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Cynthia Griffith - Lists at Ranker

Are you engaging in the physical act of love or thinking about doing the deed? Or are you the product of mating or a human being alive in the modern world? If so, read these lists immediately. Your life depends on it.

Carnal Knowledge

Lifestyle

Have you ever met someone who was&nbsp;perfect for you in every way except one? In other words, they checked off all the boxes on your wish list, but you just weren&#39;t attracted to them.&nbsp;You&#39;re not imagining it - subconscious attractions aren&#39;t made up. In fact, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/science-behind-sex-practices/david-sharp" target="_blank">attraction is&nbsp;rooted in science</a>.

According to science,&nbsp;there are many different <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-means-of-attraction/donn-saylor" target="_blank">causes of physical attraction</a>. Some of them are more practical, based on physical convenience; others seem to follow no rationale.&nbsp;If love were a potion, it would consist of an eclectic mix of chemical reactions, enticing aromas, dizzying emotional charges, and a pinch of some secret ingredient.

Listen to what your body is&nbsp;trying to tell you when you fall for someone - there&#39;s&nbsp;a method behind the madness!

All The Subconscious Reasons You're Attracted To Certain People

General

Subconscious Reasons You're Attracted To Who You're Attracted To

Cynthia Griffith

Weird Nature

Heroes come in all shapes, and sizes;&nbsp;sometimes they even come in breeds. In fact, one <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hero-dogs-2017/elise" target="_blank">hero dog</a>, Max, is a blue heeler who saved a three year old. Unencumbered by his failing sight and hearing, the Australian pup&nbsp;protected the&nbsp;child in the wild for more than 15 hours straight.Over 17 years old, Max lives in Queensland, AU, and he's a member of the Bennett-Kyle family. When more than&nbsp;100 State Emergency Service workers couldn't find young&nbsp;Aurora Kyle in April 2018, Max stayed with her, further proving why dogs are man's&nbsp;best friends. Obviously, animals can be <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprising-animal-heroes/ashley-reign" target="_blank">heroes</a> too.

Partially-Blind Dog Protects Toddler For Over 15 Hours In The Wild, Proves Dogs Are Man's Best Pal

Pets

Foxes might have the reputation for being sly, but folks should never underestimate the intelligence of the underdog, or any other kind of dog for that matter. This is the story of a clever pup named Negro, a doggo&nbsp;who has joined the ranks of animals who tried using money in stores. This college dog thinks leaves are money.In addition to mastering human economics, Negro has also learned things even his fellow college classmates have yet to figure out. He has effortlessly managed to wag his way into a situation where he gets free room and board at a prestigious higher education institution. When the dog tries using leaves to pay for treats, the end result is as hilarious as it is impressive. In fact, he's one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/human-animals/emilynerland" target="_blank">funniest animals</a>&nbsp;to grace the internet.Has Negro, in a stroke of genius, invented a brand new currency that’s really the wave of the future? <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-left-money-to-their-pets/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">Humans have left money to&nbsp;pets in their wills</a>, but there aren't many pets who have created their own legal tender. Negro is just one of many modern canines cashing in on capitalism and all of its wonders.

Clever Dog Uses Leaves To Buy Treats From Student Store

Lists about the gazillions of things spinning around the whole infinite universe.

Space: The Final Frontier

The Space Page

The&nbsp;debate about whether or not Earthlings&nbsp;are dwindling away their&nbsp;resources and leaving&nbsp;future generations with the possibility of a fruitless planet has been raging forever. But&nbsp;the argument may be seriously altered as we attempt to tap&nbsp;into a brand new supply of resources — in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/awesome-space-pictures/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">outer space</a>.&nbsp;The $330 billion space mining industry is gaining traction and attracting investors and scientists alike. So exactly&nbsp;what is is? In a nutshell, space mining is&nbsp;the concept of gathering resources from outer space for use on Earth. Space mining opens up new&nbsp;portholes into previously unexplored options for our problematic planet.Unfortunately, however, not everything about space mining is so straightforward. Countries all across the globe are bargaining for space chips and, much like an orbit, the rules to the game are perpetually circling. There are other ethical and other ramifications to consider as well. Would colonizing space give Earthlings even more excuses to disrespect the inhabitable planet they already have? Could it lead to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-if-we-nuked-an-asteroid/kellen-perry" target="_blank">intergalactic nuclear war</a>?&nbsp;Because of all the resources abounding through the constellations, could turn our entire economy upside down.Is space mining&nbsp;the next gold rush? Many say yes. After all, there is a treasure trove of mineral rich asteroids hovering just above us, ripe for the picking. Unlike in the past, though, we now also possess the necessary technology to plot, extract, and harvest these unparalleled gems. Here’s an in-depth look at the burgeoning interstellar industry&nbsp;that has tycoons and space addicts mesmerized.

What Is Space Mining - And Why Might It Be The Future Of Energy?

Why Space Mining Might It Be The Future Of Energy

Did dinosaurs have feathers? Scales? Deep voices or shrill, piercing squawks? Australian accents? Sarcastic lilts? Check out these lists about the many bird-like reptiles that roamed and ruled over Planet Earth between 66 and 230 million years ago.

Raaaarrr!!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Even if you aren't a paleontologist, you probably know certain dinosaurs: the T-Rex, the Velociraptor, the Triceratops, etc. But you likely never learned about&nbsp;Dracorex Hogwartsia, one of the most fascinating dino discoveries in recent years.&nbsp;For starters, this Harry Potter dinosaur got his name from a discoverer who loved J.K. Rowling's massively <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-selling-book-series-of-all-time/jeff419?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">popular book series</a>. The crown of horns adorning Dracorex's&nbsp;head makes its appearance resemble that of a real-life dragon. In fact, Dracorex's&nbsp;dragon-like appearance caused many a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dinosaur-conspiracy-theories/justin-andress" target="_blank">dinosaur conspiracy</a> that he may provide a link between the reptiles of old with the dragons of legend. Regardless, the &quot;dragon king&quot; as his name implies, occupies a unique place in evolutionary history, becoming another <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/10-most-amazing-extinct-animals/neyas-yahoo" target="_blank">amazing extinct animal</a> you just want to know more about.If you want to catch a glimpse of this guy, visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where the 10-foot reptile's skull stands atop an artificial skeleton. Though the rest of his frame remains lost to time, the Dracorex on display here was only a juvenile, meaning his adult form would likely be much, much bigger.&nbsp;He may be 66 million years old, but his head holds up quite well, allowing children and scientists alike to be further mesmerized by his entirely novel&nbsp;appearance.

Meet Dracorex Hogwartsia, The Most Amazing Dinosaur You’ve Never Heard Of

Meet Dracorex Hogwartzia, The Most Amazing Dinosaur You’ve Never Heard Of

Lists about the world's most perfect predator, which has stalked every sea and consumed whatever it wishes for the last 420 million years.

Every Week Is Shark Week

Summertime shark stories have always been strange affairs.&nbsp;And what's weird is that some of the strangest&nbsp;tales are the ones that are actually true. Scientists have&nbsp;confirmed that within the beautiful ocean depths, there exist&nbsp;mutated two-headed sharks. Are two-headed sharks real? Absolutely. But unlike the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-bad-shark-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">best terrible&nbsp;shark&nbsp;horror films</a>, these mutated&nbsp;creatures are the hunted, not the hunters.Sharks are not the only <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/two-headed-animals/coy-jandreau" target="_blank">two-headed animals</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;have been documented. There have been cases of pigs and cats being born with two heads. In addition,&nbsp;shark mutations are in no way, shape, or form&nbsp;limited to only&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicephalic_parapagus_twins" target="_blank">dicephalic parapagus</a> (the genetic abnormality known as conjoined twin syndrome). Overfishing, pollution, climate change, and other factors have resulted in all sorts of twisted gene&nbsp;abnormalities in sharks. Have you seen the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJuJOZ35vA" target="_blank">Shark Cyclops</a> yet? It’s pretty terrifying stuff.&nbsp;At the end of the day, most scientists and researchers agree that human habits have given way to shark inbreeding, which is turning the ocean into an underwater circus. Every part of the globe has been exposed to these mutated two-headed sharks. So, before you head out for that family vacation at your favorite little nook on the beach, you might want to enlighten yourself on the newest wave in maritime mutants.&nbsp;

The Curious Emergence Of Two-Headed Sharks

Lists of creatures around the world that are simply beautiful (or, at least, very interesting).

Cool-Looking Animals

Animals

The phenomena of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-12-greatest-dancing-animals-ever/robert-wabash" target="_blank">animals dancing</a> in nature is undeniably hilarious. Such <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-greatest-short-viral-videos-of-all-time/brian-gilmore" target="_blank">videos</a> are the must-clicks of the Internet. But that doesn't mean animal dances are not purposeful. Why do animals dance? There's a variety of natural reasons for these occurrences.&nbsp;Some dances are cultural, some are protective, and some dancing animals go so far as to defy the very laws of science itself.Take a sneak peek into the rhythmic side of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-10-strangest-most-terrifying-creatures-ever-found/ivana-wynn" target="_blank">animal kingdom</a>. Here you'll find that nature abides by rules of rhythm and art. Funny animal dances include a&nbsp;gorilla making it rain, a sea lion keeping a beat, and a pair of scorpions locking claws&nbsp;in a dance to the death.Humans aren't the only creatures with unique artistic communication. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/profile-of/cutest-animal-videos" target="_blank">Modern technology</a> gives us behind-the-scenes access to the shocking and hilarious behavior of animals. Funny animal dances prove nature is full of surprises - not to mention is surprisingly entertaining. Here are a few of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/nature-tv-shows-and-series/reference" target="_blank">nature's hit</a> moves and the insightful reasons these animals get down and boogie. Vote up who you think would slay at a cameo on Dancing With the Stars.

The Craziest Animal Dances And Why They Happen

Animal/Plant

To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub, For what if someone (or something) terrible is waiting inside your closet, or lying under your bed, or kneeling on your chest?

While You Were Sleeping

Biology

Sleep is a realm of mysterious occurrences, many of which are still unexplained. Weird things that happen when you sleep can run the gamut from scary to funny to just plain bizarre. When nighttime fears give way to recurring dreams and evil jinns&nbsp;(or <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-night-hag-facts/jen-jeffers" target="_blank">scary night hags</a>) who sit on your chest throughout the night, you know you’re in for a wild ride.Were you aware of the fact that some sleep behaviors shed light on daytime habits like smoking and anxiety? Did you know that a vast portion of the general population talks in their sleep? Do you ever wake up kicking, urinating, or feeling like you just got punched in the face? If so, the good news is that&nbsp;you’re not alone. The bad news is that we’re all alone once REM sleep sets in. To make matters that much worse, most of us are paralyzed in sleep.Some things that happen at night have strange scientific or spooky paranormal explanations. Here’s a look at dreamland from a scientific perspective with weird sleep facts that are guaranteed to keep you up at night.

12 Strange Sleep Phenomena And Why They Occur

Comic Books

Just like there are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/films-accused-of-copyright-infringement/matthewcoleweiss" target="_blank">movies accused of copyright infringement</a>, there are comics charged with stealing intellectual property (IP).&nbsp;IP is a complicated thing. Protecting original ideas is a difficult, if not impossible, task. This is particularly true for indie <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-comic-book-creator_s)/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">comic book producers</a> who seem to be exempt from the many copyright infringement loopholes major companies get to enjoy. &nbsp;Graphic novel producers, both large and small, have participated in some form of copying of other people’s works. The fine line between theft and admiration is often about as easy to see as a thread of silk on one of Spider-Man’s fingertips. In fact, even the creators of Spider-Man have had a few accusations thrown at them. Some of the worst cases of stolen comic&nbsp;materials have emerged quite recently.Sadly, even in situations where plagiarism is blindingly obvious, people&nbsp;tend&nbsp;to look the other way. After all, it's always difficult to tell where the line is between inspiration and flat-out&nbsp;copying.&nbsp;This list is a thought-provoking look at comic book producers' darkest secret:&nbsp;plagiarism. These comics only exist because they pushed the limits of inspiration, sometimes even just&nbsp;stealing&nbsp;their material. Vote up the blatantly obvious copycat comics.&nbsp;

The Comic Book Industry Is Plagued By Plagiarism, And No One Can Stop It

Comic Book Series

Great Comic Books That Exist Thanks to Plagiarism

Staying on dry land, avoiding all the creepy, man-hungry creatures just below the surface.

What Lies Beneath

Conspiracies

When strange things happen at sea, they&nbsp;become&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-sailor-stories/christopher-shultz" target="_blank">tales of sailors</a> and seafarers.&nbsp;Rumors are told as facts, leading to the birth of conspiracy theories about the powerful oceans.&nbsp;Conspiracy theories about the sea often sound believable&nbsp;but have eventually been debunked over the years. Oceanic mysteries&nbsp;like sea creatures, government plots, lost cities, and even alien sightings have taken the internet by storm, but of course, they&#39;re just conspiracies and not facts.&nbsp;

The ocean is a vast realm with many unexplored regions. From tropical waters to super&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-places-in-the-oceans/edira-putri" target="_blank">creepy places in the ocean</a>, there is much left to discover. But the discoveries should be backed by fact.

8 Debunked Conspiracy Theories Involving Earth's Oceans

8 Mind Blowing Conspiracy Theories Involving Earth’s Oceans

Think you know your favorite animals? Study up on fun facts and fascinating trivia to drop at your next cocktail party.

Up Close with Awesome Animals

Manatee

While their path to recovery is still underway, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/living/manatee-endangered-species-feat/" target="_blank">the manatee population has increased</a> dramatically over the last decade&nbsp;with more than 13,000 of these sweet animals now swimming about,&nbsp;compared to only&nbsp;1,267 in the '90s. The story behind <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ecological-impacts-of-the-extinction-of-endangered-animals/cynthia-griffith" target="_blank">the endangered manatee</a> is one of trial, triumph, and historical significance - and it’s one that humans are most certainly part of.Due to their gentle nature and aquatic grazing habits, manatees have been given the adorable nickname&nbsp;&quot;sea cows.&quot; In reality, though, they have the heart of elephants. Some of these facts about manatees may surprise you, but all in all, these gentle giants&nbsp;are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. Manatees&nbsp;from the river to the bay&nbsp;might have moved up a notch on the endangered species list, but they’re still in desperate need of help. Read on to learn more about manatees, their docile nature, and their strength.

15 Amazing Facts About Manatees - The Sea Cows Of Our Hearts

15 Amazing Things About The Manatee

Plains Zebra

Beautiful, deadly, and darn near impossible to tame, the plains zebra occupies a unique niche within the animal kingdom. In a harsh, unfriendly climate riddled with predators and human influence, the zebra struggles to stay alive.&nbsp;What are zebras really like? Well, to be honest, zebras possess the temperament of jerks.But before you bemoan their behavior, bad boy zebras&nbsp;use their belligerence as a form of survival. Zebras face challenges unparalleled to other herbivores, and as such have adapted some crazy cool <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/horrifying-defense-mechanisms-of-adorable-animals/ranker-science" target="_blank">defense&nbsp;techniques</a> to survive.As it stands, even with its sick survival skills, the endangered plains zebra has faced&nbsp;a population decline of an overwhelming 50% in under two decades. These zebra facts highlight their&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ecological-impacts-of-the-extinction-of-endangered-animals/cynthia-griffith" target="_blank">critical endangerment</a>&nbsp;and remind us why we should respect&nbsp;these regal creatures. Zebras&nbsp;are, if nothing else, resilient. Cheers to the zebra, a wild beast that refuses to be tamed, let alone domesticated.

Crazy Facts About The Plains Zebra - The Bad Boy Of The Horse World

12 Crazy Facts About The Plains Zebra

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

Smarts

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

When the folks at the<a href="http://www.npl.co.uk" target="_blank"> National Physical Laboratory</a> set out to manufacture the blackest&nbsp;black in the universe -&nbsp;something rivaled only by <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-black-hole-facts/cynthia-griffith?var=3&amp;utm_expid=16418821-300.nxxosUKPRc-jijaZcm5P8Q.2&amp;utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ranker.com%2Fapp%2Fsearch.htm%3Fq%3Dblack%2Bhole" target="_blank">an actual black hole</a> -&nbsp;nobody&nbsp;fully understood the implications. Today, the marvel that is Vantablack is finally coming to light. Technically, though, it’s actually absorbing light at a rate that was previously thought to be impossible.So, what is Vantablack? For starters, it’s the world’s blackest material, doing the work of crazy space substances right here on Earth. Trademarked by Surrey NanoSystems Limited, this laboratory-grown substance isn’t exactly a color. It is a light-absorber so powerful that it actually creates darkness and distortion across everything it touches. The real-life applications for such a material are endless and pretty fantastical -&nbsp;some say it can even&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wps.co.uk/news/worlds-darkest-material-to-make-stealth-aircraft.shtml" target="_blank">make airplanes disappear</a>.What we do know about this&nbsp;science fiction-esque&nbsp;substance is that it is comprised of vertically aligned nanotube arrays that bounce light particles off of one another until the light is swallowed up and completely disappears. And when Vantablack is applied to a three dimensional object, the object flattens to appear two dimensional, losing all of its features. We also know&nbsp;that this sort of substance could enhance our view of the solar system, allowing us to see planets and stars that we never even knew existed. Here’s a look at the many shades of Vantablack, and how this alien substance&nbsp;will probably (definitely)&nbsp;impact our planet’s future.

Things You Didn't Know About Vantablack: The Darkest Color In The Galaxy

13 Things You Didn't Know About Vantablack

More than 500 million years ago, a frozen, hostile Earth awakened. Scary prehistoric creatures began changing at breathtaking speed. This time of remarkable change is known to the scientific community as the Cambrian explosion. So, what is the Cambrian explosion? In short, it is a cataclysmic happening that allegedly forced the microorganisms that used to rule the world into a state of rapid evolution. This solitary event is a topic of great debate for scientists far and wide, mainly because it poses some challenges to the theory of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/evolution-facts/kellen-perry" target="_blank">evolution</a> itself. Did the Cambrian explosion even happen at all? And if it did, how did it affect the animals that survived? These are just a few of the looming questions that surround the theoretical explosion.Creatures from before the Cambrian explosion predate all recognizable early life, including <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/things-we-used-to-believe-about-dinosaurs/anna-lindwasser" target="_blank">dinosaurs</a>. These beings were almost alien in appearance, with&nbsp;backwards facing heads, protruding limbs with claws, and some of the craziest eyeballs known to man. Most of them do not exist today. Those that do are distant relatives, barely recognizable to their initial forms. Here’s a look at some of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-things-seen-heard/amandasedlakhevener?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the most terrifying</a> and intriguing beings from before this mystifying time period.

11 Borderline Horrifying Prehistoric Creatures That Lived 500 Million Years Ago

11 Horrifying Creatures That Existed Before The Cambrian Explosion

Geeky

While <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-coolest-fictional-objects-you-most-want-to-own">fictional objects</a> have played a pivotal role in the childhood of geeks, nerds, and gamers, every kid remembers asking Santa for that heroic, magical weapon imbued with power and bravery. There are countless moments when fans have fantasized about wielding weapons of legend with meaningful&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/meanings-of-symbols-on-fictional-weapons/cynthia-griffith">symbols</a>, slaying foes and banishing enemies in their imaginations. This list is a tribute to the best of the best in enchanted weapons from film, tv, novels, comic books, and other entertainment sources.While many fictional weapons are awesome, the key criterion here is that the weapon has to be enchanted, like Green Lantern’s ring. It can't just be&nbsp;awesome,&nbsp;like Batman’s grappler. Be sure to vote up the most spellbinding weaponry from the list and vote down any weapons you think missed the mark.&nbsp;

14 Legendary Magical Weapons, Ranked By Awesomeness

The 14 Greatest Legendary Magical Weapons of All Time

Graveyard Shift

The symbols on weapons within any given fictional realm have a way of embedding themselves deep into the subconscious. They say a great deal about the characters who wield them, even if the characters themselves don't talk about them. For fans to uncover the meaning of symbols on illustrated weapons, an insane amount&nbsp;of dedication and research are&nbsp;required. It is, however, well worth it.&nbsp;Often, symbols on shields, guns, staffs, and other weaponry represent something peculiar and unexpected. Who knew these fictive universes were overflowing with curses, legends, hate symbols, and more? The truth within these shows, comics, movies, and games is scrawled along the rims of ancient shields, concealed in hieroglyphic letters, or sometimes written in entirely fabricated languages that take years to decode. Here’s an up-close overview of illustrated weapons like you’ve never seen them before;&nbsp;decoded and comprehensible, with their hidden meanings shining through.

11 Fictional Weapons That Have Secret Meanings Behind Them

11 Symbols On Fictional Weapons and What They Really Mean

In the wild, a hungry beast creeps through a forest, salivating while stalking its prey. Its mouth opens wide and it rips its prey apart, limb from limb. The eyes of the creature’s tiny prey open wide and pleading as if to say, “Mommy, don’t!” But mommy proceeds to eat her children one by one. This is a dark and harrowing truth about the animal kingdom that is seldom discussed. In a world where food shortages and climate change creep up, cannibalistic animals are becoming more and more common.Cannibalism is just plain creepy. In some cases, crazy animal cannibalization can be the result of human interference, but that’s not always the reason&nbsp;animals eat their own kind. Cannibal animals&nbsp;eat their children, some children eat their own parents, and sometimes leaders are devoured by their own community members. Here are some crazy animal cannibalization facts you probably never knew.

Meet The Hannibal Lecters Of The Animal Kingdom

13 Animals You Didn't Know Were Cannibalistic

Lists about some of the rarest, scariest, and most fascinating creatures that inhabit specific places around the world.

Animal Planet

On April 26, 1986, an accident in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR, caused a blast & fires that released at least 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere, contaminating everything around it for years.

Chernobyl

Chernobyl Disaster

Amidst the nuclear fascination and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/starfish-prime/stephanroget" target="_blank">testing of the Cold War</a>, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, experienced a series of detonations in 1986, spreading radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and causing severe ecological damage. It came to be known as the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-chernobyl-stories/juliet-bennett-rylah" target="_blank">Chernobyl disaster</a>&nbsp;and devastated the surrounding regions. People and animals were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dying-from-radiation-poisoning/kellen-perry">exposed to this radiation</a>, which sometimes caused&nbsp;mutations that made animals look almost otherworldly.&nbsp;

Despite people evacuating&nbsp;the affected zones, animals stayed behind. And while these animals are highly radioactive, most of them saw their populations thrive. The animals that live in Chernobyl are the only occupants of the once-thriving city&nbsp;and&nbsp;range from birds and eagles to wolves and bison.&nbsp;The radioactive Chernobyl animals do pose some threat to humans, however, and scientists are beginning to study them to truly understand how animals can adapt to living in a nuclear zone.&nbsp;

9 Fascinating Radioactive Animals That Exist As A Result Of Chernobyl

The Radioactive Animals Of Chernobyl - Wolves, Birds, and More

Stories, pics, trivia, and interesting tidbits about all creatures, great and small.

Enter the Animal Kingdom

Despite what you’ve been led to believe, planet Earth is practically unchartered territory. About 71% of its surface is covered in water too deep and dangerous to explore. Even on land, unexplained mysteries creep up on all sides, beneath ceilings of dangling stalactites. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-caves/ashley-reign">Caves</a> - and the creatures that live in them - are unlike anything you've probably ever seen before.&nbsp;If anything, they’re more akin to space aliens and the monsters drawn up by authors of science fiction.Creatures that only live in caves are&nbsp;known as troglobites or troglophiles. Troglobites are obligatory cave dwellers who cannot survive outside of this natural habitat. On the other hand, troglophiles can survive outside of these caverns, but they choose to remain within their confines for the vast majority of their lives. Crazy cave creatures are of two varieties, troglofauna (animals of the land) and stygofauna (inhabitants of the sea). Here are some mindboggling troglobite facts that prove, once and for all, that a strange, inexplicable universe is footsteps away as opposed to light years ahead.

The Creepiest, Most Alien Creatures That Only Live In Caves

The 13 Creepiest Creatures That Only Live In Caves

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

People tend to think that all&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-and-worst-disney-animated-movies/disney-fangirl">Disney animated movies, from best to worst</a>,&nbsp;are a plethora of&nbsp;happily ever afters. But if you stop to think about it,&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of these movies feature sad cartoon endings that people&nbsp;perceive as happy because they only put themselves in the shoes of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-protagonists-who-arent-the-main-character/zack-howe?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the main character</a>. 

All cartoon&nbsp;flicks, not just Disney,&nbsp;almost always end well for the main character, but they tend to end terribly for almost everybody else in the film. There are even instances where the main character is faced with what looks like a good fate&nbsp;but is actually&nbsp;an unhappy one. 

People turn to cartoon&nbsp;movies with high expectations, with a comfortable notion that the ending will be full of hope and bright promises for the future. But what&#39;s often ignored is the fact that there&#39;s sad moments in what only appears to be happy films - heck, it&#39;s often missed that there are some racist&nbsp;Disney movies, like Peter Pan&nbsp;and Aladdin.&nbsp;

Read on to catch a fresh take on these classic tales by seeing the outcomes as they actually are. From broken toys and child donkeys to ruined planets and uncaring husbands, here&rsquo;s a look at happy cartoon films&nbsp;with endings&nbsp;that aren&#39;t as peachy as they first seem.

13 Cartoon Characters That Did Not Live Happily Ever After

13 Cartoon Movies With Really Unhappy Endings

There are more than 8 million species walking, swimming, and flying around Planet Earth. Here are lists about a few worthy of your attention. 

Unbelievable Animals

If animals had frequent flyer mile points to rack up, they’d definitely put us humans to shame. Creatures ranging&nbsp;from giant wildebeests to teeny tiny ants&nbsp;really know how to get around, sometimes <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/fastest-animals/ranker-science">traveling&nbsp;at incredible speeds</a>. Well-traveled animals that go amazing distances do so on foot, hoof, wing, or fin.&nbsp;They journey high in the clouds, low underwater, and over varying terrain. They travel in packs that are sometimes even mixed with multiple different species.Some animals that go the farthest on Earth&nbsp;travel the equivalent distance of the moon and back in a lifetime. Others triple that number if you can imagine. Their migratory efforts are often fueled by instinctual needs like food, shelter, mating, birthing, and ideal weather conditions. Some of these mystifying creatures spend 90% of their lives on the go. While enroute, they risk life and limb.Their compass is the sun, their motivation is survival and their internal guide is none other than Earth’s incomparable magnetic field. Here’s a look at these amazing animals that travel incredible distances.

14 Of The Most Well-Traveled Creatures On The Planet

The 14 Most Well Traveled Animals and Creatures On The Planet

Lists for every gamer who knows the physical world is overrated.

Game Is Life

Gaming

Classic video game catchphrases exemplify an integral yet often <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dumb-video-game-dialogue/nathandavidson">overlooked aspect of many video games: dialogue</a>. Though new items and&nbsp;finishing combos usually attracted most of your attention, your favorite old-school video game catchphrase always interrupted whatever level you found yourself on to insert a bit of flair to the experience. Like <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-superhero-catchphrases/the-real-stan-lee">your favorite comic characters</a>' own catchphrases, older video game catchphrases now exist in pop culture on their own outside of the context of their original medium.&nbsp;If you heard one now, you would find yourself thrust back into past quests and challenges as if you'd played yesterday.&nbsp;What was your favorite classic&nbsp;video game catchphrase?The best classic video game catchphrases&nbsp;instantly catch&nbsp;your attention while also revealing aspects of a&nbsp;character's personality or skills. Such phrases&nbsp;also made them more relatable by providing&nbsp;them a way to interact without involving&nbsp;shooting lasers, fireballs, and/or jump shots. Some of these characters were hungry, like the president in Bad Dudes. Others were full, like Toejam who often walked around planet Funkotron letting everyone know he was stuffed. Vote up your favorite classic catchphrases from video games, and be sure that your&nbsp;voice can be heard too.

The Most Unforgettable Video Game Quotes Of All Time

The 30+ Best Video Game Catchphrases of All Time

It really is raining diamonds on Jupiter, <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/03/jaden-smith-mind-blown">as actor Jaden Smith was so keen to point out</a>, but in reality, that small tidbit is but a single gem in a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-space-facts/kellen-perry">treasure trove of weird space</a> weather facts. Envision a place where temperatures are so hot that they melt fool&rsquo;s gold on towering mountain tops, a destination where storms rage on for centuries, and gemstone-covered glaciers glide across the surface. Can you take the heat of a 900-degree-Fahrenheit planet? Do you know about gas storms that happen every time a star dies? Can you imagine a place that storms so many magnetized crystals that you can see its surface glow for actual light years?

These occurrences are far from fiction. They&rsquo;re a description of some of the wackiest weather in outer space. These climates are hostile, to say the least, but there&rsquo;s a chance that, somewhere out there, some microorganism sees this weather as just a regular aspect of their environment. 

We study space weather so thoroughly because it is one of the keys to finding out if we are, in fact, alone in the universe. Here&rsquo;s a look at the zaniest intergalactic climates we&rsquo;ve come across so far and what they say about those endless possibilities.

12 Absolutely Insane Facts About Weather On Different Planets

The Wackiest Weather In Outer Space

Mister Ed

In the 1960s, the story of a man and his talking horse captivated the globe. The show was <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Ed-Complete-Alan-Young/dp/B00NALHK8Q?&amp;tag=rankercom-20">Mister Ed</a>, and it followed the hijinks&nbsp;of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-talking-animals-in-tv-history/ranker-tv">a talking horse named Mr. Ed</a> and his keeper Wilbur Post. The show became an instant classic, and the character of Ed has popped up everywhere from rap music and comedy sketches&nbsp;to children's shows.Behind the character of Mr.&nbsp;Ed was a real horse. His name was Bamboo Harvester and he was already famous when he stepped onto the Hollywood scene.&nbsp;TV’s most famous horse was born and bred a star.&nbsp;Lighthearted and humorous at times, stubborn and imperious on occasion, the real Mr.&nbsp;Ed&nbsp;was a true trail blazer.Like most celebrities, his death was untimely and shrouded in mystery. And in the wake of his passing we learned that while he could indeed be imitated, he was one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-horse-characters/reference">greatest horse stars of all time</a>.

The Inexplicably Strange History Of Mr. Ed The Horse

The Crazy History Of Mr. Ed The Horse

Darling, it's better down where it's wetter.

Under the Sea

As technology keeps getting better,&nbsp;rare photos&nbsp;of undersea creatures are making their way to the surface.&nbsp;These baffling and sometimes terrifying pictures are exciting the scientific community worldwide.&nbsp;The realm that exists in our&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;deep oceans is a mystery. Ocean animals&nbsp;already mystify us - from mesmerizing&nbsp;physical features&nbsp;to odd mating rituals&nbsp;- and those deep underneath the surface have <a href="/list/scary-sea-monster-legends/edira-putri">captivated the masses for centuries</a>.&nbsp;

Some have estimated scientists have&nbsp;only studied a small percentage&nbsp;of the ocean&nbsp;floor. The little&nbsp;known about what lurks <a href="/list/historical-photos-of-the-ocean/mallory-weiler/" target="_blank">deep in the ocean</a>&nbsp;pales in comparison to what there is to learn, which is why each&nbsp;discovery of aquatic animals that are rarely seen is exciting. Never-before-seen&nbsp;creatures&nbsp;incur even more curiosity about what other mysterious undersea beings may dwell beneath the waves.

Here&rsquo;s a look at some of the first ever photographs of maritime monsters in all their glory.

10+ Newly Photographed Maritime Monsters Seen for the First Time

11 Newly Photographed Maritime Monsters Seen For the First Time

Ranking comic book characters by their powers, strength, physical traits, affiliations, and other features, like how just goshdarn super they are.

Heroes and Villains

Villains

Comic villains are responsible for some of the most heinous&nbsp;acts in all of fiction. They commit the sorts of graphic crimes that make empathy almost impossible. They engage in criminal activity that can send&nbsp;shivers up the spines of readers. But behind the masks and capes and ghoulish grins lie some of the most sympathetic comic book villain&nbsp;origins you&#39;ll ever hear.

Because these characters were crafted in a medium&nbsp;bursting with possibilities, the torture they endured prior to turning to the dark side is often more physically and emotionally extreme then audiences might be used to. Some of your favorite villains were tortured for millions or even billions of years. Subject to rejection, mutilation, starvation, lobotomies and more, it&rsquo;s difficult at times to determine whether the decisions they make are derived from their own will or from their circumstances. It&#39;s often heartbreaking when you really stop and think about the lives of villains in comics.&nbsp;

In order to understand what fuels the hatred&nbsp;behind the alter egos, it&rsquo;s best if we get to know them before they were baddies&nbsp;(if that&rsquo;s even possible). The saddest supervillain origin stories often begin before they had a chance to fight back. You might be surprised to learn that several villains were abused as infants,&nbsp;or slated for punishment before they were born. For many of them, crime was not a choice. It was their only identity. Here are some of the most gut wrenching, cringe-inducing, and just straight up saddest supervillain origin stories&nbsp;in history.

Hungry for more? Take a look at <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weirdest-superhero-origins/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">some of the weirdest superhero origins</a>.&nbsp;

Apocalypse

15 Comic Book Villains With Horrifying And Heartbreaking Origin Stories

Comic Book Character

The 15 Saddest Supervillain Origin Stories in Comic Book History

Comic Books & Characters

They don’t call them <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-graphic-novels-and-collected-editions">graphic novels</a> for no reason. Comic books and graphic novels are works of visually and textually explicit scenarios, but one of the things that make&nbsp;them so intriguing is the fact that one-dimensional characters simply don’t exist between the pages. For this reason, there have been countless times <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-15-scariest-villains-in-comics">comic book villains</a> were sweet, even borderline sentimental, if you will.It’s easy to miss these few-and-far-between instances of comic book villains being nice. Moreover, it’s easy to forget the times our favorite heroes began as villains, despite the fact that this is a recurring comic book theme.&nbsp;If all it takes to become a villain is one bad decision, the opposite must also be true. One good deed has been known to send some of the most sinister baddies over the line into benevolence, even if just for a frozen, solitary moment.Now, to be clear, in this context, we’re not talking about characters that have a dark side.&nbsp;We’re not discussing the now-infamous antihero trope. We're talking about characters who are the dark side, the certified psychopaths who will laugh gleefully while detaching your head from your body and simultaneously humming the National Anthem. Even they might save a puppy or two along the way.From feeding orphans to rescuing superheroes, from healing plagues to sacrificing their own souls in order to save the lives and souls of others, here are some examples of unexpected supervillains who do good.

12 Sweet Gestures by Otherwise Terrifying Comic Book Villains

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

What Are You So Afraid Of?

Explainer

While it's been said humans have nothing to fear but fear itself, it turns out there are a lot of things in our DNA that dictate what we fear. Why are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-common-phobias/desertrat89">certain things scary</a>? Some things are scary because they bring us back to negative memories, while others are scary because of the physical response they illicit in our bodies. And while some phobias <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/a-z-bizarre-phobias/theothermother">are downright weird</a>, there are lots of things that are instinctively scary to humans, and for good reason. <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/fear3.htm">Fear is a pivotal component to everyday survival</a>, engrained in us from our long lost ancestors.&nbsp;Some of these fears turn to full-blown phobias.But there's no denying there are universally scary things in nature. Some scientists have suggested&nbsp;fears are&nbsp;passed down through DNA, meaning there are certain things we are born to fear.&nbsp;

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