Strange. True. Today.
The unusual, unexpected, bizarre, funny, fascinating, and occasionally inexplicable stories happening around the world.
Worth a Look
Stories getting attention now
Researchers in Chile are testing snug red vests woven with copper and zinc on injured Humboldt penguins. The garments are intended to stop the birds from reopening wounds while the metals may help limit microbes and support tissue repair.
Experiments with young poplars suggest trees can actively adjust their form using tension wood, a specialized tissue that works on opposite sides of the stem to push growth toward a more upright position. The process resembles a sensorimotor system previously associated mainly with animals.
NASA’s WB-57F research aircraft followed the path of totality above Iceland during a total solar eclipse on August 12. From 50,000 feet, cameras recorded the event above the clouds and atmospheric material that can interfere with observations from the ground.
Fresh From the Feed
A woman in her 70s has become the first person in Australia to be buried in a coffin made from mycelium and hemp fibres. The biodegradable casket is designed to break down in about 45 days and enrich the surrounding soil.
A Qantas Boeing 737 flying from Queenstown to Sydney diverted to Christchurch after passengers reported a bang, flickering cabin lights and flames near the left engine. The aircraft landed safely about 52 minutes after takeoff, while engineers investigate the suspected engine problem.
Jamie and Michelle Wade ended their wedding photo session in the River Bure after losing their balance in a canoe. The accidental swim was one of several mishaps during a wedding day that also included torrential rain, a forgotten bouquet, a guest’s broken leg and a burnt toe.
Chinese short-drama actor Zhong Yufei says a production billed as his big break became a distressing experience after he was allegedly harassed by his co-star, who was also the project’s sole investor. The production’s reported premise included the investor appearing opposite him and kissing him more than 60 times.
A 23-year-old man from Szczecin has been arrested in Poland on suspicion of ordering hundreds of pizzas to random addresses across the country. Authorities allege the orders used other people’s names and caused substantial losses for several companies.
Iqbal Sheikh, a youth from Murshidabad in West Bengal, India, has reportedly spent most of the past five years in a small pond because the water cools a painful burning sensation in his skin. Hospitals and self-described healers have reportedly been unable to diagnose or cure the condition.
Taiwanese media reported that a man who used a robot vacuum to capture footage of his wife with another man was later subjected to a counter-lawsuit over recording people without their consent.
A shirt called Digital Camouflage uses an intentionally abstract Hawaiian-style pattern designed to prevent AI-powered surveillance cameras from recognizing its wearer as a person. Oddity Central described the garment as an unusually ugly take on the classic tropical shirt.
A California cat rescue group responded after a feral cat was spotted with a jar lodged over his head. The animal had taken shelter in a crawl space and was eventually trapped, taken to a veterinarian, and given the name Jarhead.
A social-media trend built around earning cheers and displaying “good vibes” has moved from online videos into public competitions across Latin America. Participants dress as fictional characters, imitate viral moves and compete for the loudest crowd reaction, while some officials have restricted the events.
Researchers say they have solved how narwhals produce a tusk that is both spiraled and unusually straight. Advanced X-ray scans found that two dental tissues twist in opposite directions, creating the distinctive structure of the males’ projecting tooth.
Researchers calculate that a black hole weighing about 40 metric tons could continue growing inside a compact star if dark matter supplies enough additional mass. The object has not been observed; the result comes from theoretical modeling published in Physical Review D.
