Drawing from Scientific American's "Fact or Fiction" and "Strange But True" columns, we've selected fifty-eight of the most surprising, fascinating, useful, and just plain wacky topics confronted by our writers over the years.

     Do you know the best martial art for 'real' street self-defense? Or how board breaking really works - and how you can do it? Uncover the one self-defense myth that will keep you alive! The truth behind martial arts superhumans Which is the original martial art? The truth about your inner badass The surprising reality behind everyone's favorite weapon What meditation can really do for you The secret 'trick' to Bruce Lee's One Inch Punch + Free Bonus Book! And more! From Amazon Best Selling Martial Arts Author Phil Pierce, this guide cracks open the secretive techniques and explores why we are fascinated by the unknown and the mysterious. Whether you train in Karate, Taewkondo, Kung Fu, MMA, Origami or none of these you will find this Kindle Short eye opening and entertaining. Discover the truth behind the legends - Click and Grab your copy now!

    This is the story of the men on both sides who fought the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Filled with blasting action, this is a novel of desperate men locked in a savage battle for mastery of the world’s greatest ocean. This was a war without rules or mercy, and one that ended in utter annihilation…

    He had been shot, his outfit stolen and he didn’t know why. When the tough old widow Abby Chaney found him half-dead on her Bitter Grass ranch and got him home, she swung Macleod’s future into an unexpected direction.He learned that Abby and her daughter Katy were hanging on by threads to their ranch in the Strawberry Mountains. They were pressed from the south by tyrant Charles Sampson, who wanted their rich summer pastures, and from the north by timber man Egert Taylor, who wanted the Bitter Grass timber, both of whom were willing to kill the women to get it.Never one to back down from a fight or forget a favor done him, Macleod wanted two things: to find those who had bushwhacked him and get his outfit back, and repay the Chaneys for saving his life. None of them knew how much their worlds were about to change the day Macleod buckled on his gun and stepped into the Bitter Grass fight – least of all Devon Macleod.Note: Formerly titled "Bitter Grass", published by Bottom of the Hill Publishing. The rewritten and enhanced novel is now published by Double Diamond Books under the title "MACLEOD".

    What he didn't count on was seeing Marla, his childhood sweetheart and his best friend's wife. And when emotions overwhelm them and a few months later Marla is pregnant, Yuri wants the impossible: his best friend's wife and the baby they made together...

    The only thing missing is a baby. Unable to get pregnant, Cameron turns to in vitro fertilization in hopes of becoming mother. When the positive pregnancy test comes back, she thinks she can finally have it all. That is, until she gives birth and realizes her baby’s blood type is not compatible with her own.There is just one explanation: a mistake at the IVF clinic. An investigation reveals that the baby is genetically related to Avery and Graham, another couple who went through IVF at the same clinic. They also recently had a baby—who happens to be Cameron and Andy’s genetic child.When the mix up is discovered, a heated battle ensues: should the couples switch babies so they can raise their genetic child, or should each keep the baby the mother nurtured inside her for nine months?The ethical and legal dilemma plays out in the character’s personal lives and the courtroom where multiple questions are raised: Does nature or nurture make someone a mother? What is better for the babies?My Heart from Inside is an emotional page turner with unexpected twists and turns. It will make you think about the meaning of motherhood, and what you would do in the characters’ shoes. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Wingate, and Liane Moriarty.

    As the crisis unfolds, one family seeks sanctuary at a ranch on the city's outskirts. For Gabby, the only thing worse than failing to reach the ranch is failing to protect her family in this dangerous post-EMP world.The Last OrchardCharlie Decker traveled to Seattle to acquire a much needed loan for his family’s Orchard. After a dozen requests, Charlie is forced to head home empty handed. But his plans are derailed after an unexpected attack on the city renders all electronics useless. No cars. No phones. Everything about the modern world has been destroyed. And that’s when the chaos begins.HideawayLosing power was only the beginning, now one couple must work together to survive.James and Marla Weller are preparing for a relaxing weekend, when an unexpected blackout spreads far beyond their St. Louis suburb and starts a devastating chain reaction. But the disabled power grid was only the beginning of a national nightmare as their vehicles and cell phones won’t function either. A series of building explosions rock downtown, leading to a mandatory evacuation. Amid the chaos, the young couple must make a decision on where to go. A possible solution emerges when a self-proclaimed survivalist offers them refuge in his remote cabin far from the city and away from the chaos. But James and Marla soon discover that survival isn’t as clear as they think, and that escape can lead to dangers all its own.

    Possibly left for good. Desperately, he decides that he needs to make himself so valuable to these new people that they’d be insane not to keep him around. In order to do that he has to stop being Anthony, the fifteen-year-old proto-thug with a woman on each arm and become something else. Tony. The act he creates to fool them all. If he fails, it means a life on the streets. It’s an option, but not one that Anthony is willing to take. Not again. Books 1-3 of this series are out now. Exclusively on Amazon! 1. The Art of Being Tony 2. The Unstoppable Tony Winters 3. The Heart of Tony Winters

    This new model replaces the popular D5000 and creates a nice bridge between the more beginner-level D3100 and the high-end D7000.This book has one goal: to teach D5100 owners how to make great shots using their new Nikon camera. Users learn how to use the D5100 to create the type of photos that inspired them to buy the camera in the first place. Everything in the book is in service of creating a great image.Starting with the top ten things users need to know about the camera, photographer Rob Sylvan carefully guides readers through the operating features. Owners get practical advice from a pro on which settings to use when, great shooting tips, and even end-of-chapter assignments.

    but he’s gone missing! Now it’s up to Alex to find him. Teaming up with a wacky old wizard called Abraham and a crew of the laziest sailors around, Alex must brave storms, creepers, zombies and much worse to find out what has happened to her best friend. But will she be able to survive this crazy adventure? When will Abraham stop talking to random objects? What is going on with the mysterious island? And why does Captain Cat Danger like cats so much? Find out the answer to these questions and more as Alex's journey leads her into the adventure of a lifetime! Danger! Excitement! But will she find Scotty? Great book for kids aged 7 to 12.

    Torn between her duty and her humanity, she is sheltering a young German pilot knowing she risks being arrested as a traitor. Hannah’s worst fears are realised when Jack finds out what she has done and their love begins to unravel.Will her betrayal be too much for Jack to forgive?

    As the Agency investigates the source of the disclosures, an old Office of Strategic Services file and the former Director of Central Intelligence become the focal point of their research. A race is on to find the file's secrets. If al-Qaeda's wins, they can acquire "suitcase" thermonuclear devices to attack America. If the CIA gets there first, they can make a deal with a Russian billionaire and trade the missing treasure for the weapons al-Qaeda craves. The political awakening of Duncan Hunter continues as he battles radical fundamentalists across the globe, he thwarts the terrorists' best plans and eliminates their leaders. He survived their latest attempts to kill him when he's finally cornered, captured, and dragged to an al-Qaeda lair. Inside lurks certain doom at the hand of his bitterest foe.

    A female criminologist and a retired military detective go to work solving the case. As the investigation progresses a fragile romance takes hold between the two, though their pasts render them distrustful of one another. Good friends help them overcome their emotional obstacles to their newfound love. As the investigation intensifies the criminologist enters the lion’s den to crack the mystery. Join them as they enter the murderer’s distorted mind in this spellbinding thriller What drives someone to take the lives of women who have had abortions? Religious faith, some distorted moral concept, or perhaps personal reasons rooted in their private life? To catch the killer, the investigation team must get inside his mind and figure out his motives. The book shows how a man turns himself into God, deciding who should live and who should die, until he must face his own death. Clear your calendar, because once you begin this riveting thriller you won’t be able to put it down.

     Richard Letterman is a billionaire that has it all. But when an old lover comes back into his life, everything is flipped upside down. Romii Scarsdale never thought she would see her secret baby daddy again. So when Richard walks back into her life, she is stunned. Although she will never forget her heartbreak, she can't resist her attraction to him. But can she tell him about their baby? Note: Her Billionaire Ex's Unwanted Black Baby is 43k of sexy, steamy passion between a dominant alpha billionaire and a feisty, beautiful woman.

     Part One: Bears in Underwear Olivia - I never intended to drive through this part of Colorado to begin with. It was a total fluke. But when a stop for gas in the tiny town of Rocky Top leads me to a male butt more perfect than I have ever seen before, I decide its fate. After all, I’m in Colorado to shoot an ad campaign for Tight Buns Underwear. If anyone needs the perfect butt, it’s me. Del - I have never bothered to look at an underwear ad and I definitely never considered the possibility of being in one. But that was before Olivia Talpin came stomping into my life. She ramrods my family’s outfitting company and soon enough we are all dancing to her tune and setting up photo shoots all over the mountain. That girl is lucky she’s so dang cute or I might be tempted to show her just how grouchy a bear can be. Part Two: Bearing All Trip - There is nothing more useless than a magazine article. Can’t say I’ve ever looked at one myself. Even worse is the fact that I have been elected—as the most personable member of the Olsen family—to be interviewed by a female writer staying in one of the cabins down by the river. Who ever heard of a woman writing articles and ads for a fishing magazine anyway? But Kiesha isn’t like anyone I’ve has ever met. The woman loves to fish, enjoys the outdoors, and doesn’t seem interested in much else. Not even me. Kiesha - There is no doubt in my mind that Trip Olsen is the most full of it man that I have ever met. But the guy knows fishing. For now, I figure it’s in my best interest to put up with Trip until he shows me the secret behind choosing just the right bait for mountain trout. After that the guy is history. The funny thing is that the longer I spend with Trip, the more I get the feeling he is the most intriguing person Iwill ever meet. Part Three: Grin and Bear It Lilly - I am sick and tired of bears. I’m tired of Rocky Top and conspiracy theories about rival bear clans and all of the other nonsense that goes along with being part of a family that seems to have gotten stuck back in the days of rival blood family feuds. I want something more. Painting is my passion and I don't care if I have to sneak onto Olsen property to get the one view that I have been dying to paint for years. Jared - Catching Lilly Mandeville trespassing on Olsen land might just be the best thing that ever happened to me. I have about as much interest in being a fishing guide as Lilly does in being a hunting guide. It doesn’t seem to matter to either one of us that our families might be horrified by this strange new friendship. Then me and Lilly happen upon something else. Something that will explain all of the strange animosity between our families and show everyone that it’s not the bears you have to worry about. It’s the wolves.