Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Britain is well prepared to fight apocalyptic zombie invasion  

In the event of an apocalypse brought about by an army of the undead, civil servants would co-ordinate the military's efforts to "return England to its pre-attack glory", according to a Freedom of Information request that has revealed the country's contingency plans.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 PM

Archeologists complete ‘most important’ excavation in 80 years: 900-seat Roman arts center 

The centre, built by the emperor Hadrian in 123 AD, offered three massive halls where Roman nobles flocked to hear poetry, speeches and philosophy tracts while reclining on terraced marble seating.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:37 PM

Saturday, December 22, 2012

California Megaflood: Lessons from A Forgotten Catastrophe 

Geologic evidence shows that truly massive floods, caused by rainfall alone, have occurred in California every 100 to 200 years. Such floods are likely caused by atmospheric rivers: narrow bands of water vapor about a mile above the ocean that extend for thousands of kilometers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Top Cryptozoology Books of 2012 

Cryptomundo counts them down.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:20 PM

North Korean Satellite Is Most Likely Dead  

The evident failure will not cause the spacecraft to fall quickly back to earth but seems to represent a major blow to the North’s portrayal of the launching as a complete triumph.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:00 PM

Aliens? No, the mystery of the Nazca lines is down to earth  

They have perplexed archaeologists for almost a century, with some claiming they were intended as a message to the gods and others believing they were the work of aliens.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 PM

Mystery objects fell from sky?  

Perhaps they found North Korea's satellite. With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:46 PM

Rudolph's Red Nose Resolved  

Scientists from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam take a hard look at Rudolph's red nose.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:39 PM

There’s an Explanation for What’s Killing Thousands of Squid in California  

Red tide?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:25 PM

New study promises to lay mystery of Piltdown man to rest  

Now scientists believe they can finally put to rest the mystery of how one of the most famous scientific frauds in history was orchestrated and who was responsible for creating the fake remains of a human ancestor known as Piltdown man.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:22 PM

Mystery of Ramses III's death unravelled  

After two years of scientific and archaeological research and analysis, Egyptologists have solved the mystery of Ramses III's death.

They have discovered the king was murdered as part of a plot woven by his second wife, Tiya, who wished to put her son, Prince Pentawere, on the throne.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 PM

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Bones, Ghosts, and Paul Koudounaris  

An interview with Paul Koudounaris, author of The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses.

I love an interview that starts off with "I understand your great grandfather was a grave robber?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:15 PM

Carpark skeleton will be confirmed as Richard III  

Human remains found in the resting place of Richard III have already been identified as those of the king but information is being held back ahead of a major press conference next month, sources close to the project claim.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:30 PM

Unearthed 2012: Best Finds Of The Year 

Slideshow of the year's discoveries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:29 PM

At King Eddy Saloon, the end of the dive bar on skid row  

The bar, opened in 1933, will close for renovations and reopen with new managers. Regulars, used to paying $4 for a beer and microwave burrito, fear the changes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:38 PM

Johnston's Jottings: Old fort's location discovered  

As Lewis and Clark passed through the wilderness that eventually was settled as Cantonment Leavenworth they wrote in their journal of having seen the ruins of an early French fur-trading fort.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 AM

Thursday, December 13, 2012

University Of Chicago Admissions Department Receives Package For Indiana Jones 

Hey lady, you call him Dr. Jones!

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:29 PM

Bizarre muppet-like beast discovered  

NAMIBIAN media report a strange muppet-like beast has been shot dead after a group stumbled across several of the creatures in dense jungle.

With very unusual pic. Hoax? Or something truly strange?

Some video I drummed up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:23 PM

The Murder Mystery That's Enshrined in Every Anatomy Textbook 

One of the most infamous murder mysteries in science revolves around the discovery of the purpose of the pancreas, and who got the credit for it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:11 PM

Theories on mystery boom explode  

The mystery boom heard last week across Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts has left people scratching their heads and searching for answers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:07 PM

Squid deaths are a many-tentacled mystery  

Legions of big predatory squid have gathered along the Northern California coast, where they are stranding themselves on Santa Cruz beaches by the hundreds in a mysterious frenzy of suicide.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:06 PM

Mystery animal attacks livestock in Shelby County  

"We've got trail cameras out, we've got traps out it's like it's smarter than we are."

With video of tracks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:00 PM

Skeleton of the Woman Behind the Mysterious 'Mona Lisa Smile' Discovered  

The Mona Lisa mystery that has long perplexed the art world is about to be revealed, according to a group of Italian art historians and archaeologists believed to have discovered the remains of the woman who captivated the world with her enigmatic smile.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:57 AM

Argentinians traveling Route 5 warned that they may experience "time anomalies" 

Drivers on the 35 km strip between the towns of Lonquimay and Anguil have reported feeling disoriented, then suddenly finding that they've driven several kilometers that they can't remember.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:28 AM

Monday, December 10, 2012

Project clones ancient redwoods 

Only about 5 percent of the ancient redwoods are left standing, and among the sources of the clones is one that fell some 120 years ago– the Fieldbrook Stump near McKinleyville, Calif. Sprouts still come out of the stump, which is 33 1/2 feet in diameter without the bark. One of those sprouts provided cuttings for the project. Neat stuff.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:30 AM

International men of mystery 

They were the Aussie Ocean's Eleven - no guns, no masks, no getaway cars. With the last of the crew behind bars, Kate McClymont details how a group of robbers staged one of history's biggest bank heists - without setting foot in a bank.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:30 AM

Mystery and speculation surround underground structure in Kelantan 

Locals here believed the structure was part of an ancient city buried underground that is at least the size of three football fields.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM

Lord Lucan 'mystery man' witness statement uncovered 

A written statement from Lord Lucan's sister suggesting another man was at his house around the time of the murder of the family nanny has been uncovered.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:00 AM

Writer to follow ancient pathways  

Beginning in the exotic surroundings of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia, Salopek will take an estimated 30 million steps, reaching his destination seven years later, three whole continents away at the most southerly point of South America.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 AM

Ancient Maori's love of ultra-hot fires unlocks secrets of Earth's magnetic field 

Is there anything bar-b-q can't do?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:33 AM

Fire, flood or giant calabash... pick your apocalypse 

Devoured by a giant squash, engulfed by flood or flames, frozen in a nuclear winter or new ice age, mankind has looked to The End with fear and fascination since the dawn of civilisation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:31 AM

New face for ancient 'Hobbit' unveiled  

Just in time for the movie. With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:30 AM

Brother XII — Seer or charlatan? 

A fascinating tale of a religious leader and scoundrel.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 AM

Did You See A Weird Light In The Sky In Houston This Morning During Rush Hour? 

We're getting reports from people in Houston of a weird light in the sky that may have been seen as far away as Dallas. Some describe it as a "blue flash" in the morning fog.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 AM

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Three young women took a boat ride on Lake Michigan in 1966 ... and were never seen again  

Another year, no new answers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 PM

Friday, December 07, 2012

Jewish philanthropist lost in the sands of time thanks to the Nazis  

A wealthy patron who funded the excavation of the priceless Nefertiti bust was airbrushed from history. Now, a hundred years after the find, his story is finally being told.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 AM

Ancient Human Poop: Ah, the Tales It Can Tell 

For the first time, fecal remains from sediment cores have been used to sketch out human population booms and busts.

And ye shall know me by my poop.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:39 AM

Merneptah's Sarcophagus: Biggest Ancient Egyptian Burial Box Identified Near 'Valley Of The Kings'  

Made of red granite, the royal sarcophagus was built for Merneptah, an Egyptian pharaoh who lived more than 3,200 years ago. A warrior king, he defeated the Libyans and a group called the "Sea Peoples" in a great battle.

Cool pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:38 AM

Have A Craving For White Chocolate Baby Heads? That’s Weird  

If you’ve ever found yourself staring hungrily at the head of a newborn baby, something is wrong with you.

So weird.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:32 AM

The year's 20 weirdest stories from Florida, America's weirdest state 

Florida keeps up it's reputation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:03 AM

I’m dreaming of a Bigfoot Christmas 

In the darkened elegance of La Scala restaurant, one of the most exhilarating — and chilling — conversations of my entire life spilled across the table.

Serious article, despite the title.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:55 AM

R.I. students crack code of Roger Williams' shorthand 

The 17th-century religious dissident's writings in the margins of a book include his thoughts on baptism.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:44 AM

World Weird Web: Mystery and Conspiracy and the Stigma of the 1970s  

With a shout-out to your humble Professor. Thanks, Ken!

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:37 AM

The Raleigh Call Mystery  

In November, the Indy Week of Durham published a feature story on the Raleigh Call, an attempt by Lee Harvey Oswald to call a John D. Hurt in Raleigh, NC from the Dallas Police and Courts Building on the night of Saturday, November 23, 1963.

Interesting stuff.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:30 AM

Scientists study mystery mounds under Hood Canal  

Washington scientists guessed that mysterious mounds hundreds of feet below the surface of Hood Canal were deposited by Ice Age glaciers or built up by natural gas seeps or geothermal vents.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:21 AM

Oddities of Manzanita, Oregon: the Mysterious Arch of Neahkahnie 

There's also supposed to be treasure buried on the mountain. It's a lovely place to visit.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:20 AM

Bao Lulin And Yang Yanfei, Identical Twins Separated At Birth, Find Each Other 24 Years Later 

Lulin, who works as a waitress in Jiuyang, China, told the Daily Mail, that for over three years, customers repeatedly mistook her for someone else -- a mysterious woman named Yanfei. So, Lulin set out to find her.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:17 AM

The mysteries of the masons  

I sensed someone lean in close. He whispered: "A piece of advice. If you think you're going to fall off the goat, lean to the left."

Good to know.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:10 AM

House-rattling boom remains a mystery  

Sources from the Warwick Police Department said they received nearly 100 phone calls reporting a loud noise that some thought was an explosion. Some residents called to say it shook their homes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:05 AM

North Korea Unicorn: A ‘Dragon with Hooves of a Cow’  

Reality and North Korea are not known for being close and efforts to clear up the mystery of a reported unicorn lair only underline the yawning chasm between them.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:03 AM

Vancouver man sells Mystery Machine on Craigslist  

The Mystery Machine, the famous van used by Scooby, Shaggy and the rest of the teenage mystery solvers, is up for sale on Craigslist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:57 AM

A Japanese flag unfurls World War II mystery for Air Force family 

During his service the bombardier traded two packs of Lucky Strikes for a war memento, a silky Japanese flag smeared in blood, covered in handwritten foreign characters.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:39 AM

Cavemen Trump Modern Artists At Drawing Animals  

Paleolithic people living more than 10,000 years ago had a better artistic eye than modern painters and sculptures — at least when it came to watching how horses and other four-legged animals move.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:32 AM

Behold the deadly ...catfish? 

Amazing video of catfish hunting pigeons on the shore.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:30 AM

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Qin Dynasty Palace Ruins Discovered In China 

Covering about 170,000 square meters, the structure is said to be about a quarter of the size of Beijing’s Forbidden City and the largest complex ever found at the 56-square-km mausoleum.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:51 AM

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Alaska serial killer raised racist, anti-Semitic 

A confessed serial killer and bank robber who took his own life in an Alaska jail cell on Sunday was exposed to the racist and anti-Semitic beliefs of Christian Identity theology during his childhood in a rural corner of Washington state, Hatewatch has learned. With a rough timeline of Keyes's supposed whereabouts for the last eight years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:34 PM

Sumerian Language & Climate: Long Drought Killed Off Ancient Tongue, Research Suggests 

Because no written accounts explicitly mention drought as the reason for the Sumerian demise, the conclusions rely on indirect clues. But several pieces of archaeological and geological evidence tie the gradual decline of the Sumerian civilization to a drought.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 AM

'Pinocchio Effect:' Lying Causes Nose To Heat Up, Thermography Study Shows 

Psychology researchers from the University of Granada in Spain used thermography to study the temperature of people's faces in experiments. They said they found a jump in the temperature around the nose and in the orbital muscle in the inner corner of the eye during lying.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 AM