Strange But True
This country once gave a dolphin military training in espionage.
What is the United States?
This fashion-forward invention from Japan protects your lunch—and your dignity—on crowded trains.
What is the noodle splash guard face mask?
This Alice in Wonderland character disappears until only a smile remains.
Who is the Cheshire Cat?
In Georgia, it’s illegal to eat fried chicken with this item.
What is a fork?
A Florida man once called 911 to report this emergency—his sandwich order was wrong.
What is a missing hash brown (or fast food order error)?
Bananas are technically classified as this type of item, not a vegetable or fruit in strict botanical terms.
What is a berry?
Invented to simulate companionship, this robotic item was shaped like a baby seal.
What is Paro?
This long-running show gave us alien babies, spaghetti western parodies, and a dog that talks with buttons.
What is The X-Files?
In Switzerland, it’s illegal to do this to just one guinea pig.
What is keep it alone (because it needs a companion)?
In 2020, a Russian oligarch bought this item made entirely of cheese and gold leaf.
What is a yacht model (or sculpture)?
In 1978, a man legally married this non-human object.
What is a Ferris wheel (or a piece of machinery)?
This wearable device allows you to carry butter and dispense it like a glue stick.
What is the butter stick?
This absurdist author wrote Naked Lunch, which includes talking typewriters and sentient viruses.
Who is William S. Burroughs?
In Venice, it’s illegal to do this while feeding pigeons.
What is stand in St. Mark’s Square?
In 2006, a man legally changed his name to this 19-word phrase to protest corporate branding.
What is "The man formerly known as the stick formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince formerly known as the stick formerly known as the man"
This celestial body smells like burnt steak, according to NASA.
What is the Moon?
The “USB Pet Rock” was marketed as a high-tech version of this 1970s absurdity.
What is the original Pet Rock?
In Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the answer to life, the universe, and everything is this number.
What is 42?
In Samoa, it’s a crime to forget this family occasion.
What is your wife’s birthday?
In 2019, a museum in Denmark displayed an invisible sculpture. Visitors were encouraged to do this.
What is stare at it contemplatively (or imagine it)?
The installation's name was "What is Art?" and it was displayed at the Horsens Art Museum.
In 1954, a man with a passport from this non-existent country baffled Tokyo airport officials and then mysteriously vanished.
What is Taured?
This real 19th-century invention let people smoke dozens of cigarettes at once—supposedly to avoid lighting them individually.
What is the multi-cigarette holder (or smoking machine)?
This cult comedy film features time-traveling rabbits, plane crashes, and tangent universes.
What is Donnie Darko?
In France, it is technically illegal to name a pig this.
What is Napoleon?
This Swedish town installed “moose mirrors” to prevent what kind of absurd roadside incident?
What is moose flirting with their reflection and causing accidents?