Cynthia Griffith lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Cynthia Griffith - Lists at Ranker

Weird Nature

If animals had frequent flyer mile points to rack up, they’d definitely put us humans to shame. Creatures ranging&nbsp;from giant wildebeests to teeny tiny ants&nbsp;really know how to get around, sometimes <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/fastest-animals/ranker-science">traveling&nbsp;at incredible speeds</a>. Well-traveled animals that go amazing distances do so on foot, hoof, wing, or fin.&nbsp;They journey high in the clouds, low underwater, and over varying terrain. They travel in packs that are sometimes even mixed with multiple different species.Some animals that go the farthest on Earth&nbsp;travel the equivalent distance of the moon and back in a lifetime. Others triple that number if you can imagine. Their migratory efforts are often fueled by instinctual needs like food, shelter, mating, birthing, and ideal weather conditions. Some of these mystifying creatures spend 90% of their lives on the go. While enroute, they risk life and limb.Their compass is the sun, their motivation is survival and their internal guide is none other than Earth’s incomparable magnetic field. Here’s a look at these amazing animals that travel incredible distances.

The 14 Most Well Traveled Animals and Creatures On The Planet

14 Of The Most Well-Traveled Creatures On The Planet

Cynthia Griffith

Geeky

While <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-coolest-fictional-objects-you-most-want-to-own">fictional objects</a> have played a pivotal role in the childhood of geeks, nerds, and gamers, every kid remembers asking Santa for that heroic, magical weapon imbued with power and bravery. There are countless moments when fans have fantasized about wielding weapons of legend with meaningful&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/meanings-of-symbols-on-fictional-weapons/cynthia-griffith">symbols</a>, slaying foes and banishing enemies in their imaginations. This list is a tribute to the best of the best in enchanted weapons from film, tv, novels, comic books, and other entertainment sources.While many fictional weapons are awesome, the key criterion here is that the weapon has to be enchanted, like Green Lantern’s ring. It can't just be&nbsp;awesome,&nbsp;like Batman’s grappler. Be sure to vote up the most spellbinding weaponry from the list and vote down any weapons you think missed the mark.&nbsp;

The 14 Greatest Legendary Magical Weapons of All Time

14 Legendary Magical Weapons, Ranked By Awesomeness

Mister Ed

In the 1960s, the story of a man and his talking horse captivated the globe. The show was <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Ed-Complete-Alan-Young/dp/B00NALHK8Q?&amp;tag=rankercom-20">Mister Ed</a>, and it followed the hijinks&nbsp;of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-talking-animals-in-tv-history/ranker-tv">a talking horse named Mr. Ed</a> and his keeper Wilbur Post. The show became an instant classic, and the character of Ed has popped up everywhere from rap music and comedy sketches&nbsp;to children's shows.Behind the character of Mr.&nbsp;Ed was a real horse. His name was Bamboo Harvester and he was already famous when he stepped onto the Hollywood scene.&nbsp;TV’s most famous horse was born and bred a star.&nbsp;Lighthearted and humorous at times, stubborn and imperious on occasion, the real Mr.&nbsp;Ed&nbsp;was a true trail blazer.Like most celebrities, his death was untimely and shrouded in mystery. And in the wake of his passing we learned that while he could indeed be imitated, he was one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-horse-characters/reference">greatest horse stars of all time</a>.

The Crazy History Of Mr. Ed The Horse

The Inexplicably Strange History Of Mr. Ed The Horse

Animated TV

As cartoon imagery continues to evolve, there’s one element of illustration that remains consistent and also, kind of baffling. After all these years, why don’t cartoon characters ever change their clothes? Sure, it's expensive and time consuming to animate and render new outfits for characters, but really their clothing becomes so recognizable&nbsp;that&nbsp;it's a bit of a symbol in and of itself.The Simpsons is&nbsp;no exception to the rule. After approximately&nbsp;500 years on the air and almost as many <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-simpsons-episodes-ever">amazing Simpsons episodes</a>, they even have gags related to the fact that they almost never change their clothes, such as Homer’s subscription to Blue Pants Weekly or Marge folding piles of identical laundry. In one episode, their constant washing and drying of the same exact outfits actually breaks their washing machine and they’re forced to break out threads they find in the attic. The Simpsons is no stranger to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/adult-jokes-in-the-simpsons/coy-jandreau">adult meta-humor</a>.&nbsp;Surprisingly enough however, there have been several times the Simpsons changed their clothes. In fact, they were out of their traditional attire for some of the most memorable moments on the show. Who can forget&nbsp;Homer’s muumuu, Marge’s bikini, or Mr. Burns’s real live monkey suit? Because the Simpsons step out of wardrobe so infrequently, new clothes often signify serious life changes like new employment, finding love, and even winning the lottery. Here are some of the best instances of The Simpsons&nbsp;dress code changes, what they signified, and why we love them.

20 Times The Simpsons Wore Different Clothes and Why

The Handful Of Times Simpsons Characters Wore Different Clothes And Why

The dead aren’t the only ones who have to eat in a zombie apocalypse and brains certainly aren’t the only disgusting entrees on the menu. You might not have initially noticed all of the gross things the survivors ate on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/negan-quotes/david-j-buck?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Walking Dead</a> in the beginning, but as food became scarcer, the desperation of the living became that much more apparent. As the series progresses, you can tell a whole lot about a survivor by what is (and sometimes isn’t) on their plate.Here we see how the meal, the way it’s procured, the way it’s prepared and even the dish it's in&nbsp;makes a major statement in a survival situation. Some of these meals were even more symbolic than they first appeared; some of them were even more disgusting once revisited. In the Walking Dead universe, a plate can literally make, break, or take your humanity, yet even the least vicious characters have gulped down entrees that look like they were delivered straight from a Fear Factor competition.Walking Dead food ranges from rodent to rabid to human. It’s sometimes even&nbsp;infested with who knows what kind of creatures. It’s often eaten raw. Walking Dead survivors swallow it down like the harsh reality they’ve recently been handed. Sometimes they chase it with a swig of Moonshine. Other times they simply take it to the head. Those who lose hope in their futures seem to lose hope in their diets, gobbling down whatever they can scavenge and forcing it through their pipes along with their pride. Those with the heart to fight for what they believe in are therefore sometimes left with an empty plate.Be that as it may, here are the most disgusting things eaten on The Walking Dead so far. Vote up the things you'd rather turn into a walker than eat.

What's on the Post-Apocalyptic Dinner Menu?

14 Disgusting Things Survivors Have Had to Eat on The Walking Dead

The 14 Most Disgusting Things Survivors Have Eaten On 'The Walking Dead'

Animals

Despite what you’ve been led to believe, planet Earth is practically unchartered territory. About 71% of its surface is covered in water too deep and dangerous to explore. Even on land, unexplained mysteries creep up on all sides, beneath ceilings of dangling stalactites. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-caves/ashley-reign">Caves</a> - and the creatures that live in them - are unlike anything you've probably ever seen before.&nbsp;If anything, they’re more akin to space aliens and the monsters drawn up by authors of science fiction.Creatures that only live in caves are&nbsp;known as troglobites or troglophiles. Troglobites are obligatory cave dwellers who cannot survive outside of this natural habitat. On the other hand, troglophiles can survive outside of these caverns, but they choose to remain within their confines for the vast majority of their lives. Crazy cave creatures are of two varieties, troglofauna (animals of the land) and stygofauna (inhabitants of the sea). Here are some mindboggling troglobite facts that prove, once and for all, that a strange, inexplicable universe is footsteps away as opposed to light years ahead.

The 13 Creepiest Creatures That Only Live In Caves

The Creepiest, Most Alien Creatures That Only Live In Caves

Chernobyl Disaster

Amidst the nuclear fascination and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/starfish-prime/stephanroget" target="_blank">testing of the Cold War</a>, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, experienced a series of detonations in 1986, spreading radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and causing severe ecological damage. It came to be known as the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-chernobyl-stories/juliet-bennett-rylah" target="_blank">Chernobyl disaster</a>&nbsp;and devastated the surrounding regions. People and animals were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dying-from-radiation-poisoning/kellen-perry">exposed to this radiation</a>, which sometimes caused&nbsp;mutations that made animals look almost otherworldly.&nbsp;

Despite people evacuating&nbsp;the affected zones, animals stayed behind. And while these animals are highly radioactive, most of them saw their populations thrive. The animals that live in Chernobyl are the only occupants of the once-thriving city&nbsp;and&nbsp;range from birds and eagles to wolves and bison.&nbsp;The radioactive Chernobyl animals do pose some threat to humans, however, and scientists are beginning to study them to truly understand how animals can adapt to living in a nuclear zone.&nbsp;

The Radioactive Animals Of Chernobyl: Wolves, Birds, And More

9 Fascinating Radioactive Animals That Exist As A Result Of Chernobyl

Weather

There are plenty of crazy weather patterns that seem too insane to even be real. Have you ever heard of&nbsp;a fire tornado? How about a waterspout vortex opening up over a gloomy sky? Some of the most insane, terrifying weather happens right here on Earth, not just in outer space <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-all-natural-disaster-movies/reference">or in movies</a>.When the sky opens up and brings forth a most unexpected surprise -&nbsp;whether it’s a typhoon, a brinicle, or a blizzard carrying 45 twisting tornadoes -&nbsp;these zany weather conditions teach us a lot about where we are as a society. These are weather patterns that make history, forge the future, and freeze time as it stands.&nbsp;Here’s a look at some of the most insane weather on Earth.

The Most Insane And Intense Weather On Earth

Relationships

Have you ever met someone who was&nbsp;perfect for you in every way except one? In other words, they checked off all the boxes on your wish list, but you just weren&#39;t attracted to them.&nbsp;You&#39;re not imagining it - subconscious attractions aren&#39;t made up. In fact, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/science-behind-sex-practices/david-sharp" target="_blank">attraction is&nbsp;rooted in science</a>.

According to science,&nbsp;there are many different <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-means-of-attraction/donn-saylor" target="_blank">causes of physical attraction</a>. Some of them are more practical, based on physical convenience; others seem to follow no rationale.&nbsp;If love were a potion, it would consist of an eclectic mix of chemical reactions, enticing aromas, dizzying emotional charges, and a pinch of some secret ingredient.

Listen to what your body is&nbsp;trying to tell you when you fall for someone - there&#39;s&nbsp;a method behind the madness!

Subconscious Reasons You're Attracted To Who You're Attracted To

All The Subconscious Reasons You're Attracted To Certain People

Lifestyle

Heroes come in all shapes, and sizes;&nbsp;sometimes they even come in breeds. In fact, one <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hero-dogs-2017/elise" target="_blank">hero dog</a>, Max, is a blue heeler who saved a three year old. Unencumbered by his failing sight and hearing, the Australian pup&nbsp;protected the&nbsp;child in the wild for more than 15 hours straight.Over 17 years old, Max lives in Queensland, AU, and he's a member of the Bennett-Kyle family. When more than&nbsp;100 State Emergency Service workers couldn't find young&nbsp;Aurora Kyle in April 2018, Max stayed with her, further proving why dogs are man's&nbsp;best friends. Obviously, animals can be <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprising-animal-heroes/ashley-reign" target="_blank">heroes</a> too.

Partially-Blind Dog Protects Toddler For Over 15 Hours In The Wild, Proves Dogs Are Man's Best Pal

Wholesome

Foxes might have the reputation for being sly, but folks should never underestimate the intelligence of the underdog, or any other kind of dog for that matter. This is the story of a clever pup named Negro, a doggo&nbsp;who has joined the ranks of animals who tried using money in stores. This college dog thinks leaves are money.In addition to mastering human economics, Negro has also learned things even his fellow college classmates have yet to figure out. He has effortlessly managed to wag his way into a situation where he gets free room and board at a prestigious higher education institution. When the dog tries using leaves to pay for treats, the end result is as hilarious as it is impressive. In fact, he's one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/human-animals/emilynerland" target="_blank">funniest animals</a>&nbsp;to grace the internet.Has Negro, in a stroke of genius, invented a brand new currency that’s really the wave of the future? <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-left-money-to-their-pets/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">Humans have left money to&nbsp;pets in their wills</a>, but there aren't many pets who have created their own legal tender. Negro is just one of many modern canines cashing in on capitalism and all of its wonders.

Clever Dog Uses Leaves To Buy Treats From Student Store

Total Nerd

Comic books are brimming with <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/saddest-supervillain-origin-stories/cynthia-griffith">tragic origin stories</a>. Apparently if you didn't have your parents murdered in front of you, you wouldn't fit in at the Avengers 4th of July barbeque. As children, super heroes have endured everything from being orphaned to being tortured to being dyed purple. Yet even in the midst of some of the saddest origin stories, there are still some characters that we simply should not feel sorry for.All of these are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-comic-book-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">comic book characters</a> with tragic origin stories who, at the end of the day, still don't deserve our sympathy. They're either victims of their own bad choices, or&nbsp;they're irreparably evil. Sometimes, though, they're also just too straight-up stupid to deserve compassion.&nbsp;For instance, if you crash your spaceship while&nbsp;wearing a ring that permits you to fly through space under your own power, nobody is going to feel sorry for you. If you try to infringe on somebody else's destiny and accidentally turn yourself into a cheetah, nobody is&nbsp;going to feel sorry for you. And if you're a baby-eating, mind-controlling, Nazi-loving, soul-stealing creeper, then nobody would care if you just vanished from the face of the Earth. Sorry, gang, a sad backstory doesn't make you deserving of our precious sympathy.&nbsp;

12 Comic Book Characters You Just Can't Feel Sorry For

12 Comic Book Characters With Tragic Backstories Who We Refuse To Feel Sorry For Them

Penguin

Everyone knows penguins&nbsp;are&nbsp;the&nbsp;cutest. Is it possible they could be even cuter than once thought? Most definitely. Their uncanny ability to warm hearts even at the coldest temperatures is, without a doubt, their secret to surviving for 60&nbsp;million years. Adorable penguins are one of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cutest-animal-gifs/bunny-brinkman">cutest animals</a>&nbsp;of all time - especially <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/cutest-baby-animals">baby penguins</a> - and these lovable creatures are super smart too. If only we&nbsp;humans&nbsp;could catch on to some of their secrets, we might enjoy the same sort of longevity that caused these mesmerizing birds to beat out the&nbsp;Ice Ages.Penguins are masters of self sacrifice and as you read along, you’ll soon learn they have more in common with humans than you might expect. Their love lives, specifically, are a spectacle to behold. Imagine a lone penguin, proposing to his soul mate with a smooth pebble in his beak and his brave heart on the line. Get ready to feel your heart swell, here are some of the cutest penguin facts ever.

The 14 Cutest Facts About Penguins That Will Make You Love Them More

Laughing, Hugging And 12 More Reason Why Penguins Are The Best

If you weren't already terrified of rats, by the time you’ve finished this post you might be - or maybe it will just make you love them even more. There are a lot of horrifying facts about rats. From their bizarre eating habits to their favorite type of humans to bite (you read that correctly) general rat behaviors are&nbsp;the subject of nightmares for many people.&nbsp;And while some of these terrifying rats are, well, terrifying, this post is also for rat lovers. Because rats are rodents that deserve more recognition than they often receive. Did you know there are rats out there&nbsp;who risk&nbsp;their lives to sniff through land mines, identify tuberculosis, and even endure the sorts of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/animal-testing-experiments-in-history/mike-rothschild">outrageous experiments</a> you’ve only read about in comic books? <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-15-smartest-animals-on-earth/analise.dubner">They’re smarter</a> than you might have imagined but not quite as collapsible as you’ve been led to believe.&nbsp;

Horrifying Facts About Rats 

11 Facts You Didn’t Know About Rats That Will Seriously Disturb You

Space

The&nbsp;debate about whether or not Earthlings&nbsp;are dwindling away their&nbsp;resources and leaving&nbsp;future generations with the possibility of a fruitless planet has been raging forever. But&nbsp;the argument may be seriously altered as we attempt to tap&nbsp;into a brand new supply of resources — in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/awesome-space-pictures/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">outer space</a>.&nbsp;The $330 billion space mining industry is gaining traction and attracting investors and scientists alike. So exactly&nbsp;what is is? In a nutshell, space mining is&nbsp;the concept of gathering resources from outer space for use on Earth. Space mining opens up new&nbsp;portholes into previously unexplored options for our problematic planet.Unfortunately, however, not everything about space mining is so straightforward. Countries all across the globe are bargaining for space chips and, much like an orbit, the rules to the game are perpetually circling. There are other ethical and other ramifications to consider as well. Would colonizing space give Earthlings even more excuses to disrespect the inhabitable planet they already have? Could it lead to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-if-we-nuked-an-asteroid/kellen-perry" target="_blank">intergalactic nuclear war</a>?&nbsp;Because of all the resources abounding through the constellations, could turn our entire economy upside down.Is space mining&nbsp;the next gold rush? Many say yes. After all, there is a treasure trove of mineral rich asteroids hovering just above us, ripe for the picking. Unlike in the past, though, we now also possess the necessary technology to plot, extract, and harvest these unparalleled gems. Here’s an in-depth look at the burgeoning interstellar industry&nbsp;that has tycoons and space addicts mesmerized.

Why Space Mining Might It Be The Future Of Energy

What Is Space Mining - And Why Might It Be The Future Of Energy?

Watchworthy

Watchworthy - What to Watch, According to Votes

As technology keeps getting better,&nbsp;rare photos&nbsp;of undersea creatures are making their way to the surface.&nbsp;These baffling and sometimes terrifying pictures are exciting the scientific community worldwide.&nbsp;The realm that exists in our&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;deep oceans is a mystery. Ocean animals&nbsp;already mystify us - from mesmerizing&nbsp;physical features&nbsp;to odd mating rituals&nbsp;- and those deep underneath the surface have <a href="/list/scary-sea-monster-legends/edira-putri">captivated the masses for centuries</a>.&nbsp;

Some have estimated scientists have&nbsp;only studied a small percentage&nbsp;of the ocean&nbsp;floor. The little&nbsp;known about what lurks <a href="/list/historical-photos-of-the-ocean/mallory-weiler/" target="_blank">deep in the ocean</a>&nbsp;pales in comparison to what there is to learn, which is why each&nbsp;discovery of aquatic animals that are rarely seen is exciting. Never-before-seen&nbsp;creatures&nbsp;incur even more curiosity about what other mysterious undersea beings may dwell beneath the waves.

Here&rsquo;s a look at some of the first ever photographs of maritime monsters in all their glory.

11 Newly Photographed Maritime Monsters Seen For the First Time

10+ Newly Photographed Maritime Monsters Seen for the First Time

Outdoors

There's nothing more thrilling than the mystery of the unknown. Extreme spelunking combines the desire to discover a world unseen by most and the thrill of conquering a physical feat. Also known as caving, extreme spelunkers specialize in cave exploration. Extreme caving can unearth so many interesting things.&nbsp;Perhaps it’s the buried treasure of an ancient civilization. Perhaps it’s a brand new animal species never before seen on Earth. Perhaps its a newly discovered cave system that spans miles.&nbsp;Caving was established by Edouard-Alfred Martel, a Frenchman who explored the Gouffre de Padirac in France in the late 1880s. In 1941, a group of explorers created the National Speleological Society and coined the phrase spelunking.&nbsp;During this era, the sport gained a good deal of notoriety despite the fact&nbsp;that so many spelunkers lost their lives on wild expeditions.But just like other extreme explorative sports - <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-diver-stories/rosa-pasquarella">free diving</a>, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-scuba-diving-accidents/jacobybancroft">scuba diving</a>, and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/mountain-climbing-injuries-and-horror-stories/jordan-love">mountain climbing</a>&nbsp;- it can be dangerous. &nbsp;Spelunking horror stories <a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/1903801/exploring-caving-accidents-deaths-and-rescues-united-states">will chill you to the bone</a> - serious injury, hypothermia, even death can happen while caving if you're not careful, or just&nbsp;unlucky.&nbsp;

11 Fascinating Facts About Extreme Spelunking

The Space Page

Black holes are something everyone has heard about, but few actually know anything about. They&nbsp;are like giant invisible blenders lurking in the corners of deep space, sucking in unsuspecting stars and planets and ripping them to shreds. We're only beginning to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cool-hubble-pictures/carlycarano">understand the secrets of deep space</a> and the full capacity of these cosmic death traps.Black holes are one of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-space-facts/kellen-perry">the most interesting things about space</a>. Like their event horizon, which is the point of no return situated at their swirling center, black holes are invisible. Nothing can escape their pull -&nbsp;not even light itself. But just because they’re surrounded by mystery doesn’t mean they’re always shrouded in darkness. Some black holes are so luminous they outshine Earth’s sun by the billions.What is a black hole? Is it a secret doorway into alternate realities? Is it Mother Nature’s time machine? Does it destroy, create, or all of the above? Here are some crazy facts about black holes that will help you put these questions and more into perspective.

15 Insane Facts About Black Holes That Will Definitely Trip You Out

15 Facts About Black Holes That'll Blow Your Effing Mind

Interesting

It really is raining diamonds on Jupiter, <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/03/jaden-smith-mind-blown">as actor Jaden Smith was so keen to point out</a>, but in reality, that small tidbit is but a single gem in a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-space-facts/kellen-perry">treasure trove of weird space</a> weather facts. Envision a place where temperatures are so hot that they melt fool&rsquo;s gold on towering mountain tops, a destination where storms rage on for centuries, and gemstone-covered glaciers glide across the surface. Can you take the heat of a 900-degree-Fahrenheit planet? Do you know about gas storms that happen every time a star dies? Can you imagine a place that storms so many magnetized crystals that you can see its surface glow for actual light years?

These occurrences are far from fiction. They&rsquo;re a description of some of the wackiest weather in outer space. These climates are hostile, to say the least, but there&rsquo;s a chance that, somewhere out there, some microorganism sees this weather as just a regular aspect of their environment. 

We study space weather so thoroughly because it is one of the keys to finding out if we are, in fact, alone in the universe. Here&rsquo;s a look at the zaniest intergalactic climates we&rsquo;ve come across so far and what they say about those endless possibilities.

The Wackiest Weather In Outer Space

12 Absolutely Wild Facts About Weather On Different Planets

Villains

Some of the best&nbsp;animated villains are&nbsp;evil&nbsp;pets, who <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/stories-of-pets-who-turned-on-their-owners/mike-rothschild">destroy the notion&nbsp;of man's best friend</a>. These cunning&nbsp;cartoon animals are nefarious&nbsp;in a unique way, allowing viewers&nbsp;to&nbsp;see their owners through a different, furrier set of eyes. Because so many villains despise most people, their pets provide a glimpse at their softer sides. At times, these animals sometimes&nbsp;chime in, offering up advice or sometimes even <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-greatest-pets-in-video-game-history/ariel-kana">joining in on the action</a>.Today, you get the chance to vote up your favorite bad guy pets. From the cool cats to the hot dogs, from conniving birds to scandalous sharks, these characters will be spending some time in the doghouse.

The 20+ Greatest Evil Cartoon Pets of All Time

Most Badass Evil Cartoon Pets

Evil Pets

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Even if you aren't a paleontologist, you probably know certain dinosaurs: the T-Rex, the Velociraptor, the Triceratops, etc. But you likely never learned about&nbsp;Dracorex Hogwartsia, one of the most fascinating dino discoveries in recent years.&nbsp;For starters, this Harry Potter dinosaur got his name from a discoverer who loved J.K. Rowling's massively popular book series. The crown of horns adorning Dracorex's&nbsp;head makes its appearance resemble that of a real-life dragon. In fact, Dracorex's&nbsp;dragon-like appearance caused many a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dinosaur-conspiracy-theories/justin-andress" target="_blank">dinosaur conspiracy</a> that he may provide a link between the reptiles of old with the dragons of legend. Regardless, the &quot;dragon king&quot; as his name implies, occupies a unique place in evolutionary history, becoming another <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/10-most-amazing-extinct-animals/neyas-yahoo" target="_blank">amazing extinct animal</a> you just want to know more about.If you want to catch a glimpse of this guy, visit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where the 10-foot reptile's skull stands atop an artificial skeleton. Though the rest of his frame remains lost to time, the Dracorex on display here was only a juvenile, meaning his adult form would likely be much, much bigger.&nbsp;He may be 66 million years old, but his head holds up quite well, allowing children and scientists alike to be further mesmerized by his entirely novel&nbsp;appearance.

Meet Dracorex Hogwartzia, The Most Amazing Dinosaur You’ve Never Heard Of

Meet Dracorex Hogwartsia, The Most Amazing Dinosaur You’ve Never Heard Of

People tend to think that all&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-and-worst-disney-animated-movies/disney-fangirl">Disney animated movies, from best to worst</a>,&nbsp;are a plethora of&nbsp;happily ever afters. But if you stop to think about it,&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of these movies feature sad cartoon endings that people&nbsp;perceive as happy because they only put themselves in the shoes of the main character. 

All cartoon&nbsp;flicks, not just Disney,&nbsp;almost always end well for the main character, but they tend to end terribly for almost everybody else in the film. There are even instances where the main character is faced with what looks like a good fate&nbsp;but is actually&nbsp;an unhappy one. 

People turn to cartoon&nbsp;movies with high expectations, with a comfortable notion that the ending will be full of hope and bright promises for the future. But what&#39;s often ignored is the fact that there&#39;s sad moments in what only appears to be happy films - heck, it&#39;s often missed that there are some racist&nbsp;Disney movies, like Peter Pan&nbsp;and Aladdin.&nbsp;

Read on to catch a fresh take on these classic tales by seeing the outcomes as they actually are. From broken toys and child donkeys to ruined planets and uncaring husbands, here&rsquo;s a look at happy cartoon films&nbsp;with endings&nbsp;that aren&#39;t as peachy as they first seem.

13 Cartoon Movies With Really Unhappy Endings

13 Cartoon Characters That Did Not Live Happily Ever After

In the wild, a hungry beast creeps through a forest, salivating while stalking its prey. Its mouth opens wide and it rips its prey apart, limb from limb. The eyes of the creature’s tiny prey open wide and pleading as if to say, “Mommy, don’t!” But mommy proceeds to eat her children one by one. This is a dark and harrowing truth about the animal kingdom that is seldom discussed. In a world where food shortages and climate change creep up, cannibalistic animals are becoming more and more common.Cannibalism is just plain creepy. In some cases, crazy animal cannibalization can be the result of human interference, but that’s not always the reason&nbsp;animals eat their own kind. Cannibal animals&nbsp;eat their children, some children eat their own parents, and sometimes leaders are devoured by their own community members. Here are some crazy animal cannibalization facts you probably never knew.

13 Animals You Didn't Know Were Cannibalistic

Meet The Hannibal Lecters Of The Animal Kingdom

Anime Underground

It’s said that imitation is the most exalted type of flattery and maybe it’s true. Fans are the driving force behind everything that rises in popularity, but fan-dom&nbsp;evolves&nbsp;over time. Today’s fans of anime are often possible future illustrators, writers, and/or creators with more than just passion. They’re <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/marvel-dc-mashup-superhero-fan-art/liam-ross">talented too</a>. It’s because of them that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/sailor-moon-disney-crossover-art/crystal-brackett">anime faces have seeped&nbsp;into pop culture</a>,&nbsp;and are now seeping into the streets.Showing up on train tracks and buildings,&nbsp;anime-inspired street art is vibrant and playful. In some instances, it outshines&nbsp;the original anime blueprint. To say that this art form is breaking the mold would be an understatement. Most of what you’re about to see is freehanded, so there is no mold to follow, only ones to break.Here is some of the most astounding anime fan art graffitied around the world.&nbsp;

20 Amazing Examples of Anime Graffiti From Around The World 

20 Pieces Of Awesome Anime Street Art All Over The World

Summertime shark stories have always been strange affairs.&nbsp;And what's weird is that some of the strangest&nbsp;tales are the ones that are actually true. Scientists have&nbsp;confirmed that within the beautiful ocean depths, there exist&nbsp;mutated two-headed sharks. Are two-headed sharks real? Absolutely. But unlike the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-bad-shark-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">best terrible&nbsp;shark&nbsp;horror films</a>, these mutated&nbsp;creatures are the hunted, not the hunters.Sharks are not the only <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/two-headed-animals/coy-jandreau" target="_blank">two-headed animals</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;have been documented. There have been cases of pigs and cats being born with two heads. In addition,&nbsp;shark mutations are in no way, shape, or form&nbsp;limited to only&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicephalic_parapagus_twins" target="_blank">dicephalic parapagus</a> (the genetic abnormality known as conjoined twin syndrome). Overfishing, pollution, climate change, and other factors have resulted in all sorts of twisted gene&nbsp;abnormalities in sharks. Have you seen the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJuJOZ35vA" target="_blank">Shark Cyclops</a> yet? It’s pretty terrifying stuff.&nbsp;At the end of the day, most scientists and researchers agree that human habits have given way to shark inbreeding, which is turning the ocean into an underwater circus. Every part of the globe has been exposed to these mutated two-headed sharks. So, before you head out for that family vacation at your favorite little nook on the beach, you might want to enlighten yourself on the newest wave in maritime mutants.&nbsp;

The Curious Emergence Of Two-Headed Sharks

Comic villains are responsible for some of the most heinous&nbsp;acts in all of fiction. They commit the sorts of graphic crimes that make empathy almost impossible. They engage in criminal activity that can send&nbsp;shivers up the spines of readers. But behind the masks and capes and ghoulish grins lie some of the most sympathetic comic book villain&nbsp;origins you&#39;ll ever hear.

Because these characters were crafted in a medium&nbsp;bursting with possibilities, the torture they endured prior to turning to the dark side is often more physically and emotionally extreme then audiences might be used to. Some of your favorite villains were tortured for millions or even billions of years. Subject to rejection, mutilation, starvation, lobotomies and more, it&rsquo;s difficult at times to determine whether the decisions they make are derived from their own will or from their circumstances. It&#39;s often heartbreaking when you really stop and think about the lives of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-comic-book-villains?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">villains in comics</a>.&nbsp;

In order to understand what fuels the hatred&nbsp;behind the alter egos, it&rsquo;s best if we get to know them before they were baddies&nbsp;(if that&rsquo;s even possible). The saddest supervillain origin stories often begin before they had a chance to fight back. You might be surprised to learn that several villains were abused as infants,&nbsp;or slated for punishment before they were born. For many of them, crime was not a choice. It was their only identity. Here are some of the most gut wrenching, cringe-inducing, and just straight up saddest supervillain origin stories&nbsp;in history.

Hungry for more? Take a look at <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weirdest-superhero-origins/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">some of the weirdest superhero origins</a>.&nbsp;

The Joker's Not Quite Such A Bad Guy When You Consider His Backstory

The 15 Saddest Supervillain Origin Stories in Comic Book History

15 Comic Book Villains With Horrifying And Heartbreaking Origin Stories

Supervillains

They don’t call them <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-graphic-novels-and-collected-editions">graphic novels</a> for no reason. Comic books and graphic novels are works of visually and textually explicit scenarios, but one of the things that make&nbsp;them so intriguing is the fact that one-dimensional characters simply don’t exist between the pages. For this reason, there have been countless times <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-15-scariest-villains-in-comics">comic book villains</a> were sweet, even borderline sentimental, if you will.It’s easy to miss these few-and-far-between instances of comic book villains being nice. Moreover, it’s easy to forget the times our favorite heroes began as villains, despite the fact that this is a recurring comic book theme.&nbsp;If all it takes to become a villain is one bad decision, the opposite must also be true. One good deed has been known to send some of the most sinister baddies over the line into benevolence, even if just for a frozen, solitary moment.Now, to be clear, in this context, we’re not talking about characters that have a dark side.&nbsp;We’re not discussing the now-infamous antihero trope. We're talking about characters who are the dark side, the certified psychopaths who will laugh gleefully while detaching your head from your body and simultaneously humming the National Anthem. Even they might save a puppy or two along the way.From feeding orphans to rescuing superheroes, from healing plagues to sacrificing their own souls in order to save the lives and souls of others, here are some examples of unexpected supervillains who do good.

12 Sweet Gestures by Otherwise Terrifying Comic Book Villains

Explainer

While it's been said humans have nothing to fear but fear itself, it turns out there are a lot of things in our DNA that dictate what we fear. Why are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-common-phobias/desertrat89">certain things scary</a>? Some things are scary because they bring us back to negative memories, while others are scary because of the physical response they illicit in our bodies. And while some phobias <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/a-z-bizarre-phobias/theothermother">are downright weird</a>, there are lots of things that are instinctively scary to humans, and for good reason. <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/fear3.htm">Fear is a pivotal component to everyday survival</a>, engrained in us from our long lost ancestors.&nbsp;Some of these fears turn to full-blown phobias.But there's no denying there are universally scary things in nature. Some scientists have suggested&nbsp;fears are&nbsp;passed down through DNA, meaning there are certain things we are born to fear.&nbsp;

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