“They want to know how life began.”
On the night of June 23, 1976, in the urban district of Aricanduva in São Paulo, Brazil, 18-year-old Paulo Coutinho experienced an extraordinary event that changed his life forever. At approximately 11:45 p.m., after leaving night school, Paulo encountered a
The obscure side of Christmas: the terrifying legend of Père Fouettard of Lorraine
About one of the many evil helpers of St. Nicholas, coming at Christmas time to punish children, we find the story of Père Fouettard, i.e. Father Whipper of Lorraine. While Christmas is often associated with joy, kindness and holiday cheer,
The Dim Side of Christmas: The Legend of Frau Perchta
At Christmas time, stories were told about Mrs. Perchta visiting people's homes and checking whether they were doing well or not. She would reward the good ones, but punish the bad ones by cutting open their bellies. Christmas, a season
The Dim Side of Christmas: Hans Trapp – A Child Eating a Scarecrow
The children of Alsace are often reminded to watch out for Hans Trapp, the cursed baron now disguised as a scarecrow, waiting for children as they pass by. Today he is also said to be one of Santa's helpers, punishing
An unpleasant side effect of time travel: memory loss
Imagine you had the ability to go back in time. But when you returned to the present, you discovered that you didn't remember anything about it. Physicists believe this is a real consequence that time travelers may face. The study
Christmas at the Lefferts-Laidlaw home at 136 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn
Before Christmas, uninvited guests arrived at the Lefferts-Laidlaw House at 136 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn and knocked on the door. This haunting led to the spectacle of onlookers trying to solve a strange case that even the New York Police
Many faces of Santa Claus for Christmas
Valerie M. Fridland: Everyone has heard of Santa Claus, that chubby, white-bearded guy in a red suit who delivers Christmas presents in a reindeer-powered sleigh. But have you never wondered how he became the man with so many names? From
Haunting the plastic Christmas tree at the Dorrington Hotel
The original owner of the Dorrington Hotel in California is said to be haunted by it. One Christmas, the ghost of the former mistress of the place destroyed every phony Christmas tree that the current owner had put up. The
What to do if non-human intelligence is confirmed on Earth
Imagine waking up and seeing the headline: “Non-Human Intelligence Confirmed on Earth.” For many, this discovery would be like a seismic shock, turning everything we know about life upside down. This guide aims to prepare readers for such a scenario,