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

Wow! That's Fascinating

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

Avian Aficionados

Interesting

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?

General

How Do Carrier Pigeons Work?

Amber Fua

Don't know how you do the voodoo that you do.

Dark Magic

Death

Death is often a subject that is avoided by humans because it&#39;s&nbsp;uncomfortable to think about the inevitable. Not many people want&nbsp;to think about the eerily unknown afterlife or&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/things-that-happen-when-you-die/danielletarasiuk" target="_blank">creepy things that happen to their body after death</a>. However, for some people, portents of death&nbsp;are painfully enticing, as if the knowledge or warning could somehow help them escape mortality. These kinds of pre-death indicators are found across cultures&nbsp;and serve as signs of&nbsp;death for you or someone around you.&nbsp;

While there are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/bad-omens-around-the-world/lee-emjay">omens&nbsp;around the world</a> that indicate bad luck, even darker ones foreshadow death.&nbsp;This list is a compilation of omens of death, from sensible signs to absolutely insane warnings. In case the universe sends you a sign, read on to learn about some everyday death omens.&nbsp;

21 Bad Omens That Tell You Death Is Near

21 Bad Omens Telling You You're Probably About To Die

Gross

Typically, the idea of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-15-craziest-cannibal-attacks-in-history/michael-gibson">people consuming other people</a>&nbsp;is considered far beyond the bounds of acceptable human behavior. Ever since the Europeans invaded the New World, cannibalism has been seen as the quintessential symbol of uncivilized savagery.&nbsp;Modern day individuals&nbsp;aren't even as inclined to believe in the spiritual or <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-gruesome-history-of-eating-corpses-as-medicine-82360284/">medicinal</a> aspects that once seemed to make eating people acceptable.But believe it or not, there are times when cannibalism was the only option in order to survive. However, these really aren't the people you should be asking <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/what-does-human-meat-taste-like/jacob-shelton">what human meat tastes like</a>&nbsp;given the circumstances that led to their consumption.&nbsp;This concept could be referred to as &quot;justified cannibalism,&quot; and you really should&nbsp;keep this phrase in mind as you read these chilling accounts of survival cannibalism.

Times In History When Cannibalism Was (Arguably) Justified

12 Times In History When Cannibalism Was (Arguably) Justified

Lists about the speechless little creatures who hold our hearts and see us naked but don't even know our names.

For the Love of Pets

Culture

Animals consistently prove their amazing ability&nbsp;to sense things that we are usually not even remotely aware of. What's more, they are able to find ways to communicate with us in ways that we don't understand. It is speculated that&nbsp;animals have an exclusive second (or &quot;sixth&quot;) sense, and they may also have <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/clairvoyance-and-telekinesis-stories/jacobybancroft">clairvoyant abilities</a>.The effect that this concept has on pet owners is certainly interesting, creating the space for them to question their pet's behaviors in terms of psychic possibilities. You've probably read stories about pets predicting earthquakes or&nbsp;pets predicting the future –&nbsp;but is&nbsp;your pet&nbsp;psychic or just overly-sensitive? Read this list of signs indicating that your pet is clairvoyant, and decide for yourself what to believe.

12 Spooky Signs Your Pet Might Be Clairvoyant

12 Telling Signs Your Pet Is Actually Clairvoyant

Historical Photos

The <a href="http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/catacombs/more-2000-years-history">Catacombes de&nbsp;Paris</a>&nbsp;remain&nbsp;one of the world&#39;s most iconic destinations for a macabre reminder of mortality. Directly beneath <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-paris-facts/setareh-janda" target="_blank">Paris</a>, these underground corridors&nbsp;contain the remains of an estimated six&nbsp;million Parisians. Their bodies were transferred below ground between the late 18th and 19th centuries because&nbsp;cemeteries became&nbsp;too full. This surplus of dead bodies above ground caused the city to reek of decomposing flesh, and the overflow put public health at risk.&nbsp;

Though it is <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ghost-stories-about-haunted-catacombs/caroline-cooney">quite a macabre&nbsp;spectacle</a>, many visit this morbid labyrinth&nbsp;each year to view the many artfully arranged bones. This slideshow of catacombs pictures is for those&nbsp;who can&#39;t hop on the next plane to France but want to take part in some of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scary-real-places/stacie-hougland">its creepier history</a>. Prepare to be slightly disturbed, but oddly mesmerized by these photos of the Paris Catacombs.

21 Haunting Photographs of The Catacombs of Paris

Haunting Slideshow Of The Paris Catacombs

Explainer

You've heard it before: don't drop a penny off a&nbsp;skyscraper, because it could kill someone. It's a notion as strangely comical as it is disturbing. But the idea that a small coin could cause death upon impact seems&nbsp;plausible, right? If you think that, you're not alone - some physicists have even tested this theory by replicating the conditions of&nbsp;throwing a penny or two from the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/empire-state-building-construction-photos/kellen-perry">Empire State Building</a>.Most people would automatically assume that a penny tossed at such a height&nbsp;would be dangerous. However, the physical outcome of a penny falling from the sky and coming into contact with someone is pretty surprising.So, the big question is: could a penny kill you? No, and it probably wouldn't even hurt you. But the physics of falling pennies would still make for fascinating conversation at your next awkward dinner party.

What Would Happen If You Got Hit By A Penny Dropped From A Skyscraper?

What Would Happen If You Got Hit By A Penny Dropped From a Skyscraper?

Myths, lore, ghost stories, and urban legends from all around the United States.

American Legends

Strange True Stories

​​​​​Headless brides. Drowned men. Malevolent sirens. They're all rumored to be haunting the confines of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-national-parks-in-the-usa/voteable">Yellowstone National Park</a>. And they aren't the only things out to get you in the wilderness -&nbsp;fatalities in this park have been caused by everything from falls and geysers to poisonous gas and rampaging bears. Yellowstone has been the site of hundreds of deaths. It's not surprising that there are so many Yellowstone myths, cautionary tales, and downright <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-yosemite-stories/lyra-radford">creepy stories</a>.These Yellowstone legends and ghost stories are enough to send a chill down the spine of even the most hardened survivalist. What would you do if you saw a waterfall suddenly turn red, as if stained with blood? And how would you react to a herd of stampeding bison? These spooky tales and gruesome true stories about Yellowstone remind you to stay aware as you take&nbsp;in the beauty of nature.

Creepy Legends And True-Life Stories From Yellowstone National Park

12 Creepy Legends And Stories About Yellowstone National Park

Weird Nature

It's scary to think about the things in our environment that we can't&nbsp;readily detect or see with our&nbsp;own eyes. It's even worse to be think about the hidden things that can&nbsp;actually harm you. With that said, consider these questions: Do you ever think about the molds&nbsp;found in your house? Did you know that you may be surrounded by deadly molds that kill some people? Also, you've almost definitely been in contact with molds that cause illness. It's statistically terrifying how common they are.Before you drive a bleach-soaked toothbrush&nbsp;into the caulking of your shower&nbsp;in a paranoid frenzy, be aware&nbsp;that not all molds&nbsp;succumb to caustic cleaning agents. Some can even withstand an immense amount of heat.Now don't go bashing your walls in with a sledgehammer just yet. There are deadly molds,&nbsp;but not many types of molds are lethal without long-term and repeated exposure, aided by an already compromised immune system. Still, there are some&nbsp;scary molds that are probably&nbsp;killing you. That's just science.&nbsp;

The Scariest Molds That Could Be Quietly Killing You Right Now

Graveyard Shift

Some abandoned houses and&nbsp;buildings prove&nbsp;to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/photos-of-abandoned-buildings/jacob-shelton">incredibly cool areas to explore and document</a>. Aside from architecture and the physical remnants of&nbsp;life&nbsp;left behind, new visitors leave their marks on its empty shell,&nbsp;typically in the form of graffiti. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/funny-vandalism/ariel-kana">Sometimes it consists of inspirational work</a>,&nbsp;but other times&nbsp;the&nbsp;graffiti&nbsp;is meant to&nbsp;creep&nbsp;you out. If you want to get a feel for scary art in abandoned buildings without meandering&nbsp;into one on your own, then check out these photos.References to hell and dead bodies come up quite often in abandoned structures, which tells you much about <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-does-it-feel-like-to-drown/katherine-ripley?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">how it feels to</a> walk around in them. Luckily, you're safe at your computer, at least physically. Who knows what sort of scars these markings will leave on your nightmares?

Creepy Graffiti In Abandoned Buildings That Will Haunt Your Nightmares

The Creepiest Graffiti Found in Abandon Houses and Buildings

Exploring plagues and pandemics throughout history.

It's an Epidemic

COVID-19 fever is still sweeping the nation. Wash your hands. As much as possible, stay home. Don't worry about your roots.

Wear a Mask

Disease Outbreaks

The world is swarming with deadly diseases, and the history of humanity can certainly attest to this fact. There have been many instances spanning our existence of historic epidemics that threatened humanity.

While we are typically alarmed by&nbsp;more modern diseases and viruses such as AIDS or influenza, many scary health epidemics have been known to resurface over time. These&nbsp;illnesses&nbsp;that&nbsp;almost&nbsp;wiped&nbsp;out&nbsp;humans seem like something that could only happen in the distant past, but be warned: if we&#39;re not careful, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-modern-contagious-diseases/harrison-tenpas">future diseases could threaten to end humanity as we know it</a>.&nbsp;

The Most Destructive Epidemics In Human History

15 Devastating Epidemics That Have Threatened Humanity

Lists that examine the unique, bizarre, and sometimes shocking ways that different worldwide cultures view and celebrate life and what comes next. 

Post-Mortem Rituals

Looking closer at the who, what, where, why, and how of mummies and human preservation around the world and throughout history.

Forever Young

It seems impossible that someone could mummify themselves. But that's exactly what sokushinbutsu is. This self-mummification was a religious practice undergone by Buddhist monks in 11th to 19th century Japan. While the&nbsp;extreme process may seem brutal, the monks who attempted it viewed it as a way to achieve further enlightenment.That doesn't mean self-mummification is easy. Monks deprived themselves of food and eventually entombed themselves while they were still breathing, all in pursuit of a higher state of being.&nbsp;Successful sokushinbutsu monks are considered living Buddhas.Sokushinbutsu <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/books-banned-in-prison/jessika-gilbert?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">has been banned</a> in Japan, but some of these Japanese mummy monks still survive today. The Dainichi temple mummies on display give an eerie window into this sacred ritual, with their carefully preserved bones and colorful robes. The monks'&nbsp;remains stand as the ultimate reflection of a life of self-denial.

12 Things You Didn't Know About Sokushinbutsu, A.K.A. Self-Mummification

12 Gruesome Facts About Sokushinbutsu, or Self-Mummification

Lists about the backstories and persistent legends that surround the many mythical figures that watch you as you walk alone in the woods at night.

Creepy Creatures of Ill Repute

When you think &quot;fairies,&quot; what comes to mind? You probably picture an adorable and sparkly creature akin to Disney&#39;s Tinker Bell, a lovely - and above all, friendly - presence. You may even want to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-to-contact-fairies/dom-kelly" target="_blank">make contact with them</a>. Unfortunately, glittering humanoids with butterfly wings are the stuff of children&#39;s stories. Retrace faerie folklore, and you&#39;ll discover their secret scary origins.

Cultures all over the world put their own disturbing spin on the fay. In Wales, faerie folk take away babies and leave their own twisted offspring in their place. Scottish Kelpies, meanwhile, are known for their taste for human flesh. As for Icelandic Huldufolk&nbsp;and Filipino Berberoka, you&#39;ll have to keep reading to discover just what makes them so chilling.

Just because they&#39;re mythological doesn&#39;t mean that faeries are any less frightening. Here are a few of their darkest attributes - just remember to shut your windows tight before going to sleep tonight.

15 Stories About Faeries That Prove They're More Creepy Than Cute

Lists about real practices of witchcraft and the occult and their pointy-hatted, warty-nosed, buckle-shod, broom-ridin', high-pitched cacklin' depictions in media.

Witches Get Stitches

Witchcraft

Popular culture and entertainment have taken a lot of the fear out of witchcraft these days. Movies, television shows, and&nbsp;books often portray magic and witchcraft&nbsp;as fun, sexy, or silly. But modern-day witches and their victims can be as dangerous today as they were when they were originally&nbsp;featured in fairy tales and ghost stories.

It seems as if few people believe in real witches anymore, but people who claim to be witches are out there, and their intentions aren&#39;t always benign. Some of these self-proclaimed witches have made headlines for committing all-too-real crimes. The&nbsp;crimes committed by witches in real life&nbsp;(as well as those who claim to have been possessed or hexed by witches) are not as cinematic, sexy,&nbsp;or glamorous&nbsp;as witchcraft in the movies, but they are definitely as scary.

12 Real Crimes Involving Modern-Day Witches And Witchcraft

12 Real Crimes Involving Modern-Day Witches and Witchcraft

Real places in the physical world that you should avoid at all costs, lest you never come back (alive). 

Get Out, Stay Out

Pop Culture

The history of insane asylums is plagued with terror and abuse. A multitude of asylum and psychiatric patients have lost their lives, dignity, and maybe even what was left of their minds as a result of cruel and overcrowded confinement. Moreover, the &quot;treatment&quot; of mental illness in the past often involved horror movie-style methods.&nbsp;

It&#39;s no wonder that - <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-chilling-real-life-haunted-house-stories/wavy-gravey" target="_blank">like the real-life homes that became haunted in the wake of horrifying events</a> -&nbsp;most of the creepy abandoned buildings that once housed hundreds of mental patients now inspire many ghost stories and are home to continuous paranormal activity. This list compiles just a few of these haunted institutions that can be found around the world.

14 Super Terrifying Haunted Asylums From Around The World

Shining a spotlight on shocking deeds done by damsels in anything but distress.

Very Bad Girls

True Crime

Castration - the word alone sounds painful.&nbsp;Physically, castration is any type of surgical, chemical, or lacerating action that renders&nbsp;individuals unable to use their testicles. Metaphorically, though, castration takes away something deeper. And for some women - like the infamous Lorena Bobbitt - the act of castration is way to take revenge out on the men in their lives.&nbsp;

Sometimes, it is solely the testicles that get the axe. Other times, the entirety of the genitals are targeted for revenge. Sometimes, there is a good reason. Other times, the lines are blurred. Read on and judge for yourself whether or not these cases of castration were warranted.

15 Women Who Castrated Husbands, Boyfriends, And Other Men

15 Women Who Castrated Husbands, Boyfriends, And Random Strangers

Lists of spooky places around the world where you might see, here, or feel a real ghost.

Local Haunts

Lists about the period of United States history that allowed for human enslavement, from early colonial days until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

American Slavery

While the past&nbsp;of every plantation&nbsp;in the American South is tainted by the evil of slavery, some also have legends and ghost stories that add another level of unrest to their histories. These haunted relics from a darker time are home to&nbsp;the&nbsp;ghosts of slaves and&nbsp;soldiers as well as plantation owners and their family members. This list explores several haunted plantations and&nbsp;their popular spirit sightings, along with&nbsp;the tragic historical background behind these eerie tales.

15 Ghost Stories From American Plantations

American Plantation Ghost Stories That'll Terrify You

Hey, what's up? Are you on a quest for a nightmare? Well, look no further.

Creepy People, Places & Things

Animals

There's nothing quite like&nbsp;pictures of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scary-pictures-of-cute-animals/ashley-reign">cute animals</a>, and not much else tops&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scary-stuffed-animals/nathandavidson">stuffed animals</a>. Intertwine the two and you get taxidermy, which takes both concepts and makes them better. Sometimes.We've all seen photos of bad taxidermy&nbsp;or taxidermy gone wrong.&nbsp;Those&nbsp;unnaturally awful cases&nbsp;mostly stem from&nbsp;poor craftsmanship&nbsp;or extreme age. In a side realm of the craft, there exists creepy taxidermy that isn't so much bad as it is eerie and weird.This list highlights a few pieces of awkwardly terrifying taxidermy&nbsp;and&nbsp;taxidermy that took things a bit too far.&nbsp;

23 Horrifying Pieces Of Taxidermy That Actually Exist

23 Horrifying Pieces Of Taxidermy That Shouldn't Exist (Photos)

Lists about weird and fascinating corporeal forms in the animal kingdom.

Animal Anatomy

Nature is one powerfully weird force. This fact&nbsp;can be readily exemplified by observing genetic mutations. While&nbsp;color mutations such as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/albino-animal-pictures/ranker-science?ref=collections&amp;pos=4&lt;ype=l&amp;l=2373957&amp;g=1 ">albinism</a>&nbsp;are a far more mild sampling of this realm, sometimes nature can produce some truly bizarre genetic mutations. These mutations often make for crazy scary animals - and if&nbsp;not completely scary, they&#39;re at least astonishing.&nbsp;

If you&#39;re interested in a variety of animals with unbelievable genetic mutations, definitely continue reading.

15 Animals Born With The Most Bizarre Mutations You'll Ever See

15 Animals Born With Bizarre Genetic Mutations (Photos)

When most people think of death row inmates, they think of big burly men. But the truth is, there are plenty of female killers on death row. And the men and women of death row are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-death-row-inmates/philgibbons" target="_blank">some terrifying killers</a>.

It is customary in the United States that before an execution that a&nbsp;death row inmate&#39;s final meal is one of their own choosing. And while in recent years, different states have put caps on what they&#39;re willing to spend for a last meal, some of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-most-elaborate-final-meals-in-death-row-history/john-barryman" target="_blank">the requests from killers are extremely bizarre</a>.

This compilation of&nbsp;final&nbsp;meals requested&nbsp;by&nbsp;notable <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/women-on-death-row/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">female killers on death row</a> are so seemingly simplistic that they&#39;re absolutely creepy. So for those morbid enough to stomach it, here&#39;s&nbsp;what female death row inmates ate before their executions.

11 Last Meals Consumed By Female Murderers On Death Row

Person

Fun and horrifying facts many weird, gross, and excruciatingly painful things that can happen to you & your body in your final moments.

Terrible Ways to Go

World History

Drawing and quartering began in 14th-century England as the official punishment for treason. As treason was seen as the greatest threat to rulers, the penalty was excessively and intentionally brutal&nbsp;in order to instill compliance in onlookers. In fact, the public spectacle of the process - and the public display of the body parts afterward - was the primary reason for this horrific practice.

While the words &ldquo;drawn&rdquo; and &ldquo;quartered&rdquo; seem simple enough, a lot more went into this severe punishment than these two words even begin to reveal on their own. Being drawn and quartered included many more horrible things, from burning and hanging to castration and dismemberment. Read on for a glimpse into exactly what&nbsp;being drawn and quartered does to your body.

What It's Like To Be Drawn And Quartered

What It Feels Like To Be Drawn And Quartered

Lists about the pre-historic, ancient, medieval, olden, and not-that-long-ago days of medicine, when doctors made bizarre assumptions and prescribed totally insane treatments that made sense at the time...

We Didn't Know Any Better

<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/electroconvulsive-therapy/basics/definition/prc-20014161">Electroconvulsive therapy</a> (ECT, once known as &quot;electroshock&nbsp;therapy&quot;) is a procedure where&nbsp;electricity is passed&nbsp;through the brain in order to cause a seizure. It is a treatment&nbsp;utilized in&nbsp;psychiatry&nbsp;to assist in changing the chemistry of the brain in order to reduce or reverse symptoms of some mental illnesses.&nbsp;Though ECT is widely considered safe and effective by patients and physicians today, electroconvulsive therapy has a&nbsp;disturbing past. This controversial treatment has not always&nbsp;been regarded as safe or ethical, and when you delve into the history of electroconvulsive therapy, you'll see why.

21 lists