On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops arrived at Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland that they didn’t know would become one of history’s most infamous places. What they found shocked even the strongest soldiers. Behind barbed wire fences and the iconic gate that read “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”), they discovered about 7,000 prisoners—starving, sick, and barely alive. Piles of belongings — from shoes to suitcases — hinted at the millions who had been there before them and never left. Auschwitz wasn’t just another camp; it was a site of mass murder, with more than a million lives lost.

The liberation of Auschwitz wasn’t an instant fix for the people inside. The survivors had endured years of unimaginable conditions: forced labor, hunger, and cruelty that left physical and emotional scars. Many couldn’t believe they were finally free, and for some, the help came too late. But for the soldiers, and eventually to the world, this was a wake-up call. The evidence of what happened at Auschwitz made it impossible to ignore the scale of the Holocaust. For years, rumors and reports had circulated about the concentration camp and its legtimacy, but now the truth was undeniable.

Today, Auschwitz remains one of the most visited historical sites in the world, and January 27 is recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It’s a day to reflect on the horrors of that time and to remember what happens when prejudice and hatred go unchecked. The liberation of Auschwitz wasn’t a triumphant moment in the traditional sense, but it was a turning point—a moment when the world couldn’t look away anymore. And while it’s not easy to revisit this history, it’s important to remember so we can ensure it never happens again.

In the late 1970s, Sacramento became the haunting ground for one of the most bizarre and terrifying criminals in American history: Richard Chase, who would later become known as "The Dracula Killer." Chase wasn’t your typical serial killer—his crimes were steeped in disturbing rituals and fueled by a horrifying belief. He was convinced that his blood was turning to powder and that drinking the blood of others was the only way to survive. Chase’s gruesome killing spree in 1978 only went on for around a month, but it left six victims and an entire community on edge.

Chase’s behavior had raised red flags long before his killing spree. Known for bizarre habits, like blending raw animal organs into smoothies, he was in and out of psychiatric care throughout the 1970s. After being released from treatment in 1976, things took a sinister turn. He began breaking into homes—not to steal valuables, but to drink from people’s refrigerators or smear their belongings with blood. His later crimes were far more violent, culminating in a series of shocking murders that earned him his nickname. Chase's victims were chosen seemingly at random, and his crimes were chillingly unorganized, making him even harder to predict or catch.

When police finally captured Chase in January 1978, they found his apartment filled with horrifying evidence: blood-stained tools, a blender filled with remains of his victims, and walls covered in disturbing drawings. He was sentenced to death, but in 1980, he died by suicide in prison before the sentence could be carried out. While his story is a grim chapter in criminal history, it serves as a case study in the dangers of untreated mental illness. Chase’s nickname might sound like something out of a horror movie, but the real terror was his tragic descent into madness and the lives he destroyed along the way.

Headless Chicken Tour🐓
In 1945, a Colorado farmer accidentally created a sensation when he tried to butcher a chicken, only for it to survive—without its head. Dubbed “Mike the Headless Chicken,” the bird lived for 18 months, touring the country as a sideshow attraction, and being fed through a dropper!

Barcelona Eiffel Tower🗼
In the late 19th century, Gustave Eiffel proposed building his iconic structure in Barcelona instead of Paris. But the city rejected the idea, calling it “too unsightly.” Paris snatched up the project, and well, the rest is history. Oops, Barcelona.

King Tut’s Space Dagger ☄️
Among King Tutankhamun’s treasures was a dagger that’s truly out of this world—literally. Analysis of the blade revealed it was forged from meteoritic iron, meaning it came from a chunk of space rock that fell to Earth!

Julius Ceasar Kidnapped 🏴‍☠️
Before he was Rome’s most famous ruler, Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates in 75 BC. They demanded a ransom of 20 talents of silver, but Caesar, insulted by the low amount, insisted they ask for 50 instead. Once freed, he raised a fleet, hunted down the pirates, and had them all executed—classic Caesar, turning a kidnapping into a power move.