Travel writer Graham Askey, known as the “king of porcelain” among friends, has traveled 75,000 miles across 91 countries in search of the world’s worst public toilet. His quest led him to the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan, where he discovered a dilapidated 5-foot wooden stall in Ayni, surrounded by sun-dried feces. Users must navigate deadly snakes and rats living beneath the stall, making it the most repellent toilet Askey has found.

The world’s longest book is the “Yongle Dadian,” an ancient Chinese encyclopedia commissioned by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century. This monumental work was completed in 1408 and is considered one of the most extensive literary projects ever undertaken.

Bran Castle, located in Romania, dates back to the 14th century. It was initially constructed in 1377 by the Saxons of Kronstadt (now Brașov) on a strategic mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. The fortress served as a defensive stronghold against Ottoman invasions and a customs post for merchants traveling through the region.

Diogo Alves was a notorious Portuguese criminal born in 1810. Known as “The Aqueduct Murderer,” Alves terrorized Lisbon in the early 19th century. He targeted the Águas Livres Aqueduct, a vital water supply structure, using its height to commit his crimes.

A 19-year-old Brazilian woman gave birth to twins nine months after having sex with two men on the same day. Doubts about the twins’ paternity led her to seek DNA tests as their first birthday approached.

In 2022, the small coastal town of Maaroom on Queensland’s Fraser Coast experienced a surge in kangaroo attacks, causing alarm among its 220 residents. Several kangaroos had to be removed following these unexpected incidents. The town’s peaceful atmosphere was disrupted as residents feared leaving their homes without carrying a big stick for protection.

The bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) is infamous for its incredibly painful sting, often described as the most excruciating in the insect world. The pain has been likened to being shot, hence the name “bullet ant.” This tiny insect, native to the rainforests of Central and South America, can grow up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long.

Simba, a kid goat from Karachi, Pakistan, has become an international sensation due to his unusually long ears, each measuring 54cm (21 inches). Unlike Dumbo, the cartoon elephant ridiculed for his large ears, Simba has been embraced and celebrated.

In July 2022, a chess-playing robot made headlines for all the wrong reasons during the Moscow Chess Open. The robot, designed to play against multiple opponents simultaneously, had an unfortunate and unexpected encounter with a seven-year-old boy named Christopher.

In the early 1800s, John Bell and his family settled in the Red River community in Robertson County, Tennessee. In 1817, the Bell family began experiencing strange and terrifying events in their home. It started with knocking sounds on walls and doors, and soon escalated to unseen forces physically assaulting family members.