Some of the wildest inventions came from clever minds that wanted to change the world. But some of these inventions are truly strange. From crazy early flying machines to wacky mash-ups like a gun that takes pictures, there are many crazy creations that lived short lives. Even practical inventions of the past—like the phonograph—look strange compared to modern inventions such as televisions and MP3 players. This book takes a look at some of the strangest inventors and inventions made throughout time, as well as why these inventions failed or evolved into something we use today.

Technology has made modern life as we know it possible, but there's always a downside to technological advances. Some technology can be helpful, but some is downright freaky. From secret computer viruses made by the government to incredible technology that keeps buildings safe during windstorms or earthquakes, this book explores the world of technology with an eye on the weird fringes that spark some of the most useful and wild inventions in the world. After all, the weird of today just may be the ordinary of the future.

Take a look at the world's weirdest inventions--from the Goofybike to fart filters. These stories are too strange to be made up! Written with a high interest level to appeal to a more mature audience and a lower level of complexity with clear visuals to help struggling readers along. Considerate text includes tons of fascinating information and wild facts that will hold the readers' interest, allowing for successful mastery and comprehension. A table of contents, glossary with simplified pronunciations, and index all enhance comprehension.-- Provided by publisher.

Aliens, ghosts, and cryptids may all fall under the category of "strange" or "unusual," but all are classified as paranormal. There are plenty of spooky and scary stories throughout history. From Abraham Lincoln's doppelganger to the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle and even the feeling of déjà vu, there are many unexplained phenomena. Even some aspects of history itself are still a mystery, like the Antikythera mechanism found in a Greek shipwreck. This book shows readers that there is often a blurry line between fact and the paranormal, and sometimes fact is even stranger than fiction.

Electricity is one of the most important discoveries of the modern world. But sometimes electricity can do truly freaky things. From ball lightning to Nikola Tesla’s amazing lightning rod and other inventions, the power of lightning has fascinated many throughout history. Stories about Ben Franklin discovering electricity and how Tesla coils work will fascinate readers eager to explore the history of electricity and the technological advances scientists have discovered while working with this powerful natural force.

Everyone needs sleep, but some of the weirdest things about living happen when people try to get some shut-eye. Sleepwalking and lucid dreams are just the start of the odd things that can happen to people when they are asleep. Exploding head syndrome, for instance, is not something people want waking them up in the middle of the night! This book explores all the weird wonders that sleep can bring. From sleep disorders to paralysis and even breathless sleep, there are plenty of freaky facts to explore about life after people close their eyes and say good night.

There are stories of meat-eating plants, but are they really true? Yes! Plants are just as freaky as animals in many ways. This book dives into jungles, forests, and fields all over the world that contain some of the wildest plants on the planet. From Venus flytraps and pitcher plants to a plant that smells like a rotting corpse, these organisms are as diverse as they are weird. Toxic mosses and poisonous plants like the New Zealand tree nettle show that plants can be just as dangerous—and freaky—as anything in the animal kingdom.

This new, completely revised and updated edition contains a wealth of new material, excerpts from the author's diaries and private letters home about life in Hollywood. In 1967, 21-year-old Pauline Butcher was working for a London secretarial agency when a call came through from a Mr Frank Zappa asking for a typist.The assignment would change her life forever. For three years, Pauline served as Zappa's PA, moving with him, his family and the Mothers of Invention, to a log cabin in Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills, where the 'straight' young English girl mixed with Oscar winners and rock royalty. Freak Out! is the captivating story of a naive young English girl thrust into the mad world of a musical legend as well as the most intimate portrait of Frank Zappa ever written.

Today, any kid can rattle off the names of dozens of dinosaurs. But it took centuries of scientific effort—and a lot of luck—to discover and establish the diversity of dinosaur species we now know. How did we learn that Triceratops had three horns? Why don’t many paleontologists consider Brontosaurus a valid species? What convinced scientists that modern birds are relatives of ancient Velociraptor? In The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries, Donald R. Prothero tells the fascinating stories behind the most important fossil finds and the intrepid researchers who unearthed them. In twenty-five vivid vignettes, he weaves together dramatic tales of dinosaur discoveries with what modern science now knows about the species to which they belong. Prothero takes us from eighteenth-century sightings of colossal bones taken for biblical giants through recent discoveries of enormous predators even larger than Tyrannosaurus. He recounts the escapades of the larger-than-life personalities who made modern paleontology, including scientific rivalries like the nineteenth-century “Bone Wars.” Prothero also details how to draw the boundaries between species and explores debates such as whether dinosaurs had feathers, explaining the findings that settled them or keep them going. Throughout, he offers a clear and rigorous look at what paleontologists consider sound interpretation of evidence. An essential read for any dinosaur lover, this book teaches us to see an ancient world ruled by giant majestic creatures anew.