Beauty and the Beast is a timeless story. It’s a classic example of how we should never judge a book by its cover. This fairytale also has its roots in real-life. Petrus Gonsalvus was born in the Canary Islands in 1537. He entered the world with a condition called … [Read more...]
Like many teenagers, Hannah Jordan believed her parents picked on her. One day the 15-year-old reached the end of her tether and had to let off steam. She wrote a rant on Facebook full of swear words. In it, she accused her parents of forcing her to do too many chores. Her … [Read more...]
Social worker Julio Diaz was a creature of habit. Every night when heading home to the Bronx, he would make a pit stop at his favorite diner. One evening Diaz stepped off the subway and his routine took a turn for the worst. As he headed towards the stairs on the deserted … [Read more...]
Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo is a man who swims against the tide. When the people of his hometown were suffering, he took direct action. He stormed supermarkets with a gang of farm laborers. They filled their shopping carts with food and fled before coughing up the cash. They … [Read more...]
We live in a disposable society and generate tons of garbage each year. Yet one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as Scotsman Angus Carnie discovered when he built a house out of rubbish. After 20 years of working in the recycling industry, the 55-year-old decided to put … [Read more...]
In 1989, Chito was walking along the shore of the Parismina River in Costa Rica. Suddenly, he saw something eye-catching. It was a larger than life crocodile. Usually, the fearsome reptile would be something to avoid at all costs. Yet Chito saw the creature was in distress. It … [Read more...]
The sun was golden, the sea was blue, and it was a perfect day for Bethany Hamilton to hit the waves. The 13-year-old had been surfing since she was eight. Friends and family considered her someone who was born to surf. As Bethany swam through the crystal-clear water, … [Read more...]
Sigmund Freud once said, "Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies." He praised their honesty and pure nature. Freud's most famous dog, Jofi, would sit with him during therapy sessions. Originally Jofi was there because she helped Freud relax. But soon Freud noticed that … [Read more...]
Several months before he passed away, George Washington said that after his death, all his slaves should be freed. The first president of the United States had kept fellow humans as slaves for 56 years. Historians credited Washington for finally seeing the light. Today the … [Read more...]
In northern Thailand, a group of 16 musicians have formed a unique orchestra. They play different types of music, from traditional Thai songs to Beethoven. They also create their own songs, and sometimes improvise in live performances. They don’t always pay attention to their … [Read more...]
When Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja was seven years old, his father sold him into slavery. Marcos was given to an elderly shepherd who lived on a remote mountain. Marcos’s new job was to take care of a herd of 300 goats. He slept under the stars and tried to ignore the worrying … [Read more...]
For Professor of Physics, Ron Mallett, time travel isn’t just a flight of fancy. It’s his life’s obsession. Ron’s fascination with time travel began as a child. Like many 10-year-old boys, Ron worshipped the ground his father walked on. His dad was a TV and radio repairman … [Read more...]
Psychopaths are a rare breed. They make up one percent of the general population and are harder to spot than a needle in a haystack. Outwardly, psychopaths can appear charming and normal. Yet their lack of conscience and empathy makes them wolves in sheep’s clothing. In … [Read more...]
We live in an age where people pay a pretty penny to go under the knife and change their appearance. Tummy tucks, lip fillers, nose jobs, and breast implants are all now commonplace. According to neuroscientist, Moran Cerf, one day there will even be an operation to make you … [Read more...]
South African psychiatrist Derek Summerfield was in Cambodia when he heard a curious story. He was explaining to the local doctors about antidepressants. His Cambodian counterparts told him they did not need chemical antidepressants. They told Summerfield about a rice … [Read more...]
Ron and Diana Watson are creatures of habit. For six days a week, they take their seats in the same Texas Roadhouse at the same time of day and order the same meal. Over the last 15 years, the Watsons have been chowing down on barbecue chicken and “Road Kill” steak. It may sound … [Read more...]
In the 1920s, a circus clown and a scientist conducted a series of psychic experiments on telepathy. The results were intriguing. Vladimir Durov was Russia’s most famous animal trainer. He was also a popular circus clown who claimed he could communicate with dogs via “mental … [Read more...]
The war on drugs costs the United States 47 billion dollars a year. In 2016, the U.S. jailed two million people for drug offenses. And in 2017, 72,000 people died from accidental drug overdoses. It’s safe to say the conflict has been a costly failure. In 2014, journalist … [Read more...]
James Hart Stern recently upset the apple cart by becoming the leader of a neo-Nazi group. His appointment is unusual because Stern is also a black civil rights activist. The National Socialist Movement, or NSM, is a racist organization. Its members idolize Adolf Hitler and … [Read more...]
Thirty-six-year-old Nick Vujicic has hit a home run in the game of life. He's happily married with four beautiful children. He's a motivational speaker who travels the world, an international bestselling author, and an award-winning actor. He even finds time to paint, swim, … [Read more...]
