A New Jersey man called Jimmie Smith was watching TV one day in May when he saw a news report about a $24.1 million dollar New York Lottery prize that had yet to be claimed and was soon to expire. Out of curiosity, he went to his closet and checked the pocket of an old shirt, where he had stuck a stack of tickets – and sure enough, he had the winning ticket.
2. Religious Communities Come Together
Last January, the Victoria Islamic Center, a mosque in Texas, burned down under mysterious circumstances. Here’s the good news: Churches and synagogues offered money, helping hands, and space – raising more than $1 million dollars to rebuild the mosque.
3. Music Behind Bars
Rhiannon Giddens is well known for being the powerful voice of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops or for being part of the TV show Nashville. In February, she paired up with Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connection program to run a music-education workshop for inmates at Sing Sing prison. At a performance after the workshop, Giddens performed with a workshop student who had written a song about domestic abuse.
He broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and was a hero in the 50s – not just as a Brooklyn Dodger player, but as a tireless activist for civil rights. For years, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, founded in 1972 by Robinson’s family, has been working toward opening a museum in lower Manhattan, and in April, they started the process of bringing their collection of memorabilia to the public.
5. Adopted Twins from China Reunite
The adopted parents of Audrey Doering gave their daughter some information about her past as a Christmas gift – they found out that she had a twin who had also been adopted by an American family. They tracked down Gracie Rainsberry and her family, who were living a few states away. The delighted ten-year-olds met for the first time on Good Morning America.
6. Frog vs Swine Flu
Doctors have been looking for ways to combat the influenza virus, and a frog that was just recently discovered in Southern India might just hold the key to doing that. Scientists tested a gooey substance from the frogs’ back and found an amino acid that literally makes viruses explode. If it’s safe for use in humans, we might all become frog-powered virus-killing machines soon.
People who love their puppies and kittens know that pets can lift spirits and calm nerves. Recent studies now offer scientific proof that interactions with dogs, horses, fish, cats, and even crickets can help to improve mental health over time. Just the act of caring for something else – especially if it’s furry, grateful, and warm – seems to make all the difference.
8. The Eclipse
The anticipation for the eclipse was amazing. People bought special glasses, made special lesson plans, and booked trips to the Path of Totality. Even where it was overcast and partially viewable, the eclipse captured the entire nation’s attention and for a glorious, enchanted couple of minutes in August, all our eyes went skyward.
9. Detroit’s Tiny House Revolution
In August, a non-profit organization in Detroit bought vacant lots and filled them with tiny houses. These sweet houses can be rented to low-income Detroiters, who are then supported with community services to help keep them moving on up.
Source: rd
Images: depositphotos
The Truth Behind the Lake Michigan Mysteries…
You thought the Bermuda Triangle was weird? Wait till you hear the story of the Lake Michigan triangle.
The World Is Full of Amazing People - 12 Photos
Even in the hardest moments, remember that the world is full of kind and brave people. Here are 12 examples of heartwarming stories and brave souls.
This 122-Year-Old Iranian is a Living Wonder!
Meet Fatemeh Norouzi Karizi, a 122-year-old woman living in Iran who appears to be the oldest living person in the world.
Great Life Lessons Are Hidden in These African Fables
Sit back and enjoy these wonderful African folktales filled with priceless life lessons.
These Feel-Good Photos Tell Stories That’ll Make You Smile
We all need a quick pick me up every now and then and these happy and feel-good photos are just the cure for every bad day.
18 Times People Interacted With Statues in Hilarious Ways
These photos of people pretending to be attacked by statues are an absolute hoot!
Dance Styles in the 1920 Were So Much FUN!
Enjoy this delightful clip from the movie ‘Don't Knock the Rock’, which shows some groove dance moves from the 1920s.
23 Extraordinary Vision Facts That'll Open Your Eyes Wide
The eye is an amazing body part, but did you know how amazing? These 23 facts will open your eyes to the extraordinary truth.
Travel History With These Amazing Photos of Yesteryear
Amazing photos reveal 150 years of history.
7 Fairy Tales That Are Popular to This Very Day!
The best fairy tales are those that are timeless and yet forever modern, tapping into our wildly shared emotions and moral attitudes. Here are 7 of the best!
It’s a Shame We Stopped Using These 17 Old English Words
These 17 old words are definitely missing in our modern vocabularies and deserve to be brought back into day-to-day speech
9 Facts About Ancient Egypt You Probably Didn’t Know
Venture beyond the usual facts about the pyramids and Tutankhamen and learn 9 equally fascinating facts and misconceptions about Ancient Egypt
What a Mesmerizingly Beautiful Blooming Flowers Timelapse!
It took one photographer 9 months to record the images for this mesmerizing timelapse film. Watch flowers bloom like never before.
The World Needs to Listen to This Song Now More Than Ever
Watch legendary singer Louis Armstrong perform his hauntingly beautiful and iconic song ‘What A Wonderful World’, live during this concert.
Rare Celebrity Pics from the '90s You Haven't Seen Before
These celebrity photos from the 1990s will make you nostalgic.
Can You Guess the English Word With Over 600 Meanings?
The English language has been around for so many centuries, it has gathered quite an elusive and industrious history, as seen in these facts
I Just Wanted to Say: Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Choose from our lovely selection of greeting cards and share your deepest wishes with your friends and family, to celebrate this blessed time of the year!
How to Detect a Liar, Explained by a Former FBI agent
Former FBI agent explains about deception detection methods, and debunks common myths.
Check Your Pockets Now! This Quarter Is Worth Thousands!
There's a quarter out there that is worth thousands of dollars. Here's what you need to look out for.
Collection: The Greatest Moments in History
A collection of fascinating, sometimes controversial and surprising stories from the annals of history. Explore and learn about the fascinating past of humanity and some of its most outstanding figures.
These 10 Invaluable World Treasures Were Never Recovered
All 10 of these valuable treasures have a mysterious fate, as they were all stolen or lost not so long ago and never recovered
These Photos Will Help Restore Your Faith in Humanity!
These pictures will surely put a smile on your face, and they may even make you cry tears of happiness. However, most importantly, we hope they inspire you.
Benjamin Franklin's Wisdom Has Echoed Throughout the Ages
In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin left many a thought to ponder. Here are 15 of his most famous quotes.
Rock On with This 'Eye of the Tiger' Drum Solo Act
This has to be the most stunning drum performance!
Phrases We Use Without Realizing It’s a Shakespeare Quote
William Shakespeare had a huge impact on modern English, so much so that most of us are quoting the great bard every day without even realizing it!
The Many Calendars of the Modern World - Fascinating!
This video reviews some of the most common calendars in the modern world.
Have You Ever Seen Ducks With Jobs? You're About To!
Watch the day-to-day life of these incredible ducks, who just so happen to spend their lives on a wine farm...
These Optical Illusions Made Me Question Everything I See!
These optical illusions really give credence to the notion that the human eye is far from infallible. Here are 20 mind-bending optical illusions for you to try.
This is What Happened to the Man Who Didn't Salute Hitler!
Nearly eight decades have passed since a camera captured the moment a man refused to give Hitler a Nazi salute. Here's what happened to him.
From Food to Science - The WORST Misnomers You’ll Find!
Whoever named these objects must have seriously run out of imagination!
Nostalgia: 50 Beautiful Faces We'll Never Forget...
Nostalgic faces from the golden ages to the modern ages.
115 Incredible Facts You Never Knew About Cats!
Cats are the most popular animal on the internet by far, so we made this extensive list of cat facts that will turn you into a feline expert!
Watch: An Emotional Interview With a Dunkirk Veteran
At the premiere of the hit movie, Dunkirk, at Calgary’s Westhills Cinemas, theatergoers ended up having a surprise encounter with a 97-year-old veteran.
20 Astounding Facts That Will Skew Your Perception of Time
These 20 mind-bending facts will show you just how warped your perception of time really is. Enjoy!
The Stories Behind these Historic Swords are Fascinating
Discover the legends behind these historic swords
The Story of Skidboot: An Amazing Dog!
The story of Skidboot is a happy and sad one...
9 Different Types of Oranges You Never Knew About
How many of these unique orange varieties have you tried?
22 Old Photos That Really Make History Come Alive
Looking through these old black and white photos you can really learn a lot about history and the world. These 22 photos generates that mind-blowing spark and teaches you something new.
The 10 Most Successful Battle Tactics of the Ancient World
In this video, you'll learn about the 10 most powerful tactics used in ancient battle, a battle with no artillery or guns.
15 Lovely Christmas Quotes That Will Fill Your Heart with Joy
These beautiful Christmas are sayings everyone can be thankful for!
I've Never Heard This Amazing Tale From the 2nd World War
This is going to be one of the most amazing stories you've ever heard. I guarantee it.
After Reading This, You'll Want to Move to Finland!
This article takes a look at how the Finnish government makes ordinary life extremely comfortable for its citizens.
Let's Remember Matthew Perry by His Lovely Quotes
"Friends” star Matthew Perry has passed away. Here’s a look at some of his most memorable quotes.
History: When Napoleon Was Defeated By an Army of Bunnies
The greatest defeat of Napoleon wasn't Waterloo... It was against a bunch of bunnies.
Printing a New Leg for Buttercup - Lovely!
Buttercup the goose was born with a foot that was turned the wrong way...
Can The Mysterious Voynich Manuscript Ever be Cracked?
This is the world's most mysterious book, written by an unknown author in a singular alphabet and illustrated with puzzling images. What is its secret?
Shocking! These Are the Rules That Pirates Had to Obey!
Pirates are often imagined as living a life of adventure, free from the shackles of society. However, they did have rules of their own, and here are 10 of them.