Author: Larkfield

An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true. As with all folklore and mythology, the designation suggests nothing about the story’s veracity, but merely that it is in circulation, exhibits variation over time, and carries some significance that motivates the community in preserving and propagating it. Many urban legends exist, some however are weirder than others: 10. The Black Volga of Warsaw Polish mums used to keep their children close to home in times gone…

Humankind is constantly looking for knowledge about the universe. Scientists already know quite a lot about the origin of the universe, the structure of galaxies, the life course of stars and the composition of the planets and moons in our solar system. However, it is not only the question of how our universe originated and what it looks like today that interests mankind. Many also wonder how the Universe will ever end. Scientists developed different theories about the extinction of the universe, some more credible or imaginative than others. Captivated by the death of our universe? Read below what could…

Going on safari is a big dream for many people. During a safari tour you get the chance to admire wild animals up close and get to know the local nature in a special way. A safari is completely safe, right? Not quite. You can read more about it in these 10 accidents on safari. Dragged away by a lion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ8ksOPsSHo Katherine Chappell was 29 years old and visited South Africa in 2015. She did this not just as a holiday, but with the goal of better protecting the country’s wildlife. To make this mission successful, she went through the…

10. Mad Cow Disease If you are a certain age you will have heard of this one: a disease that attacks the brain of cows, making them act erratically, lose weight and have trouble walking. The disease progresses fairly slowly – over about four to five years, which can mean that the meat from these animals can pass into the human food system. While humans cannot get this exact condition, we are partial to a variant of the condition (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) which causes pain, behavioural and cognitive issues before dementia sets in. Once the disease has presented the first symptoms…

We all know what chastity belts are, don’t we? If we haven’t directly learned about them, we have seen them in movies and read of them in books. They are really well-known. Aren’t they? You might be surprised by some of the following chastity belt facts: 10. They Were Used By Jealous Husbands If we know anything about chastity belts, it is that they were used by men: fathers, brothers, especially husbands, to keep their womenfolk pure and honourable in the event of the man’s absence for a while. Now, it is true that in medieval times it was believed…

Throughout history scientists have expressed crazy theories and, more often than not, they turn out to be exactly that – crazy ideas without any logic or scientific evidence to back them up. But that didn’t stop them being used for hundreds of years before someone told them to stop. While it’s easy to look down on some of these scientific theories and wonder just what the hell they were thinking, hopefully our future generations won’t have the same sentiment when they look back at our breakthroughs and endeavours. 10. Homunculus/Preformationism Hartsoeker /public domain In its simplest form, this is the…

Hollywood has always taken a keen interest in revitalising fairy tales. The likes of Sleeping Beauty (Maleficent), Snow White (Snow White and the Huntsman) and Jack and the Beanstalk (Jack the Giant Slayer) have all had a recent makeover on the big screen and, although the idea of these cinematic adaptations changing classic stories for new audiences may seem like just another cynical Hollywood cash grab, this approach is really nothing new. The Brothers Grimm are widely credited with bringing many of the most recognisable Germanic folk and fairy tales to wider attention in the early 19th century. Before these…

This article takes an up close look at the fascinating practice of eating certain animals alive. Some of these practices are well known in Western countries, whilst others are not, and many have been a national tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years. They are listed from the tenth most popular live dish right up to the number one choice. 10. Noma Salad (ants) These ants are anaesthetized before being sprinkled over a salad. They are very much a delicacy which is in demand at a number of top class restaurants in Europe. A large number, perhaps…

We’ve all heard the saying ‘accidents happen’, but sometimes what seems like the smallest of mistakes can go down in history as the hugest of fuck-ups. 10. Lake Peigneur Up until November 20th 1980, Lake Peigneur was nothing more than a 10 foot deep freshwater body. That was until a Texaco oil rig accidently drilled into a mine that lay under the lake. Due to a miscalculation about their exact location, the drill punctured the roof of the mine, causing the lake to flood the enormous caverns that lay below. The resulting whirlpool consumed the drilling platform, eleven barges and…

If there is one subject that has many conspiracy theories, it’s aliens! Is there other life in the universe? And have the aliens ever visited the earth? 10. Project Blue Book and the Majestic 12 Both of these names represent committees allegedly set up by US authorities to ascertain for once and for all if UFOs are real and, if so, whether they pose a threat to national security. The Majestic 12 (also known as the Majority 12 in some sources) was claimed to have been set up in 1947, presumably hard on the heels of the Roswell incident. However,…

Humanity has always been fascinated with the unknown and, perhaps more importantly, how we’ve doomed ourselves. Here are ten theories which will probably keep you up at night. 10. Terror Management The Terror Management theory proposes that we as a species have a desire to live, but we also realize that death is inevitable. This is a trait believed to be unique to humans. Therefore, anything and everything mankind has achieved beyond basic survival has been motivated by the fear of non-existence. As a result, any cultural values – such as religion, national identity, posterity and human superiority – offer…

Breast augmentation is a common cosmetic surgery, with many opting for it to enhance their appearance or boost self-confidence. However, some have taken this procedure to the extreme, opting for implants of astonishing sizes. In this article, we delve into the stories of 10 women who have some of the biggest breast implants in the world. From personal choices to health risks, their stories are as varied as their cup sizes. 1. Keshia Evans **Cup Size: Overfilled to 6,000 CC** An American big bust model with very large breast implants. She has 3000 CC of smooth round shelled saline that…

Plants come in all forms and shapes. Some are beautiful, other ugly. Some smell nice, some smell pretty disgusting. Some plants we put in our houses, others are very dangerous for humans. Most we consider ‘normal’, but some plants are really weird. We present to you the 10 weirdest plant facts: 10. Strangler Fig Strangler Fig – Angkor Wat This sinisterly named plant grows up around an existing tree, slowly covering the entire plant. Then it proceeds to tighten its grip on the host tree until it dies, literally strangled to death by the parasite plant. Sometimes the fig is…

When travelling to The Netherlands do not assume that there is not much to do there. The predominantly flat countryside is beautiful and there is a wealth of historical sites and interesting nooks and crannies to visit, especially in the capital city, Amsterdam. 10. Albert Cuypmarkt Named for the renowned landscape painter, the Albert Cuyp Market is arguably Europe’s largest day-time market. Originally a rag-tag huddle of street vendors and pushcarts the market grew so large that the city authorities formalised an official market in the area, at first only on Saturdays but growing to six days per week. The…

Men have probably been concerned about the size of their penis since the beginning of civilization. One of the most frequently asked questions by people worldwide is probably “Is Bigger Better?” You think animals ask themself the same question about their pecker? It might not surprise you that the largest animals on earth also have the largest johnson. The penis of a blue whale is about 3 meters long, this is really large, but his body is also 30 meters long. It is more interesting to look at the relationship between the size of the animal and the length of…

The Illuminati has become the conspiracy theory of choice for paranoid types who are convinced that a shadowy, powerful organisation is lurking in the shadows and masterminding world events. The group has been linked to a huge range of different conspiracy theories, but some of the most intriguing involve celebrities. Many conspiracy theorists believe that some of the most prominent singers, athletes, actors and artists have either found their fame and fortune thanks to the backing of the Illuminati or that they have been used as pawns and puppets to push the agenda of the organisation. Some celebrities have been…

Atlantis, Camelot, Babylon, El Dorado: these are the types of places that may spring to mind when you hear talk of ‘lost cities’. Although there is no strong evidence that they existed outside of legends and allegorical tales, these places still have their places in history and culture. However, there are many civilisations which have been lost to the fabric of time. Whether they were abandoned, destroyed or simply forgotten, these lost cities really did once exist. 10. Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan) Mohenjo-daro is located in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. The modern name for the site simply means Mound of the…

Many of us dreamed about being the rulers of our own kingdoms when we were younger, but it wasn’t too long before we woke up to reality and pursued more ‘normal’ paths. However, some crazy diamonds have held onto this mad dream and managed to declare themselves leaders of their very own ‘micronations’. There have been hundreds of proclaimed micronations in modern history with some doing it for fame while others do it to avoid the law. Whatever the reason, we tip our hats to these crazy sovereign seekers. 10. Ladonia Ivar Skoglund / Shutterstock.com The first entrant on our…

Whether you believe in the Illuminati or not, you have to admit that the idea of a shadowy secret organisation attempting to bring about a New World Order makes for some pretty compelling conspiracy theories. Historically speaking, the Order of the Illuminati was an organisation established in Bavaria, Germany in 1776 by forward-thinking individuals who believed in the concepts of free thought, secularism and gender equality. The order was highly critical of the Bavarian monarchy and the Roman Catholic church (which was the state religion) and its members were keen supporters of the Age of Enlightenment. However the Illuminati was…