The story behind Glasgow's iconic Duke of Wellington statue and its well-known traffic cone hat

In the 1830s, Sweden planted 300,000 oak trees for the purpose of building naval ships. However, by the time the trees matured, metal warships had replaced the need for wooden ones. The forest still stands to this day.

Not only do borders define us, but they also determine who we are. Simple lines on the ground, either man-made or geological, distinguish one culture from the next.

The “Grana Double Tree” in Piedmont, Italy is a highly unusual tree, which consists of a cherry tree growing atop a mulberry tree. It is essentially a two-species, two-tiered hybrid duplex.

Nature is elusive and unpredictable, and the unexplained manifestations of its influence often leave us speechless. Though you might believe that shifting rocks and blood-colored rain are a prank or a magical phenomenon, science has an explanation for (almost) anything.

Every year, Londoners participate in a quirky and joyful tradition known as No Trousers Day, where brave commuters board the London Underground dressed normally but without trousers, pants, or pajamas from the waist down. This cheeky event brings laughter, surprises, and a shared sense of community to the usually dull winter commute, reflecting a playful rebellion against the mundane and a celebration of spontaneity. Discover the origins, spirit, and fun behind London’s beloved No Trousers Tube Ride.

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is an immersive practice of spending mindful time in natural forest environments, and it’s rapidly gaining global popularity due to its proven health benefits. From reducing stress and lowering blood pressure to boosting immunity and enhancing mental wellness, forest bathing offers a natural and accessible way to reconnect with nature and improve overall well-being. Explore the science, sensory experience, and rising trend behind this soothing practice.

For many years, people have been attracted to these spectacular-looking boulders because of their shape, components, location, or picturesque surroundings. Many of them are massive, and seeing them is an amazing experience.

The incredible Black and White Aragvi river in Georgia that do not mix up.

Japan keeps a defunc train station operational in 2015 for the sole purpose of allowing one girl to go to school every day. Only two stops are made by the train: once when an only one high school student departs for school and once when she returns.

Did you know some lakes can kill without warning? Lake Nyos in Cameroon once erupted with invisible carbon dioxide, suffocating 1,700 people in minutes. These rare “exploding lakes” silently build pressure, turning still waters into deadly, unseen assassins.

For over a century, Canada’s second-largest power company has been disguising its electrical substations in Toronto as beautiful houses that blend perfectly with the neighborhood. These fake houses contain transformers that supply electricity throughout the city.

Uruguay’s Laguna Garzon Bridge splits into a circle so drivers can slow down and enjoy the view. It also prevents head-on collisions and creates a walkway for pedestrians.

Lake Khiluk, the world's most mineralized lake, and one of the most mysterious places on Earth. Each of these spots has a distinct chemical content and is said to cure various diseases.

The ancient city of Jericho is the world's oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9000 years.

Portland, Oregon is home to the tiniest park in the world, a two-foot-diameter circle. Mill End Park is the name of this park.

Scientists have been puzzled by the Al Naslaa rock formation in Saudi Arabia for a long time, and there is still no explanation for why this boulder appears to have a precise incision across the middle of it.

In parts of the desert where life seems most scarce, nature orchestrates an extraordinary transformation: the barren ground bursts into vibrant colors as wildflowers bloom after rare periods of rain. This phenomenon, known as a desert superbloom, is both awe-inspiring and scientifically fascinating. Learn how deserts like the Sonoran transform from arid landscapes into stunning floral displays, the environmental triggers behind this spectacle, and what these blooms reveal about resilience and adaptation in extreme environments.

In the Peak District Forest of the Scottish Highlands in the UK, there is a unique tree which is laden with only money. This tree laden with money has been studded with British coins for 1700 years, there is no corner of its trunk where a British coin is not stuck.

In 1859, wealthy settler Thomas Austin released 13 wild rabbits on his Australian estate. By 1920, their population grew to 10 billion.

Nestled in the northern Scottish town of Wick, Ebenezer Place may be small, but it packs a world record punch. Measuring only 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) long and boasting just a single address—the front door of Mackay’s Hotel—this narrow street has earned its place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest street on the planet. Officially declared a street in 1887, Ebenezer Place delights visitors with its quirky charm and unique history that highlights how even the tiniest places can capture global attention.

The Bajau are a group of people that practice extreme free diving, submerging for up to 13 minutes at depths of about 200 feet. These ‘sea nomads’ dive to catch fish or look for natural materials that can be used in crafts in the waters that surround the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Lake Hillier in Australia maintains a bright pink hue all year round. Although no one knows for sure what causes the unique coloring, experts speculate that it might be the result of high salinity, a pink bacteria called “halobacteria,” and a salt-loving algae species called Dunaliella salina.

Lake Taal, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines archipelago's northernmost reaches, is unique. It's now one of just two lakes in the world with a third-order island within it, with the lake itself being a part of the order. In other words, Lake Taal, which is located on the island of Luzon, has a volcano (Volcano Island), a lake (Crater Lake), and its own little island (Vulcan Point).

Sandy Island, charted since 1774, was long considered a phantom island in the Coral Sea. Despite appearing on maps and Google Earth, it was "undiscovered" by scientists in 2012, revealing only deep ocean instead of land. The island's existence was likely a cartographic error or a misidentified pumice raft.

Learn the stories behind seven of the world's most renowned abandoned cities and villages, from the infamous Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe zone to Hashima Island.