Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Tunguska blast caused by exploding comet 

The mysterious Tunguska blast in 1908 that flattened millions of trees in Siberia was due to the explosion of a hydrogen-saturated part of a comet in Earth's atmosphere, a Russian scientist said Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

British divers fall foul of 400-year grudge with Spain 

Three British salvage men believe that such myths of Armada treasure helped to entangle them in a seven-year legal nightmare that ended with their conviction by a Spanish court last week for "destroying the country's heritage".

See also: UK divers admit theft from wreck

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Cannock Chase and the spooky demonic ghost dog 

The Chase’s latest paranormal resident - the fabled Hellhound - has proved a hit all across the world with websites as far afield as the United States chronicling its history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 AM

Rumor: Text Messages Can Kill 

The Egyptian Gazette reported on Wednesday that a Mallawi man died "vomiting blood" after receiving a mysterious text message from "unknown foreign quarters."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

Cats' central nervous system can repair on its own | Newspost Online 

While analysing a mysterious neurological affliction in cats, scientists have found that their central nervous system has a unique ability to repair itself and restore function.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:51 AM

Bigfoot Continues to Outsmart Mankind 

Bigfoot...Sasquatch...Ohio Grassman, most of us know some version of the hairy creature, who lives in the wild, and has never been found.

Video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 AM

Creatures on the Loose 

Although the subject of cryptozoology is predominantly one focused upon the search for unknown animals, and those beasts that science tells us cannot exist – such as Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Chupacabras, Ogopogo, and the Loch Ness Monster – the subject also encompasses so-called “Out-of-place animals.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 AM

Rare coins show up at bank 

Utah bank officials and police would like to know who the mysterious woman is who walked into a bank with a fistful of gold coins and exchanged them for only a couple hundred dollars. The coins, some more than a century old, are worth at least 50 times that much.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

Monday, March 30, 2009

South Atlantic sunken gold mystery to be solved by salvage operation 

An Argentine federal judge authorized last week the rescue of 9.5 tons of gold and silver which were lost when a Chilean vessel “Polar Mist” sank in Argentine waters in mysterious conditions after having been abandoned by its crew.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 PM

Kept 30 years, supposed UFO piece now 'for sale' 

It's been 30 years since Greg Kirby, of Middletown, lied to local police officers and federal agents when asked if he turned over all the unidentified pieces he found in Blue Ball.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:28 PM

Did the wrong man hang for Saltspring murder? 

A man named William Robinson was found dead on the floor of his home on Saltspring Island this week in 1868. He was the third black settler to be murdered under mysterious circumstances on the island in two years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:21 PM

Ghosts at the end of the world 

Exeter couple visits the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isles of Lewis in northern Scotland.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:11 PM

Film revives interest in fascinating female killer 

The movie "Winter of Frozen Dreams" is debuting April 4 at the Wisconsin Film Festival. It recounts the story of former University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemistry student Barbara Hoffman, who moonlighted at a massage parlor and was accused of fatally poisoning two of her clients for money.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:59 PM

Mystery Flash and Big Boom Rattles Virginia 

A mysterious flash of light and loud boom occurred over the skies of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va., on Sunday night, but just what caused the phenomenon is still unknown.

See also: Mystery in the sky (With video)

Officials: Light, booming in sky likely falling Russian booster

Virginia fireball was not Russian booster rocket

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:56 PM

Lost treasure of Lima 'found' 

It is a treasure trove so valuable it would leave Captain Jack Sparrow weak at the knees – and for 190 years, its exact location has been shrouded in mystery.

Now, a market trader from Melton claims he has succeeded where hundreds have failed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:52 PM

Help needed to identify mystery objects 

Around 100 of the glass tubes were discovered by gardeners at Dyrham Park.

Odd.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:45 PM

1840s Daguerreotype Is Sold for $62,500 

The picture, believed to date from October 1848 or earlier, shows a white house on a hill with a white picket fence, next to what is believed to be the old Bloomingdale Road, the continuation of Broadway, in what is now the Upper West Side.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:29 PM

A comet may have caused widespread large mammal extinctions 12,900 years ago 

Some scientists hypothesize that relatively recently in our geological history a comet collided with Earth. And they’re not talking about the collision 65 million years ago that did in the dinosaurs. They’re talking about a collision 12,900 years ago, which did away with woolly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers and giant sloths, among some three dozen large mammals.

That's remarkably close to Plato's reported date for the destruction of Atlantis.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:26 PM

Scientology: Sarah Palin Adviser's Secret Scientology Plot to Take Over Washington 

John Coale, currently advising Sarah Palin on running for president in 2012, is a Scientologist. And according to a memo obtained by Gawker, Coale once plotted to use friendly politicians to advance the power-hungry cult's agenda.

See also: The Hooker-Beating ShamWow Guy Is a Renegade Ex-Scientologist

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:07 PM

Friday, March 27, 2009

Ghost Photo At Tantallon Castle In Scotland Baffles Experts At Edinburgh Science Festival 

An eerie image of a figure in period costume has spooked experts investigating apparent photographic evidence of ghosts.

With spooky pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:37 PM

Priory staff try to crack recipe of 'elixir of life' 

Staff at a 14th century priory were today trying to uncover the mystery of the secret ingredients used to make up a liqueur believed to be the "elixir of life".

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 AM

Connection at New Orleans Cathedral to Rennes Mystery 

Does New Orleans' Saint Louis Cathedral hold a 'key' to the Rennes mystery?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM

Answers to 3000-Yr-Old Murder Mystery Provided by Z-Corp 

In the unusual investigation of the contents of a sealed mummy sarcophagus, an important breakthrough came from an unlikely source when an architectural visualisation agency used its ZCorp printing technology to replicate an exact representation of the occupant’s head.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

The Unexpected Demon 

Have you ever wondered what exactly it takes to have a malevolent force to manifest itself into our plane of existence and harass those otherwise abiding in peace in our realm of physical reality?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:43 AM

Third cattle mutilation found in county 

A cattle was found mutilated on a ranch in northern Las Animas County last weekend, the third to be found in such a state this month.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 AM

British steam car attempts to break land speed record 

With cool car pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

The Death Of Latin 

I swear, when the English finally snap the first people put up against the wall will be the Town Councils.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:51 AM

Jesus' Lost Years May Finally Have Been Found 

What's that? You didn't know Jesus was missing?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:41 AM

UFO Round-Up 

UFO spotted flying 10 percent faster than a rifle bullet?

UK Photograph Shows UFO next to RAF jet!

Interview with Fabio Zerpa: the grand old man of South American UFOlogy

NY man finds UFO protection in prayer

China: mass sighted UFO causes witnesses dizziness, photo

Witness reported UFO activity includes Texas landing

UFO ORB With Mothership Photo, May Be Best Ever!

Russian Aviation Innovation: A Unique Identified-Flying Object

O'Hare UFO video surfaces on Youtube

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 AM

The big boom in Stamford remains a mystery 

Authorities ruled out earthquake, thunder, sonic boom, a gas, sewer or transformer explosion, construction blasting and meteors.

In the days that followed, it got weirder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:14 AM

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Headmaster: No Vampires At Our School 

The headmaster of one of the city's most prestigious exam schools is dealing with an unusual rumor sweeping student classrooms.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 PM

Calif. revives case of missing couple linked to 'Rockefeller' 

After decades of inaction on the case, California prosecutors plan to present evidence to a grand jury about the mysterious 1985 disappearance of a couple who rented their guesthouse to the man who now calls himself Clark Rockefeller, the clearest sign yet that the investigation into their possible slayings has been revived.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:54 PM

Pictured: The bizarre South American armoured fish found in a Leicestershire canal 

With "Holy Crap!" pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:22 PM

USA TV focus on new Nessie mystery 

The latest "monster" sighting on Loch Ness revealed by the Highland News is set to feature on one of the biggest breakfast shows on US television.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:19 PM

Mutilated Cows Still A Big Mystery 

In the past month, three different ranchers in Southern Colorado have all reported that their cows were mutilated.

With idiotic video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:18 PM

'Beast of Ongar' spotted again 

”He told me it was about the size of the front of our car and had a square head and long tail.”

See also: Mystery predator stalks Poland (Video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:14 PM

The big sleep took Raymond Chandler 50 years ago today 

It was 3:40 p.m., March 26, 1959, when Raymond Chandler passed away at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla.

See also: The Big Sleep: Raymond Chandler, 50 Years Dead. Great essay.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:10 PM

Nazi bunker is opened for first time since war 

A perfectly preserved Nazi bunker which withstood bombardments by RAF planes and the British Army has been uncovered in northern France.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:00 PM

Suburban 'Diabetes Clusters' In Mass. Prompt Study 

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes cases are on the rise in the United States. Type 2 is often associated with dietary factors and obesity, while type 1, the rarer form of diabetes, is often hereditary. But many children now being diagnosed with type 1 have no family history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:26 PM

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Lost czar’s treasure said to be buried in Mongolia 

An American claims the famed Russian Romanov treasures were buried in Mongolia and she hopes to dig them up.

Cool photo essay here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:23 AM

Armageddon again? 

When the Mayan calendar ends 2012, what will happen to us?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:45 AM

Strange Particle Created; May Rewrite How Matter's Made 

Y(4140)—as the new particle has been dubbed—couldn't have formed through either of the two known models for matter creation. Researchers aren't even sure what Y(4140) is made of.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

Alleged SF Con Man Possessed By Supernatural Evil, Attorney Claims 

Kaushal Niroula, 27, the alleged ringleader of a group of purported San Francisco con men facing capital murder charges in Palm Springs isn't merely a criminal, says a Hawaii attorney representing a woman claiming to be one of Niroula's victims. Rather, Niroula is an earthly vessel for supernatural forces of evil...

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

The 13 Coolest Things Made from Recycled Bottles 

From funky recycled art to Earthships, gifts, boats and an island, glass and plastic bottles can be recycled into a surprising range of objects.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Charles Godfrey Leland 

A short profile on the occult scholar.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 AM

Tavern owner to tear down mystery wall 

The owner of a suburban Chicago tavern said he is planning to tear down a wall that was installed by his father more than 60 years ago to see what it is hiding.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

'Gold Rush Port,' by James P. Delgado 

The Maritime Archaeology of San Francisco's Waterfront

Book review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Cattle mutilations, UFOs and one lone reporter 

In 1980, Emmy-award winning news reporter, Linda Moulton Howe, investigated a series of odd cattle mutilations that has plagued the Earth since the 1950s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

The murky mystery of Tophet Swamp 

Swamps were not only dwelling places for Indians, but were also places of Shaman ritual, and during these rituals there would be shouting and yelling as well as beating of drums accompanied by singing and dancing, he said. The fire from the swamps could be due not only to bonfires but also to swamp gas, which produces luminous, floating lights, he added. For Minister Cotton Mather, son of Increase, all this activity taking place in fiery swamps convinced him that these rituals were “diabolical” and a form of devil worship, he said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:32 AM

A Real Whodunnit: Camp Verde's 1899 Wingfield-Rodgers murder 

A notorious train robber, who wore the mistaken name of "Black Jack," coming to backwater Camp Verde, killing two shopkeepers and fleeing off into eternity makes for good story.

But is it true?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A train ride through Barcelona in 1908 

Very cool. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 PM

Amanda Knox Trial Update 

Mattress stolen from slain coed's room

That's some fine police work, Lou.

Amanda Knox Stepfather: My Daughter Was Beaten

Alibi undermined in Kercher murder trial

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Grim Sleeper's Sole Survivor 

Relishing life, a tough churchgoing mom is at the center of the Los Angeles serial-killer mystery.

See also: Grim Sleeper Web Site Creator Unmasked

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

Harry Houdini and Pittsburgh -- the ties that bind 

At the beginning of the 20th century, when possibilities seemed limitless, Harry Houdini achieved the impossible. A century ago this month, the legendary performer defied reality right here in Pittsburgh.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

Sea Serpents Likely To Be Discovered 

Michael A. Woodley, Darren Naish and Hugh P. Shanahanc have had published on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in the new number of Historical Biology for 2009, a groundbreaking paper, “How many extant pinniped species remain to be described?”

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:19 AM

New Theory Released in Alexander the Great Burial Mystery 

Australia? Really?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 AM

Expedition sets off in Siberia to check Bigfoot sightings 

A scientific expedition is setting out to the mountains in Russia’s Siberia to explore the recent reports of bigfoot sightings, Itar Tass reports Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:57 AM

Mystery Boom Also Heard In North Carolina 

Some people in Henderson County, North Carolina say they also saw a fireball in the sky. They say it seem to fall to the ground.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 AM

Martial arts icon still kicking at 68 

Since 1966 when he opened his first studio on Jasper Avenue and 100th Street (the first Kung Fu studio in Canada for that matter) underneath what used to be the Capital Theatre, Lee has taught 200,000 students. And that is in Edmonton alone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

Mysterious big cat hunts near Opole 

Looks like the Poles have big cats too.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:11 AM

Monday, March 23, 2009

Mexican town cashes in on its mummies 

They might be Guanajuato's most visited residents - a collection of 56 mummified corpses that were preserved for years in remarkably good shape and now constitute one of the main tourist draws here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 PM

Mystery stones may have Mason-Dixon survey ties 

Hidden in the woods and brush are carved markers that bear two coronets, the coat of arms of the Penns of Pennsylvania and the Calverts of Maryland. Mason and Dixon were hired in 1763 to establish a boundary line between land owned by the two families.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 PM

Soon, robotic octopus to solve the mysteries of seas 

Scientists are developing a robotic octopus that will be able to search the seabed with the same extraordinary dexterity as the real eight-legged cephalopod.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 PM

Orang-utan study suggests that upright walking may have started in the trees 

Walking on two legs, or bipedalism, immediately sets us apart form other apes. It frees our arms for using tools and weapons and is a key part of our evolutionary success. Scientists have put forward a few theories to explain how our upright gait evolved, but the 'savannah theory' is by far the most prolific.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 PM

New evidence in so-called 'Smiley Face Killers' case 

On Monday, there's new evidence more suspicious deaths may be linked to the so-called ‘Smiley Face Killers.’ (With video)

See also: Is Smiley Face Killer the Result of Denial and Coincidence or a Group of Murderers?

Theories on smiley face murders resurface again

Real or Imagined: 'Smiley Face' Killers Targeting Young Men (With video)

And I added two websites concerning the case to the links.

Footprints at the River's Edge

Smiley Face Killers. (Investigative reporter Kristi Piehl's website)

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 PM

Census records solve mystery of Mich. woman's age 

The Flint Township woman celebrated her birthday earlier this month. But The Flint Journal reported she had forgotten what year she was born.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 PM

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Illegal engineering 

A lecture about the history of safes and safe breaking. Thanks, Bob.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:35 PM

Friday, March 20, 2009

Psychics quizzed on economy 

Forget about love.

As the Dow has declined, so has amorous interest among patrons of area psychics. What has replaced it? A dogged focus on cash.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:25 AM

Beast Causes Terror! 

Monsters of Eau Claire County.

See also: Mysterious black cat spotted

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

From the archives: Serial goat killer stalking Mexico 

Forget the economic crisis. Never mind Mexico's roller-coaster relations with the U.S. The Big Story these days is a high-flying, bloodsucking, goat-stalking entity that's either from outer space, a toxic dump or some secret Pentagon laboratory. Or, say Mexico's legions of doubters, from nowhere at all except the not-so-deep recesses of overactive imaginations.

Reports of El Chupacabras, "The Goatsucker," have swarmed across Mexico all month, with attacks alleged in more than half of the nation's 32 states.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 AM

Mystery of John ‘Babbacombe’ Lee, ‘the man they couldn’t hang’, is solved 

He was known as the “man they couldn’t hang” but for nearly a century the real fate of the notorious murderer John “Babbacombe” Lee remained a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

The Science Behind Unseen Phenomena 

During the early 1930s, Duke University went against the grain and opened a parapsychology lab. J.B. Rhine, who actually coined the term parapsychology, along with his colleagues sought to uncover the truth about various phenomena using scientific methods. In Unbelievable, author Stacy Horn chronicles the decades of research done in the lab.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

The mysterious marvel of the Mary Rose 

The Mary Rose is a Renaissance Pompeii – a window on a lost way of life. But where Pompeii was a minor Roman city, this ship was one of the pearls of Henry VIII's navy, and one of the first purpose-built battleships in history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:12 AM

San Jacinto Obelisk 

The Washington Monument is not the only famed Masonic obelisk in the United States of America. Texas has the grand San Jacinto Monument, which is actually 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument and said to be the world’s tallest memorial column.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 AM

Does Tiger have one more kung-fu movie in him? 

Tiger Yang is something of a real-life Karate Kid. Except that his dad, the man who taught him martial arts, makes Mr. Miyagi look like Mr. Rogers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:32 AM

Cattle respond to magnetic fields from power lines 

High-voltage power lines mess with animal magnetism. Researchers, who reported last year that most cows and deer tend to orient themselves in a north-south alignment, have now found that power lines can disorient the animals.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

A large rock mysteriously falls from the sky in Zimbabwes’ Nkayi village 

A large rock, weighing about 100 kilogrammes fell from the “sky,” in Nkayi at the beginning of the month, shocking villagers while at the same time sending the whole district wild with excitement and speculation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Author IDs Mobster As Gardner Mastermind 

Inside the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, patterned yellow wallpaper still shows through the empty frames of irreplaceable masterpieces stolen 19 years ago from the museum.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

'Strange beast' found in Cedros 

A mystery creature washed ashore in Cedros last week, with descriptions ranging from the mundane- a bison, to the magical - a unicorn.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:06 AM

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Teens capture images of space with £56 camera and balloon 

With awesome pic. Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 PM

Shakespeare Unfound(ed)? 

A claim by the eminent Shakespearean Stanley Wells that a Jacobean painting from the family collection of Mr Alec Cobbe, long held in Ireland, is a “life portrait” of Shakespeare, has been widely publicized.

But is it really the Bard?

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:20 PM

UFO Round-Up 

Chinese officials spot UFO in Nanjing (With pic)

Air Force busy chasing CA UFOs March 17

Was 'burning fireball' in the sky a UFO?

UFOs photographed over London (With pic)

Is this UFO an intergalactic visitor? (With pic)

Salt Lake City UFOs are back

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:59 AM

Three Sisters Mystery Masonic Link? 

On Green Hill surrounded by bungalows and semi-villas, stand the ‘Three Sisters’ - vertical pillars of stone, not more than ten feet high, 150 years old and already in a state of decay.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:45 AM

Was 'other Roswell' real or hoax? 

At Mike Conley's Tales of the Weird.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... mystery stone? 

Sitting on Jim Kidd's kitchen table is a big, brown heavy thing, a mysterious stone that no one can identify.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

Knights of the Golden Circle 

Bob Brewer was born and raised in western Arkansas. As a youngster, his great-uncle introduced him to a mystery that included wilderness paths, hidden symbols, carvings on trees and rocks, and the topography of certain areas. The old man was the keeper of some sort of secret knowledge that he kept to himself.

Okie Treasure Hunter has more.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 AM

The Secret of the Caves 

Twelve hundred years ago along the Silk Road, the Diamond Sutra, the oldest printed volume in the world, was buried deep within a remote cavern in Dunhuang, China.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:42 AM

Outcry as 1,000 'witches' rounded up and given hallucinogens 

About 1,000 people have been rounded up and forced to drink hallucinogens as part of a witch-hunting campaign in Gambia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:36 AM

Fitting marker sought for Kentucky Giant buried at Cave Hill 

Porter, who lived from 1810 to 1859 and operated his tavern in the Portland area, stood 7 feet 8 inches or 7 feet 9 inches, depending on which source is cited, and was said to be the second tallest man in the world at the time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:25 AM

On the trail of animal smugglers 

Learning that traders bring animals into the U.S. from parts of Asia, Christy soon set to work on an investigative profile of Mike Van Nostrand, the son of Ray Van Nostrand, who Christy says, dealt in drugs and guns as well as exotic animals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:21 AM

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Rare fossil octopuses found 

It's hard enough to find fossils of hard things like dinosaur bones. Now scientists have found evidence of 95 million-year-old octopuses, among the rarest and unlikeliest of fossils, complete with ink and suckers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:52 PM

Terrafugia's flying car makes maiden voyage 

With pic and video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 PM

Arctic sea monster's giant bite 

A giant fossil sea monster found in the Arctic had a bite that would have been able to crush a 4x4 car, according to its discoverers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:16 AM

Divers learn more about 1909 crib fire 

Unlike Chicago's other storied fires, this one slipped into history books without much attention until divers with the Underwater Archeological Society of Chicago began exploring sunken remnants of the disaster. Members of the society regularly explore Chicago's waterways, photographing shipwrecks and sunken vessels.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:59 AM

Nevada curly horses: A mystery wrapped in a perm 

"No one is really sure how they came to this continent," Emmons said. "There are curly horses in Russia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. Some people wonder if they came over Bering Strait, or if like the rest of the wild herds, they are descendants of strays."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 AM

Mystery: Staten Island residents report loud boom 

Last week, witnesses reported big booms of a different sort. A brilliant yellow streak was seen in the skies north of the city, in Westchester and Rockland counties.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

‘Gem of Tanzania’ ruby draped in mystery as experts doubt its existence 

The mystery surrounding the “Gem of Tanzania” ruby deepened on Tuesday after industry experts said they had never heard of that particular stone, nor of a ruby worth that much.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

Dolphin Bubbles: Behind this Amazing Behavior 

Watch the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlandos Dolphin Cove as they artfully create and play with underwater bubble rings and hear what SeaWorlds trainers, educators and guests have to say about this fun and fascinating behavior.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

A "Monster" in Lake Granbury? 

Some people believe that a "Nessie" type "monster" resides in charming Lake Granbury.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Did the Phoenix lander spot liquid water on Mars? 

A team of researchers analyzing images and data gathered by the now-defunct Phoenix spacecraft believes that the lander spotted liquid water on Mars—and that such liquid may be common on the Red Planet. But even within the Phoenix science team, not everyone is convinced.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Local podiatrist will appear on 'MonsterQuest' 

It's one of the Pacific Northwest's most intriguing stories: A great ape-like creature lurking in the forest.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

Could a Dose of Ether Contain the Secret to Consciousness? 

Researchers may soon be able to measure consciousness as well as we can measure a person's temperature.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

FBI: French comic book sheds new light on D.B. Cooper mystery 

Larry Carr, the FBI agent currently overseeing the case, now believes the hijacker may have taken his name from a French comic book.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 AM

Winchester Mystery House 

Driving north, the kitschy billboards for San Jose’s “Winchester Mystery House” start popping up in San Luis Obispo. The spooky writing makes it seem like it’s scary and probably haunted.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

My own search for 'the little people' 

After a rather lengthy conversation, my friend commented that he would really like to see a leprechaun. Since I had contemplated the same thing, we both agreed to talk to some of the people we had met and see if such an encounter could be arranged.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:01 AM

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:55 PM

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, and at first lady Michelle Obama's suggestion, the fountain at the White House is spraying green-colored water today.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 PM

DOD proposes new giant spy airship-or is it already here? 

The United States Defense Department claims that it is readying itself to issue contracts for the construction of a sophisticated, ultra-high altitude, 450-plus foot long blimps that will hover above the earth's surface at 65,000 feet and remain airborne for up to 10 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 AM

I can help trap this mystery big cat says Fiona, the ex-African tracker 

She is also convinced there is more than one animal on the loose because of the large number of sightings spread over a wide area.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 AM

RIP Coy Watson, 1912 - 2009 

Child Movie Star, News Photographer, Inventor, Television Pioneer, Author.

Amazing life.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 AM

Vampires in Hampton Roads 

It might be hard to believe or even uncomfortable or scary to hear, but through our investigation we heard experts say vampires are real and they're living right here in Hampton Roads.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

That big, strange critter still a mystery to residents 

Theories are emerging about the mysterious creature that a mother and son spotted in Pequea Township within the past six weeks.

Tessa Barnett and her son, Austen, who live in Conestoga, saw the reddish, barrel-shaped creature at Cherry Hill Orchards on two separate occasions. They both said it was large, about 200 pounds, had coarse hair and moved in an odd, slithery, scampering way.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:35 AM

The Axeman Of New Orleans 

Just like Jack the Ripper terrorised London in late 1888, another serial killer had people terrified to be alone in their New Orleans homes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:32 AM

Death Was Punk Before Punk Was Punk 

Forgotten except by the most fervent punk rock record collectors — the band’s self-released 1976 single recently traded hands for the equivalent of $800 — Death would likely have remained lost in obscurity if not for the discovery last year of a 1974 demo tape in Bobby Sr.’s attic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Monday, March 16, 2009

Amanda Knox Trail Update 

Amanda Knox to face slander charge over police brutality claims

Amanda Knox's Odd Behavior Focus of Testimony

Knox 'Pressured To Change Meredith Alibi'

Amanda Knox 'covered ears to block out screams'

Knox clashes with interpreter over Meredith 'confession'

Ex-suspect in killing gets $10K

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:21 PM

Scholar Claims Dead Sea Scrolls 'Authors' Never Existed 

Biblical scholars have long argued that the Dead Sea Scrolls were the work of an ascetic and celibate Jewish community known as the Essenes, which flourished in the 1st century A.D. in the scorching desert canyons near the Dead Sea. Now a prominent Israeli scholar, Rachel Elior, disputes that the Essenes ever existed at all - a claim that has shaken the bedrock of biblical scholarship.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:49 PM

Bigfoot sightings keep the legend alive in Michigan 

That funky smell; that hairy, not-quite-human gait; that long, low call through the woods:

Bigfoot! In Michigan!

See also: Sasquatch expert following footprint discovery

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

Something Lurks in the Woods 

Barely a day goes by without me being on the receiving-end of at least one story of distinctly monstrous proportions – and many of which seem to focus upon werewolves, interestingly.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

What alchemists got right about chemistry 

A new generation of scholars is taking a closer look at a discipline that captivated some of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. And in a field that modern thinkers had dismissed as a folly driven by superstition and greed, they now see something quite different.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 AM

Last eunuch of China 

Sun Yaoting was eight-years-old when his father castrated him with a single swoop of a razor. The year was 1911, and China was in turmoil.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:12 AM

'Negative' attitude to Robin Hood 

A Scottish expert has uncovered a medieval document suggesting negative attitudes towards Robin Hood.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:54 AM

The London Mermaid 

The case of the London mermaid is classic folklore. Here was an alleged creature, brought to the capital by a Captain Eades, who purchased the specimen in 1822 from fisherman in Holland, who claimed they'd obtained it from Japanese anglers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 AM

Albuquerque's Mysterious Mass Grave 

The count now stands at 13, including the fetus, making it the largest crime scene Albuquerque police have ever seen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:32 AM

Hunt on for mysterious $15 million ruby 

Wrekin Construction claims to have bought the Star of Zanzibar from one of its shareholders, Tamar Group, in exchange for $15 million in interest-bearing preference shares in 2007, The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday. The ruby, if it exists, is the most expensive on record.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Mystery animals spotted in Palisades 

Two neighbors in the area of Sneden's Landing say they saw one to two large dark-colored animals around their homes in recent weeks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 AM

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Legend of the Hanged Man 

Pushing open a trap door in a remote sections of the courthouse, Groetke came face to face with the decomposing corpse of a middle aged man.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 PM

Ancient mystery returns as 'Satan's hoofprints' are spotted in Devon back garden 

A 150-year-old mystery has reared its head after a woman woke to find 'Satan's hoofprints' dotted across freshly fallen snow in her back garden.

See also: Ancient legend of Satan's visit reawakened by footprints in the snow

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 PM

200 Tons of Treasure? 

Okie Treasure Hunter takes a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 PM

Peering down the tunnel beyond death 

Most neuroscientists have long dismissed these near-death experiences as tricks of the brain, leaving theologians and philosophers to ponder life's existential questions.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 PM

History Is in the Jeans 

Ask the inventors of the blue jeans about their rich history -- that dates back to the 1850s -- and it's kind of like they've been caught with their pants down.

Interesting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 PM

Is this Shakespeare we see before us? And does it matter? 

Part of the trouble is that we know a lot about him, but not enough. Among the mass of Elizabethan trivia relating to the man who was variously Shakspere, Shaxpear and Shakeshafte, we still lack an unambiguous portrait, a definitive inventory of his writing or a cast-iron clue to his authorship.

See also:
Is this a Shakespeare I see before me?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 PM

Giant sand worms lived in Torbay, scientists claim 

Scientists have found evidence of a giant prehistoric sand worm in an English seaside resort.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:58 PM

The Marvel Man 

Could you visit 48 states in 14 months - without ever leaving your car?

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:54 PM

Cleopatra had African ancestry, skeleton suggests 

Cleopatra could have been part-African, according to the study of a skeleton believed to be her half sister.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:47 PM

Thursday, March 12, 2009

UFO Round-Up 

UFO spotted in Wirksworth

Unexplained UFO sightings from 15 years ago

Portugal: UFO amazes an entire town

Navy officer has UFO 'Close Encounter' along secluded CA highway

Could mystery object above Gedney Hill be UFO?

More UFO sightings over St Helens

Brazil UFO flap: Flying saucer sizzles car DVD player, good photos (Pics)

Was That a UFO Over Monroe County?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Sasquatch linked to mysterious footprints 

A paranormal researcher in northwestern B.C. claimed on Wednesday he has photographic evidence that sasquatches exist.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:10 PM

Who made footprints in the snow? 

A mysterious set of tracks bearing an eerie resemblance to the legendary "Devil's footprints" which appeared in Devon more than 150 years ago is being investigated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:06 PM

Tactile illusions: Seven ways to fool your sense of touch 

It's surprisingly easy for your body to fool your brain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 PM

Mummies of Supernatural Creatures Exist in Japan 

Some temples and museums in Japan boast the ownership of several of the most rare relics in the world, namely mummies of demons, imp, raiju, Tengu, Kappa, and other mythical creatures.

With amazing slideshow.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:43 PM

Sick prankster, or serial killer? 

It's been more than three years since Ocilla school teacher Tara Grinstead vanished. Theories about what happened to her abound. And now, a man has posted a video on the Internet claiming responsibility for her disappearance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 PM

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

How do you find an elf? 

An article on Iceland's de facto bankruptcy in the April issue of Vanity Fair notes that a "large number of Icelanders" believe in elves or "hidden people." This widespread folklore occasionally disrupts business in the sparsely populated North Atlantic country. Before the aluminum company Alcoa could erect a smelting factory, "it had to defer to a government expert to scour the enclosed plant site and certify that no elves were on or under it." How do you find an elf?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:13 PM

Amanda Knox Trial Update 

Foxy Knoxy killed Meredith in row over money, convicted murderer claims as he launches appeal

Amanda Knox sued by Patrick Lumumba

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:29 PM

Mysterious footprints in the snow 

Has the Devil returned to Devon?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:59 AM

Eastern Oregon professor, wife say drawing hides Leonardo's self-portrait 

Very cool. Check it out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:52 AM

New light shed on shipwreck mystery 

The mystery surrounding the wreckage of a ship at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico may have moved a few steps closer Monday toward being solved.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:42 AM

Book: Columbine shooters mentally ill, not bullied 

In "Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters," released by Palgrave Macmillan just before the 10th anniversary of the slayings in Littleton, Colo., Langman writes that most of the shooters were severely mentally ill, their defective personalities and disordered minds causing existential rage that found its expression in mass murder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 AM

Ancient Clovis Toolbox: Were Prehistoric Nomads DIYers? 

Last May, when Patrick Mahaffy was digging in his yard in Boulder, Colo., his shovel struck archaeological gold — a cache of 83 shaped stones that turned out to be prehistoric tools.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:35 AM

Identity of victims found on West Mesa still remains a mystery 

As the search for bodies out on the West Mesa begins its sixth week, Eyewitness News 4 looks into some of the missing women who could be potential victims.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:32 AM

Trinidad rancher finds mutilated cow 

Killing is similar to thousands of other cases in North America in which cattle have been found mutilated under unusual circumstances.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:31 AM

DNA Testing Lays Romanov Murder Mystery to Rest 

An enduring mystery has been laid to rest with the DNA identification of the bodies of two children of the last Tsar of Russia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:25 AM

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

DNA Found to Have "Impossible" Telepathic Properties 

DNA has been found to have a bizarre ability to put itself together, even at a distance, when according to known science it shouldn't be able to. Explanation: None, at least not yet.

Via the Rigorous Intuition discussion boards.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 PM

Hidden Message Found in Lincoln Pocket Watch 

For nearly 150 years, Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch has been rumored to carry a secret message, supposedly written by an Irish immigrant and watchmaker named Jonathan Dillon.

See also: Collector: Lincoln photo uncovered in Grant album

Both links via Fark. Must be Lincoln day or something.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 PM

A Brush with the Netherworld: Improbable Entities 

Cat people, monster dogs, and other weird wonders from Scott Corrales. A good read.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

Is this photo proof of a Fenland big cat? 

What do you think?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:21 AM

The Bloop 

Off the coast of South America in 1997, hydrophones originally set up by the US to detect incoming Soviet Submarines picked up a sound. That sound seemed to be from a live animal, but were that the case said animal would have been larger than a blue whale.

With audio.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

A New Way to Look at Bigfoot 

One of the things that surprised me the most when I started investigating UFO sightings and other related phenomena was the realization that there are different species of extraterrestrials being reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Search for the Lost Treasure of Nicholas and Alexandra 

Almost ninety years ago the personal treasure of Czar Nicholas and Czarina Alexandra Emperor and Empress of Russia was buried in the vast Gobi desert in the Republic of Mongolia.

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:51 AM

Oregon's Haunting Lighthouses: Spooked or Not 

They inspire imaginations, impart mystery and create an ever-widening array of emotions and dreamy notions. And many of them may or may not be haunted.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:37 AM

Monday, March 09, 2009

Report: Slain US Nazi hated Obama, had parts for 'dirty bomb' 

Trust fund millionaire James G. Cummings, an American Nazi sympathizer from Maine who was slain by his wife Amber in December, allegedly had the radioactive components necessary to construct a "dirty bomb," a newly released threat analysis report states.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 PM

Anthropologist outlines occult beliefs of 'psychopathic serial killer' 

Constanzo, leader of the group that kidnapped and killed Mark J. Kilroy in March 1989, was an initiated palero, a person who practices Palo Mayombe. He also was a padrino, one who has reached the level of a high priest in Palo Mayombe.

See also: Couple thanks community 20 years after son's slaughter

Official: 'We all kind of dropped the ball' in probe of killer cult

Remembering Mark J. Kilroy: Years ago, grisly murders that claimed his and others' lives terrified everyone

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:55 PM

Lovecraftian School Board Member Wants Madness Added To Curriculum 

Arguing that students should return to the fundamentals taught in the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Necronomicon in order to develop the skills they need to be driven to the very edge of sanity, Arkham school board member Charles West continued to advance his pro-madness agenda at the district's monthly meeting Tuesday.

Ha! Ia!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:49 PM

Not everyone sees lights east of town 

While sipping whiskey in one of the few open bars in town—actually it was the only open bar in town—I got a warning.

"Don't write about the Marfa Lights," said Sam Watts, a fedora-wearing 25-year-old. "It's like going to Hershey, Pa., and writing about the chocolate."

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:46 PM

I've 500 proven cases of reincarnation: Dr K S Rawat 

The idea of reincarnation fascinated Kirti Swaroop when he was just a kid. And why not? His grandfather, Ganesh Kumar Rawat, told him mysterious tales of his own past life instead of the usual bedtime stories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:45 PM

Curry cures? University researchers uncover truth behind natural remedies 

Turmeric powder, the main spice that gives curry its distinctive taste, has been used in India and other Asian countries as a remedy to combat fevers, colds, coughs and wounds for thousands of years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:31 PM

Mediaeval 'vampire' skull found in near Venice 

The remains of a woman's skull with a rock thrust into its jaws is evidence of the mediaeval fear of vampires, Italian anthropologists have claimed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:07 PM

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Mark Twain's latest short story 

Almost 99 years after his death on April 21, 1910, Mark Twain will publish a new short story next week in the pages of the quarterly mystery magazine the Strand.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 PM

A gruesome discovery - Dozens of skinned animals found in Atwater 

Weird.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:25 PM

Painting thought to be the first portrait of William Shakespeare done in his lifetime 

The picture, from 1610, six years before the playwright's death, has been in the possession of the Cobbe family since the early 18th century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:13 PM

Friday, March 06, 2009

Striped Cryptid Sighted 

Cryptomundo checks it out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:34 PM

Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World's Undeciphered Scripts 

Review of the new book by Andrew Robinson.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:25 PM

The sky at night, as charted in the 7th century 

The world’s earliest astronomical chart is 300 years older than previously believed, according to research by the British Library.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:24 PM

Plan is unveiled to build Blackbeard ship 

Kevin Duffus hopes to build a full-size, sailing replica of Blackbeard's sloop Adventure over three years near the Estuarium.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:03 PM

What drives people to steal precious books 

Every so often a high-profile example of book theft makes the news. The crime in question does not concern hard-up students helping themselves to textbooks in Foyles. Rather it details cases of premeditated, often audacious, theft of beautiful and rare books.

Fascinating.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:01 PM

Watch the Skies! 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow in Argentina! (With pics)

Reports on more mystery lights spark UFO theories

Second PA low flying UFO reported

Czech Republic: UFO buzzes town, many stunned witnesses, good photo

UFO formations reported around the world (With video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:03 PM

A Mystery Worthy of Sherlock Holmes: The Story of the Mary Celeste 

The greatest mystery on the high seas isn't so elementary.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:07 AM

Villisca: the Iowa axe murder house that still haunts us all 

When an entire family was murdered on a June evening in 1912, a small Midwestern town spiraled into chaos and division.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:45 AM

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Patent Application for Human Eyebeam Detection System Now Available on U.S. Patent Office Web Page 

Noted psychiatrist and author Colin A. Ross, M.D., today announced his patent application for a system to detect the electromagnetic energy emitted by the human eye. Dr. Ross has been researching a new science and medicine focused on the human body's electromagnetic field, which will be detailed in an upcoming book, "Human Energy Fields."

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:44 AM

Horton Foote, RIP 

Horton Foote, a celebrated dramatist of the gentle rhythms, familial perplexities and generational burdens of small-town life who won an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of the Harper Lee novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), died March 4 in Hartford, Conn. He was 92.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 AM

Hotel, ugly statues crowd historic Miami Circle 

The Miami Circle, the 2,000-year-old remnant of the city’s original inhabitants, has just been designated a National Historic Landmark, an honor that puts it on a select list of the country’s most significant archaeological sites. Just don’t bother strolling over to the Miami River for a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 AM

Land of love - and lizardmen 

This column has looked into the legends of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil and the Dover Demon. But I am sure few of my readers have heard about the Loveland Lizard.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:30 AM

Police Pursue Possible Leads In West Mesa Cases 

More families have come forward, worried their missing loved ones could be among those buried on Albuquerque's west mesa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:28 AM

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Knox says cop misread yoga move 

From Scotland to Seattle, stories saturated the mainstream media last weekend with the headline, “Police: Knox did cartwheels after murder.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 PM

Canada bus beheading verdict due 

A judge will rule whether immigrant Vince Weiguang Li was criminally responsible for the killing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:11 PM

Witchcraft believed by some to be affecting villagers in Nicaragua 

Some are convinced it's a curse or the result of witchcraft, and there are many in the area who believe in such things.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:41 PM

A nightclub for nerds makes science cool in New York 

The Secret Science Club meets once a month, drawing lofty speakers and large numbers of young people, who yearn to discuss sci-tech issues in an informal setting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:17 PM

Book of household remedies and 'spells' from the 18th century to be auctioned 

Want.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:11 PM

U.Va. acquires rare Poe letter, opens major exhibit 

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe — the 19th-century American author and one-time University of Virginia student — the U.Va. Library has announced the acquisition of a rare Poe letter and the opening of an exhibit that explores his life, works and influence.

See also: Historic Trauma Cases: Edgar Allan Poe

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:08 PM

Thriller king Forsyth stumbles into Africa mayhem 

British author Frederick ("The Day of the Jackal") Forsyth jetted into coup-prone, cocaine-plagued Guinea-Bissau this week to research his latest novel, and found real life trumping fiction.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:52 PM

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Reports: Large, hairy two-legged animal seen 

Morrissey has received two reports of a large biped roaming the Skunk River valley on the eastern side of the county in as many years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 AM

UFO visits Hunt County — mysterious object seen by resident, deputies 

At least one civilian and three uniformed law enforcement officers reported seeing an unidentified flying object north of Greenville Saturday night.

See also: Pittsburgh region buzzes with UFO activity

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:24 AM

Exorcists from Indonesia to drive out 'toyol' 

According to Wikipedia, a toyol is a mythical spirit in the Malay mythology of Southeast Asia (notably Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore). It is a small child spirit invoked by a bomoh from a dead human foetus using black magic. It is possible to buy a toyol from a bomoh.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:12 AM

Evidence of Bush-Rove Crimes Hidden Away in Southern Town? 

Hidden away in the basement of a bank building on Broad Street here, there is a bank of computer servers containing all the evidence Congress and the courts need to investigate and prosecute all the crimes of the Bush years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:10 AM

Okay, What the Hell Was That?! 

If you're a psychic, a paranormal, a Ghost Buster or just a northern Collin County resident whose house mysteriously shook this morning, we'd love an explanation. Or at least an educated guess.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:07 AM

Mysterious Moon Flashes Signs of "Last Gasps"? 

Ever since the invention of the telescope, said the Columbia University astrophysicist, observers around the world have occasionally watched small areas of the moon brighten or "turn fuzzy." Sometimes they even turn reddish.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:58 AM

Reno man claims recovery from Morgellons disease 

Although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the ailment, a proven treatment doesn't exist, and many, if not most, doctors consider the illness a delusional condition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

The Bennington Triangle - Vermont’s Answer To Bermuda 

Awesome Or Off-Putting takes a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 AM

'Citizen sleuths' help investigate DB Cooper mystery 

Kaye is testing the theory the cash floated down the Washougal River near Cooper’s drop site where it later floated into the Columbia. Kaye says his research is already yielding some answers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

Monday, March 02, 2009

Jinn: What really lives in the bottle 

The concept and existence of jinn is widely accepted in Islam. God is said to have created the jinn before humans from "hot wind" and "smokeless fire," and some jinn are Muslim. Like humans they were invested with intellect, discrimination, freedom and the power to choose between right and wrong. They live all over earth on a separate plane of existence from man and cannot easily be seen, though they are often thought to take the shape of snakes and black dogs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:25 AM

Caught on camera: Is this the world's only PINK dolphin? 

With great pics. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM

Turkish wizard can’t aid treasure hunters in Urla 

Greek treasure hunters, a Turkish wizard, a mysterious clergyman and hundreds of kilos of buried gold. This is not a Hollywood movie script or the theme of a fantasy role-playing game. These are just the subjects of a real series of events in Turkey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM

Fact or fantasy, ‘green flash’ is a Florida coast curiosity 

It lasts only a moment. Look away, or blink, and it’s gone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 AM

TV show plays Jersey Devil's advocate 

A national TV audience last week watched some South Jersey men search for one of our region's historic mysteries. But these guys weren't looking for Walt Whitman's lost limericks or long-buried dirt on colonists like Elizabeth Haddon and Harry Hi-Nella.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 AM

Mysterious sightings of panthers, pumas and jaguars 

It is either a classic urban myth or creatures as exotic as black panthers and pumas really are roaming our countryside.

See also: Have you seen the big black cat?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 AM

Coed Slay Suspect Amanda Knox Says Italian Police Mistreated Her 

Amanda Knox, the American student on trial for murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy clashed with police in court over whether they mistreated her while she was being questioned after the killing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Long-dead actor James Dean's last appearance still a mystery 

Movie legend James Dean walked into Tip's coffee shop on the outskirts of town on Sept. 10, 1955 - his last day on this earth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

Mysterious islands 

The haunted Islas Coronados.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 AM

Do these mysterious stones mark the site of the Garden of Eden? 

The first is its staggering age. Carbon-dating shows that the complex is at least 12,000 years old, maybe even 13,000 years old.

That means it was built around 10,000BC. By comparison, Stonehenge was built in 3,000 BC and the pyramids of Giza in 2,500 BC.

Gobekli is thus the oldest such site in the world, by a mind-numbing margin. It is so old that it predates settled human life. It is pre-pottery, pre-writing, pre-everything. Gobekli hails from a part of human history that is unimaginably distant, right back in our hunter-gatherer past.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

Despite new find, ancient language still a mystery 

When archaeologists on a dig in southern Portugal last year flipped over a heavy chunk of slate and saw writing that had not been used for more than 2,500 years, they were elated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 AM

Case of boy lost decades ago in Smokies still a mystery 

It was a simple plan that Dennis Martin, his brother and two other boys hatched.

While five adults watched and talked from a grassy area at Spence Field, the boys decided to see if they could sneak up on the old folks and maybe give them a start. Three of the boys went one direction. Dennis, six days short of his seventh birthday, went another.

A few minutes later the three, which included Dennis' older brother Douglas, jumped on the adults. Dennis was nowhere to be seen.

He hasn't been seen since.

Plus two other mysterious vanishings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:54 AM

Yeti evidence is 'convincing' says wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough 

Sir David Attenborough believes there is 'very convincing' evidence that yetis exist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 AM

Diving And Discovering in Mongolia's Lakes 

His expeditions to the 2,760-square kilometer, north-western lake have revealed collectives of fish, the ruins of a ship, and even a scan of a five-meter creature beneath its surface.

A five-meter creature?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:38 AM

Centuries-old artefacts found in cave 

A collection of mysterious artefacts has been found buried deep in Dorking’s South Street caves.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 AM