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Condemned as a traitor to the English king in August 1305, William Wallace faced a torturous execution that was considered gruesome even by medieval standards. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesLegendary Scottish warrior William Wallace depicted shortly before he was tried for treason and put to a gruesome death in 1305. Anyone who has seen the 1995 film Braveheart knows that William Wallace died in an especially gruesome fashion....

Science has made some huge advances in 2015 — how many of these discoveries have you heard about? From bionic eyes to 3D-printed implantable bones, science has made some incredible progress this year. Here are some highlights of the year in science in case you were too busy to keep up: Chinese scientists first to genetically modify human embryos. Much to the chagrin of safety-concerned scientists, this year Sun Yat-sen University gene-function researcher Junjiu Huang led a team in editing the genome of a human embryo....

Poor health is one of those things, like divorce and the loss of a loved one, that you know will touch your life at some point but would rather not think about too much. At least, we generally expect that somebody, somewhere is “working” on the problem. Certain especially interesting diseases, however, compel our attention and call into question the notion that humans have this whole “modern medicine” thing figured out....

Though Hasankeyf has more than 200 precious archaeological sites in its vicinity, the Turkish government wants to flood it in order to build a dam as part of an ambitious energy project. The Byzantines, the Assyrians, the Romans, and the Mongols, are just some of the cultures to have left a substantial mark in modern-day Turkey’s ancient city of Hasankeyf. In total, some 20 cultures through each human epoch have chosen the city as a temporary settlement....

Seoul-based Seon Ghi Bahk utilizes nylon threads to suspend natural charcoal in his incredible charcoal installations that seemingly float in midair. Source: This is Colossal Up close, these dark pieces of natural charcoal look as if they’re floating haphazardly in space. But take a few steps back and the suspended black bodies form something more structurally sound. The result is a dark, partially defined column or artifact the seems to float in the air....

World’s Most Unusual Clubs: Miniscule of Sound, UK Established in 1998 out of a small back yard in East London, the Miniscule of Sound is the smallest nightclub in the world. Accommodating only 14 people at a time, the Miniscule of Sound is a transportable club that has traversed the globe from China to Australia. Despite its miniature 8x4x8 size, the décor doesn’t skimp on the club feel: it’s replete with flashing lights, a dance floor, DJ and even a bouncer....

Earliest human virus uncovered, Stone age artifacts rewrite history books, oldest U.S. WWII vet turns 112. The Oldest Virus In A Human Skeleton Was Just Found — And It’s Still Afflicting People Today MSN NewsPrior to the study, the oldest human virus detected was from 450 years ago. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of human hepatitis, which afflicts over 250 million people. Now, we know that is has been infecting people for at least 4,500 years....

Most know that male seahorses are the baby bearers of the species. What few know is how shockingly strange seahorse birth actually looks. The fact that seahorse birth is handled by the males, and not the females, is likely common knowledge, but still a strikingly rare thing in nature. In fact, seahorses are one of only two animal groups where the male is the one that gives birth (the other is the pipefish, a more ruthless male carrier that aborts embryos from ugly mothers)....

Aerialist Erendira Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas dangled from a helicopter, held up only by her teeth, over Niagara Falls. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images This morning, aerialist Erendira Wallenda dangled from a helicopter over Niagara Falls held up only by her teeth. The acrobat flew in sitting on a hula hoop suspended from a helicopter. She then performed a number of stunts, including hanging by just her teeth over the raging falls multiple times....

He is well known for his bifocals and quippy cartoons, but these facts about Benjamin Franklin reveal a much more eccentric man. Benjamin Franklin is a crucial figure in the history of the founding of the United States. His accomplishments are so well known that he’s often referred to as the “only U.S. President to have never been U.S. President.” But Franklin was more than a politician. His inventions — which range from the odometer to his own alphabet — show the great grasp of his mind....

Before she was a Golden Girl, young Betty White found work in radio and on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — setting the stage for one of the most impressive show business careers in history. Betty White reinvented herself nearly every decade since she first made her television debut with her sharp wit and feisty demeanor. America first fell in love with the iconic model, actress, and writer back in the late 1950s, as these photos of a young Betty White show....

Theodore Roosevelt spent his whole life cheating death. Death came to Roosevelt 97 years ago today — but judging by his wild ventures, it should have come a lot sooner. Topical Press Agency/Getty ImagesThe 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt survived several brushes with death in his life. In 1912, President Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest by an assassin. Not only did he survive, but he continued onto his speaking engagement as if nothing had happened, and famously boasted that the assassin’s bullet lodged in his chest wasn’t enough “to kill a bull moose....

Our parents used up all the cool and left us with none, as evidenced by these ridiculously cool vintage photos. Like this gallery?Share it: Share Flipboard Email And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: 33 Vintage Summer Camp Photos Straight Out Of Your Parents’ Photo Albums 39 Vintage Hippie Photos That Capture Flower Power In Full Bloom Vintage Hollywood In 48 Photos 1 of 56Circa early 1980sskeleton-spotted/reddit 2 of 56internetkholeblog/tumblr 3 of 561973reddit 4 of 56Early 1960s2g00d2btru3/reddit 5 of 56TheMasterOfDonuts/reddit 6 of 56myparentswereawesome/tumblr 7 of 56Circa late 1960scherrycherries/reddit 8 of 56myparentswereawesome/tumblr 9 of 561970Caesar100/reddit 10 of 56internetkholeblog/tumblr 11 of 56myparentswereawesome/tumblr 12 of 56myparentswereawesome/tumblr 13 of 56myparentswereawesome/tumblr 14 of 56stranganjn/tumblr...

Discover interesting quotes from Albert Einstein, Bruce Lee, and others that will change how you see the world. Like this gallery?Share it: Share Flipboard Email And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: 1 of 101Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart....

The Hasankeyf citadel has, at different times, been a part of the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, and Ottoman Empires. A new major infrastructure project threatens one of the most impressive ancient sites in the world. The Hasankeyf citadel in southeastern Turkey has been standing since the Middle Bronze Age and is some 12,000 years old. At different times, Hasankeyf been part of the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, and Ottoman empires. Replete with caves, spires, and ancient buildings, Hasankeyf remains a beautiful connection to a distant past....

When Secret Service agent Clint Hill heard the first gunshot in Dallas on November 22, 1963, he raced toward John F. Kennedy’s limo to throw his body over Jackie and the president, but he was a second too late. Walt Cisco/Dallas Morning NewsImmediately before the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Clint Hill stood steps behind the president and First Lady. He is in the upper left, wearing sunglasses. When gunshots rang out as President John F....

The Hays Code, inspired by Catholic dogma, attempted to — and succeeded in — censoring Hollywood films for nearly three decades. The Hays Code, predecessor to the modern MPAA ratings, ruled Hollywood for 30 years. Your great-grandparents likely went to movies that would have made the pastel-colored drive-ins of the 1950s blush. Like the Wild West or the early days of the internet, the films of the 1920s and early 1930s — a period known as pre-Code Hollywood — had few rules and fewer inhibitions....

Shiro Ishii ran Unit 731 and performed cruel experiments on prisoners until he was apprehended by the U.S. government — and granted full immunity. A few years after World War I, the Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of chemical and biological weapons during wartime in 1925. But that didn’t stop a Japanese army medical officer named Shiro Ishii. A graduate of Kyoto Imperial University and a member of the Army Medical Corps, Ishii was reading about the recent bans when he got an idea: If biological weapons were so dangerous that they were off-limits, then they had to be the best kind....

During a 10-day spree in March 2013, Joanna Dennehy killed two of her roommates and her landlord before attempting to butcher two more men she randomly encountered walking their dogs. West Mercia PoliceIn March 2013, 30-year-old Joanna Dennehy went on a 10-day killing spree in Peterborough, England. Joanna Dennehy killed because she liked how it felt. Over 10 days in March 2013, Dennehy murdered three men in England in what came to be known as the Peterborough Ditch Murders....

Because he bungled his landing after jumping from a Nazi plane into England and broke his ankle, when he was captured, Josef Jakobs’ execution was done as he sat. UK National ArchivesThe unlikely spy, Josef Jakobs, holds a unique place in British history. Even before Josef Jakobs became a Nazi spy, he lived a colorful life, and long after his spy days Jakobs was bound to live in infamy. From a soldier to a dentist to criminal, Jakobs’ story is one of chaos, creativity, and espionage....