Sometimes, our gut feeling is the only thing standing between us and danger. Our brains are still wired with primal survival instincts that help us sense threats and act fast, even in modern life. To show how effective they can be, we compiled a list of stories people shared online about preventing or escaping scary situations. From close calls in dark alleys to confrontations in public toilets, these real-life accounts prove that when it matters most, humans are capable of more than we might realize....

We as humans are unique in our ability to see shapes, faces, and patterns in completely random objects . It’s a phenomenon called apophenia and according to Wikipedia it’s described as “the tendency to mistakenly perceive connections and meaning between unrelated things”. And although the word “mistakenly” might carry a negative connotation in it, you can’t deny that seeing various shapes in clouds can definitely be fun! A Twitter user by the name of 41 Strange recently pointed out that they can see tiny koalas in dog paws and people were immediately interested....

During his February 4 monologue on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , the late-night host Stephen Colbert wasted no time addressing his name’s emergence in the latest batch of Epstein files released on January 31 by the Department of Justice. Colbert is among other elite names that recently appeared in the files, including Bill Gates , Donald Trump , Jon Stewart , and J.K. Rowling . Stephen Colbert mocked his appearance in the Epstein files, specifically roasting the late predator for comparing himself to Gandalf in private emails....

Many people believe that teenagers aren’t ready to be parents, as most of them don’t have the emotional maturity or finances needed to have kids. And they’re not entirely wrong. While there are teenagers who can rise above the challenges that having children presents, more often than not, parenthood in teenage years results in negative outcomes for the parent and the child. This family, whose daughter decided to go through with her teenage pregnancy, also worried that she wouldn’t be able to fulfill the needs of her baby....

The Refocus Awards 2025 have announced this year’s winners in color photography. Photographers from around the world submitted their best shots across 20 diverse categories, including abstract, aerial, architecture, conceptual, domestic animals, event, fashion & beauty, film/analog, fine art, landscapes, minimalism, nature, people, photojournalism, portrait, still life, street, travel, underwater, and wildlife. “These images serve as a reminder of the importance of visual image-making through color. There are so many thoughtful and compelling perspectives here that define our creative community, and show us a bright future, past, and present in color photography,” said Lily Fierman, co-founder of the Refocus Awards....

Parenting is hard. Sure, parents will always argue that it’s worth it, that raising kids has its fun moments, but it doesn’t mean that it magically stops being a huge around-the-clock responsibility. Sooner or later, every parent will need a break from all of the relentless diaper changing, putting their little kids to sleep when they don’t want to, and the unstoppable barrage of “whys”, among other things. This is exactly what Lee Mi-do, a South Korean actress and mother, did by posting comedic Instagram photo series of her motherly breaks under the hashtag “Mom’s Personal Life”....

The use of stained glass is common in the interior design of Iranian architecture and also in Churches and Synagogues. But it may seem amazing to you to see this glass art in Mosques. Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque is one of the few mosques in the world whose impressive interior design with stained glass windows has turned it into an admirable work of art. What made me prepare for this photo series was my enthusiasm to explore the world through the lens of my camera....

We interview and photograph real people who live in tiny homes, most being less than 200 square feet. That’s smaller than the average master bedroom in the United States – a country where 2,600 square foot homes are commonplace. These customized handcrafted tiny dwellings grant their owners financial freedom with a minimalist lifestyle and a small footprint. Armed with tiny kitchens, minuscule bathrooms, lofted bedrooms and multi-purpose furniture, tiny houses are redefining the American Dream and questioning what material objects you really need to be happy....

They’re shouting at the top of their voice. Their spit is flying everywhere. Their faces are red like a ripe tomato. And they’re angry beyond belief. Rude customers are the bane of anyone who’s ever worked in the service industry as a waiter, a server, or a cashier. Most of us have our personal favorite ways of dealing with angry people, but sometimes it takes some originality to stop them complaining....

Many Europeans probably have heard of Zakopane – a small town in Poland of 32 square miles that is often referred to as “the winter capital of Poland.” It’s a popular destination for winter sports as well as tourism and is basically a ski resort. But it’s not only known for that – Zakopane is home to the world’s biggest snow maze that would even make Stanley Kubrick proud. The giant maze is larger than ten tennis courts and was pieced together by using over 60,000 ice blocks....

For the last few months, one small rescue story has been melting hearts online for a simple reason: it’s pure kindness and respect in action for an animal many wouldn’t notice is distressed, let alone dedicate themselves to giving it a comfortable life. But after a pigeon crashed into an apartment window and was left disoriented and weak, a woman stepped in to help and has since given the poor bird a chance at living a mostly normal life....

A Danish zoo is asking local residents to donate their pets so that they can be their hungry predators ‘ lunch special. The request was met with wild responses as social media users began asking if they could donate their in-laws or even the children they had “grown tired” of. “Are they taking children on the naughty list too? Asking for a parent (or two),” one asked online. A Danish zoo asked locals to donate pets to be the main course for their hungry predators....

Suddenly coming into a significant sum of money can instantly change your life. New opportunities may appear, and your financial stresses may vanish overnight. But all of your problems probably won’t melt away, especially if friends and family members decide to start treating you differently. One woman found that out the hard way after being awarded a large amount of money from a lawsuit. When her mother found out, she decided that she was entitled to some of that cash too....

Christmas means sipping hot choccy in front of the fireplace with your loved ones around you. But most of all, Christmas means gingerbread cookies! Now, there are some people who build gingerbread houses, which is all well and good. But have you ever tried making something… bigger? Well, Swedish food artist and motion designer Caroline Eriksson has! And her creative ideas are much, much bigger than you’d expect when you hear the word ‘gingerbread....

Stirring sugar into your coffee and then throwing the spoon into the trash. Taking a carton of orange juice out of the fridge and pouring it into a bowl instead of a glass. Looking for your keys/glasses/cup of coffee when they’re in your hand/on your head/next to you. Each and every single one of us has had moments in our lives where we’ve done completely stupid or wrong things without realizing it....

Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage is all grown up and every bit as industrious as his screen character. The star who took up the role of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory in the series spin-off two seasons before it ended, celebrated his recent birthday with a photo on Instagram. The image depicts a tall young man, but not without resemblance to the 9-year-old screen character. And many fans even think he looks like “a little Tom Cruise....

Every person has their own little idiosyncrasies and a wonderful part of being in a relationship is learning more about one’s partner. Sometimes it’s cute, sometimes it’s adorable and sometimes it’s so damn funny that you can’t help but love it. My husband is a big hairy manly man, but he’s also the sweetest, cutest, cuddliest guy I know. He says cute little random things all the time that just make me melt....

“Don’t you feel ripped off?” That was basically the question posed to Pamela Anderson by Andy Cohen about whether Meghan Markle ripped off her cooking show . Anderson had her answer ready to go. The two shows are very similar, and netizens have been wondering if Anderson felt slighted because her show hit the airwaves first. Pam Anderson finally addresses rumors that Meghan Markle’s cooking show is a rip-off of her own....

One of the easiest ways to keep your job is to just do what you’re told. Follow your boss’ instructions, abide by the rules, and you’ll likely have job security for a long time. But what should you do when your boss is the one encouraging you to bend the rules? One worker recently posted a story on Reddit detailing how their boss tasked them with falsifying data to make their department appear more impressive....

If you have ever had a job you hated, you may have spent a few shifts daydreaming about dramatically quitting and disappearing in a puff of smoke. Of course, in real life, it is more likely that you will have a tense or awkward, but overall anticlimactic, conversation with your manager and then be required to work two more weeks before you actually taste freedom. If you are extremely frustrated with your employer, you can quit on the spot....