The most common superstitions in Western countries and their historical origins. Knocking on wood, Friday the 13th, rabbit's feet and 4-leaf clovers as amulets, wedding superstitions, walking under a ladder, spilling salt, opening an umbrella inside, breaking a mirror, crossing fingers, horseshoes on doors and black cats as harbingers of bad luck

What is a 72-hour backpack? This article covers recommended items from U.S. and European governments, the controversy around the 72h concept, the critical need to carry water in real crises, what happens when you step out with no plan, and the risk of becoming a target

A volcano that emerged from nowhere and grew rapidly, burying two nearby villages. Recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it is one of the few volcanoes whose evolution, from birth to dormancy, has been observed and documented

These days, Columbus doesn't seem to be cool anymore. So if he didn't discover America… who did? This article uncovers the explorers who may have crossed the seas first, from the Phoenicians to the Templars, with the Basque underdogs and Vikings standing out as the only ones backed by hard archaeological evidence

One of Greece’s most famous destinations, with an oniric landscape, yet also one of the worst tourist traps in the world. This article explores its history, attractions and the realities of mass tourism

From the first circumnavigations and the race to circumnavigate the planet faster, to the first global journeys by car, plane, current records and the future of ultra-fast world travel

Challenging the title of the eighth wonder of the ancient world, the remains of a megalomaniacal funerary complex built in the 1st century BC atop a 2,100-meter (7,000ft) mountain

The ruined staircase, reminiscent of a fairy tale, conjures the image of an imposing castle with towering walls and majestic turrets that never stood there. The history surrounding this abandoned site is one of debauchery and excess, set against the backdrop of the Prohibition era during the Roaring Twenties

A mysterious circular structure on the ocean floor, resembling the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, ignited speculation about a sunken UFO. The story quickly went viral worldwide

Although it may seem surprising, Iran was once very similar to any Western country. The 1979 revolution suppressed Western influences but did not erase them. They remain alive in a thriving underground scene

Unlike the abandoned Shanzi UFO City, demolished in 2010, the ruins of the future in Wanli, Taipei, still stand

A jungle shortcut road that never was and an abandoned highway bridge in the middle of the jungle sticking out among the treetops, which appears to have been transported by several helicopters and dropped in the middle of nowhere in the tropical forest

The most common world maps are rendered using the Mercator projection—a Renaissance marvel enabling navigation along straight-line courses on a map. However, this projection skews both the contours and actual dimensions of countries. As a result, the world is not as we know it

One of the fastest food options available, the concept of Automats is at the same time a very good and a very bad idea. Their nostalgic appeal ensures that they continue to open and close

How the Order emerged and became a military and economic power, its ranks, dress, decline, and the reasons for its dissolution. The unsolved mysteries of the Templars; where did they flee? Did they find the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail? What happened to their riches? The theories of Rennes-le-Château and Bérenger Saunière, Rosslyn Chapel and Oak Island. Were the Knights Templar guilty of any of the charges brought against them?

When an emergency radio becomes a lifeline. Key scenarios, the different types available and how radio frequency bands play a role in survival

One of the most mysterious tunnels in Egypt, which has puzzled archaeologists and engineers since its discovery in the 19th century. It is unclear how the 24 giant sarcophagi in its interior, were created and moved. Their exact purpose remains uncertain. These are the unsolved mysteries of the Serapeum of Saqqara

From the Pope's passing to the proclamation of a new pontiff; Sede Vacante, Camerlengo's duties, papal ring destruction, apartment sealing, velatory, Novemdiales, funeral, conclave, Fumata Bianca and Habemus Papam

The history of the Shroud of Turin. The controversy surrounding the Shroud of Turin since the 14th century, the most recent scientific discoveries and the various scientific theories regarding its authenticity

The origins of the concept of the Holy Grail, the myths that developed during the Middle Ages around the sacred cup and the most compelling candidate chalices that could be the real artifact, if it was not lost to history