffy as the pages of textbooks make it out to be. For proof, look no further than <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/random-trivia-facts/elle-tharp">these random trivia facts</a> about the past.Which world-renowned museum once unwittingly put the un-dead on display? How is a thousands-year-old coin the key to an ancient mystery? And how did the first non-stop flight to Hawaii go horribly wrong? From the unsettling to the incredible, these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-facts-surprising-082223/alby-thompson">surprising historical anecdotes</a> take unexpected twists and turns -&nbsp;but are 100% true.Read on and vote up the random, but fascinating, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-trivia-facts/lauren-glen">history snippets</a> that are almost too outrageous to believe.

12 Facts That Sound Too Weird To Be True, But Are Totally Legit

General

Facts That Sound Too Weird To Be True But Totally Are

Alby Thompson

The most bizarre real home listings we found on Zillow (on sale for waaay too much). 

WTF Zillow Finds

Home

Somewhere in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/W6547-Woodland-Pass-Onalaska-WI-54650/210097330_zpid/?utm_source=zillowgonewild&amp;utm_medium=zillowgonewild&amp;utm_campaign=zillowgonewild">Wisconsin</a>, there is a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/zillowgonewild/">listing</a> for a family home that at first seems normal, but then, upon closer expectation, takes a turn for the weird. From the many, many signs that adorn every wall of the house, to the unexplained cake pops that appear in most rooms, to the random, slightly terrifying art, every aspect of the home seems to require some explanation. Over on Twitter, people demanded answers, but at the very least, got a few laughs.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/insane-home-listings-viral-zillow-gone-wild/damon-davis">Click here for more unhinged home listings &gt;&gt;</a>

A Completely Unhinged Home Listing On Zillow Goes Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

Damon Davis

Lists of bizarre real headlines and 100% true actual news stories from the physical world in which we all really live that are stranger, scarier, and more depressing than any fiction writer could ever dream.

Unbelievable News

Lists about famous twins, twins in film, twin studies, identical twins, fraternal twins, twin names, and other twin stuff.

#Twinning

Twins

There are numerous cases of twins separated at birth, with siblings being adopted by different families and having little or no knowledge that the other exists. While laws have ensured that twins are no longer adopted by different families, numerous sets of identical and non-identical twins ended up in different homes - many because of a controversial New York study that allowed researchers to separate twins that were in the process of adoption.This study generated so much controversy when it became public that the results were embargoed until 2066, and many states banned the separation of adopted twins. Many other twins were separated due to world events, such as war, or cultural difficulties. In some cases, they found each other quite quickly because of social media, and in others, it took decades of one or both siblings knowing something was off about their upbringing, and there was someone out there just like them.A few of these stories have taken turns for the bizarre, such as the twins separated in the 1930s with one ending up raised Jewish, and the other being forced to join the Hitler Youth. Then there are the poor souls who met, fell in love and married - never knowing they were actually separated twins.Read on to learn more about these fascinating stories of twins being separated at birth, only to rediscover their other half later in life.

15 Stories of Twins Who Were Separated at Birth

Twins Separated at Birth: List of True Stories of Twin Reunions

Mike Rothschild

Interesting

The Baader-Meinhof complex&nbsp;is happening to you right now. It happened to you yesterday;&nbsp;it’ll happen to you tomorrow;&nbsp;and it'll happen the day after that. If you’re starting to see a pattern here, that’s because you’re experiencing the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (AKA the &quot;frequency illusion&quot;), the prickly sensation that after you see something once, it's everywhere.All mind trickery aside, the world is made up of patterns. Some people&nbsp;see certain types of patterns, while others may see different types. It really has to do with how a person is educated. After all, someone with a PhD in Applied Mathematics is going to see how numbers fit into the world far better than a person schooled in literature. The patterns you see reinforce your preconceptions and therefore your reality...&nbsp;but what if you see only what you want to see? What if a certain reality only exists because it's the world you want? What if you shut out everything that might challenge that view because you just aren't looking for different patterns?Like its sister phenomenon the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-examples-of-the-mandela-effect/elle-tharp">Mandela Effect</a>, in which whole groups of people misremember the same thing, the Baader-Meinhof&nbsp;complex is an example of your mind playing a trick on you in a really effective way. But, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/why-you-can-t-trust-your-memory/cristina-sanza">given how terrible human memory actually is</a>, you might want to consider reading on to see if you're in the midst of the Baader-Meinhof right now, this very minute. Otherwise, you might just get trapped inside your own mental patterns.

The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon: You Learn Something New, Then See It Everywhere

Things You Need To Know About The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon

Aaron Edwards

Lists about the squishy ball of noodles inside your skull, how it works, things we think it does, and ways it affects your life all day, every day.

What's on Your Mind

It’s no secret – most&nbsp;people want to be smart. And how do we prove to the world (and mainly, ourselves) that we are crazy IQ geniuses? By scoring sky high on the Intelligence Quotient (AKA IQ)&nbsp;test. While lots of people take this test seriously, for some, it is a matter of going to the extreme to score over 140, the threshold that separates the &quot;geniuses&quot; from those of &quot;above average&quot; intelligence.So, can you improve an IQ score with just brain-enhancing video games alone? What are the best ways to get smarter, anyway? Does anyone actually know how to boost an IQ score, or are those who claim that they can just plain wacky?If being a little bit nutty is a prerequisite for a high IQ (hey, it worked for <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-albert-einstein/stephanroget" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a>), those adhering to the&nbsp;guidelines listed below are definitely one step ahead of the rest of the world. Decide for yourself whether or not that step is right off the deep end. Here are some of the craziest things people have done to try to get a high IQ score.

The Craziest Things People Do To Boost Their IQs

Cynthia Griffith

The fascinating, sometimes tragic lives of identical twins joined in utero who beat the odds, survived infancy, and became people of interest around the world.

Conjoined for Life

Throughout history, conjoined twins have fascinated people around the world. Mainly, people want to know what it's like being joined to someone else their entire life. Most people can't imagine what it's like to be attached to your sibling day in and day out.&nbsp;Most of us can barely stand being around our brothers and sisters for long stretches of time,&nbsp;so how do these extraordinary individuals live their entire lives literally attached at the hip, waist, or head?While conjoined twins were introduced to pop culture mostly through&nbsp;"<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/human-attractions-pt-barnum-freak-show/melissa-sartore">freak&nbsp;shows</a>,"&nbsp;conjoined twins today lead relatively normal lives. In the interest of respectful discourse, we've looked into what this condition can mean for someone's&nbsp;physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Read on to learn more.

Real Answers To Questions You've Always Had About Conjoined Twins

Katia Kleyman

Explainer

What's the logic behind parking lots? Why are some arranged diagonally, and others laid out straight? It turns out that there’s a lot more to parking lot design than simply painting lines on a sheet of asphalt. Complex decisions regarding spacing, number of spots, efficiency, and flow of traffic all go into creating the perfect place to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/bad-parking-cards/vicky-choy">leave cars</a>. The science of how parking lots are arranged is fascinating.Take a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-hate-most-when-driving/analise.dubner">drive</a> through any city, and you'll likely notice lots with diagonal versus straight parking spots. Why parking lots look different has a lot to do with how the lot is used. Different angles change the amount of spots available in any given lot, and can impact how quickly drivers can get in and out of spaces.But what angle of entry is best? Should traffic be one-way or two-way? How many shopping cart corrals does one truly need? All of these choices, and more, are made by the great mathematical minds behind parking lots.

Why Are Some Parking Lots Arranged Diagonally And Others Are Straight?

11 Reasons Why Parking Lots Are Arranged Diagonally or Straight

Stephan Roget

Lists about phobias: the things we're scared of and why we are afraid of them.

What Are You So Afraid Of?

Phobias

How common is the fear of public speaking?&nbsp;So common that comedian Jerry Seinfeld <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ6giVKp9ec">wrote a joke</a> about the fact it&nbsp;is <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-common-phobias/desertrat89">more feared</a> than death –&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;spiders and heights. The official&nbsp;name for fear of public speaking&nbsp;in extreme cases is glossophobia, which is a <a href="https://www.ethos3.com/2014/10/glossophobia-101-the-fear-of-public-speaking/">combination of the Greek words</a> for &quot;tongue or language&quot; and &quot;fear.&quot;Glossophobia sufferers may freeze up in front of their audience and can experience sweating, dry mouth, a weak voice, and trembling. But having an &quot;audience&quot; doesn't only refer&nbsp;to being in front of a large group.&nbsp;Public speaking can also include dates, job interviews, and getting called on in class.It is not known exactly how many people have glossophobia, but it is estimated that&nbsp;about 75% of the population&nbsp;has experienced some form of public speaking fear. Many people are able to work through their fear and carry on with the task at hand. Some people do not experience any fear at all. So&nbsp;what causes glossophobia, and&nbsp;why are people scared of public speaking?&nbsp;

Why Does Pretty Much Everyone Have A Fear Of Public Speaking?

Why Does Pretty Much Everyone Have Glossophobia?

Erin McCann

Fun and very interesting lists about slang, vocabulary, language, spelling, and even punctuation.

Words, Words, Words

Entertainment

The ancient Greeks are not the only ones who can take credit for the&nbsp;etymology of key words and phrases.Well-used terms and slang can easily come from a long-running cartoon, a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/til-90s-late-night-hosts/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">late-night TV show</a>, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-cartoon-characters-on-tv/greg-hahn?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">a cartoon character</a>, or a beloved rom-com.

Here are a few examples of everyday&nbsp;words and phrases whose origin and popularity can be traced to a TV show or movie. Vote up the words and phrases with a surprising origin story.&nbsp;

30 Words And Phrases You Might Not Realize Originated From A Movie Or TV Show

Words And Phrases That Originated From A Movie Or TV Show

Erin Maxwell

Lists about all types of good boys and girls for the people who want to pet every single one of them.

Must Love Dogs

We may think of dogs as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/friendly-dog-breeds-that-are-good-with-kids/reference">man's best friend</a> (or our <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-pet-strollers/ranker-shopping">little fur babies</a>), but what do dogs think about&nbsp;us? Humanity may never fully know,&nbsp;but we are&nbsp;closer to an answer thanks to dog brain scan studies. In examining dogs' brains, scientists are discovering&nbsp;how&nbsp;our canine companions' brains work and how dogs think. In fact, some of the facts we've learned about dog brains show us they're more like people than once thought.Scientists have specially trained canines to enter and stay&nbsp;in a&nbsp;fMRI machine - complete with headphones to protect their sensitive ears - to study what happens inside a dog's brain. The results of the brain scans are intriguing, providing evidence that dogs are complex and emotional creatures, something <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/joys-of-dog-ownership/ashley-reign">most dog owners probably knew</a> all along. A dog’s happy or guilty-looking expression may not mean exactly what you think, but humans are finally closer to resolving the question, &quot;How do dog brains work?&quot;&nbsp;

16 Things We've Learned From Scanning Dog Brains

Things We've Learned From Scanning Dog Brains

Lists about drinking alcohol for people who love drinking alcohol.

Drinking, Drunk, Drunks

Alcohol

Everybody has that one drink they avoid, and there&#39;s usually some horror story attached to it as an explanation. Maybe <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-tequila-brands/bottoms-up" target="_blank">tequila</a> made you leave that embarrassing voicemail, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-bourbon-brands/bottoms-up" target="_blank">bourbon</a> made you think you had the strength of 10 people. While these can be humorous anecdotes, the premise behind them is false. The fact is, alcohol is alcohol, and science states the idea of different spirits affecting you differently is a myth.

So why do six&nbsp;beers feel entirely different than two whiskeys? Why does it feel like the effects of red wine and vodka are nothing alike? Well, grab a drink, because you&#39;re about to learn the truth.

Do Different Types Of Alcohol Get You Different Types Of Drunk?

Why Different Alcohols Giving You Different "Drunks" Is A Myth

Harrison Tenpas

Psychology

What happens during a fugue state is as mysterious as it is distressing. This sort of dissociative&nbsp;amnesia can be triggered by trauma or seemingly happen at random, and causes people to completely forget their <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/why-you-can-t-trust-your-memory/cristina-sanza" target="_blank">memories</a>&nbsp;– including their personalities. It can happen for hours, days, or even months. In rare occurrences, it can last for years.One of the weird things about fugue states is that they can involve changes of identity. During a dissociative fugue, a person might suddenly flee to a new place, where they'll begin living as a completely new individual. Once they come out of the state, they may feel confused, disoriented, or even angry. Their personality essentially resets as if nothing had ever happened.Information about fugue states is still being uncovered, but as disturbing as some of these cases may be, it's important to learn the facts. Otherwise, very real occurrences of fugue states might enter the realm of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/inaccurate-pop-psychology-findings/rylee_en" target="_blank">pop-psychology myths</a>.

Fugue States: What Happens When You Forget Your Own Identity

12 Weird Things You Never Knew About Fugue States

Laura Allan

Human memory capacity is pretty amazing, but don't fall into the trap of&nbsp;thinking you can rely on it all&nbsp;the time. It turns out that our brains can play tricks on us, and there are lots of reasons why you can't trust your own memory. From our inability to lodge colors into the old memory bank to our tendency to remember positive things and forget negative ones, we have memories that are more like rose-tinted biopics&nbsp;than gritty documentaries.&nbsp;In fact, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-examples-of-the-mandela-effect/elle-tharp">thousands of people who don't even know each other are capable of having the exact same false memory of something</a>.Read on for reasons why you should never trust your own memory. And write them down so you don't forget.

12 Reasons You Should Never Trust Your Own Memory

DScully

Interesting tidbits and things you should know about everything from the US Constitution to the modern banana industry.

Wow! That's Fascinating

Whoa Facts

People are sharing random facts that are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/learned-today-years-old/erin-maxwell?ref=profile_own">blowing their minds</a>, and honestly, some of them are truly eye opening. Did you know that Philly Cream Cheese was invented in NY? Or that cows have best friends? Here are a few&nbsp;examples of random facts that will make you say, "<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/today-years-old-learned-facts/erin-maxwell?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">I was today years old</a> when I learned..."

20+ Completely Random Yet Eye-Opening Facts People Learned When They Were 'Today Years Old'

All birds, great and small, from the freaking enormous ostrich to the itty bitty hummingbird and every feathered flapper in between.

Avian Aficionados

You probably think of pigeons as a nuisance. The&nbsp;city-dwelling birds are typically considered everything but useful. But study up on the science of carrier pigeons, and you might just find a newfound appreciation for these secretly <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/interesting-birds/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">interesting birds</a>.What are carrier pigeons? These birds&nbsp;are trained&nbsp;to consistently find their way home, and thanks to some handy directional abilities, they can be used&nbsp;to deliver messages. Many people, from civilians to military officials to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/historical-intelligence-agencies/kellen-perry" target="_blank">spies</a>, have used carrier pigeons throughout history.But how do carrier pigeons work? How could they manage to lift messages, and how do pigeons navigate? Thanks to new research, people can fully appreciate how these oft-maligned birds&nbsp;have contributed to communication through the ages.

Wait, How Exactly Do Carrier Pigeons Work?

How Do Carrier Pigeons Work?

Amber Fua

The Great Lakes have been a popular destination for families&nbsp;and nature lovers ever since families and nature lovers could venture out and about. Often, they are seen as the gentle, small cousins to the ocean, which offers a bounty of dangers and dismaying situations. But alas, the Great Lakes offer just as <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/polluted-lake-michigan-dangerous/erin-mccann" target="_blank">many dangers</a>, if not more.

From tornadoes to blood-sucking fish that swim just below the surface, here is a small selection of scary facts regarding the Great Lakes.

14 Scary Facts About The Great Lakes

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