Buzz
In today's world, we all keep ourselves informed. We’ve become experts on global events, knowing every little detail of the headlines, until we eventually lose interest.
When news stories lose momentum, they usually stop appearing on the front page. Yet, events continue unfolding, and those missed details can sometimes completely alter the story.
10. The Al-Qaeda Anthrax Attack Wasn't Actually Linked to Al-Qaeda
A week after the 9/11 attacks, anthrax-laced letters were sent across the US, resulting in the deaths of five people. The letters were postmarked “09-11-01” and contained the words, “Death to America. Death to Israel. Allah is great.” This led us to believe that Al-Qaeda was continuing its campaign and that we needed to stay alert to the threat of Islamic extremists from the Middle East.
However, it was later revealed that Al-Qaeda had no involvement. The actual perpetrator was Bruce Ivins, a white Catholic from Ohio. Ivins was a microbiologist working for the US Army, who had been assigned the task of developing an anthrax vaccine. He had a history of mental illness and was described by his colleagues as “an absolutely manic basket case” during the final days of his work.
The anthrax used in the letters came from a particular strain that only Ivins had access to. When charges were filed against him, Ivins took his own life.
9. The ‘Bath Salts Cannibal’ Never Actually Used Bath Salts
In 2012, Randy Eugene viciously attacked a homeless man, devouring his face while the victim was still alive and growling at police when they ordered him to stop. News outlets claimed Eugene was under the influence of a new drug called “bath salts.” This sparked widespread panic, as the public feared this drug could turn anyone into a cannibal.
However, it was later revealed that Eugene had never used bath salts. Toxicology reports showed that marijuana was the only substance in his system. Police remain uncertain about the motive behind Eugene’s actions. After stating that marijuana was the only drug involved, authorities issued a clarification, saying that “marijuana alone wouldn’t likely cause behavior as bizarre as Eugene’s.”
8. The Toyota Recall Wasn't Actually Toyota's Fault
In 2009, some Toyota car owners mistakenly hit the accelerator when they intended to brake, resulting in several serious accidents. Toyota faced severe backlash for what seemed to be gross negligence, and was forced to recall around five million vehicles already on the road.
It took two years for the Department of Transportation to publish its findings on the cars. When the report was finally released, it concluded that there was “no evidence of brake failure or throttle malfunction.” Instead, the accidents were attributed to “pedal misapplication”—in other words, the drivers simply hit the wrong pedal.
The issue wasn’t just driver error; it was caused by oversized floor mats that could trap the accelerator pedal, forcing cars to accelerate when drivers intended to brake. The floor mats responsible for this problem had already been recalled in 2007, and the cars themselves were found to be safe.
7. The Faster-Than-Light Particle Was Just A Mismeasurement
In 2011, news outlets exploded with the announcement that a team of scientists had discovered a particle capable of traveling faster than the speed of light. This groundbreaking find challenged Einstein’s theory of relativity and seemed to open the door to the type of futuristic, sci-fi travel that we had only imagined. The world marveled at what appeared to be an impossible achievement.
Which, as it turned out, was completely impossible.
Months later, a less-publicized update revealed that a loose cable had interfered with their timing system. The faster-than-light measurement was simply a mistake, not a revolutionary discovery.
Shortly after, the experiment was repeated. This time, the particle only traveled at the speed of light. To be thorough, the team ran the experiment four more times with identical results. The supposed world-changing breakthrough turned out to be a mistake, and the team was so embarrassed that two of its members resigned.
6. Paris Hilton Is Set To Inherit Almost Nothing
At the height of her fame, Paris Hilton became a symbol of the reckless indulgence that often accompanies extreme wealth. She was an heiress gone mad, basking in the luxury of waiting to inherit a fortune, embodying everything that is wrong with the unchecked excesses of the children of the ultra-wealthy.
After we stopped keeping tabs on her, Paris Hilton’s grandfather, Barron Hilton, shocked the entire family with an unexpected decision. Tired of their behavior, he declared that 97 percent of his fortune would be donated to charity upon his death.
The massive inheritance we imagined heading straight to Paris Hilton’s hands will instead be used to fund clean water projects in Africa, educate the blind, and provide housing for the mentally ill. The small remaining portion will be divided among the Hilton family, leaving only a tiny share for the world’s most infamous heiress.
5. The Men Who Gave Their Lives At Fukushima Didn’t Actually Die
When the Fukushima reactor was struck by a tsunami, the situation spiraled into what seemed like an apocalypse. The threat was real: without intervention, this could have been another Chernobyl.
Fifty courageous men remained in the reactor’s high radiation zone, working tirelessly to prevent a full-blown disaster. They endured severe exposure, risking their lives to protect others. Initial reports suggested that some had died from radiation, heralded as heroes.
Except, that didn’t happen. They were all okay.
The United Nations reported that there were “no clinically observable effects” from radiation exposure on the 50 men. Despite their sacrifice, they emerged with minimal to no negative effects.
The leader of the group eventually passed away from cancer, but it had nothing to do with the reactor. Officials stated that the rapid onset of cancer from radiation exposure was impossible in his case.
4. Fred Phelps Referred To An LGBT Organization As ‘Good People’ Before Passing Away
Fred Phelps was the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, notorious for picketing funerals of fallen soldiers with signs reading “God Hates Fags.” Phelps was widely regarded as one of the most hateful figures alive.
The crucial word here is “was.” In his later years, Phelps underwent a complete transformation. As his grandson explained, the change began after the death of his wife, which “triggered a chain reaction that led him to develop profound empathy for others.”
Phelps abandoned his “God Hates Fags” banners and began backing anti-suicide and anti-bullying organizations. He even referred to Equality House, an LGBT group, as “good people.”
Sadly, his newfound sense of decency didn’t extend beyond him. The rest of the church excommunicated him. Despite this, Phelps held onto his transformed perspective until his death—leading to the surprising possibility that Fred Phelps might actually be in Heaven.
3. A Record Label That Took Legal Action Against Napster Also Became An Investor In It
At its peak, Napster was a nightmare for the music industry. The service revolutionized peer-to-peer file sharing, making music freely available to everyone. This, however, meant that artists and labels lost out on record sales profits.
Major music corporations such as Sony, EMI, Warner Bros., Universal, and the RIAA took Napster to court, claiming the service was a form of theft. BMG also sued Napster, but their focus wasn’t on the moral argument.
BMG wasn’t concerned with ethics—they just wanted the money. They bought a significant stake in Napster while suing the platform, and even promised to relaunch Napster with a fee once the lawsuits destroyed it.
2. The Sony Hack Was Probably Not North Korea’s Doing
In 2014, Sony became the target of a massive hack. A terrifying image of a blazing skeleton appeared on all their computers, accompanied by a threat that there would be consequences if Seth Rogen’s The Interview ever made it to the big screen.
The film mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and it was widely assumed that he was behind the cyberattack. News outlets quickly reported that North Korea was either directly involved or that US intelligence agencies believed it was.
However, many cybersecurity experts pointed out that the evidence linking North Korea was flimsy. Even the FBI hesitated to pin the blame on the country. Instead, there was a strong possibility that the hack was orchestrated by hacktivists trying to cover their tracks. The group called themselves the 'Guardians of Peace' and criticized Sony's security.
1. The Creator of Kony 2012 Suffered a Mental Breakdown
In 2012, Jason Russell's documentary about the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony went viral. Within a week, it had garnered 100 million views and sparked a global activist movement aimed at capturing Kony.
But instead of targeting Kony, the attention quickly shifted elsewhere. By the time the video had been made, Kony had long since fled Uganda.
Meanwhile, Jason Russell began to crack under the pressure of his newfound fame. He recalls planning a trip to New York, but instead of boarding a plane, he ended up running naked through the streets of San Diego, engaging in bizarre behavior such as public masturbation and attacking vehicles.
