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Secret’s out! And it’s terrifying. Put it back!

29 Historical and Scientific Discoveries That Planet Earth Was Trying to Keep Secret

November 21, 2023

It seems like Mother Earth was being a little protective of us. That’s sweet. She knew that we probably weren’t ready for nuclear fission or a prehistoric penguin the size of a linebacker. She was right. We’re terrified.

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29

Insects

Researchers found the largest bug to ever live A fossil of a millipede that would have been 22 inch wide, 8.6 foot long, 110 pound was found in Northern England. The giant bug would have lived during the Carboniferous Period around 326 million years ago. CRACKED.COM — Source

28

The first true millipede has been discovered Scientists have discovered the first millipede that actually has more than a thousand legs. The 3.7 inch invertebrate with 1,306 legs has more legs than any other known creature on Earth. CRACKED.COM — Source

27

17th-century witch bottles were full of urine, navel lint, toenail clippings, nails, and more. A CT scan of a witch bottle with urine, pins, and nails They were homemade devices to keep evil away (by trapping it in the bottle). One recipe from an apothecary recommends ingredients like urine, nail clippings, hair, and such like, boiled. CRACKED.COM — Source

26

A:1,500-year-old human poop sample had the remains of a whole rattlesnake. 1 cm The poop contained fangs, vertebrae, ribs, and scales. No human skeleton was found nearby, so whoever ate the snake probably survived. Why did they do it? We have no idea. The best guess is that it was for a ritual. CRACKED.COM — Source

25

An 18th-century Spanish statue of Jesus had a time capsule stuffed up its a*s. In 2017, restorers found a hatch on the statue's back with two notes about life in the region in 1777. The notes describe successful harvests, talk about what people did for fun (played cards and balls), name active diseases, explain current politics, etc. CRACKED.COM — Source

24

Roman Toilets

A heavily used but intact wooden Roman toilet seat was dug up in England. It's older than Hadrian's Wall (so, at least 1,900 years) and is the only well-preserved toilet that old. It didn't rot because it was buried inside ruins that had no oxygen. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

King Tut

King Tutankhamun was buried with a 90-degree erection. Egyptologists think it was to make him look like Osiris, as a big F-you to the religious movement his dad started. In any case, the first archeologists who found the tomb accidentally broke off the dong in 1922. It was found only in 2005, lying in the sand nearby. CRACKED.COM

22

Tyrannosaurs may have been social, like wolves. CRACKED.COM The carnivores may have hunted with social strategy, as wolf packs do. — Source

21

Scientists were able to repair spinal cords with patients' own stem cells CRACKED.COM In one test group, half of patients with spinal cord injuries saw substantial improvement after receiving stem cell injections. — Source

20

Scientists have developed human-monkey embryos. CRACKED.COM Human stem cells were injected into primate embryos and grew up to 20 days, giving us the possibility of more insight into development and evolution. — Source

19

Sea sponges can creep CRACKED.COM Sea sponges, previously thought immobile, can crawl slowly but they have to sacrifice bits of their bodies — Source

18

In a Scythian grave mound, 3,000-year-old golden bongs turned up. (Likely) fighting in the Bastard Wars They contained opium and cannabis, which the lucky owner smoked at the same time. One bong is decorated with mythological creatures fighting in what's probably Scythian hell, and the other has a battle scene that probably represents the Scythian Bastard Wars. CRACKED.COM — Source

17

Gear for snorting drugs was found in a 1,000-year-old Bolivian burial site. The snorting tube There were spatulas (made of bone) for crushing psychoactive seeds into powder, a tube for snorting the powder, and two gemstone-studded wooden tablets for snorting it off of. This stuff was carrying traces of psilocin, ayahuasca, cocaine, and more. CRACKED COM — Source

16

Phosphorus

15

DNA Editing

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES DNA EDITING In 2014, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier stumbled upon CRISPR-Cas9, the most advanced DNA editing tool available, while researching how bacteria protect themselves from viruses. CRACKED — Source

14

Enrico Fermi

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES NUCLEAR FISSION In 1934, Enrico Fermi made a chance discovery that changed the course of history: the slow neutron effect. This discovery was key to the development of nuclear chain reactions in 1942, and eventually to the creation of nuclear weapons. CRACKED — Source

13

CI و LA or a ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES WI-FI Astrophysicist John O'Sullivan developed an algorithm that's used in current Wi-Fi systems. This algorithm was developed from studying black holes - he eventually realized it could be used for computer communication. CRACKED — Source

12

Sweeteners

CRACKED ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER In 1965, chemist James Schlatter stumbled upon aspartame when he licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper - after performing an experiment, and then not washing his hands - and noticed a sweet taste. — Source

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11

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES THE MICROWAVE OVEN In 1945, Percy Spencer, a self-taught engineer, was experimenting with vacuum tubes used in radar. One day, he noticed that their microwaves had caused a candy bar in his pocket to melt. This led to the invention of the microwave oven. CRACKED — Source

10

X-Rays

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERIES X-RAYS In 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen made an accidental discovery while doing an experiment with cathode rays in a Crookes tube - he found X-rays. Within a year, X-rays were already being used for diagnosis and treatment in the medical field. CRACKED — Source

9

Mass Sacrifice

CRACKED 12E EVEN MORE REVOLTING EVIDENCE OF MASS SACRIFICE. Researchers uncovered a tower made of 650 human skulls in Mexico City, which suggests that human sacrifice was more widespread in the Aztec Empire than previously thought - even involving women and children.

8

CRACKED A WELL-PRESERVED BODY OLDER THAN CHRIST In the 1960s, Lady Dai was discovered in four lacquered coffins, wearing 18 layers of silk and linen clothing. She had died of a heart attack at the age of 50, likely due to her luxurious lifestyle, yet her body was still in great condition after over 2,100 years. — Source

7

Erdstall Tunnels

CRACKED A MYSTERIOUS, STRANGELY BUILT TUNNEL NETWORK Scientists are still trying to uncover the mystery of the thousands of tunnels called erdstall tunnels in Europe. These tunnels, which date back to the 12th century, are small, oval-shaped and have narrow passageways between chambers. — Source

6

CRACKED A PENGUIN TALLER THAN A MAN A fossil of a giant penguin that's 37 million years old was found in Antarctica. It was 6'5 tall from its beak to its toes and weighed up to 250 pounds - bigger than any penguin alive today, even the emperor penguin. — Source

5

CRACKED LOTS AND LOTS OF ALMOST PERFECTLY ROUND, LARGE SPHERES Centuries ago, an unknown civilization created the mysterious Diquís Spheres of Costa Rica. Nowadays, they are mostly used as decorations in people's yards. The biggest one is huge - it's over 6'5 wide and weighs more than 16 tons. — Source

4

Hidden Chamber of Human Skills

CRACKED EINRI AN UNDERGROUND CHAMBER FULL OF HUMAN SKULLS Thousands of human skulls were discovered under an old church in Leuk, Switzerland. It's believed they were hidden during the Reformation to protect them from those who wanted to destroy anything that people venerated or worshiped. — Source

3

CRACKED MYSTERIOUS DODECAHEDRONS FOUND IN GRAVES Since the 1700s, over 120 Roman dodecahedrons have been found, but their purpose remains a mystery. It's thought that they were used for religious or magical purposes, as they are often found in graves. — Source

2

CRACKED PERFECTLY PRESERVED 500-YEAR-OLD CHILD CORPSES In 1999, three kids were found at the top of Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina. They were part of an Incan ritual that had been going on for 500 years called capacocha. The cold, dry air had mummified their bodies, and when they were examined. — Source

1

Denmark

CRACKED AN ENTIRE BURIED ARMY Archaeologists have found a huge grave in Denmark with the bones of 1,000+ people who were likely killed in battle and sacrificed to gods. The find matches what was written about the Teutonic massacres, strengthening the theory. — Source

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