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Articles written by Lucie Winbourne


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  • Strange But True

    Lucie Winbourne|Sep 3, 2020

    * It’s illegal to kill Bigfoot in British Columbia. That is, if you ever actually run across him. * In March 2019, the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans celebrated its 125th anniversary by offering a free seven-night stay in the presidential suite, along with complimentary private dinners and spa treatments worth $15,000. But this wasn’t your everyday giveaway -- the prize was only available to the person who returned the “most outrageous” item ever stolen from the hotel! * The earliest toothpaste was made in ancient Egypt from crushed pepper,...

  • Strange But True: August 20, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|Aug 20, 2020

    * A tarantula discovered in 2015 near Folsom Prison, California, was given the scientific name “Aphonopelma johnnycashi” after Johnny Cash, in honor of his song “Folsom Prison Blues.” * For that matter, “The Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin had a snail named after him, the “Crikey steveirwini,” a rare species of tree snail with a khaki-colored shell discovered in 2009. * Some 60% of human DNA is identical to that of a banana. * The maddening but addictive Rubik’s Cube was created by accident. Professor of architecture Erno Rubik built a twistable...

  • Strange But True: August 13, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|Aug 13, 2020

    * A Florida waitress was promised a new Toyota after winning a sales contest at her restaurant, but was given a toy Yoda, a “Star Wars” doll, instead. She sued the company, and received more than enough to buy herself a new Toyota. * Alchemist Hennig Brand is thought to have used upwards of 1,500 gallons of human urine in his quest to make gold. After he evaporated, boiled and distilled it multiple times, it started to glow in the dark and burst into flames. He had instead discovered the element phosphorus. * Jim Carrey’s make-up routine for ...

  • Strange But True: July 23, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|Jul 23, 2020

    * In July 1999, four ladybugs and their favorite food, aphids, were sent into space on NASA's Columbia space shuttle to research how aphids escaped the ladybugs without the aid of gravity. * The first documented use of toilet paper comes from 6th-century A.D. China. * There are more than 40,000 toilet-related injuries in the U.S. each year. * The University of Liverpool Library reported that someone used a plastic-wrapped slice of "undetermined" cheese as a bookmark in one of its returned books. The library tweeted a photo of the offending...

  • Strange But True: July 16, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|Jul 16, 2020

    * Sir Cecil Chubb, a wealthy and highly respected barrister, really raised the bar for birthday gifts when he purchased Stonehenge (yes, you read that right) for his wife after World War I. But was she suitably impressed? Apparently not -- what she actually wanted that year was curtains! * Caffeine doesn't just help you stay awake. It also serves the function of a pesticide in the coffee plant. * Due to the humid and moist conditions that a sloth lives in, moss and other similar plants will sometimes grow in its hair. Sloths also have very...

  • Strange But True: May 14, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|May 14, 2020

    * A swarm of 20,000 bees followed a car for two days because their queen was inside the vehicle. The insects were removed by a beekeeper after the car was parked, but were back the next day, as the queen was still inside. * Peter Ostrum, who portrayed Charlie Bucket in the original "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," declined the offer of a three-picture deal and bought a horse with his movie earnings. His resulting love for animals led him to pursue a career not as an actor, but a veterinarian. * During World War II, Coca-Cola wanted...

  • Strange But True: March 12, 2020

    Lucie Winbourne|Mar 12, 2020

    * In the mood for a looong vacation? Consider the planet Uranus. Its summer lasts 21 Earth years. * It takes 700 gallons of water to make a cotton shirt. To put that in perspective, the amount of water needed to make a T-shirt is enough for one person to stay hydrated for 900 days, while the amount necessary to create a pair of jeans is equivalent to hosing down your lawn for nine hours straight. * The official color of the Golden Gate Bridge is "International Orange." * Speaking of that delightful hue, Alexander the Great washed his hair in...

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