The place to learn about the past and present,
Among the phenomena on the fringes of scientific understanding is the propensity for the human body to set itself alight. The explanation, apparently, is Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC). Read here about one famous case and how it discombobulated investigators. On the morning of July 2, 1951, Mary Reeser’s landlady arrived at her door with a... Continue Reading →
Although you expect police officers to be pillars of the community, they're not all perfect. Some are occasionally corrupt, but disorderly and out of control? Never! That is until one day Officer Kadlec of Prague City Police Dept. decided to have a few drinks and get his fifteen minutes of fame. Find out the chaos... Continue Reading →
Find out how one woman survived a 10,000 metre freefall when her plane was blown out of the sky by terrorists. It was 2:30pm on the 26 of January, 1972 and Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulovic was at Copenhagen Airport waiting to board a DC 9 aircraft of JAT Flight 367 “I saw all the... Continue Reading →
Unlike the hundreds before and after, one woman survived jumping into the chasm of Avon Gorge from the bridge that spans it. Find out what quirk of fashion saved Ms Henley from her attempt to end her life. The city of Bristol, UK, is a charming place in England’s West Country. It’s famous for a... Continue Reading →
You know the rule; 'you break it, you buy it'. But what happens when you break something worth over £30,000? Read on to find out. The late evening breeze kept the humidity a notch above oppressive in Ruili city which is located in the Chinese Yunnan Province on the Myanmar border. A slim, middle-aged woman... Continue Reading →
The tale of the Japanese soldier's WW2 tour of duty that did not end in 1945, instead went on for an epic 20 years longer. Find out why Lieutenant Onoda refused to surrender and how he was finally coaxed out of hiding. It was a surreal moment for book store owner Yoshimi Taniguchi; it was... Continue Reading →
God surely showed his hand when an exceptional spate of coincidences rescued 15 choir members from being blown to smithereens It was a frigid evening on the first day of March in 1950 and the clock was ticking towards utter tragedy for the fifteen members of the West Side Baptist Church choir, in Beatrice, Nebraska. The... Continue Reading →
It was an awkward moment when Mantao representative George McLauchlan crossed the Atlantic to present a commemorative clock to Bideford town's officials, only for them to not have a clue why. Find out what happened here. The sky above was white and seagulls could be heard in the distance being a nuisance. David Riley was... Continue Reading →
Of all the trials and tribulations a farmer must face, a field of theirs erupting into a volcano takes some beating. But that is exactly what happened to a Mexican farmer one February day. How would you handle a volcano suddenly bursting asunder on your land? It might make acquiring the services of a decent... Continue Reading →
When a pregnant young queen started to drown, her attendants wouldn't help. Find out why. The protocol around royalty which governs how they interact with commoners is usually ancient, rigid and ensures royal family members’ inviolability. On one occasion however it caused an entirely avoidable tragedy for the Chakri royal dynasty of Siam, modern-day Thailand.... Continue Reading →
History and Things 