Latest Oddities News
Library book returned after 50 years with $20 bill
PLYMOUTH, Pa. (AP) — A book checked out a half-century ago has been anonymously returned to a library in northeastern Pennsylvania, officials said. The Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice reports that the 1967 copy of “Coins You Can Collect" by Burton Hobson arrived last...
Woman bought $1M lottery ticket after flight was canceled
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Having just had her flight canceled, a Missouri woman's luck quickly changed when she won $1 million from a Florida Lottery scratch-off ticket. Angela Caravella, 51, of Kansas City, Missouri, claimed a $1 million top prize last month from The...
Tanks but no tanks! German fined for WWII weapons arsenal
BERLIN (AP) — A German court on Tuesday convicted an 84-year-old man of illegal weapons possession for having a personal arsenal that included a tank, a flak cannon and multiple other items of World War II-era military equipment. The state district in the northern city...
Giant panda in French zoo gives birth to 'lively' twin girls
PARIS (AP) — A giant panda on loan to France from China gave birth to female twin cubs early Monday, a French zoo announced, declaring “they are very lively, pink and plump.” The Beauval Zoo, south of Paris, said the twins were born shortly after 1 a.m. They weigh...
New theory: Earth's longer days kick-started oxygen growth
Scientists have a new idea for how Earth got its oxygen: It’s because the planet slowed down and days got longer. A study published Monday proposes and puts to the test the theory that longer, continuous daylight kick-started weird bacteria into producing lots of...
'Big chair' in front of Vermont bank damaged by vandals
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A giant ladderback chair that stands 19 feet (5.8 meters) tall may be big but it wasn't tough enough for some vandals. Damage to the massive “Big Chair” made from 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of cedar and white pine was captured early...
German federal court sides with Lindt in gold bunny battle
BERLIN (AP) — A German federal court ruled Thursday that the golden shade of the foil wrap on Lindt & Spruengli's Gold Bunny, a popular chocolate Easter bunny, enjoys protected status. The Federal Court of Justice delivered its verdict in a battle between...
Woman convicted of swapping pebbles for gems in London heist
LONDON (AP) — A woman who secretly swapped seven pebbles for 4.2 million pounds ($5.7 million) worth of diamonds has been sent to prison for her role in the audacious heist at a luxury jewelry store in London’s tony Mayfair district. Lulu Lakatos, 60, was sentenced...
Woman unaware she had $39M lottery ticket in purse for weeks
BERLIN (AP) — Lottery officials say a woman in Germany carried a winning ticket in her purse for weeks without realizing it was worth about 33 million euros ($39 million). Lotto Bayern said Wednesday that the 45-year-old woman was the sole winner of a draw on June 9,...
Ranging Bull: 'Barney' eludes capture days after farm escape
MASTIC, N.Y. (AP) — An escaped bull has eluded capture for several days on Long Island despite searchers employing a helicopter and night-vision equipment along with attempts to lure the roaming animal with grain and a cow. Police in Suffolk County say they began...
