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The Fascinating Mystery of Apollo-10’s ‘Outer Spacey’ Music
In 1969 as the crew of the Apollo 10 mission was orbiting the dark side of the Moon, they heard strange whooping and whining sounds at various times during their mission. One of the astronauts, Eugene Cernan, even termed it “outer spacey music.” Were these strange sounds evidence of aliens?
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4 Worst Ways to Hire Good Employees
Interviews are a two-way street. Companies need good employees to help achieve their goals, and potential employees need good companies to fulfill their career aspirations. This article discusses some mistakes hiring managers commit while conducting interviews.
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The Fascinating History of Fordlandia, Henry Ford’s Abandoned Brazilian City
Henry Ford was always called the man with the Midas touch. But then, he was also human, and humans are not infallible. And his biggest mistake was Fordlândia, a failed rubber plantation-based American town in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest.
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The Mysterious Legend of the Russian ‘Well to Hell’
According to various Christian and Jewish traditions, Hell refers to the underworld, where the dead are gathered and made to pay the penalty for their crimes committed during their lifetimes. In other words, it is a dark place of evil, despair, and alienation. But does it actually exist?
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The Curious Mystery of Agatha Christie’s 11-Day Disappearance
Around 9.30 p.m. on Friday, 3 December 1926, the legendary author Agatha Christie got up from her armchair, kissed her sleeping daughter goodnight, and drove off into the cold night. She was not seen again for 11 days. Her disappearance triggered one of the largest police manhunts ever in Britain.
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Paul Amadeus Dienach: The Man Who Traveled to the Year 3906
Paul Dienach was a Swiss-Austrian teacher living in Geneva in 1921. After suffering a coma induced by lethargic encephalitis, he claimed to have traveled to 3906 AD.
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4 Ways to Manage Workplace Politics No Matter Where You Work
You cannot avoid workplace politics. It is unpleasant, can get messy, and drains your productivity. That said, politics is an integral part of life for all human beings, and we need to manage it, circumvent it, and come out as a winner. This article discusses some ways to do so.
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The Fascinating Secrets of the Ottoman Imperial Harem
The harem of a Sultan performed multiple functions, and the women who lived there had significant power and influence. A period in the Empire known as the “Reign of Women” saw harem women playing powerful roles within the Ottoman Empire, leading them to extraordinary powers never seen before.
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The Mysterious Victorian Murder Mystery That Inspired Agatha Christie
In 1911, a British spiritualist was found dead at the Savoy Hotel in Mussoorie, India. Her mysterious murder inspired Agatha Christie to write her debut blockbuster novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles." In Christie's book, Hercule Poirot solves the case. However, the real case is still unsolved.
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How to Get Out of a Toxic Relationship
People often assume that any relationship that involves physical and mental harassment is a toxic one. While the assumption is not wrong, most toxic relationships are subtler and involve almost no physical abuse. This article discusses steps to end a toxic relationship once and for all.
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The Mysterious Medieval Mystery of the “Exploding” Moon
On a balmy evening in 1178, five monks of Christ Church in Canterbury saw the Moon explode into flames with a flaming torch spewing out dust and fire from the Moon's center. Was it an illusion or a rare astronomical event? This mystery has baffled astronomers and scientists for more than 800 years.
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5 Ways to Stop Your Best Employees From Quitting
Resignations represent one of the most emotional, stressful, and challenging situations managers face. But the good news is that every manager has the power to identify the potential reasons beforehand and address the concerns before an employee quits. This article discusses some ways to do so.
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The Mysterious Disappearance of the Ancient Indus River Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s oldest cultures. It suddenly disappeared or was abandoned without any valid reason around 1800 BCE. Archaeologists are still grappling to find the answers.
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3 Ways to Keep Conversations Alive in a Relationship
Very often, partners do not bother to strike up an honest conversation despite being together for a long time. And the resentment that keeps on building up due to this issue explodes one day into a bitter breakup. This article discusses some ways to keep conversations alive in a relationship.
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3 Ways to Bounce Back After Getting Laid Off
Layoffs in the corporate world have become commonplace, but they have not become any easier to deal with. During such an event, you must ensure your disappointment does not become a full-blown depression case. This article discusses practical ways to bounce back after a devastating layoff.
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Violet Jessop: The ‘Unsinkable’ Woman Who Survived Three Shipwrecks
Violet Jessop is the only known woman in the world to have survived all three major shipping disasters of the Titanic, the Britannic, and the Olympic Ocean Liners. Violet's unique experiences earned her the nickname of "Miss Unsinkable.” She was also sometimes called the "Queen of sinking ships."
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State School 4: The Secret Soviet School for Sex Spies
Sexpionage is defined as using sexual activity, romance, and intimacy to conduct espionage activities. At the peak of the cold war era, the Soviet Union created a specialist training school, "State School 4" for women agents called sparrows trained to seduce their targets with sexpionage.
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3 Must-Follow Rules to Get Your Ex Back
One aspect of a breakup (which is still frowned upon by many) is that you can still get back together with your ex. Yes, it happens, and nothing is shocking about it. After all, we are human beings and have a bucket of emotions. This article discusses some must-follow rules to get your ex back.
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Truffles: The Most Expensive Fungi in the World
The truffle is a fungus that has captivated people for over four thousand years and is always reserved for special occasions. These pearls of the earth have always been associated with mystery, myths, and superstitions that continue to attract generation after generation towards it.
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How to Make Any Design Empathetic
Empathetic design is a user-centered approach focusing on the user's feelings toward a product. The most valuable skill for designers to develop is the ability to put themselves into another person's shoes and to see the world from their point of view. This article talks about ways to use empathy.
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4 Ways to Comfort a Dying Partner
Few things in life are as complicated as saying goodbye to a dying loved one. Most people do not know what to say to a dying person, and there is a moral conundrum about the kind of conversation to have with them. This article talks about some ways to comfort a dying partner.
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Nikola Tesla Versus Thomas Edison: The Notorious War of Currents
Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison are two legends of science whose inventions changed and rewrote history several times. But the master innovators were also embroiled in the notorious "war of currents," one of the worst disputes ever between two of the world's greatest minds.
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Pirate Levasseur's Cryptogram and Billion-Dollar Treasure
In 1730, pirate Olivier Levasseur, nicknamed La Buse, taunted spectators at his hanging with a cryptogram containing the location of a tremendous treasure that has yet to be found.
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11 Strong Signs Your Partner Is Going to Break Up With You
Breakups are never instantaneous, acrimonious affairs. Instead, they are a culmination of minute arguments and subtle signs of displeasure leading to irreparable damage to any relationship. This article discusses the minute red flags we must watch out for to prevent breakups.
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Amelia Dyer: The Victorian Nurse Who Killed 300 Babies
Amelia Dyer was a brutal Victorian-era nurse who killed more than 300 babies in 19th-century England. Her horrific crimes led to one of the most sensational trials of the period, abolishing the shocking Victorian practice of "baby farming."
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Greek Fire: The Secret Weapon That Saved the Byzantine Empire
Greek Fire was a devastating weapon used by the Byzantine Empire to defend against their enemies. It was one of the most terrifying weapons ever made. But its secret ingredients and the technology used to create the weapon have eluded the best minds since the 10th century.
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3 Ways to Deal With Physical Insecurities in a Relationship
Bodily insecurities are common, and no one is immune from them. The shame stemming from these insecurities results in unwanted relationship disruptions and prevents couples from focusing on good things in life. This article talks about some ways to overcome physical insecurities in relationships.
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11 Best Things to Do in Delhi in 48 Hours
Delhi boasts a 2000-year-old history replete with stories, food, gardens, museums, and markets. It couldn't be covered in a lifetime, but if you are short on time, this itinerary will let you explore this incredible city in just 48 hours.
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The Mysterious Women of the Oseberg Viking Burial Ship
In 1903, a perfectly preserved Viking burial ship was found near Tønsberg in Norway. The vessel contained the bones of two women who were given a royal Viking ship burial complete with tapestries, clothes, and gold objects. Who were these women who were prominent in the patriarchal Viking age?
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5 Effective Ways to Fix a Broken Relationship
Breakups are challenging for most people. For some, it is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through, and for others, it can be a once-in-a-blue-moon chance to start again on a clean slate. But one aspect of a breakup is that you can still fix it. Here are some ways to do it.
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The Fascinating Story of a Man Called Problem
A limerick poem inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-62 prompt, "Problem."
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Lady Juliana: The Notorious All-Women Prisoner Ship
Lady Juliana was a prisoner ship filled with women sent to Australia in 1789 by the British. The objective was to improve the moral culture of the colony, thus encouraging the men to marry the women and lead respectable married lives. However, things took an unexpected turn.
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Emilie Sagee and the Mysterious Case of Her Ghostly Doppelgänger
Emilie Sagee had a doppelganger, a ghostly twin that would accompany her everywhere. The mysterious twin would choose to make herself visible to others at random moments, scaring the hell out of people around her.
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5 Programming Tips to Write Clean and Better Code
Writing clean code is like investing time, money, and effort into the foundation of a building to make it sturdy. When the storm comes, that building will endure while those that did not place a high priority into the foundation crumble away. This article gives some tips for writing clean code.
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The Mystery of the Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942
On February 25, 1942, the unsuspecting people of Los Angeles woke up to blaring sirens and anti-aircraft guns pounding the sky. More than 80 years later, the apparent "air attack" remains a mystery, with no enemy aircraft ever captured or shot down by U.S. officials.
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3 Ways to Cope With Being Ghosted in a Serious Relationship
When a relationship suddenly vanishes in thin air, it can be crushingly hurtful, and you must be strong enough to deal with it. This article discusses ways to cope and return to life after being ghosted abruptly.
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John Young: He Smuggled a “$30 Million Sandwich” Into Space
The astronaut John Young is best remembered for his sneaky act of smuggling a corned-beef sandwich into space. The incident sparked a review by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, in which one member of Congress even called it a “$30 million sandwich.”
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How to Destroy Your Business in 8 Simple Steps
This short story is inspired by a crazy billionaire who dreams of transforming the world for the worse. Needless to say, the company being destroyed here is an iconic tech company.
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Fallen Astronaut: The Secret Sculpture on the Moon
The astronauts of Apollo 15 placed a small aluminum sculpture named "Fallen Astronaut" to commemorate all those astronauts and cosmonauts who died in terrible circumstances during the space race in the Cold War era. Although the intention was noble, the act created a mini-controversy of sorts.
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The Profumo Affair: The Scandal That Shocked Cold War Britain
It is rightly said that the Profumo affair was the greatest political and intelligence scandal of Cold War Britain. The scandal had such huge ramifications that it resulted in the dismissal of the Conservative Party government of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and sullied the British image.
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Madhuri Gupta: The Spy Who Fell in Love
The story of Madhuri Gupta, the Indian diplomat who became a spy for Pakistan. She was arrested in 2010, charged under the Official Secrets Act, and convicted in May 2018 for supplying classified information to a Pakistani official. She was sentenced to three years in prison.
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Amarjeet Sada: The World’s Youngest Serial Killer
Amarjeet Sada was just seven years old when he committed his first murder. Nearly a year later, when he was finally arrested, he earned the dubious distinction of being the world's youngest serial killer. Who is this child and what caused him to commit such unthinkable acts at such a young age?
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The Nuclear Mystery of Nanda Devi Mountain
Still buried and lost somewhere in the Nanda Devi Mountain in the Himalayas is a nuclear-powered spying device the CIA planted to keep a tab on China in the 1960s. This device is believed to still be active and may cause a radioactive disaster anytime in India.
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18 Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Manager
A team can only succeed if the manager is competent enough to ensure that they work harmoniously towards a common goal. And if that does not happen, even a team of superstars can be transformed into super-duds. This article discusses some common mistakes of first-time managers and how to avoid them.
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John Babbacombe Lee: The Man They Couldn't Hang
John Babbacombe Lee was sentenced to hang at Exeter Prison and has the dubious distinction of being the only man in history to have survived three hanging attempts. Lee's "almost death" has been a matter of speculation for nearly 150 years.
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Kazimierz Piechowski, the Man Who Escaped From Auschwitz in a Stolen Nazi Car
Kazimierz Piechowski was a Polish Jew who impersonated an SS guard and stole the commandant's car to escape from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. It was one of the most daring escapes of World War II. His daring escape also led the Nazis to create the infamous Auschwitz prison tattoos.
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The Secret Lives of Women Inside a Mughal Emperor’s Harem
The Mughal harem was a complex amalgamation of women from different regions, religions, diverse cultures, and speaking different languages but all staying under a single roof.
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Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit: Serial Killer Sisters of India
In just six years, the killer sisters catapulted to infamy by kidnapping dozens of children and discarding them after they had fulfilled their purposes. Most of them were beaten to death, thrown down a flight of stairs, or drowned in lakes around Maharashtra, India.
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Juliane Koepcke, the Girl Who Survived a 10,000 Feet Fall
Some real-life stories are so unbelievable that they become more like legends. One such story is of Juliane. Juliane Koepcke, a 17-year-old teenager, survived ten days alone in the Amazon rainforest after falling more than 10,000 feet during a plane crash.
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Glamis Castle: The Most Haunted Place in Scotland
Reputed to be one of the spookiest castles in Scotland, the famous Glamis castle supposedly hides many dark family secrets for over 200 years. And perhaps the most horrifying story was about a "secret" room within the castle that was used to imprison a hideous monster.
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Yakhchāl: An Ancient Persian Way to Make Ice in the Desert
2400 years ago, ancient Persian engineers created the Yakhchāl, an innovative cold storage technology that allowed people to store ice in the middle of the burning desert.
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The Mysterious Cabin of Hy-Brasil
This story is about an incredible, mysterious weekend getaway at the unlikeliest of places. This short fictional story is inspired by Brenda Arledge's week 61 Prompt, "Mystery."
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Ann Hodges, History’s Only Known Meteorite Victim
Ann Hodges was probably the only person in history to be hit by a meteorite in her Alabama home in 1954.
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The Mystery of the Burari Deaths
In 2018, 11 members of the Chundawat family were found blindfolded and dead in their house in Burari, Delhi. The lone survivor was a dog who was left tied on the terrace. Was it suicide, murder ... or something out of the human realm? The baffling case shocked an entire nation.
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4 Easy Ways to Start Coding for Beginner Programmers
Learning to code is about developing a knack for identifying the right code to learn from, the right code to copy-paste, the right code to modify, and asking the right questions in Google or to mentors. This article talks about some ways to teach yourself to code.
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Dollar Princesses, the American Girls Who Were Sold Into Royalty
In the 1870s, America had a tradition in which rich girls were sold into royalty for a title. These American brides carried some of the most lavish dowries in history. In a short time, more than $25 billion was sent to the United Kingdom, giving a new lease of life to dying aristocratic families.
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The Scandal That Almost Destroyed Marie Curie
The brilliant scientist and chemist Marie Curie almost lost her Nobel prize for chemistry due to a sex scandal that blew out of proportion, with the Nobel science academy stating that the king of Sweden did not want to shake hands with an "adulteress."
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Madhumala Chattopadhyay, the Woman Who Survived the World's Most Dangerous Tribe
Anthropologist Madhumala Chattopadhyay is the only woman in the world to contact the Sentinelese, one of the most isolated and dangerous tribes. Inhabiting the North Sentinel Island, one of the Andaman Islands in India. The Sentinelese have remained unchanged for more than ten thousand years.
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The Murder of Grigori Rasputin: The Man Who Wouldn’t Die
It took many doses of cyanide, two gunshots, horrible mutilation, including even gouging out the right eye, and finally drowning in the frozen Neva River to murder the Mad Monk, Grigori Rasputin. But even with all this grisliness, 100 years later, the death of Grigori Rasputin remains a mystery
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Katherine Johnson, the Woman Mathematician Who Sent Apollo to the Moon
The incredible story of Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician who put the first white men on the Moon.
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Vatican Girl: The Mysterious Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi
Fifteen-year-old Emanuela Orlandi attended a music lesson in Rome on June 22, 1983, after leaving her family's Vatican City apartment. Then she disappeared into thin air. Forty years later, no one knows what exactly happened to her that day.
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A New Beginning to Our Relationship
A mysterious package deposited by a drone triggered a wild goose run across the city, ultimately culminating in a surprise ending. This short story is inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week 60 prompt, “beginning”.
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Thathri Kutty, the Fearless Woman Who Destroyed a Misogynistic Caste-Based Ritual
Thathri Kutty was the first woman to raise her voice against the patriarchy that dominated the state of Kerala, India, in the 19th century. She not only managed to get 65 influential men punished for their crimes, but her bold actions also led to drastic reforms, finally ending a misogynist system.
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Ilse Koch: Most Evil Nazi Guard of World War II
Ilse Koch, known as the "Witch of Buchenwald," was one of the most vile women of the Holocaust. She ruled sadistically over the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, where more than 50,000 Jews, Poles, and gypsies were murdered.
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Duško Popov, the Playboy Serbian Spy Who Inspired James Bond
Duško Popov was the real-life Serbian World War II spy who inspired Ian Fleming's flamboyant James Bond. With the codename ‘Tricycle,' he received crucial information and passed it on to the British, which directly led to the D-Day landings, a turning point in the war.
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Ada, the Inuk Woman Who Survived a Desolate Arctic Island
In 1921, 23-year-old Ada Blackjack embarked on an expedition to the frosty Wrangel Island with four white men. They would face -50-degree temperatures, starvation, bears, and scurvy. Only Ada made it home after surviving two lonely years in the Arctic.
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5 Commandments for Writing Good Code
The journey toward writing good code starts with brevity. Write less, and whatever you have written, use that to improve on the other vital dimensions of speed and reliability. This article talks about the five crucial commandments for writing good code.
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The Shocking Massacre of the Nepalese Royal Family
On June 1, 2001, several members of the Nepal royal family were killed in cold blood on the grounds of the Narayanhity Royal Palace, the residence of the Nepalese monarchy. Who was responsible for the Nepalese royal massacre?
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Amjad Khan, the Most Hated Villain of Indian Cinema
If there is one Bollywood villain who has been both loved and hated with feverish intensity by generations of Indians, it's the legendary Amjad Khan. He enjoyed iconic popularity, and his best role was as the dreaded, foul-mouthed dacoit Gabbar Singh in the blockbuster "Sholay" (1975).
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5 Ways to Write Bug-Free Code
Although writing 100% bug-free code is impossible, we can still write bug-free code by writing software with acceptable quality, developed within the given cost and time. This article talks about some simple ways that can be used effectively by developers to reduce bugs in applications.
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"Blonde Poison," the Jew Who Lured 3,000 Jews to Their Deaths
Learn about the story of Stella Goldschlag, also known as "the blond poison," who betrayed countless Jews to the Gestapo, leading to their deaths.
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Ossip Bernstein, the Chess Master Who Played to Save His Life
Ossip Bernstein, the chess master, was saved from death thanks to his chess skills.
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Voltaire, Amazing Philosopher and Lottery Scammer
Not many know that Voltaire, despite being a dreamy philosopher, loved money. And it is this pursuit of getting rich fast that led him to figure out a way to rig the French national lottery to the tune of 7.5 million francs, a haul worth tens of millions of dollars in today’s currency.
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Madhubala, the Venus Beauty With a Tragic Life
Known as the “beauty with tragedy” and “the Venus queen of Indian cinema,” Madhubala’s real life was just like her stupendous blockbusters in reel-life- success, fame, immense hardship, love, and relentless heartbreaks that continued till the end of her life.
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The Fascinating History of Kuldhara Village
Do you believe in curses? If you do, then the eerie village of Kuldhara might be just down your lane. Abandoned over 200 years ago, it is believed to be cursed by former residents, and it has been barren and uninhabited since.
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The Mystery of SS Baychimo, the Unsinkable Ghost Ship
The SS Baychimo was a cargo steamer built in 1914 for the Hudson’s Bay Company. But in 1931, she drifted away from her crew and wandered the ocean as a ghost ship for over 40 years! Her fate, to this day, is unknown, and she remains one of the most mysterious ghost ships of modern times.
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Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the Most Notorious Medical Experiment in American History
At Tuskegee, the U.S. government experimented on black men with syphilis for 40 years. No consent was ever obtained from the men, and they were never told that they were not being treated but being watched until they died and their bodies could be examined to study the disease further.
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3 Disadvantages of Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Employee Attrition
IBM has created an AI system predicting which workers are about to quit. Called the “predictive attrition program,” the software can predict employee flight risk, thus helping organizations take corrective actions. The big question is, can AI really help in reducing employee attrition?
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The Haunting Mystery of the Lost Cosmonauts of the Soviet Union
Did the Soviets leave dead cosmonauts in space? Was Yuri Gagarin really the first man in space? Or has someone else made it before him? The story of the lost cosmonauts is still one of the most discussed conspiracies arising out of the grim dog-eats-dog realities of the Cold War era.
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Anatoli Bugorsky, the Scientist Who Survived High-Energy Radiation
Anatoli Bugorski is the only known person to have survived an intense proton beam passing through his head. Bugorski not only survived the accident, but his intellect also remained intact as he later went ahead and completed his doctorate with flying colors.
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11 Everyday English Idioms With Surprisingly Dark Origins
Many of us use numerous common English idioms without even thinking much about the history behind them. Most of these idioms are based on dark events rooted in slavery to bloodshed. This article helps you understand some of these idioms' fascinating (and sometimes dark) origins.
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A Mother’s Fight for her Son
The story is of a surrogate mother who fought for her child against a powerful, well-connected celebrity and finally wins against all odds. This story is inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week-59-word prompt "purpose."
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The Dark History of Thanksgiving Day
While modern Thanksgiving has been sanitized into a celebration of people coming together, the reality was far darker. The fact is, it was not peace that brought the Native Americans and the settlers together at the table.
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Sanjeev Kumar, the Superstar of the Common Man
Sanjeev Kumar was one of the greatest actors to have graced the silver screen. With over 100 iconic movies in a short life of 47 years, the actor-par-excellence memorable performances remain unparalleled in the annals of world cinema.
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How Do Cultural Differences Impact Design?
Culture is important and cross-cultural design indisputably presents complex challenges. Designers often make the mistake of assuming cross-cultural designs to be cosmetic and that they will not affect the product's success.
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The Mysterious Legend of Prester John
About the middle of the twelfth century, a rumor circulated among the Europeans that a Christian ruler in Asia, or Africa, would join the European Christians to help fight Muslims in the crusades. Named Presbyter Johannes, he was a king who ruled over a mysterious country. But did he really exist?
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The Mysterious Death of the Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri
The death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, still raises questions today. As per official records, he passed away due to cardiac arrest in Tashkent in 1966. But the circumstances surrounding the death were suspicious and have never been fully explained.
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5 Soft Skills to Be Successful in Software Development
Software development is a team sport where a group of people must work together, support each other, and move towards a single goal. That is why all developers need soft skills to realize their full potential. This article talks about the essential soft skills required to be successful.
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5 Benefits of Being an Underdog
The key to being successful at anything is to be an underdog. Yes, despite the negativity associated with the word ‘underdog’, there is something special about being an underdog. This article talks about cultivating the hungry underdog mindset to succeed in anything we do.
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The Unsolved World War II Mystery of Yamashita’s Gold
A real-life high-octane mystery of World War II involving tons and tons of gold, a secretive Japanese General, an elusive royal family, a locksmith, and a bloodthirsty Philippine dictator, still unsolved for the past 75 years.
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5 Good Programming Habits to Be a Better Designer
We get annoyed with developers mostly because we need to understand their world. The same goes for developers who need to understand design. This article talks about some good programming habits that designers can learn from developers to get the best out of both worlds.
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The Disturbing Prophecies of the English Witch Mother Shipton
16th Century English soothsayer, Prophetess, and witch Mother Shipton is said to have made several uncannily accurate predictions like the Great Plague of London, the American Civil War, the Great Fire of London, and even the COVID-19 epidemic.
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How to Work with Generation Z in a Tech (Sweat) Shop
A short story inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week 58 prompt, "Generation."
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3 Ways to Give Great Design Feedback
Good designers have opinions. So, if somebody comes up with a design idea (good or bad), they have a strong opinion about it. If it is good, they will go and implement it. They will also tell them why it is awful if it is terrible. This article talks about various ways to give great design feedback
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Smita Patil, the Amazing Actress of Indian Parallel Cinema
The undisputed queen of the parallel art cinema movement from the 1970s, Smita Patil, portrayed some of the boldest, bravest, and feistiest female protagonists, thus leaving an indelible stamp of excellence within the annals of world cinema.
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A Review of the Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand, India
With magnificent Hills, Lush green forests, and the serene Ganges flowing majestically in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Taj Rishikesh Resort is an island of tranquillity nested in the lap of luxury.This unique resort is perfect for the adventure traveler and others seeking tranquil relaxation
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Venice of the Pacific: The Ancient Lost City of Nan Madol
The only ancient city ever built upon a coral reef, Nan Madol is such an unbelievably complex marvel of ancient engineering that it begs one question: "how was it possible to build those huge constructions?”.it has also been called names like “Atlantis,” and the “Venice of the East."
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Mirabai, the Most Famous Musician of India
16th-century princess, songstress, composer, poetess, and ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, Mirabai lived an exemplary holy life and became one of the greatest female saints and musicians of India.
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How To Save Money for a Big Purchase
It can be overwhelming to think about the amount of money you’ll need for a big expense, like paying for a wedding or making a down payment on your first home. But take heart!! It is pretty much doable. This article gives you some ideas to go about it.
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The Mysterious Bird Deaths of Jatinga Village
Jatinga is a small village in the Dima Hasao district, Assam, India. It is known for the bizarre natural phenomenon of bird "suicides." Ornithologists call it the avian Bermuda Triangle.
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D'Souza Chawl, the Most Haunted Place in Mumbai
Not many know with its beautiful seashores, quaint alleys, and diverse culture. Mumbai is also famous for its haunted destinations. Yes, the ‘City of Dreams’ is home to some of the most haunted places on earth, and the D’Souza Chawl is at the top of the list.
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The Tragic Life of Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi was a successful actress, fashionista, and feminist in the '70s and '80s until a tragic diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
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A Season for Forgiving
A short story inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week-56 word prompt "Seasons."
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5 Offbeat Churches in India You Must Visit Once
From magical temples to bone-chilling experiences of the unknown, there is no shortage of splendorous structures across India with fascinating stories. However, the most unexplored are the churches across India.
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5 Benefits of Using Artificial Intelligence in Software Development
AI will help programmers to redefine workload by taking over tedious, repetitive tasks so that programmers can focus on building something great. This article talks about how programmers can use AI and become more efficient.
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The Tragic Life of Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt's real life was just as tragic as the characters he created. An outstanding director, iconic actor, and visionary producer, he was far ahead of his time.
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The Tragic Life of Silk Smitha
Silk Smitha, called the "Queen of Sensuality," was a movie star who ruled South Indian cinema during the 1980s.
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Phryne: The Hottest Woman of Ancient Greece
Phryne was the most successful and sought-after courtesan in ancient Greece. Her beauty was the subject of inspiration for many famous Greek writers, including Athenaeus, who elevated her to the status of a goddess in his work Deipnosophists.
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The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Technopreneurs
The best companies are usually not started by people who want to 'be an entrepreneur.' They are started by people who are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific problem and are driven to solve it. The article talks about the habits of these successful technopreneurs.
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The 3 Golden Rules of Clean Web Design
The key to great design is not to “strip” something down just to make it simple, but to make sure it’s easy to figure out with as few distractions as possible. Thus, good design is clear but not necessarily simple. This article talks about some rules of clear design.
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The Mysterious Story of the Hungry Beggar
A short story inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week 56 prompt “Hunger”
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3 Strategies to Cope With a Job You Dislike (but Can’t Leave – Yet)
Quitting is not always that simple. Sometimes we have to live with our job and learn to love it in the best way possible. This article tells you how to do so.
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The Stranger Who Saved My Family That Day
They say that kindness never goes out of fashion. This is a first-hand personal account of my cousin who braved all odds to become a successful software programmer at a late age in life. The names have been changed to protect the identity.
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How to Make Love Last Forever in Any Relationship
According to the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, friendship is the highest form of love and is an essential ingredient to succeed in love. This article talks about some secrets advocated by the philosopher to make any relationship last forever.
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Urumi, the World’s Deadliest Sword From Ancient India
The urumi (translated as ‘curling blade’) is a flexible whip-like sword used in Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art that dates back to 300 B.C.E.The sword is considered by many experts the deadliest sword ever created.
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4 Benefits of Using Artificial Intelligence in Schools
AI today is helping teachers in creating a series of smart content programs and intelligent tutoring systems that help students learn new things in a better way. AI can also track student performances helping a student realize his/her maximum potential.
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5 Ways to Manage a Romantic Relationship at Work
Marrying work and love (and maybe marrying your co-worker) might sound like an ideal situation. Still, navigating intertwining schedules and office hierarchies present their own pitfalls that need to be managed carefully.
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4 Benefits of Using Artificial Intelligence in Online Dating
In today’s world, the prospect of AI algorithms finding your perfect date by compiling enormous amounts of data – from age, gender, location, and sexual preferences, to online purchasing history and even Spotify playlists – has become very real.
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Franca Viola, the Fearless Woman Who Refused to Marry Her Rapist
In 1966, Franca Viola refused to marry her rapist, Filippo Melodia, and battled him in court. Her resistance changed Italy and became a rallying cry for other women to follow suit.
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The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Designers
At its core, design is all about people. That is the very reason that designers need to play a balancing act between the four pillars of logic, cognitive science, creativity, and empathy. This article talks about some great habits of successful designers.
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The Sweet Nothings of Inanimate Objects
What will happen if inanimate objects like tables, chairs, lamps, beds, etc., start gossiping sweet-nothings about humans? Would life be the same again? This prose poem is by inspired Brenda Arledge’s week 55 prompt “Nothing."
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How I Used Block Modification to Reduce Stuttering
Stammering is not simply a speech difficulty. It is a serious communication problem. It can undermine a person’s self-esteem, affect their interactions with others, impede their education and seriously hamper their employment potential.
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3 Modern Indian Thriller Movies to Watch at Least Once
A good thriller movie should make you uneasy and that uneasiness should continue to bother you right until the very end. It should be simple in the plot as viewers have not come to solve puzzles. And lastly, it should be unique and unrepeatable.
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The Unsolved Ancient Mystery of the Star of Bethlehem
The Star of Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Book of Matthew. The gospel talks about a bright star that appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men called the "Magi. “But did the Star really exist? Or was it just pious fiction invented by St. Matthew?
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5 Zen Principles for Minimalist Design
Minimalism is about breaking things down to the barest elements necessary for a design to function. And the roots of minimalistic design can be found in the traditional Japanese Zen values of balance and simplicity. This article talks about the age-old Zen principles of creating good design.
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The Al-Khanssaa Brigade: The Most Brutal Women Police in History
The Al-Khanssaa Brigade was an all-women police or religious enforcement unit of the Islamic Caliphate(ISIL) that tortured women who did not follow their ideology.
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7 Amazing Design Lessons From Leonardo da Vinci
Over 500 years ago, a man disrupted the world with his radical designs. He was an artist, philosopher, scientist, writer, poet, and doctor par excellence. It is hard not to get awed by the superlative genius of Leonardo da Vinci, whose design principles are still relevant in the 21st century.
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The Fascinating History of Mansa Musa and Ancient Timbuktu
Mansa Musa was the king of the Mali empire. In his reign, Mali became an African powerhouse and included the countries of Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Ivory Coast. Africa's legendary, fabled gold city under Mansa was his capital Timbuktu.
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Guns, Bombs & Roses: A Love Story
It is said that love can happen in the unlikeliest of places. But can it blossom during a terrorist attack? Read on to know more about two resilient lovers who united under rather terrifying conditions of bloodshed, mayhem, and fear.
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The ABC of My Life
This poem is written in response to a challenge issued by dear friend Pamela Oglesby to use the alphabets A-Z to write something about ourselves. It was not easy, and I hope I did justice to the challenge.
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Shivkar Talpade, the Forgotten Indian Who Actually Invented the First Aircraft
Shivkar Talpade, an Indian, flew the first airplane in 1895, eight years before the Wright Brothers
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The Fascinating Story of Wardenclyffe Tower, Tesla's Mysterious Project
The Wardenclyffe Tower was a bold attempt by Nikola Tesla to generate wireless electricity.
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The Fascinating History of Ancient Paphos, Cyprus
Paphos, a city in Cyprus, was the birthplace of the Greek goddess of sex and love Aphrodite. The city was known as the sex capital of the ancient world.
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1 Simple Way to Live a More Productive and Happy Life
This is a personal story of how I changed myself for the better to live a more productive and happy life. The story talks about the importance of puttering and how it can be leveraged to make ourselves more productive. This article is inspired by Brenda Arledge’s week 54 prompt “Happy”.
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The Fascinating Mystery of Fenn’s Treasure
An antiquities collector Forrest Fenn hid a bronze chest full of gold, jewels, and other valuables more than a decade ago in the Rocky Mountains, creating a treasure hunt for people to find it.
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The Mythical Lost Continent of Kumari Kandam
Did the sunken continent of Kumari Kandam really exist south of the Indian subcontinent, or is it just another myth?
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The Fascinating History of India’s Forgotten African Tribe
The Siddis, a tribe of East African descent have been living in the heart of India in near-total obscurity for centuries.
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The Amazing Survival Story of Charles Joughin
When the Titanic sank on the 15th of April, 1912, the last person to jump from the ship was Charles Joughin, the chief baker who was stone drunk at that time. Miraculously he survived the icy waters and lived long to tell his incredible tale.
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The First Day of the Season
A collection of haikus and tankas inspired by dear hubber Brenda Arledge's week 53-word prompt "First"
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Fugu: The Deadliest (and the Most Delicious) Fish in Ancient Japan
The fish is extremely poisonous. And as a matter of fact, that poison is 1,000 more deadly than cyanide, with no antidote available to date. And chefs in Japan need a special government license to prepare it.
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Sake Dean Mohamed, the Royal Shampooer of Britain
Sake Dean Mohamed was the first Indian entrepreneur who propagated the ancient practice of shampooing from the Indian mainland to all over the west.
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The Tragic Life of Judy Garland
Despite enjoying stupendous success and fame since the age of 14, Hollywood icon Judy Garland's life was far from a fairy tale. She led a tragic life of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, and those scars remained until her death.
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The Fascinating History of Ni’ihau, the Only Forbidden Island in Hawaii
The state of Hawaii has a historic restricted area: the small, 70-square-mile island of Niihau, also known as the ‘Forbidden Island.’
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Elagabalus: The Craziest Roman Emperor in History
The notorious excesses of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus were too much, even by Roman standards. The Senate declared him insane and an enemy of the state. He was caught hiding in his palace, murdered, and his naked corpse was thrown in the Tiber river.
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Nauru: The Fascinating History of the World’s Least Visited Country
Thanks to its phosphate reserves, the tiny island nation of Nauru rose meteorically to become the richest country in the world in the 1980s. And then the phosphate reserves started depleting, and with it started its equally spectacular downfall.
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Krav Maga,the World's Deadliest Martial Art
Krav Maga, a fighting form invented in Israel is the world’s most effective and dangerous form of combat.
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The Dark Secrets of India’s Richest Temple
It is said that the dangerous Vault B—situated inside the famed Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the state of Kerala in India—is protected by a powerful ancient curse. Whoever tries to open it forcefully could unleash a terrible catastrophe upon mankind.
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The Ancient Chinese Sword That Is Still Razor Sharp After 2,500 Years
The Sword of Goujian is a state treasure in China today with some scholars even calling it as the legendary King Arthur's Excalibur of the east.
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5 Writing Lessons From the Legendary Joseph Sugarman
Joe Sugarman was a master in harnessing the power of curiosity by creating engaging content that the readers would want to read repeatedly. He gives valuable writing lessons that can help us to master the art of keeping the readers glued to our content.
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My 7 Hats as a Software Developer at Work
A personal series of haikus inspired by Brenda Arledge's Word Prompts Help Creativity ~ Week 52 - "Adapt."
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The Fascinating Mystery of Delhi’s Ancient Iron Pillar
The Iron Pillar of Delhi has never rusted in the past 1600 years Yes, some people believe that phosphorus was added while making the pillar, so it does not rust. But then phosphorus was only discovered in 1669 by Hamburg merchant Henning Brand, while the pillar was built about 1200 years before that
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Eyam, the Brave Medieval Village That Stopped the Plague
The true story of the English plague village of Eyam whose people quarantined themselves and saved thousands of lives.
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Operation Long Jump: Hitler’s Plan to Kill Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt
Operation Long Jump or Unternehmen Weitsprung was an audacious German plan to assassinate Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt, the "Big Three" Allied leaders, at the 1943 Tehran Conference during World War II.
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Mata Hari, the Greatest Spy Who Wasn’t a Spy
Was she a spy or a scapegoat?
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The Fascinating Mystery of the Versailles Time-Travel Incident
Two respectable academics, Charlotte Anne Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain, claimed to have seen Marie Antoinette in 1901, more than 100 years after her death.
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The Man Who Survived Two Nuclear Bombs
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was the only officially recognized person to have survived both blasts. And he had the unique distinction of not only enduring the horror of both blasts but also surviving later to tell his tale twice!
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How To Rise Above A Hard Time
A series of haikus inspired by Brenda Arledge's Word Prompts Help Creativity ~ Week 51 - 'Chance'
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The Terrible Last Hours of the Pompeii Residents
Dying in Pompeii under the Mount Vesuvius volcanic eruption was a horrifying experience.
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Simo Häyhä:The World’s Deadliest Sniper
Simo Häyhä also called “white death” is credited with more than 500 kills, all with his antiquated rifle. He has been called the deadliest sniper in history.
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Raman Raghav: The Notorious "Jack the Ripper of India"
Raman Raghav, India's most horrifying serial killer, terrorized the country from 1965–1968. He was called the "Jack the Ripper of India."
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The Mystery of the Aztec Death Whistle
The whistling sounds would scare the daylights out of you but nobody knows their purpose yet.
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3 Life Lessons From Noor Inayat Khan, Fearless British Spy
Indian princess-turned-spy Noor Inayat Khan's bravery teaches us important life lessons. Learn about them and more in this biographical article.
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Gladiatrices: The Female Gladiators of Ancient Rome
Female gladiators or ‘gladiatrices’ were every bit as bloody, infamous, and crazy as their male counterparts in ancient Rome.
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The Fearless Dutch Girls of World War II
The Incredible story of the teenage sisters Freddie and Truus Oversteegen and their friend Hannie Schaft who killed Nazi officers during the anti-Nazi Dutch armed resistance movement.
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The Fascinating Hoax of the Piltdown Man
Piltdown man, whose fossil fooled scholars for more than 40 years was one of the most notorious hoaxes in the history of science.
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The Dark Secrets of Oreo Cookies
Have you ever wondered what the patterns on Oreo cookies mean?
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The Mysterious Pied Piper of Hamelin
The tale begins in Hamelin, a German town, infested by rats. One day, a pied piper arrived and promised to remove the rats for a fee. The piper did the job but the Hamelin people reneged on their promise. The furious piper took terrible revenge that has been a mystery ever since.
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The Fascinating Mystery of the Philadelphia Time-Travel Experiment
In the summer of 1943,American scientists were conducting some experiments in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Th objective of the experiment was to create a technology that would make ships invisible to enemy radar. The D-day was Oct. 28, 1943, when an entire ship was made to vanish in thin air.
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The Fake American Towns of World War II
Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, the US military built entire fake towns along the West Coast to hide its airplane factories from Japanese bombers.
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Mariya Oktyabrskaya, the Widow Who Destroyed the Nazi Army
The story of Mariya Oktyabrskaya, a woman tank driver who avenged her husband’s death by destroying the Nazi Army.
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The Fascinating Story of the Green Children of Woolpit
They wore strange clothes, spoke an unusual language, and most remarkably, had bright green skin. Who were they? Experts have done their best to explain but to no avail.
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The Fascinating Story of the Greatest Women Warriors in History
This article details the story of the Dahomey Amazons, Benin’s fearless female warriors who struck terror in the ranks of 19th-century European colonists.
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The Indian King Who Saved 1,000 Polish Children in World War II
Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja is called the ‘Indian Oskar Schindler’ for his selfless act of saving 1,000 Polish children during WWII.
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Vasily Blokhin, History’s Most Notorious Killer
Vasili Blokhin was arguably the most prolific executioner in modern history. Blokhin not only oversaw mass executions but is said to have personally killed more than 7000 people in cold blood.
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The Forgotten Battle of World War II
The Battle of Kohima was as decisive as the Battle of Stalingrad, but people seem to have forgotten about it.
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The Culinary History of Gourmet Lobster
The story of how the ubiquitous lobster once called with disdain as the “cockroach of the ocean” went from a poor man’s food to an expensive, gourmet delicacy.
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Sark Prison: The World's Smallest Prison
Sark Prison, the world's smallest prison with only two cells, has a colorful and vibrant history.
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The Most Notorious Japanese Prisoner Camp in History
Unit 731 was a prisoner camp used by the Japanese where they performed some of the most horrifying crimes against humanity in history.
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A Cloudy Morning
A poem inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-30 prompt "Clouds"
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The Bizarre Story of the 3 Martians
Three Yemenis sued the space agency NASA in 1997 for trespassing on Mars saying they inherited it 3,000 years ago.
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How to Write a Good Poem in 1 Hour
Here is a simple method for writing a good poem within 1 hour. While this method might not work for all types of poems, the least it can do is to stimulate your creative cells in producing your best content in the least amount of time.
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The Fascinating Mystery of the Oxford Electric Bell
Over 175 years after it was manufactured, the Oxford Electric Bell, as it is often referred to, has rung more than 10 billion times. Nobody knows the battery's composition yet, and scientists are waiting desperately for it to die to examine its contents.
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The Shades of Freedom
A couple of poems inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-29 prompt "Freedom"
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The Mysterious Island of Hy-Brasil
There is a strange, disappearing island from ancient times that sits in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is called Hy-Brasil and has been included on multiple maps dating as far back as 1325. However, this mysterious island has never been visible to mortals.
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Adolf Frederick,the Swedish King Who Ate Himself to Death
The king ordered a big meal from the royal kitchen that included lobster, caviar, kippers, sauerkraut, boiled meats, and turnips. This was followed by a huge dessert of semlas, a heavy bun dish covered with cream. That very night the king complained of massive stomache pains and finally died.
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The Secret Life of Audrey Hepburn as a World War II Spy
Not many know that the legendary Hollywood icon was also a secret World War II hero who worked against the Nazis during her teenage days.
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The Mysterious Disappearance of Michael Rockefeller
He was 23 years old and the privileged scion of the ultra-rich Rockefeller family. On November 17, 1961, Michael Rockefeller was traveling to a dangerous area known as the Land of Lapping Death when his small catamaran capsized in rough seas. That was the last time people saw him.
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5 Offbeat Temples to Visit in India
India is a mythical land abounding in temples with fascinating architecture and numerous deities. however, there are some strange and mysterious temples in India that stand out. So, if you are an intrepid traveler wanting to go off the beaten track, here are some places worth visiting.
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The Tragic Love Story of the Titanic
You've heard the famous story of Rose and Jack, but how many true Titanic love stories do you know? Here's the heart-warming story of Ida and Isidor Straus, the couple who chose to die together on the ill-fated Titanic. Read on for the full love story.
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The Mysterious Legend of Solomon's Shamir
King Solomon’s magical Shamir could cut through any stone, iron, or diamond thousands of years ago.
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Henry ‘Box’ Brown, the Slave Who Mailed Himself to Freedom
In March 1849, Henry Box Brown, a slave paid $86 to ship himself into a 3-foot by 2-foot crate from his master’s home in Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia.
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The Fascinating Mystery of the Death of Vincent Van Gogh
Was it murder or suicide? While Vincent Van Gogh’s life was plagued by multiple maladies, including epilepsy, syphilis, alcoholism, and mental illness, his death is one of the greatest mysteries of the art world. The man remained an enigma in his lifetime and even after his death.
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The Fascinating Female Divers of Jeju Island
The story of Haenyeo, the incredible women divers of Jeju island in South Korea.
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How to Be a Famous Celebrity
A series of haikus inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-23 prompt "Laughter"
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The Shadows of Love
A collection of Haikus inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-22 prompt "Shadows"
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The Dark and Fascinating Secrets of Hashima Island
Exploring Japan? Japan's abandoned Hashima Island has had a shameful history of exploitation and slavery since World War II. Here's what you should know about it.
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The Fascinating Journey of Life
A collection of haikus inspired by Brenda Arledge's week-21 prompt "age"
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The Fascinating Story of the First Woman Sultan of India
Razia Sultan was the first woman Muslim ruler of the Indian Subcontinent. She was a feminist icon of her times and set a shining example for women all over the world to follow in her footsteps.
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Forty Elephants: Notorious All-Female Gang of Victorian London
During the 19th century, the Forty Elephants, an all-women gang, became one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in London.
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Timeless Beauty
An acrostic poem inspired by Brenda Arledge's prompt "Memories"