Strange News : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1146 Unlikely stories from around the nation and the world. en Copyright 2020 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 18:44:43 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Strange News https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1146 Poland Accidentally Invades Czech Republic In 'Minor Misunderstanding' Their foreign ministries confirmed the mix-up, in which Polish soldiers mistakenly crossed the border and stopped people on the wrong side. Both countries seem to have taken it all in stride, though. Sat, 13 Jun 2020 18:44:43 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/06/13/876604403/poland-accidentally-invades-czech-republic-in-minor-misunderstanding?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/06/13/876604403/poland-accidentally-invades-czech-republic-in-minor-misunderstanding?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews Their foreign ministries confirmed the mix-up, in which Polish soldiers mistakenly crossed the border and stopped people on the wrong side. Both countries seem to have taken it all in stride, though.

]]> Colin Dwyer Elmo Debuts With His New Talk Show The Not Too Late Show with Elmo has premiered on HBO Max Wednesday, becoming the very first late-night style talk show hosted by a 3 1/2-year-old monster. Fri, 29 May 2020 16:02:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865685754/elmo-debuts-with-his-new-talk-show?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865685754/elmo-debuts-with-his-new-talk-show?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews The Not Too Late Show with Elmo has premiered on HBO Max Wednesday, becoming the very first late-night style talk show hosted by a 3 1/2-year-old monster.

]]> Eric Deggans Unusual Names Of Waypoints Used For Airplanes' Navigation Aviation relies on so-called "waypoints" — geographic coordinates in the sky that help with navigation. And all the waypoints are named with five-letter designations, sometimes funny and odd. Tue, 26 May 2020 16:16:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/26/862654137/unusual-names-of-waypoints-used-for-airplanes-navigation?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/26/862654137/unusual-names-of-waypoints-used-for-airplanes-navigation?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews Aviation relies on so-called "waypoints" — geographic coordinates in the sky that help with navigation. And all the waypoints are named with five-letter designations, sometimes funny and odd.

]]> Scientists Discover Ancient, Huge, Saber-Toothed Anchovy This would have been a scary ingredient for a Caesar salad: Anchovies' ancient relatives were three feet long and had a nasty set of chompers, according to a study from the University of Michigan. Sun, 24 May 2020 07:53:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/24/861630472/scientists-discover-ancient-huge-saber-toothed-anchovy?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/24/861630472/scientists-discover-ancient-huge-saber-toothed-anchovy?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews This would have been a scary ingredient for a Caesar salad: Anchovies' ancient relatives were three feet long and had a nasty set of chompers, according to a study from the University of Michigan.

]]> Tennessee Sees Duo Of Food-Related Accidents Forty-thousand pounds of mac and cheese spilled from a trailer in Nashville, Tenn., when it overturned on the road. Just one day earlier, two trucks hauling chicken and pumpkin pies caught fire. Thu, 21 May 2020 05:22:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/21/859991373/tennessee-sees-duo-of-food-related-accidents?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/21/859991373/tennessee-sees-duo-of-food-related-accidents?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews Forty-thousand pounds of mac and cheese spilled from a trailer in Nashville, Tenn., when it overturned on the road. Just one day earlier, two trucks hauling chicken and pumpkin pies caught fire.

]]> People Are Cutting Their Own Hair During Quarantine — Sometimes Without Success As salons remain closed during the pandemic, many have resorted to cutting their own hair. Not all are successful. Celebrities and civilians alike are sharing their quarantine haircut failures. Wed, 20 May 2020 05:08:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/859261894/people-are-cutting-their-own-hair-during-quarantine-sometimes-without-success?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/859261894/people-are-cutting-their-own-hair-during-quarantine-sometimes-without-success?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews As salons remain closed during the pandemic, many have resorted to cutting their own hair. Not all are successful. Celebrities and civilians alike are sharing their quarantine haircut failures.

]]> A Woman With Dyschronometria Shares Her Experience Of Losing Track Of Time Some people in quarantine are experiencing time as moving faster or slower than normal. But Jeannie Campbell who has dyschronometria has been losing track of time for years. Mon, 18 May 2020 16:08:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/18/858236566/a-woman-with-dyschronometria-shares-her-experience-of-losing-track-of-time?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/18/858236566/a-woman-with-dyschronometria-shares-her-experience-of-losing-track-of-time?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews Some people in quarantine are experiencing time as moving faster or slower than normal. But Jeannie Campbell who has dyschronometria has been losing track of time for years.

]]> French Linguists Conclude The Debate Over The Gender Of The Word 'COVID-19' French linguists at the Académie Française have finally put an end to the debate of which of the definitive articles — a masculine <em>le</em>, or a feminine <em>la</em> — to use with the word "COVID-19." Wed, 13 May 2020 16:07:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/855611233/french-linguists-conclude-the-debate-over-the-gender-of-the-word-covid-19?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/855611233/french-linguists-conclude-the-debate-over-the-gender-of-the-word-covid-19?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews French linguists at the Académie Française have finally put an end to the debate of which of the definitive articles — a masculine le, or a feminine la — to use with the word "COVID-19."

]]> Members Of A Facebook Group Howl Together In The Evenings Worldwide More than half a million people around the world are now howling together in the evenings — they are the members of the Facebook group <em>Go Outside and Howl at 8 pm</em>. Thu, 07 May 2020 17:36:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/07/852413523/members-of-a-facebook-group-howl-together-in-the-evenings-worldwide?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/07/852413523/members-of-a-facebook-group-howl-together-in-the-evenings-worldwide?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews More than half a million people around the world are now howling together in the evenings — they are the members of the Facebook group Go Outside and Howl at 8 pm.

]]> Southern Europe Could Lose $22 Billion Fighting Deadly Olive Tree Disease The tree killer is a bacterium called <em>xylella fastidiosa.</em> It has killed millions of olive trees in Italy and is now threatening Spain and Greece. These countries produce 95% of Europe's olive oil. Sun, 03 May 2020 12:34:23 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/849551027/southern-europe-could-lose-22-billion-fighting-deadly-olive-tree-disease?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/849551027/southern-europe-could-lose-22-billion-fighting-deadly-olive-tree-disease?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews

The tree killer is a bacterium called xylella fastidiosa. It has killed millions of olive trees in Italy and is now threatening Spain and Greece. These countries produce 95% of Europe's olive oil.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maria Saponari)

]]> Joanna Kakissis Canine Siblings Separated At Shelter Reunite; Their Humans Take Credit In a D.C. neighborhood, two dog owners noticed their pets looked a bit alike. Turns out, they were brothers. Sun, 03 May 2020 08:10:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/849740819/canine-siblings-separated-at-shelter-reunite-their-humans-take-credit?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/05/03/849740819/canine-siblings-separated-at-shelter-reunite-their-humans-take-credit?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews In a D.C. neighborhood, two dog owners noticed their pets looked a bit alike. Turns out, they were brothers.

]]> Unicorn Riding Scooter In Fatal Crash As venture capital retreats, hot startups are collapsing. Tue, 14 Apr 2020 06:30:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/04/14/833577679/unicorn-riding-scooter-in-fatal-crash?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/04/14/833577679/unicorn-riding-scooter-in-fatal-crash?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews

As venture capital retreats, hot startups are collapsing.

(Image credit: Pixabay)

]]> Greg Rosalsky New Zealand: Tooth Fairy And Easter Bunny Will Be On The Job Easter Sunday will be different this year as church services and picnics are canceled. New Zealand's prime minister gave kids some good news: the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are essential workers. Tue, 07 Apr 2020 05:57:03 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828688337/new-zealand-tooth-fairy-and-easter-bunny-will-be-on-the-job?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828688337/new-zealand-tooth-fairy-and-easter-bunny-will-be-on-the-job?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews Easter Sunday will be different this year as church services and picnics are canceled. New Zealand's prime minister gave kids some good news: the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are essential workers.

]]> Tractor Day Offers A (Slow) Dose Of The Freedom Every Teenager Longs For Once a year, rural high schools across the Midwest celebrate Drive Your Tractor To School Day — which is exactly what it sounds like. Thu, 19 Mar 2020 13:01:06 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/814597962/tractor-day-offers-a-slow-dose-of-the-freedom-every-teenager-longs-for?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/814597962/tractor-day-offers-a-slow-dose-of-the-freedom-every-teenager-longs-for?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews

Once a year, rural high schools across the Midwest celebrate Drive Your Tractor To School Day — which is exactly what it sounds like.

(Image credit: Ryan Delaney/St. Louis Public Radio)

]]> Ryan Delaney Oregon Police Remind Residents: Don't Call 911 If You Run Out Of Toilet Paper "It's hard to believe that we even have to post this," said police in Newport, Ore. They offered a reminder for residents hunkering down due to the coronavirus: "We cannot bring you toilet paper." Tue, 17 Mar 2020 16:20:16 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/817205813/oregon-police-remind-residents-dont-call-911-if-you-run-out-of-toilet-paper?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/817205813/oregon-police-remind-residents-dont-call-911-if-you-run-out-of-toilet-paper?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=strangenews

"It's hard to believe that we even have to post this," said police in Newport, Ore. They offered a reminder for residents hunkering down due to the coronavirus: "We cannot bring you toilet paper."

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Colin Dwyer