Annabella Ortiz

Can the existence of life after death, extraterrestrials, strange creatures and other mysteries be proven by science? The “unknown” has always been a huge part of human history, from the undying search for Bigfoot to thousands of eyewitness accounts of UFO’s across the world. Not settling for calling these mysteries “unexplained,” today’s breed of investigators are putting the paranormal to the test with scientific methods and tools.

11:11, 333, 4444… If your eyes lit up upon recognizing these number sequences, you may be one of several experiencing the unexplained phenomena of numerical synchronicity- which some claim is the universe’s way of sending a coded message.

While these sequences continuously pop up in seemingly mundane places like clocks, addresses, license plates, phone numbers, billboards, labels and more- experiencers say this occurrence is anything but ordinary.

Stings to target human trafficking

WHITING — The Pierogi Fest Polka Parade barreled into its 25th year Friday evening with togas, Polish grandmothers on motorcycles and hundreds of thousands of pierogi-hungry fans.
The Polka Parade stretched from Davis Avenue to 119th Street to New York Avenue, carrying a wave of pierogi-filled fervor through Whiting’s downtown, celebrating 25 years of madcap tradition. The parade, an institution one year older than the festival, has drawn spectators from Germany, Canada, Australia and across ...

Robert Gadberry, of Hobart, claimed victory after demolishing 23 potato-stuffed pierogi. His friends, wife and 2-year-old daughter cheered him on from the sidelines.
A line of nearly 40 people of all ages lined up at the Pierogi Fest’s Main Stage to see who has the most precision throwing and catching oiled-up pierogi for the Pierogi Toss. With each throw, the pierogi were re-oiled and participants had to take another step back, widening the chasm in which their Polish dumplings had to soar.
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The FBI is investigating passage of Indiana's 2015 law regulating the e-cigarette industry, which comes as no surprise to owners of vape shops, who have described the law as "crooked" and say it basically gives a few favored companies a monopoly.
“I am more so surprised it took so long for them to call,” said Evan McMahon, chairman of the advocacy group Hoosier Vapers and owner of Liberation Vape shop, in Indianapolis.
Two state senators and McMahon have acknowledged being questioned by the F...

In her book “Welcome Home, Wanderer: A Guide for Indigo Children,” author Sophia Gubb asks, “Have you felt different all your life? Do you feel that you have an important purpose, even when you don’t know what it is?... Are you, in other words, an alien with a mission?”

“Indigo Children” was a term coined in the 1970’s by Nancy Ann Tappe, an author and synesthete who developed the idea of a “life color” – a single color that remains in your aura from birth to death. She saw a rare aural shade of a deep purplish-blue appearing in a unique set of people starting in the ‘60s and early ‘70s – bef

When it comes to blindness, artist David Johnson doesn’t try to overcome his visual impairment, but embraces it with creativity.
The 60-year-old sculptor had sight throughout his childhood and young adulthood, but is now completely blind. However—just because he lost his sight, doesn’t mean he has lost his artistic vision. In fact, Johnson feels like not being able to see has influenced his art in unique and dynamic ways.

In the face of tornados, torrential downpour and hurricane winds, storm chasers put themselves in the path of some extreme weather for the sake of science— and art. Meteorological data isn’t the only thing they’re collecting on chases, but up-close images of nature’s sheer power. Here are the top storm chasing photographers to follow on social media and their sites as summer storms ramp up, and their advice on how to shoot like a pro. Please note that storm chasing can be a dangerous activity.

Your brain is constantly buzzing with creative solutions and imaginative ideas. You walk through the store and think of ways you could improve the products on the shelves. You’re practically a walking dictionary of “How It’s Made.” At its base: You’re a creator, not a consumer.

From barnyards to posh studios, yoga practitioners are falling in love with an unexpected trend: goats. Tiny hooves, fuzzy snouts and playful personalities add a lot to a good yoga session- but there’s far more benefits to goat yoga than sheer cuteness alone.

The mind of an inventor is constantly teaming with ideas, however, the flow of cash often doesn’t match the flow of creativity. When it comes to pooling investors, time and money can fly out the window trying to get funding for your venture. Luckily with the accessibility to crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter paired with a little self-marketing know-how, inventors can finally conjure the funds they need to go from blueprint to product- but it does take some finesse.

When it comes to the world of famous art, it’s easy to recall the pensive face of Mona Lisa, or the composed marble sculpture of David. However, when it comes to art, there’s always more than meets the eye. Here are some bizarre, behind-the-scenes knowledge of what stories lie beneath the canvases and artistic movements throughout history to today.

The word “meditation” alone can strike up an air of mystery. Some may imagine a sage monk on a mountaintop, or a mystical ritual involving ancient hymns. However, while meditation comes from an array of rich traditions, the practice itself can be done just as effectively in a living room as it can be on a sacred mountain- one only has to know some simple techniques.

We’ve all been there: staring at the ceiling in the dark as precious sleep time trickles by, watching the clock helplessly as it gets closer and closer to the time you set for your wake-up alarm. Who knew sleeping could take this much effort?