Thursday, December 31, 2009

Mystery surrounds Hong Kong acid attacker 

As hundreds of thousands of people prepare to gather for New Year's Eve, Hong Kong's police are on high alert as fears grow that a mysterious acid attacker terrorising the city will strike again.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 PM

Expert vows to get Sheppey big cat on film 

An expert in mystery big cats has vowed that 2010 will be the year he catches the Sheppey beast on film.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 AM

Rumors abound that new Leonardo da Vinci painting has been found in Boston 

Is the world about to gain another Leonardo da Vinci painting?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:14 AM

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Second Annual Fortean Tinged Links Of 2009 

The Heavy Stuff has it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:21 PM

Sharks, Zombies, Weird Clouds: The Most Popular Stories of 2009 

We have often joked that the perfect Wired Science story is about robot sharks with lasers in space.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 PM

The Thing With A Thousand Young Is Not Amused 

Many moviemakers have tried to recreate the weirdness of HP Lovecraft's horror stories on film, but few have succeeded. Steve Daniels tried a novel approach in his short Dirt Dauber, using paper cutouts and half-seen imagery. Behold Shub-Niggurath!

With video preview.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:24 PM

The Best Mystery/Crime Fiction of 2009 

2009 was without question one of the best years for crime fiction in many years, and trust me when I tell you that my top ten has changed so many times in the last six months that I wish I could've put together a top 20, or even a top 30, but somehow I managed to narrow it down to ten favorites and five runners up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:22 PM

Interview with Paul Dale Roberts, HPI Fortean Investigator 

We investigate ALL things paranormal, from UFOs to Bigfoot. Shannon and I are Fortean Investigators or you can call us Esoteric Detectives. There is no paranormal case we will turn down.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:06 PM

Sylvanic Bigfoot, What’s The Story? 

Todd Standing is a columnist for Unexplained-Mysteries.com and a Bigfoot researcher. He’s made quite a lot of headlines in the Bigfoot community by coming forward with video “proof” of these bipedal, ape-like creatures that he has filmed in recent expeditions. It doesn’t just end there, he also claims to know a secret location called “Sylvanic” (According to Todd, this is the name given by the “native” people) said to be a hidden valley nestled deep into the American Rockies.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:02 PM

Hypnotist tries for world record via Twitter and Facebook 

British hypnotist Chris Hughes will use social networking sites Twitter and Facebook to attempt a record for the world's largest online hypnosis session.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:11 AM

White magic: The Woman in White has kept us in suspense for 150 years 

One hundred and fifty years ago, The Woman in White was serialised in Dickens' periodical All the Year Round, following hot on the heels of A Tale of Two Cities. It was so successful that it helped raise circulation of the magazine from 38,500 to 100,000 a week, peaking at 300,000 over Christmas, and started a jittery mania for "sensation fiction", ensuring that society's nerve endings would be jangled more efficiently over the coming decades than the bells of St Paul's.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:28 AM

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Collar Tech Tracks Wolf’s North Pole Treks 

Very cool. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:45 PM

Egypt Alleges Germany Stole Nefertiti Bust, Demands Return 

Egypt's antiquities chief announced he will formally demand that a 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti displayed at Berlin's Neues Museum for 85 years be returned to its homeland.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:59 PM

Death and Time Traveling 

How would you like to visit other worlds, the stars and planets on the other side of the galaxy? Or how would you like to live in the future, say several thousand years from now? The impenetrable light-speed barrier and the brief life span of humans appears to prevent any entity from achieving these goals. In spite of the life span and light-speed barrier, I will describe, not only how one might get to the stars and to the future, but that one can travel there, not by traveling close to light speed, not at the speed of light, but much quicker. Instantly. Instantly.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:51 PM

Tomb of ancient Chinese ruler found 

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives

More here:

Archeologists Discover Tomb of Ancient Chinese Ruler

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:57 PM

Mystery solved by Dream 

Duane Hamacher, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University in Sydney, found a bowl-shaped crater at Palm Valley, near Hermannsburg, about 130 km southwest of Alice Springs, by searching for it on Google Earth - after being tipped off by Aboriginal dreaming stories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:16 PM

Psychic predicts assassination of Obama in 2010 

“I’m really getting that strong,” says Nikki, known as psychic to the stars. “I’ve been getting that for quite a long time now. It’s a very dark aura around him.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:13 PM

Monday, December 28, 2009

What Happened to the Hominids Who Were Smarter Than Us? 

“There’s just one thing we haven’t quite dared to mention. It’s this, and you won’t believe it. It’s all happened already. Back there in the past, ten thousand years ago. The man of the future, with the big brain, the small teeth. He lived in Africa. His brain was bigger than your brain. His face was straight and small, almost a child’s face.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:13 PM

North York Moors blaze uncovers mystery monument near Goathland 

A fire which swept across a large area of North Yorkshire moorland has revealed a mysterious monument which could date back to Neolithic times.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:08 PM

Crazy Like A Fox 

Uxbridge is a large suburban town in northwest London. In 2009 it happened to be the prowling ground of a very unusual creature...or possibly something very normal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:05 PM

Sherlock Holmes' Martial Art Comes To Pacific Northwest 

Sherlock Holmes is portrayed as a man accomplished in Pugilism, grappling and Cane Fighting, all things combined in a historical martial art known as Bartitsu.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:50 PM

1909 hoax concocted by teen girl 

Reports of extortion around the country by the "Black Hand," the secret arm of the Mafia, had appeared in the Springfield Daily News sporadically early in 1909.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:47 PM

Subterranean secrets of our lost giants 

What happened to Australia's megafauna?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:42 PM

When Fear Makes Us Superhuman 

Can an extreme response to fear give us strength we would not have under normal circumstances?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:40 PM

JFK photo hoax! Naked ladies on yacht from Playboy, not Camelot 

TMZ gets punked.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:26 PM

Saturday, December 26, 2009

New Year's Eve gunfire has roots in witchcraft tradition 

This would seem to be a very modern (and stupid) way of celebrating the new year and the unfortunate by-product of a gun infused culture but this activity has roots that go back hundreds of years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:13 PM

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Show us your tentacles: A Lovecraft art meme 

Freaking cool. Check it out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:36 PM

The 6 Stupidest Things Ever Done With Historic Treasures 

Even though we're all grown up now, cherished items from the past seem to carry a very special significance for us. That's why we find it so unthinkable that someone would take a priceless relic, thousands of years old, and use it as a napkin or something.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 AM

Teens discover new species of cockroach in New York City 

New Yorkers beware! A new species of roach may have emerged from the streets of the Big Apple.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:57 AM

An enduring mystery 

On Christmas Eve 35 years ago, Priscilla Ann Frey, Kansas inmate No. 9782, escaped from the Lansing Correctional Facility.

Authorities haven’t seen her since.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:54 AM

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Kiki's Cauldron 

I added Kiki's Cauldron to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Historian Says New Smyrna Is State's Oldest City 

One local historian said he has the research to prove that Florida's oldest city is not St. Augustine.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:18 AM

Chesterfield’s war on fortune-tellers 

A Chesterfield tarot card reader and spiritual counselor has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the county has violated her constitutional rights after misclassifying her business and denying her a license.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:06 AM

Wrestlers try to instill Mexican tradition 

Lucha Libre lands in Denver.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 AM

Mystery cat spotted near OC could be a cougar 

Police searched the Oyster Creek area last Thursday after a man reported seeing an orange and black striped tiger run across the road in the evening.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:21 AM

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tacoma’s Electric Sea Monster 

One of my favorite stories from the annals of the weird.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:29 PM

The Not-So-Lost Ark of the Covenant: Hymns to an Ethiopian Religious Tradition 

“We don’t have to prove it to anyone. [If] you want to believe, it’s your privilege. If you don’t want to believe, it’s your own privilege again.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:31 PM

The Top 10 Cryptozoology Stories of 2009 

Cryptomundo counts them down.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 PM

Ancient worship site unveiled 

Could this be the eighth wonder of the world - in Fiji?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 PM

San Diego Booms: Earthquake or Skyquake? 

Mysterious booms were also heard this week in Arkansas City, Kansas and in parts of Oklahoma. The booms were loud enough to shake the earth and register on the Richter Scale. "Experts" were quick to blame them on military airplanes despite zero evidence for this assertion.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:33 AM

How the ninja myth mutated 

In the 50 years since it spread from eastern to western popular culture, 'ninja' has become synonymous with sudden, silent death.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:15 AM

Cryptic signatures that ‘prove Shakespeare was a secret Catholic’ 

Three mysterious signatures on pages of parchment bound in leather and kept under lock and key may prove the theory that William Shakespeare was a secret Catholic who spent his “lost years” in Italy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:13 AM

Caravaggio's remains are retrieved by scientists 

The remains of Renaissance artist Caravaggio have been retrieved by Italian scientists hoping to find out more about his death.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:13 AM

Ten celebrities who died penniless 

The recent demise of Michael Jackson has shown how easy it is for some celebrities to fritter away their fortunes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:11 AM

Monday, December 21, 2009

Tai Chi: Improving Balance with Ancient... 

Tai Chi has been under the microscope of the American Academy of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat specialists) as a beneficial remedy for dizziness.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:48 AM

Treasure or trash, found footage fun 

Hosts and curators Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher (a couple of Midwesterners, by the way) have been collecting this stuff -- celebrity exercise videos, instructional tapes, home movies and infomercials, all of it on VHS -- for nearly 20 years. According to Prueher, the fixation started in high school.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:11 AM

25 Days of Weird Christmas: Christmas Werewolves 

The hellions really like to come out on Christmas. It seems that every third day I find some messed up mythical creature that takes special pleasure in making children suffer right around the holidays. To add to our ever-growing list of Yuletide demons and hags-- Kallikantzaros, the Greek Christmas goblin.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:09 AM

Top Ten Archaeology News Stories of the Decade 

You may quibble as to whether the end of the decade happens next week, or not until the end of 2010, but as for me, I think it is high time to look back and reflect on the amazing archaeological discoveries over the past ten years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:08 AM

Lost yacht mystery continues 30 years on 

It has been 30 years since the Hobart yacht vanished en route to the Sydney-Hobart start line.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 AM

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Fake flies in urinals reduce "spillage" from men 

The presence of a fly in a urinal literally changes human behavior, he thinks — or at least the behavior of human males.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 AM

Arkansas City tries to solve mystery of booming sounds 

The mystery of the loud booms heard earlier this week by several people in the Arkansas City area — sonic booms, some have theorized — may be solved.

Or maybe not.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Skeleton of infant wrapped in 1935 newspaper found in house - Local & National, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk 

The skeleton of a baby wrapped in newspaper from the 1930s has been found in a derelict building in Portstewart.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:32 AM

Mistletoe in the wild used to be a plant of mystery as well as love 

Mistletoe's shape and characteristics – forking branches with splayed leaves and milky white berries – undoubtedly enhanced its standing as an ancient fertility symbol.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:19 AM

Rosa Luxembourg murder case reopened 

German prosecutors are re-examining the 1919 murder of the communist leader Rosa Luxembourg, amid claims investigators at the time replaced her corpse with that of another woman.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:03 AM

Baby born without a brain lives for first birthday 

A baby boy in Pueblo is a living miracle. Nicholas Coke was born without a brain. This week he's marked a milestone nobody dreamed could happen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:22 AM

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Oregon L.O.W.F.I 

I added the Oregon League of Western Fortean Intermediatists to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:46 PM

Memory's secrets still elude scientists 

In hospital etiquette, Alzheimer's patients pose a problem for the busy clinician passing them in the hallway. Is it rude not to say hello to someone who does not remember ever having met you?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:41 PM

Ghosts, masturbation and weird findings 

Weird, wild and decidedly offbeat research findings have emerged in 2009.

Via Strangestuff on Twitter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:02 PM

Needles successfully extracted from boy in Brazil 

Police say the boy's stepfather, 30-year-old bricklayer Roberto Carlos Magalhaes, confessed to pushing supposedly "blessed" sewing needles deep into the child because his lover told him to while in trances.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:52 PM

Friday, December 18, 2009

Carrots really do improve your eyesight. Wolf eyeballs, not so much 

Carrots are certainly a simpler remedy for eye trouble than many other ancient suggested cures. Ancient Hindus believed that eating turtle was good for the eyes, as were tonics made with gold.

My new post at the Examiner.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:23 AM

Egypt lifts huge 'Cleopatra temple' block from sea 

A huge granite block thought to have once formed part of a temple pillar in a sunken palace of Cleopatra has been raised from the sea at Alexandria.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:21 AM

£2.9m Michelangelo figure a fake? 

oubts have been raised over the authenticity of a `Michelangelo` work of art which cost the Italian government 2.9 million pounds.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:00 AM

Stephen King: My Top 10 Books of 2009 

Warning: Slideshow.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:59 AM

Mysterious light, caught on camera? 

A man who has devoted several years of study to the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights in northwest North Carolina claims a possible breakthrough in his research.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:56 AM

OAHSPE AND THE REMARKABLE MR. NEWBROUGH 

One morning the die was cast for real. A light struck the backs of both of Newbrough’s hands and led him to his typewriter for fifteen minutes of a vigorous pounding of the keys. Though he had never mastered the art of typing on his own, suddenly he was serving as a channel for a very competent typist. He was told not to read what he was typing, and, fearful of losing his spiritual connection to his source, he obeyed that order reverently. The basic pattern repeated itself morning after morning.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:55 AM

Human-like fossil find is breakthrough of the year 

The discovery of a fossilised skeleton that has become a "central character in the story of human evolution" has been named the science breakthrough of 2009.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:55 AM

Boy impaled with needles during rite - police 

A Brazilian man and two women have been arrested on suspicion of putting 42 metal sewing needles into the body of a two-year-old boy in what may have been an occult or religious act, police said on Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:53 AM

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Atlantis in the Caribbean? It’s not the first time 

"Unnamed" archaeologists are claiming to have found the remains of an underwater civilization in the Caribbean. But we've been here before.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:21 AM

Shaolin temple of kung-fu monks to sell shares in China 

The ancient Shaolin temple - famous for its fighting kung-fu monks - will soon be a part of the stock market.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:59 AM

Paul Naschy, 75, Spain’s High Priest of Horror Movies, Dies 

Paul Naschy, an actor, director and screenwriter widely acknowledged as the dean of Spanish horror films, whose dark web of credits includes “Night of the Werewolf,” “The Night of the Executioner,” “The Nights of the Wolf Man,” “Night of the Howling Beast” and “Good Night, Mr. Monster,” died on Nov. 30 in Madrid. He was 75.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:57 AM

A Ghostly Trace of the Jewish Occult 

A newly discovered piece of stained, wrinkled paper conjures up the details of a Jewish exorcism that appears to have been performed sometime in the 18th or 19th century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:44 AM

Hellfire holidays 

Secrets of the Great British Sex Clubs.

Not for the prudish, perhaps, but absolutely fascinating. If you're interested dig around Slate and read his other articles. Neat stuff.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 AM

Bible Studies 

R. Crumb and Basil Wolverton take on the Good Book.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:30 AM

Making magickal teas 

Making a magickal tea is a wonderful way to bring magick into your daily warm cup of tea. By combining herbs with magickal energies and holistic benefits, you can create a tea that assists you in whatever energy and magick you wish to draw into your life.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:01 AM

Novelist Agatha Christie suffered from Alzheimer's 

Two Toronto university professors have finally proved what many biographers of the world's top mystery novelist have hinted at: that Agatha suffered from mental illness.

Interesting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:48 AM

What lies beneath: Nazi wreck off Fujairah 

The Gulf of Oman's pithy-black deeps have finally surrendered secrets of the mystery sinking of Nazi submarine U-533 during the Second World War.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:46 AM

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Oral Roberts: Faith Healer 

Oral Roberts's career spanned both the depression-era tent revivals and the multi-million dollar televised evangelism industry. Today, his name is synonymous with fire-and-brimstone sermons and broadcast appeals for money, but few remember the controversial and ancient practice that led to his rise to fame - faith healing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:14 PM

Previously undiscovered ancient city found on Caribbean sea floor 

Researchers have revealed the first images from the Caribbean sea floor of what they believe are the archaeological remains of an ancient civilization. Guarding the location’s coordinates carefully, the project’s leader, who wishes to remain anonymous at this time, says the city could be thousands of years old; possibly even pre-dating the ancient Egyptian pyramids, at Giza.

Very very cool. More pictures here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Ancient herbal mint remedy is effective, safe pain reliever, new study finds 

Brazilian mint, known to botanists by its Latin name Hyptis crenata, has long been used by traditional healers in Brazil to treat pain and discomfort from a variety of ailments, including stomach aches, fevers, flu and headaches.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

100 swords suggest legends 

The museum exhibit traces the history up to 19th century American Civil War military and includes African and Asian versions, including ornate, curved Islamic blades, with descriptive text for each example.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

How the Nazis stole Christmas 

As a new exhibition in the western German city of Cologne shows, the Nazis tried to skew the Christmas story to do away with the Jewish baby Jesus and impose their racist ideology and propaganda on the popular festival.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

Black magic fears as boy, 2, is hospitalised with 50 sewing needles inside his body 

Police have launched an investigation to discover who carried out the attack amid fears the boy may have been used as part of a sinister black magic ritual.

With sick and sad x-ray picture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

Polanski and Kubrick: Two occult tales 

Article at Boing Boing written by Jacques Vallee.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

Mystery deepens around poet Lorca's bones 

The mystery deepened Wednesday around the lost bones of Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain's most acclaimed modern poet, after experts appeared to have failed to locate the mass grave near Grenada in which he is alleged to be buried.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:47 AM

Jesus-era leper sheds light on Turin shroud mystery 

Israel experts said on Wednesday that a burial shroud known as the Turin shroud, assumed to be the type used to wrap the body of Jesus, did not actually originate from Jesus-era Jerusalem.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 AM

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Grinning Man 

The Grinning Man seems to be a paranormal oddity akin unto Spring Heeled Jack or The Mad Gasser of Mattoon in that it seems to be very human-esque, but nobody is really sure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:03 PM

Did soup kill ill-fated Franklin crew? 

Tests performed at McMaster Tuesday have opened new questions about the role of lead poisoning in the deaths of 129 members of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:36 PM

Scientists Investigate Cause of 'Singing Dunes' 

When an avalanche occurs or even when the sand is pushed by hand, it emits a powerful, monotonous sound that can last up to several minutes and be heard more than a mile away.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:29 PM

Octopus snatches coconut and runs 

With awesome video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:14 PM

Lost Giants: Did Mammoths Vanish Before, During and After Humans Arrived? 

This is getting confusing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:10 PM

Monday, December 14, 2009

Move over Elvis: History hopping with jackalope sightings 

Great article on the maybe not-so-mythical jackalope.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:24 PM

Why We're Fascinated by the Paranormal, Masonic Myths and Secret Societies 

By making paranoia part of pop culture, writers like Dan Brown have made a fortune. Then again, maybe he belongs to a secret cabal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:18 PM

An Important Announcemant 

After almost six years of running this blog I have decided to stretch my leathery wings a bit and start writing for the Examiner as the Kansas City Strange & Mysterious Facts Examiner. I'll be covering the same topics you see here but I'll be writing more content and digging a little deeper.

I have no plans to end the Professor Hex blog so you'll still find the cream of the weird here almost daily. I do hope you'll find your way over to the Examiner to read my stuff there as well. I'll post links when I have new articles up.

And don't forget to become a fan of the Professor on Facebook. And if you do become a fan please recommend me to your friends.

The Professor is now also on Twitter though I confess I have no idea what I'm doing over there. I need to take a tutorial.

I also updated Haunted Hex this morning with a passel of new and spooky stories.

And lastly, when it's time to do your holiday shopping please enter Amazon through the widget on the left side of this blog as they are kind enough to provide me with a small kickback. Every little bit helps.

Thanks for your continued readership,

sincerely,

Professor Hex

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:45 AM

Pie eating competitors to be drug tested 

Random drugs tests are to be introduced to the World Pie Eating Championships.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:55 AM

Demons Chase Woman From Her Home 

With no reports of the house ever being haunted, the owner of the house said that more than likely, the renter is making this story up to break the lease.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:51 AM

Kansas scientists probe mysterious possible comet strikes on Earth 

An investigation by the University of Kansas' Adrian Melott and colleagues reveals a promising new method of detecting past comet strikes upon Earth and gauging their frequency

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

‘Octopus murders' suspect extradited, now in county jail 

A former Indian casino security director suspected of being connected with a 28-year-old triple murder in Rancho Mirage is back in Riverside County after being extradited Saturday from Miami, according to a published news report.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Full moon brings out inner 'werewolf': study 

Some people are more violent and exhibit "werewolf" tendencies during a full moon, a study published in the respected Australia Medical Journal reveals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 AM

High country trap for mystery black panther 

High country farmer David Wightman is on a mission to prove the mysterious black panther that reportedly roams the hills of Mid-Canterbury is not a figment of people's overactive imaginations – he's built a trap to catch the elusive creature.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 AM

Shedding some light on the Night Stalker 

In late summer 1985, San Francisco Police Department homicide Inspector Frank Falzon was escorting infamous serial killer Richard Ramirez to a holding cell when the man dubbed the Night Stalker turned around and smiled at him.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 AM

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain 

A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:19 PM

Friday, December 11, 2009

Did Bigfoot take a big trip east? 

Tim Kedrowski admits he was "super skeptical" at first. But now the 55-year-old salesman from Rice, Minn., wonders if his motion-activated camera managed to do something no one else has -- capture Bigfoot in Minnesota's big woods, far from his alleged stomping grounds in the Pacific Northwest.

With unconvincing photograph.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 PM

Crime scene investigations: fact vs. fiction 

What does the popularity of this gritty form of entertainment known as police procedural shows - sometimes detailing brutal violence and the analysis of dead, bloodied bodies - say about us a society?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:13 PM

Seeing his Oak Island dream slide away 

Dan Blankenship is 86 and getting pretty fed up the province hasn’t approved the licence that would allow him and his partners to start digging for treasure on Oak Island.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:05 PM

Crypt searched for Caravaggio's bones 

A crypt in the Tuscan town of Porto Ercole, Italy, could contain the 400-year-old bones of artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, anthropologists said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:00 PM

Giant squids washing up on Oregon Coast 

A mystery is washing up on the northern Oregon Coast as beachgoers began finding dead squid Wednesday.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:57 PM

The Search for the Spider Pool 

The unraveling of an LA mystery. Cool story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:38 AM

Sky Serpents 

The flying snakes that terrorised America!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:22 AM

Extreme diver Norbert Wu's journey into the Antarctic underworld 

These stunning images show the results of one man's 400 hours of swimming in the coldest waters in the world.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:02 AM

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Letters of Note: We have a message from another world 

A 1900 letter from Nikola Tesla.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:23 PM

A 19th-Century Mathematician Finally Proves Himself 

Charles Babbage, the man whom many consider to be the father of modern computing, never got to complete any of his life's work. The Victorian gentleman was a brilliant mathematician, but he wasn't very good at politics and fundraising, so he never got the financial backing to finish any of his elaborate machine designs. For decades, even his fans weren't certain whether his computing machines would have worked.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:44 PM

Colorado cow mutilations baffle ranchers, cops, UFO believer 

Manuel Sanchez tucks his leathery hands into well-worn pockets and nods toward a cedar tree where, last month, he found his fourth mysteriously slaughtered calf in as many weeks.

"I have no idea what could do this. I wish I did," he says.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:38 PM

Ancient Mediterranean flood mystery solved 

Research has revealed details of the catastrophic Zanclean flood that refilled the Mediterranean Sea more than five million years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:55 AM

Scotland's oldest book on display 

The oldest book in Scotland is going on public display for the first time in its history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:10 AM

Bigfoot's Museum: Loren Coleman on his new cabinet of cryptozoology curiosities 

Excellent interview.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:05 AM

Ship lost on Lake Erie 100 years ago remains a mystery 

What happened to the Marquette & Bessemer?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

The pheromone phenomenon 

It's phreaky.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia: The ruins of an ancient city in Cambodia's former empire 

A close look at the mysterious Banteay Chhmar ruins in Cambodia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 AM

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Mystery as spiral blue light display hovers above Norway 

A mysterious light display appearing over Norway last night has left thousands of residents in the north of the country baffled.

With very cool pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:01 PM

'A lot of unanswered questions' around Essex animal deaths 

A local pet owner fears more than coincidence is at play after four dogs died from apparent poisoning and two deer were found skinned and beheaded within a two-week span in or around the town of Essex.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 AM

Rosslyn Chapel: Occult Secrets and Esoteric Treasures Revealed 

Book review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:00 AM

Mechanism for placebo effect discovered 

A key to understanding the mysterious 'placebo effect' has been unlocked by scientists: placebos may work by blocking pain signals in the spinal cord from reaching the brain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 AM

A new step forward for robots 

Engineers decode human balance to build walking robots.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:43 AM

The Not-So-Mystifing Mystery of Northwest 188 

An elegant solution to the the "plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles" mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 AM

On the trail of the cinematic Sherlock Holmes 

Rathbone had nothing on Ellie Norwood. "He was the actor who played Sherlock Holmes the most," Horak says of Norwood. "He made something like 30 Sherlock Holmes films in the 1920s in England. He started with a serial in 1921 and then was cranking out six or seven or eight films a year."

See also: Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes Vs. Zombies! for a comic book take on the great detective.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 AM

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Mountain lion shot in Bismarck, North Dakota: Exclusive Pictures! 

Below are exclusive pictures of a mountain lion shot in Bismarck, North Dakota on November 27, sent to the Professor by Hex Correspondent Ian. Mountain lion sightings in North Dakota have increased significantly in the last 20 years and will probably continue to do so. Local opinion on the matter can be found here.

And check out this excellent video of a big cat that was taken yesterday morning in Minneapolis. Looks like Nebraska has a healthy population as well.

That's a big cat. Thanks, Ian.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 AM

Beware the Stick Man! 

The creature was entirely black and like a cardboard cut-out, flat and one-dimensional. It had no features at all, and it had arms that hung down to its knees.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

Thousands flock to the North Shore to see the huge surf 

As the day went on the waves kept growing in size on Oahu's North Shore.

Should be huge today too. Try this surf cam to see for yourself. Try this one too.

See also: Surfing in Midwest: Some hardy souls in Chicago and around Lake Michigan brave the cold

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Sharks in the Thames? 

Cor blimey!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

The secrets of Tutankhamun's decaying tomb 

Scientists mount inquiry into how millions of visitors to Egyptian boy king's chamber are destroying the wonder they came to see, reports Guy Adams

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:01 AM

Piranha Problem 

Piranhas...in Florida?

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:32 AM

'I'm dead serious': San Antonio couple calls 911 after 'Bigfoot' sighting 

San Antonio police have released a 911 dispatch call reporting a "Bigfoot" sighting.

The audio recording between a dispatcher and the homeless couple lasts more than eight minutes. In it, the primary caller appears sober and deliberate as she describes the beast Nov. 30.

With complete audio that gives a pretty specific location of the sighting if anybody in the San Antonio area wants to check it out. Give it a listen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:04 AM

Vampires Beware: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Owns the World’s Largest Collection of Authentic Vampire Killing Kits 

Cool! With pics. Via io9

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 AM

Xmas lights are electrifying 

He produces his display by sending the massive voltage through a Tesla coil — a transformer that turns electricity into ribbons of light that fire directly through the air or strike nearby objects like lightning.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 AM

25 Oddest Objects Ever Eaten (by Humans) 

If you are what you eat, then the following people are an odd assortment of objects.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 AM

Monday, December 07, 2009

The Aurora phantom airship crash in context 

Was it a hoax to generate interest in a dying town?

See also: The faces of phantom airship pilots

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 PM

Controversial Signs of Mass Cannibalism 

At a settlement in what is now southern Germany, the menu turned gruesome 7,000 years ago. Over a period of perhaps a few decades, hundreds of people were butchered and eaten before parts of their bodies were thrown into oval pits, a new study suggests.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Police force 'consulted warlock over horse plaiting' 

Owners in west Dorset and the surrounding counties had believed that thieves plaited the manes of the beasts to identify which ones to steal when they returned at night.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

Psychic Photography 

Think "Cheese!"

See also: Psychic helped find lost dog

Twin telepathy: Sibling bonds sometimes exceed what researchers can explain

Saudi Arabia to execute TV psychic

A family where mum sees angels, kids talk to the dead

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:49 AM

Legends of Gold 

Tales of the Superstition Mountains.

See also: Treasure find granddad fuming over finder's fee

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:06 AM

Mystery of ancient tunnel under hotel 

Loose rubble behind the hidden door was ex-cavated, and significant lengths of a tunnel, with several branches, were unearthed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:03 AM

Angels, devils and Bigfoot 

Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:46 AM

Sunday, December 06, 2009

The Second Annual Top 10 Anomalous, Dubious, Hoax, Events And Links Of 2009 

The Heavy Stuff weighs in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:16 AM

What Drugs Are Our Astronauts On? 

Outer space, at least as we encounter it in science fiction, is basically a drug free-for-all. If character's aren’t piloting starships on Melange or Somec, then they're playing with dolls on Can-D or pumping their brains full of Merge Nine, Semuta and whatever passes for rave music 20,000 years from now.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 AM

Bust at French Museum May Show a Lifelike Caesar 

Or it may not. Hat tip to Rachel.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

Saturday, December 05, 2009

The REAL king of the jungle 

Former British Army captain Ed Stafford, 33, is well on the way to becoming the first man in history to walk from the source of the Amazon in the mountains of Peru to its mouth in Brazil.

Quite amazing. Here's his website.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 PM

Italian man sells voodoo dolls of Berlusconi 

An Italian businessman announced the sale of the dolls on the same day that a Mafia witness linked the 73-year-old Berlusconi to the Mafia and a corruption case against him resumed. Berlusconi has denied any wrongdoing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:59 PM

Friday, December 04, 2009

Amanda Knox Verdict: Guilty 

Amanda Knox, Convicted of Murder in Italy

Knox reaction: "We're going to fight to the end"

Amanda Knox verdict receives mixed international reactions

Amanda Knox's aunt says hearing verdict was 'gut-wrenching'

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 PM

Naming the Exoplanets 

The International Astronomical Union is refusing to name the exoplanets. That seems unnecessarily curmudgeonly.


Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 PM

Amanda Knox Trial Update 

Amanda Knox Awaits Murder Verdict in Jail Cell

Fate of Amanda Knox, former boyfriend now in the hands of Italian jury

Meredith Kercher trial: Amanda Knox's family 'very hopeful' of acquittal

Jury Begins Deliberations In Amanda Knox Trial

Amanda Knox Takes the Stand: The Critics Speak

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 PM

Who is the Ghost Man? 

The mysterious Ghost Man paints himself into his environs without photo trickery. He's a chameleon lurking in junkyards, prairies and urban landscapes like Where's Waldo. Who is the mysterious Ghost Man? See if you can find him...
Very cool. Thanks Denise!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:36 AM

Finding the First Horse Whisperers 

Paleolithic hunters in Europe and Asia began exploiting horses for meat thousands of years ago when the last continental glaciers disappeared, yet the origin of horse domestication long has eluded archaeologists — for some captivating reasons.

Thanks Rachel!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:28 AM

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Egypt’s Cave Underworld Under Investigation 

Egypt’s leading Egyptologist, Dr Zahi Hawass, has revealed that an excavation team under his charge are investigating an ancient tomb at the centre of claims regarding the alleged discovery of a cave underworld beneath the Pyramids of Giza.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

Mystery surrounds poisoning of doctor who exposed torture 

A doctor who exposed the torture of jailed protesters in Iran died of poisoning from an overdose of a blood pressure drug in a salad, prosecutors have said. The findings fuelled opposition fears he was killed because of what he knew.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Blue Whale Song Mystery Baffles Scientists 

The largest animals on Earth are singing in ever-deeper voices every year. Among the suggested explanations are ocean noise pollution, changing population dynamics and new mating strategies. But none of them is entirely convincing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

Tesla coil enthusiasts: Danger and drama part of allure 

There are likely only about 1,000 Tesla coil hobbyists worldwide, but they have a growing following as parts have become more readily available over eBay and videos have gone up on YouTube.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:24 AM

Dissection Begins on Famous Brain 

The man, Henry Molaison — known during his lifetime only as H.M., to protect his privacy — lost the ability to form new memories after a brain operation in 1953, and over the next half century he became the most studied patient in brain science.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Mystery still shrouds Peking Man 80 years after discovery 

The investigation started in 1921 when Swedish geologist John Gunnar Anderson came to search for animal fossils. Under the guidance of Austrian Otto Zdansky, the first excavations started and two hominid teeth were found in 1926.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:59 AM

Old Leather Man takes on new life; Learn about the 19th century vagabond 

With neat pic. Don't do a Google image search of "Leather Man" on your own - it's not safe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:04 AM

Bigfoot! 

Callers say 'Bigfoot' creature spotted on West Side

Update: 'Tracks' found in area where 'Bigfoot-type' creature spotted (With pics and video)

Researcher says we’re near the heart of Bigfoot country

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:21 AM

Ground-Breaking Science: Very Old Papers Are Both Awesome and Hilarious 

Can one species be transmuted into another just by swapping their blood? What are those funny little things swimming in my water? Did this Einstein guy get his math right?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 AM

Unsolved disappearance of two girls detailed in new book 

Over the last seven months, Sutherland, who is a paralegal, has spent his own time and money conducting an independent investigation that he recently self-published in a book titled This Night Wounds Time: The Mysterious Disappearances of Stacie Madison and Susan Smalley.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:15 AM

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Kansas City 

I added some links for my Kansas City peeps, wherever they may be.

Tony's Kansas City keeps up on all things KC and still manages to throw in pictures of girls in bikinis.

Vintage Kansas City has cool stories from KC's illustrious and not-so-illustrious past. Neat stuff.

Check 'em out. Even if you're not from Cowtown.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 PM

Peru's Murderous Fat-Stealing Gang: Crime or Cover-Up? 

Much of the world was shocked and titillated by news of alleged fat-stealing murderers in the Peruvian jungle. But the story may have a much more sinister underbelly. Could the allegation of homicidal liposuction possibly be a smokescreen to distract attention from other crimes, including, some local journalists say, the existence of a death squad that may be operating within the country's national police?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:16 PM

Sotheby's Sale to Feature Rare Group Of Medieval Gargoyles 

Depicting demons, men and fantastic beasts, these carvings – including a group of gargoyles – were made to adorn churches and civic buildings in the medieval period.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

Nasa: compelling evidence of life on Mars 

A research team at Johnson Space Centre in Houston has been re-examining a meteorite that hit Antarctica 13,000 years ago, and found the most compelling evidence yet that the planet once harboured bacterial life.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Gentlemen of Bacongo 

The Sapeurs today belong to 'Le SAPE' (Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes) - one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Members have their own code of honour, codes of professional conduct and strict notions of morality. It is a world within a world within a city.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:59 AM

Valley animal whisperer helps with pets 

Debbie Johnstone's clients are sick, lonely or frightened. Sometimes, they express their fears about finding a home, or connecting with that one special person.

But they can't speak. They are animals, and it is Johnstone's job to speak for them, she said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

Timperley historian Keith unearths Manchester's secrets 

‘Below Manchester’ is Keith’s second book about the extraordinary network of Victorian tunnels, public toilets and hidden vaults that were brought back into use during the war to shelter civilians.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 AM

Sighted: A Secret US Aircraft in Afghanistan 

Since April, a steady string of reports have detailed sightings of a mysterious, unidentified UAV prowling the skies above Kandahar. Grainy, Loch-Ness-Monster-like photos revealed a flying-wing-type aircraft with stealth features.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 AM

Top 10 film noir 

As a genre, film noir is difficult to define. However, films that will usually be allocated this title will share certain characteristics. Although the majority that fit this category were released between 1941 and 1955, it is important to note that this is not exclusive, and that really, like a classic, what makes a noir is simply in the eye of the beholder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

Sleep turns woman into a sex addict 

Belle Floor is a Sexsomniac - meaning she engages in sexual acts while she is sleeping - and cannot remember anything the next day.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:14 AM

Mystery of how Britain became island is solved 

Researchers from Cambridge have solved the mystery of how Britain split off from the Continent.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 AM

Ancient Chinese statues believed to be Eros: archaeologist 

The two mysterious bronze statues unearthed in central China's Henan Province in the 1980s was found to be Eros, the Greek God of Love, an archaeologist said here Tuesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:14 AM

Jane Austen may have died from tuberculosis 

The mystery surrounding Jane Austen's death more than 40 years ago appears to be solved with a scholar's claim that the famous novelist could have died from bovine tuberculosis.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 AM

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Studying phantom limbs and other illusions to find cures 

In an uncertain world, nothing seems as secure as the sense of your own body.

But what we think of as our own bodies is surprisingly unstable and elastic. With a bit of trickery, for instance, most people readily succumb to the illusion that a rubber hand has replaced their own living appendage. When people who have lost an arm or leg view a mirror image of their intact limb, they can feel vivid sensations of touch and movement as if they were coming from the missing body part.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:35 PM

Polybius - the most mysterious game of all time? 

Allegedly, some time in 1981, a game showed up in just a handful of Portland, Oregon arcades, called Polybius. It was described as being similar to Tempest, and it had children, teens and adults lined up out the door for a chance to play the machine.

The game's diabolical intentions were revealed when players reported experiencing nausea, nightmares, insomnia and amnesia. Players with epilepsy had seizures induced, and some people even say that the game caused them to have suicidal thoughts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 PM

Hot air balloon sighting launches search in Miami-Dade 

The mystery surrounding a burning object that some say they saw fall from the sky in south Miami on Sunday night remains, well, a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 PM

Drowned cities: Myths and secrets of the deep 

The idea that great cities, rich in forgotten knowledge and treasure, lie hidden beneath the sea holds immense appeal. Scarcely a year goes by without someone claiming to have found Atlantis. But what's really out there under the waves?

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 PM

Some like it pot: 'lost' home movie shows Marilyn Monroe smoking joint 

US collector puts copyright of 1950s image found in attic up for sale on eBay.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:30 PM

Witch Bottle 

A witch bottle used to drive away evil spells has been found with all its contents. More than 200 witch bottles have already been discovered, but this is thought to be the first one with its cork intact.

Via The Lunar Gazette.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:59 PM

Ancient documents reveal legacy of Timbuktu 

In an attempt to preserve the rich heritage of the area, thousands of ancient manuscripts which have been unearthed are being restored so they can be put on display.

Cool Video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:42 AM

More on the Moolyewonk, said to be Australia's living plesiosaur 

Could there be prehistoric creatures living in the Hawkesbury River swimming around playing with the fish, frolicking with friends under the water?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:36 AM

Murder By Moose 

Swedish police said on November 29th that they’ve cleared a man who was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife after deciding the culprit was most likely a moose.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:19 AM

The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box-set 

When you think ‘master criminal’, a few names immediately come to mind: Sherlock Holmes’s evil genius Professor Moriarity, the insidious Dr Fu Manchu, Superman’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. But one name that should probably top any such list is that of Dr Mabuse.

Cool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 AM

Vicar warns of satanic activity after finding sheep's head 'offering' 

A vicar has warned his congregation of an increase in "satanic activity" after he found a severed sheep's head mounted on a pole outside a church in his Gloucestershire parish.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:11 AM

Woman sees Jesus in iron 

Woman sees Jesus on the bottom of her clothes iron. Video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:10 AM