1

Fire tornado, California

Image: Zoltan Tasi

A tornado is bad enough, but imagine a fire tornado—you’re entering a whole new level of catastrophe. This is exactly what occurred in 2018 near Redding, California, during the infamous Carr Fire event.

Intense wildfires almost always produce fire devils, fire whirls, and occasionally stronger vortexes resembling the tornadoes associated with severe thunderstorms. Fire tornadoes typically range from 100 to 1,000 feet in diameter , with rotational velocities of up to 90 mph. However, the Redding fire tornado was fueled by winds reaching an astonishing 143 mph .

2

Freak March heat wave, Midwest region

Image: Nadiia Ploshchenko 🇺🇦

High temperatures can be expected in the Midwest region but never for such an extended period during the winter season as occurred from March 14 to March 22, 2012 . Over these eight days, some areas experienced average daily temperatures that were 40°F above normal. Remarkably, even the daily low temperatures in certain locations exceeded the record highs for those dates.

On March 21, the temperature reached 90°F in Lapeer, Michigan—a stark contrast to the subzero temperatures that have often occurred in these same locations at this time of year, when snowpack is typically at its deepest.

3

Two F5 tornadoes at the same place on the same day

Image: Greg Johnson

F5 tornadoes are exceedingly rare. Only a handful of tornadoes of this intensity have been documented outside of the United States. Since 1900, just 104 of these monsters have been recorded anywhere on Earth.

This rarity makes the event on April 3, 1974 , near the town of Tanner, Alabama , even more astounding. Located about 20 miles west of Huntsville, Tanner was struck by two F5 tornadoes within just 30 minutes of each other.

4

The Dust Bowl

Image: Samantha Sheppard

The Dust Bowl, one of the most devastating weather events in American history, has a shared responsibility between nature and human interaction . In the 1930s, poor land management practices and unsustainable farming methods led to prolonged drought and massive dust storms in the Great Plains.

This ecological disaster forced thousands of families to abandon their homes, triggering a mass migration to find better opportunities elsewhere. As the Great Depression intensified, drought and decades of overfarming dried out the topsoil, leading to a series of dust storms from 1933 to 1939 that carried the soil eastward.

5

The Galveston Hurricane

Image: NASA

In 1900 a category 4 hurricane struck the city of Galveston, Texas , with devastating force, claiming an estimated 8,000 lives and causing widespread destruction. This tragedy prompted the construction of a seawall and the implementation of hurricane preparedness measures that continue to shape coastal planning and response strategies that are still in place today.

6

A summer-less year

Image: Todd Diemer

The combination of a tepid spring with late snows and an exceptionally cold summer, featuring frosts in July and August made 1816 a year without a proper summer . On July 4th, the high temperature in Savannah, Georgia, was only 46°F. Finally, there was a drought during early fall that culminated in a killing frost well before the end of September.

The apparent cause of this unusually cold summer was the eruption of the Tambora Volcano, half a world away in Indonesia, in 1815. A tremendous cloud of fine ash and dust was ejected into the stratosphere, where it remained for an extended period, significantly reducing the sun's heat and light and causing a cooldown throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

7

The darkest day

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

On May 19th, 1780, an extremely dark overcast mixed with thick smoke from nearby forest fires made the day feel like night for the people of New England. The mysterious event was first reported at dawn over southwest Vermont, and it slowly traveled southeastward during the day. The last place to report this strange weather was Barnstable, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, in the late afternoon.

In Boston, the atmosphere darkened noticeably after 9 a.m., to the point where reading newsprint outdoors became difficult. Many New Englanders believed that Judgment Day was at hand.

8

Animal rain

Image: Sanket Rajurkar

It should come as no surprise that the number of people who have heard of raining animals is much higher than the number of those who have actually experienced this phenomenon. After all, these types of rain are highly unusual.

The first documented instance of raining frogs was in Kansas City in 1873. In Texarkana, Texas, another strange form of precipitation occurred—this time in the form of fish falling from the sky. According to science, animal rain occurs when small aquatic animals like frogs, crabs, and small fish are swept up in waterspouts or drafts that occur on the surface of the earth. They are then rained down along with the rain.

9

Technicolor solar storm

Image: Luke Tanis

Unlike the northern lights, which usually appear as blue and green swirls in the sky, solar storms are so intense that they create a kaleidoscope of colors and can also be seen in regions where people have never witnessed them before.

In 2012, one of these events produced a stunning aurora over Crater Lake in Oregon. Scientists believed that two clouds of glowing particles were flung toward Earth by sunspots larger than our planet.

10

Super refraction

Image: Matthijs van Schuppen

Imagine waking up and being able to see much farther than you ever could before. That is exactly what happened in 2013 to the people of northern Ohio. They were stunned to find that they could see the Canadian shoreline, which is not at all possible under normal circumstances.

Locals were able to see Canada because of a rare natural phenomenon known as super refraction, where rays of light are bent downward toward the surface of the Earth. This bending occurs because of changes in air density. During this light-bending, distant objects that are usually hidden from view become visible, as they are reflected in the rays of light.

1

Bohemians

Image: Kinga Howard

Bohemianism, an original subculture that ended up lending its name as an adjective often used to describe other subcultures, is a social and cultural movement that embraces a way of life away from society's conventional norms and expectations . The term comes from the French bohème , and it was used to describe mid-19th-century non-traditional lifestyles, especially those of artists, writers, journalists, musicians, and actors.

Today, the term is used to describe anyone who shows disdain for money, dresses in hippie fashion (more on this later), and appreciates everything art-related.

2

Greasers

Image: Alberto Bigoni

Think John Travolta in _Grease_—yes, Grease . Think Biff Tannen in the 1950s segment of Back to the Future . Greasers emerged in the 1950s and early 1960s from predominantly working-class and lower-class teenagers and young adults in the United States and Canada.

An interest in cars, motorcycles, leather jackets, jeans, and rock music was the common theme among greasers. According to some sources, the subculture’s name was applied to its members partly because of their characteristic greased-back hair.

3

Beatniks

Image: Clem Onojeghuo

The first subculture on this list to adopt the adjective "bohemian," beatniks were a mid-20th-century social movement that embraced an anti-materialistic lifestyle, rejecting consumerism and expressing themselves through art, spirituality, drugs, and sexuality.

The term "beat" was first used by Jack Kerouac in 1948 to describe his group of friends and fellow writers, including Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Neal Cassady. Kerouac said that "beat" had multiple meanings, such as "beaten down," "beatific," "beat up," and "beat out." Beatniks are often stereotyped as wearing black clothing, and speaking in hip slang that incorporates words like "cool," "dig," "groovy," and "square."

4

Hippies

Image: Trevar Skillicorn-Chilver

One of the most famous countercultures of all time, hippies are deeply associated with the 1960s. The term "hippie" originally came from "hipster" (more on this later) and was used to describe the aforementioned Beatniks, who were "hip" to all things sophisticated and fashionable. In fact, early hippies adopted much of the language and values of the Beat Generation.

The festivals of Human Be-In (1967), Monterey (1967), and Woodstock (1969) popularized hippie culture, with its fashion and values influencing culture, popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts. Since the 1960s, mainstream society has assimilated many aspects of Hippie culture.

5

Mods

Image: Michael Schofield

The Mods were a group of stylish, London-based young men and women in the late 1950s, named for their preference for modern jazz. This subculture was known for its distinctive fashion, including tailor-made suits, as well as its love for music and scooters.

By the mid-1960s, their musical tastes had shifted toward rock and blues, with bands like The Who and Small Faces gaining popularity among Mods. Mod fashion was a defining element of the "Swinging London" era, and during this time, the subculture spread to other countries, becoming emblematic of the larger youth culture of the period.

6

Punks

Image: Viktor Forgacs

Another popular subculture, thanks in no small part to its striking visual component, is the punk movement, which encompasses music, fashion, ideologies, dance, film, and visual arts, among other forms of expression. Its strong anti-establishment views, stances on individual freedom, and DIY ethic make punks easy to identify.

Punk fashion includes T-shirts, leather jackets, boots, distinctive hairstyles such as brightly colored hair and spiked mohawks, as well as cosmetics, tattoos, jewelry, and even body modification.

7

Yuppies

Image: Nick Fewings

Anyone who has seen the movies Wall Street (the one with Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas) or American Psycho knows what a yuppie is. The term stands for "young urban professional" and was coined in the early 1980s as a way to describe young professionals living in a city.

Those labeled as yuppies generally dislike the association, because this characterization often suggests a very materialistic approach to life in general and a cutthroat attitude towards the workplace environment.

8

Skaters

Image: Parker Gibbons

An offshoot of the punk subculture, skater culture rose to prominence in the 1980s when a massive drought in California left numerous empty pools, which skaters used to practice their sport. The rise of magazines like Thrasher and stars like Tony Hawk helped the movement transition from an underground scene to a mainstream sport.

Its aesthetics centered around the preferred type of clothes for skateboarding: baggy and sturdy pants, sneakers, and oversized shirts. Its music was shared by the punk and hardcore movements.

9

Straight Edge

Image: Evgeniy Smersh

Going deeper down the rabbit hole, we encounter the Straight Edge subculture, an offshoot of both skater and hardcore punk cultures. Its followers reject the excesses of the punk scene by abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs . Many also refrain from casual sex, follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, and avoid caffeine or prescription drugs. The name "Straight Edge" was inspired by the 1981 song "Straight Edge" by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.

Overall, Straight Edge culture promotes a lifestyle of self-discipline, health, and community, and it continues to evolve while maintaining its roots in the hardcore punk scene.

10

Hipsters

Image: John Fornander

The final entry on the list is dedicated to the most modern subculture in it: the hipsters. Mostly associated with perceived upper-middle-class white young adults who gentrify urban areas , hipster culture has been critiqued for lacking authenticity and focusing on consumption.

As mentioned earlier, members of this subculture typically do not self-identify as hipsters, as the term’s connotations are often unflattering. It is no coincidence that the term evokes the previously mentioned Beatniks, as that subculture can be seen as an early precursor to hipster culture.

1

American Alligator

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Did you know that American alligators are one of only two alligator species in the whole world ? China is the only other place with an alligator species, the Chinese alligator. Often confused with their relatives, the crocodiles and the caimans, alligators can be differentiated by the shape of their teeth, their round snouts, their darker color, and their preference for freshwater habitats. An inhabitant of tropical and subtropical wetlands, the American alligator can be found throughout the Southeastern U.S.

2

Nene

Image: Lyle Wilkinson

Also known as the Hawaiian goose, this bird can only be found in its wild state across the islands of Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi . Believed to be distantly related to the Canada goose, the nēnē is considered the rarest goose species in the world and is a protected species. Thanks to successful conservation efforts, it has been reclassified from endangered to near threatened. It has also been designated as the official state bird of Hawaiʻi.

3

Common Raccoon

Image: Chris Ensminger

If you are asked to describe a raccoon, the common raccoon, native to North America, will most likely come to mind. The other two species of raccoon—also native to the Americas—present marked differences in color and size. Their name is derived from the Algonquian aroughcoune , meaning ‘he who scratches with his hands.’ The unusual shape of their thumbs, combined with their cleverness, allows them to open closed containers to access food and trash, which has earned them the nickname of "trash pandas." Due to human intervention, they have become a highly invasive species in European and Asian ecosystems.

4

Monarch Butterfly

Image: Alex Guillaume

One of the most recognizable butterfly species, the Monarch can be identified by its orange and black wings with white spots . Monarch subspecies can be found across the Americas, but the North American monarch is especially known for its remarkable migratory behavior. As winter approaches, monarch butterflies in the northern United States travel thousands of miles to overwintering sites in California and central Mexico. In spring, they will return home in time for summer.

5

North American Beaver

Image: Tim Umphreys

Though North American beavers are related to those found in Asia and Europe, their genetics are so different that they are unable to mix. North American beavers are generally larger and darker than their Eurasian counterparts , and they have a broader and longer tail. They are a widespread species across the Continental U.S., Canada, and northern Mexico and have been chosen as the official state mammal of Oregon and New York.

6

Bald Eagle

Image: Mathew Schwartz

Widely recognized as a national U.S. symbol and featured in multiple official imagery , the bald eagle came close to extinction in the late 20th century. Found across most of North America, it favors habitats near large bodies of water. Fun fact: bald eagles were named after the color of their head feathers, as the word ‘bald’ was anciently used for ‘having a white head.’

7

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Image: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Like the reptile it takes its name from, this pointy reptile is only found in freshwater habitats across the U.S. The spiky ridges on its shell give it an armored tank appearance, but these will flatten as the turtle ages. They have an extremely powerful bite , and they have been known for biting human fingers off, which makes them a dangerous animal that should be approached with caution.

8

Texas Blind Salamander

Image: Ryan Hagerty/USFWS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Unlike other entries on this list, this amphibian can only be found in a very specific place: San Marcos, Texas . Considered to be a critically endangered species, the Texas blind salamander lives in underground caves and streams and is highly sensitive to water pollution and droughts.

9

Coyote

Image: Dylan Ferreira

Also known as the American jackal or prairie wolf, the coyote fulfills a key role in North American ecosystems by helping regulate the population of smaller animals and consuming carrion that could otherwise spread disease. Somewhat friendly toward humans, coyotes play an important role in Native American folklore, and there are recorded cases of domesticated coyotes.

10

Giant Kangaroo Rat

Image: Harrison, George, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Although kangaroos are native to Australia, giant kangaroo rats are found only in California . Preferring dry, sandy habitats that allow them to dig burrows, these rodents are known for using foot stomps as a way of communicating. Due to habitat loss caused by agriculture, the giant kangaroo rat has been classified as an endangered species.

11

American Mink

Image: Alexandre Daoust

American minks can be found across Alaska, Canada, and the northern and central United States, both in the wild and on farms. Although they are not specifically bred to be tame, they are officially considered suitable to be pets if trained from a young age. Their introduction to many parts of Europe, Asia, and South America has harmed native species, and they have been classified as invasive in many of these regions.