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30 Really Creepy Facts About The World That Are A Reminder About How Weird Our Timeline Really Is

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The world is far more complicated than some of us like to think. Morality isn’t black-or-white, historical facts are often hazier than we’d like them to be, and the interconnectivity of everything means that the deeper down the knowledge rabbit hole we go, the more lost we can sometimes feel.

There are some truly weird things about life on Planet Earth you can accidentally stumble upon while you’re down there. You might learn something about human biology or nature that really unnerves you. Or you might uncover something about your country’s past that puts into question pretty much everything else that you might know.

Today, we’re featuring some of the creepiest, most bizarre facts from these two viral r/AskReddit threads here and here. These internet users thought that others should know what they know, too. While you’re upvoting the most interesting facts of the bunch, have a think about the most peculiar things you have locked away in your database as well, Pandas. You can tell us all about them in the comment section.

Steven Wooding, a member of the Institute of Physics in the UK, part of the Omni Calculator Project, and the creator of the Weird Units Converter, shared his thoughts with Bored Panda about learning new facts and staying curious as well as less cynical as we age. You'll find our full interview with him below.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

The Roman Empire lasted over 1000 years, American society is only 243 years old, we could quite possibly collapse just like the Roman Empire did.

TrashbinTerry , Till Niermann Report

Final score:

345points

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Bored Panda was interested to get Steven's take on how we can come to terms with the fact that when we gain new information, it might make us realize that we've been spouting nonsense in the past.

"Nobody likes to learn they were giving out incorrect information in the past. It hurts, but we have to push through it, accept new facts and work with them. After all, they could lead to the next big breakthrough," he explained that we all have to remain steadfast and learn to embrace the fact that we are wrong at times.

"This is constantly happening in science; as new discoveries are made, old discoveries have to be reevaluated," he said.

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#2

Drowning is quiet, and most kids drown right in front of the person that’s supposed to be watching them.

opossum-effigy , brokinhrt2 Report

Final score:

343points

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#3

The last use of a guillotine in France was the same year the first Star Wars movie premiered. 1977

OdaSet , wikipedia Report

Final score:

269points

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According to Steven, from the Omni Calculator Project team, it's hard to stay on top of new knowledge, especially as you get older. We tend to think that we know everything and there's nothing new to learn.

"Try to view the world as a child does. Basically, keep asking 'why?' questions. As you learn the answer to one question, another will arise, and so on. It is a common situation in science that the more we know, the more questions there are. Keep questioning the world around you," he told us how we can start the chain towards living a more curious, and less cynical life.

Steven wanted to share an interesting fact with all of you dear Readers, too. "Crows are the Einsteins of the bird world. Expert at solving puzzles, and they can even recognize your face. They will actively avoid individuals who have been aggressive toward them in the past," he said. Hopefully, you'll see crows in a different light from now on, Pandas.

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#4

you aren’t scared of being alone. You’re scared of not being alone when you’re supposed to be.

Final score:

269points

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#5

Anglerfish, when Anglerfish mates the male Literally deforms its body and fuses with the female then they live together for the rest of their lives

Sora984 , Masaki Miya Report

Final score:

259points

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#6

If a fetus doesn't get enough calcium from their mother's diet they will take the calcium from their mother's bones.

Final score:

259points

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Curiosity is a great quality to have. It shows that we’re full of energy, a desire to learn something new, and we’re constantly on an adventure to get closer to the truth. Sure, some knowledge might be dangerous or we’re just not ready to hear some creepy facts yet, but curiosity in and of itself is something that we believe drives humanity forward, as a whole. Without curiosity, there would be no progress. Only stagnation and dogma.

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A while back, parenting blogger Samantha Scroggin, the founder of ‘Walking Outside in Slippers,’ told us what parents can do to nurture their kids’ interest in learning new things. She also revealed to us the best approach on how to deal with endless ‘whys.’

"Kids asking 'why?' is an important part of their natural curiosity. That said, the constant chatter and questions can grow tedious. I am very open with my kids, and answer just about any question they bring to me. But sometimes I tell them, not right now. I need quiet. And they rarely grant me that quiet. But still, I ask," she told Bored Panda that patience and good communication are essential in helping children’s curiosity thrive.

#7

About 3 000 people disappear every year in the US and are never found again

PatheticSwede , Atharva Tulsi Report

Final score:

258points

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#8

In 1844, there was a case of hysteria in a French convent of nuns. One started meowing and after a week all the nuns were meowing harmoniously in the afternoons. It didn’t stop until neighbors called soldiers.

iknowthisischeesy , Archives Of Ontario (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

254points

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#9

Only 9% of the ocean has been explored, and that there are creatures that we would think of as aliens living deep, deep down...

Final score:

253points

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According to the parenting expert, the best thing that families can do is create a safe space for children to develop their own skills, talents, and interests. The vital thing is to never judge your kids. Parents should also “avoid the temptation to push them down a certain path just because it's familiar and more comfortable for us.”

Kids often mimic their parents’ interests, but that’s not always the case. Samantha opened up about what things are like in her own family.

"The genes are strong in my family. My husband and I are both writers, and my kids are both artsy types. My son, 10, is a little actor and singer who even appeared on Kids Say the Darndest Things this year. My 6-year-old daughter amazes me with her drawing ability," the mom told Bored Panda.

"Although my kids' talents are not identical to my husband and me, they are likewise little creative powerhouses. We as parents have made them feel safe and comfortable being themselves and expressing their skills. Then there are some abilities that clearly pass on directly from the parents. For example, my son and daughter are both math whizzes like my husband, while math has always been my nemesis."

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#10

It's estimated that there is around 25-50 active serial killers in the US

iMac_Hunt , Pixabay Report

Final score:

250points

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#11

Somewhat recently (2012), scientists discovered over 1,400 new species of bacteria living in the belly button. Everyone’s belly button ecology is unique (add it to the fingerprints & snowflakes list). In that same study, 1 volunteers belly button harbored bacteria strands that had only ever been found in soil from Japan- where this man has never been.

BukakeRuinedMyRug , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:

248points

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#12

Tarantulas can swim.

ashish19982001 , Zac And Monikah Report

Final score:

240points

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Meanwhile, child independence expert Lenore Skenazy explained to Bored Panda that it’s not learning that people fall in love with. Rather, we fall in love with the activities we love doing, whatever that might be. Passion for a subject leads to a natural curiosity about the thing, as we develop our skills and knowledge. In short, “the learning comes automatically” when you’re doing something you’re either interested in or an activity that’s essential.

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“You fall in love with something that you love to do—drawing, kicking a ball, playing make-believe, walking in the woods, reading. All of those things involve learning. If they didn’t, you’d be bored and you’d stop doing them. Instead, as a kid AND as an adult, you get into something and do it because each time you get a little better, or try a slightly different technique,” she said.

“In a game, you’re ALWAYS thinking and learning because the ball never comes to you in exactly the same way twice. In the woods, there’s always something new to look at, climb or poke. In play, you have to react to the other person. And you pick up a book to fall into another world and learn all about it,” Lenore said.

#13

You could drop dead instantly by a brain hemorrhage/aneurism and have no warning signs prior. One second you're perfectly fine, and the next you're dead

CheesyTacos68 , Lucien Monfils Report

Final score:

238points

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#14

If you stare at the mirror in the dark long enough, your brain starts to make your eyes see things. Usually transforming you, or the room into something horrifying- more usually monsters. This is called ''peripheral fading" or the Troxler Effect.

Eruran_e , NIKITA SHIROKOV Report

Final score:

227points

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#15

When a person is electrocuted in the electric chair, they feel everything. They are fully aware of their bodies being fried as it happens in real time.

One inmate who survived the first round of electrocution said it tasted like cold peanut butter.

Wilgrove , Lee Honeycutt Report

Final score:

219points

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According to the expert, parents should embrace their kids learning about the world in a variety of formats. “Having books at home can help a child find new things to fall into—but so does YouTube. Remember: every new technology is distrusted at first,” she said, adding that Socrates himself hated the idea that people had started writing down ideas instead of memorizing them.

“So yes, books are great. But don’t ignore all the skills, hobbies, facts, and new things kids can learn online as well. If you’re worried about the bad stuff, install some filters. But learning from a podcast or DIY video is still LEARNING. Think of all the things you have learned since your formal schooling ended. Learning doesn’t only take place in a classroom or book!”

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#16

Dogs like squeaky toys because it sounds like a small animal being crushed.

Final score:

205points

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#17

There is a rare genetic disease called Fatal familial insomnia where over the course of months you literary can not go or be put to sleep no matter what you take or what you do. The symptoms get progressively worse until finally you stay awake watching yourself go insane until you [pass away] from exhaustion.

BackdoorConquistodor , cottonbro Report

Final score:

204points

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#18

Postpartum psychosis can show up in a new mother virtually overnight. It can make them hallucinate, making them think their baby is a demon or the antichrist for example. New mothers murder their own children because of postpartum psychosis more often than you might like to think.

The more the mother knows it's a possibility the better she'll be able to combat it if it arrives.

Evan_dood Report

Final score:

197points

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Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

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#19

The children's story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin was based on a real event. "Hamelin town records start with this event. The earliest written record is from the town chronicles in an entry from 1384 which states: "It is 100 years since our children left." no one know what or who took the children, but there's records of the entire towns children being taken.

garbagegoat Report

Final score:

196points

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#20

The bodies of the sailors who died on the Edmund Fitzgerald are still down there, almost perfectly preserved, due to the water at that depth being just barely above freezing. Divers who have explored the wreckage have seen their bodies frozen in place to parts of the ship, and have come back reporting that they feel as if they were being followed during their time underwater.

Photos were taken, but per the request of the crew's family, they have never been released to the public.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Lg9HygEJc)

Omny87 , Greenmars Report

Final score:

186points

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#21

Cotard’s Delusion is a rare psychiatric condition, severe cases of which cause the sufferer to wholeheartedly believe they are dead, putrefying, or simply do not exist. Some Cotard’s patients refuse to eat, as they do not believe they need to, with one notable patient dying of starvation. Another woman once asked to be taken to a morgue, to be with the other dead people.

NotMyShoes93 , Wikipedia Report

Final score:

171points

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#22

By the time you start realizing the symptoms of rabies, it’s already too late.

TwoGrizzleysOneCub Report

Final score:

171points

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#23

You can fit 63 earth size objects in Uranus.

urotsukidoji314159 Report

Final score:

156points

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#24

You have a bunch of microscopic parasites called Demodex on your eyelashes and in the pores on your face. They come out at night to lay eggs on and eat the oils on your face.

MrK1ng5had0w , Joel Mills Report

Final score:

155points

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French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

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#25

Chainsaws were originally invented for childbirth.

Comics4Cooks Report

Final score:

150points

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#26

If given access to it, butterflies will happily drink blood

ShinyNinja25 Report

Final score:

142points

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#27

Adult teeth in toddlers are right under their eyes.

chickadeedeedee_ , cottonbro Report

Final score:

136points

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#28

A "Rat King" is a phenomenon created when a large group of rats become fused together by their tails via ice, dirt, hair, blood, or even feces.

Encounters with this horrible phenomenon inspired some of humanity's greatest myths.

Back2Bach , Edelseider Report

Final score:

132points

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#29

There is a island of the dolls in Mexico City that has thousands of creepy dolls to honor a little girl who drowned in the 1950s. The island is also one of the most haunted places.

[deleted] , Esparta Palma Report

Final score:

127points

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Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

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#30

The island of Okunoshima in the Inland Sea of Japan is known for two reputable things:

1: It's named "Rabbit Island" because of the overabundance of wild rabbits and...

2: The island has WWII ruins of a chemical weapons factory, creating poison like mustard gas in its attacks on China. So vital was its secrecy to the Japanese government that they tried to wipe its location off maps.

Repulsive-Rick , Asturio Cantabrio Report

Final score:

125points

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Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Jonas Grinevičius

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Greta Jaruševičiūtė

Greta is a Photo Editor-in-Chief at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication.In 2016, she graduated from Digital Advertising courses where she had an opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals. In the same year, she started working at Bored Panda as a photo editor.Greta is a coffeeholic and cannot survive a day without 5 cups of coffee... and her cute, big-eared dog.Her biggest open secret: she is a gamer with a giant gaming backlog.

Greta is a Photo Editor-in-Chief at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication.In 2016, she graduated from Digital Advertising courses where she had an opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals. In the same year, she started working at Bored Panda as a photo editor.Greta is a coffeeholic and cannot survive a day without 5 cups of coffee... and her cute, big-eared dog.Her biggest open secret: she is a gamer with a giant gaming backlog.

What do you think ?

Lola 2 years ago

Well, happy Monday, people! What a great way to start the week.

27points

Random Anon 2 years ago

Life and nature is essentially a horror story marketed with rainbows and unicorns to keep the audience engaged and from losing their minds.

14points

Adam Zad 2 years ago

"Life is pain. Anyone who says different is selling something." - Dread Pirate Roberts

15points

Load More Replies...

Stardust 2 years ago

At this very moment the universe can end. Look up vacuum decay, it is very interesting. Also, a gamma ray burst can eradicate life on earth at this second. We may not see it coming before it’s too late

7points

Hannah Edwards 2 years ago

I’m going to just keep worrying about monkeypox, I can only worry about one disaster at a time!

5points

Load More Replies...

Jenn V. 2 years ago

Another article that won't load for Android users I guess?

6points

Laris Mills Winchester 2 years ago

Am i the only one who can't see the article?

5points

madbakes 2 years ago

Do you have an Android? If so, no, you're not the only one.

1point

Load More Replies...

Madeleine Flowers 2 years ago

Joy. Pure joy to read this all.

4points

Izzy Curer 2 years ago (edited)

Hydraulic pressure can be scary. If you have a cut and a strong enough jet of liquid hits it, it can penetrate the cut and fill the skin up like a baloon. Mechanics have to be mindful of this, since they deal with hydraulic systems filled with oil, which can and do fail. It's known as hydraulic injection injury. Don't google it.

3points

Jacob Nunez 2 years ago

F**k

1point

Load More Replies...

Brandon Marlowe 2 years ago

Like a "Debbie Downer" episode on SNL

2points

Terran 2 years ago

That was lovely.

2points

Kiwi Panda 2 years ago

Best way to start the week ever!

2points

Chich 2 years ago

Acute Leukemia develops over a matter of days.

2points

Justin Arnold 2 years ago

Yet another example of Bored Panda deliberately discriminating against Android users.

1point

Susie Elle 2 years ago (edited)

The organic compound produced by the putrefaction of animal tissue that causes the foul odour is called cadaverine

1point

Isabella 2 years ago

And there is another one together with that that causes the smell: putrescine. When I read about that, I needed days to get them out of my head! Now they are back! 😁

1point

Load More Replies...

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

Things like this make me feel so NORMAL! No matter what I do or think, I'm not that bad . . .

0points

Mark Karol-Chik 2 years ago

YIKES..

0points

MonsterMum 2 years ago

There are more bacteria in a human body than human cells!

0points

Lola 2 years ago

Well, happy Monday, people! What a great way to start the week.

27points

Random Anon 2 years ago

Life and nature is essentially a horror story marketed with rainbows and unicorns to keep the audience engaged and from losing their minds.

14points

Adam Zad 2 years ago

"Life is pain. Anyone who says different is selling something." - Dread Pirate Roberts

15points

Load More Replies...

Stardust 2 years ago

At this very moment the universe can end. Look up vacuum decay, it is very interesting. Also, a gamma ray burst can eradicate life on earth at this second. We may not see it coming before it’s too late

7points

Hannah Edwards 2 years ago

I’m going to just keep worrying about monkeypox, I can only worry about one disaster at a time!

5points

Load More Replies...

Jenn V. 2 years ago

Another article that won't load for Android users I guess?

6points

Laris Mills Winchester 2 years ago

Am i the only one who can't see the article?

5points

madbakes 2 years ago

Do you have an Android? If so, no, you're not the only one.

1point

Load More Replies...

Madeleine Flowers 2 years ago

Joy. Pure joy to read this all.

4points

Izzy Curer 2 years ago (edited)

Hydraulic pressure can be scary. If you have a cut and a strong enough jet of liquid hits it, it can penetrate the cut and fill the skin up like a baloon. Mechanics have to be mindful of this, since they deal with hydraulic systems filled with oil, which can and do fail. It's known as hydraulic injection injury. Don't google it.

3points

Jacob Nunez 2 years ago

F**k

1point

Load More Replies...

Brandon Marlowe 2 years ago

Like a "Debbie Downer" episode on SNL

2points

Terran 2 years ago

That was lovely.

2points

Kiwi Panda 2 years ago

Best way to start the week ever!

2points

Chich 2 years ago

Acute Leukemia develops over a matter of days.

2points

Justin Arnold 2 years ago

Yet another example of Bored Panda deliberately discriminating against Android users.

1point

Susie Elle 2 years ago (edited)

The organic compound produced by the putrefaction of animal tissue that causes the foul odour is called cadaverine

1point

Isabella 2 years ago

And there is another one together with that that causes the smell: putrescine. When I read about that, I needed days to get them out of my head! Now they are back! 😁

1point

Load More Replies...

Octavia Hansen 2 years ago

Things like this make me feel so NORMAL! No matter what I do or think, I'm not that bad . . .

0points

Mark Karol-Chik 2 years ago

YIKES..

0points

MonsterMum 2 years ago

There are more bacteria in a human body than human cells!

0points

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