Areeba Umair
Bio
Writing stories that blend fiction and history, exploring the past with a touch of imagination.
Stories (176)
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Is the Ouija Board a Game or a Gateway?
Here's a question for everybody: Are Ouija boards a harmless toy or an instrument of extreme horror that you should never, ever play with? You might be surprised to learn that Google predicted the modern version of the Victorian-era "spirit boards" would be a sellout this Christmas. The search engine confirmed the game is one of the top trending gifts on its price comparison list this year, likely due to the recent release of an Ouija horror film. I’ll tell you exactly which side I’m on: It is not a toy. I believe this is one of the most terrifying things ever, and I totally think that playing with it can open some sort of doorway to the spirit world. You know, there’s a Chinese saying that goes: "It’s easy to invite a spirit, but making it leave is difficult."
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Horror
Old School Tech: Five Ancient Inventions We Still Can't Figure Out
When we picture our ancestors, it’s easy to imagine them living a simple life, free from the complexity of modern technology. Some of us might even think that anything they invented back then could be easily replicated, or even improved upon, with today's knowledge. But hold that thought. As it turns out, there are several ancient inventions that we are still genuinely struggling to understand or fully replicate today. It really makes you wonder how "advanced" we truly are. Here are five incredible inventions from the past that prove history might be much more complex than we think:
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in History
Did Ancient Greeks Fear a Zombie Apocalypse?
When you think of the Ancient Greeks, what springs to mind? Maybe the legendary philosophers like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle? Perhaps the sweeping myths of Zeus, Mount Olympus, and epic literature such as The Iliad and The Odyssey? What probably doesn't cross your mind are... zombies. But according to researchers, there is compelling evidence suggesting that the Greeks were genuinely afraid their dead might rise from their graves and walk among the living. And they took some pretty smart precautions to stop it.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Horror
Ancient Aliens or Ancient Indians?
The standard history we all learn is pretty clear: the Wright brothers successfully launched the first airplane in 1903, and the first space shuttle came much later, in 1976. That’s the official story. But what if human history's timeline for flight is completely wrong? What if incredibly advanced planes and spacecraft were zipping around thousands of years ago, and they were even more sophisticated than the technology we have today?
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in History
Trapped in a Loop: When Déjà Vu Becomes a Nightmare
I absolutely loved Star Trek: The Next Generation. Honestly, a lot of the episodes from that series have blended together for me over the years, but there’s one that always stands out: the one where the crew is playing poker, and the U.S.S. Enterprise ends up being destroyed. Luckily (or maybe unluckily?), they were stuck in a time loop. The day kept repeating itself until they finally figured out what was happening and worked out how to keep the ship from exploding.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Horror
How Injuries Unlock Hidden Languages
Have you ever struggled to learn a new language? Took the classes, practiced the flashcards, maybe even tried one of those apps, and still couldn’t hold a conversation? Well, imagine waking up from a serious accident and finding that you’re suddenly fluent in a language you barely knew! This kind of bizarre story isn't just movie fiction. Over the years, there have been several real-life cases of people suffering severe injuries, falling into a coma, and waking up with completely new language skills. I wanted to share a few of the wildest examples with you.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Humans
The Earth's Secrets: Lost Worlds That Might Still Be Hidden
For centuries, people have been sharing incredible tales of lost worlds and civilizations. Back when the maps had huge, blank spaces, it was easy to believe that these mysterious lands might exist, tucked away somewhere. Nowadays? The whole idea of a "lost world" seems more like a punchline than a possibility. I think that's because many of us feel like we've charted every inch of the planet. We've got satellites everywhere, and photos of everything. But here’s the thing: those images can’t show you what lies at the bottom of the deep ocean trenches. They can’t see into the Earth’s complex cave systems. Even scientists admit that over 85% of Earth's species are still unknown! If we haven't found the life, how can we be sure we've found all the land? So, before we completely dismiss the idea, I’m encouraging everyone to keep an open mind about the following famous Lost Worlds. Some of them might just be waiting for the right person to stumble upon them.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Earth
Did a Nuclear War Wipe Out Life on Mars?
We are truly living in a mind-blowing era. Think about it: the things we used to read about in science fiction novels are basically just everyday reality now. We've gone from dreaming about the stars to actually landing craft on other celestial bodies. Remember when the idea of a hoverboard was pure fantasy? Now, they exist! Every single one of these breakthroughs, from discovering the building blocks of the universe to sending probes to faraway comets, just invokes this incredible sense of awe and wonder. It makes you realize how quickly we're advancing, and it naturally pushes us toward the biggest, most profound question of all: Are we alone? Is there intelligent, breathing life out there somewhere else in the vast, dark expanse of the cosmos? For me, the answer is a resounding yes. I don't just think there's life out there; I believe there's probably a whole lot of it. My reasoning is simple: the universe is so unbelievably, impossibly ginormous that the odds of Earth being the only successful experiment seem ridiculously low. When you really stop and think about the scale of things, it's humbling. We are literally residing on a tiny, insignificant speck of dust in a cosmic neighborhood that is endless. So, yeah, I'm happy to be a simple woman who accepts that alien civilizations must exist. I don't need NASA or any official hard-and-fast proof to convince me. The sheer, overwhelming size of the universe is proof enough.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Earth
Reincarnated as His Own Grandson?
Do you believe in past lives or reincarnation? It’s a concept that always makes you stop and think, right? Because let me tell you, some of these stories are truly wild, and one in particular is pretty neat. It involves a little boy referred to in case studies as Sam, and he showed some truly convincing evidence that he might be the reincarnation of, get this, his own grandfather.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Humans
Real-Life Superpowers: The People Who Are Basically X-Men
If you’re anything like me, you probably spent a lot of your childhood (and maybe even some of your adult life) wishing for superpowers. I always dreamed of teleportation, mostly for very practical reasons. Imagine sleeping until two minutes before you need to clock in, then zipping straight to work! Or being able to eat that amazing street food in Tokyo, then have dessert in Paris, all without dealing with airport security and airfares. Talk about convenience! Funnily enough, there were a few powers I definitely didn't want. Flying seemed cold, and I figured people would probably try to shoot down random objects in the sky. Invisibility? Too risky, I don't want to get hit by a car that can't see me! And reading minds? No thanks. I’m fine not knowing if someone secretly dislikes my new shirt.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Fiction
Wait, Do Elves Exist? Iceland Thinks So (And Maybe You Should Too)
If you walked up to a random person on the street right now and asked them if they believe in elves, they'd probably give you a look that says, "Did you eat one too many cookies?" We're not talking about Legolas or the folks from Middle-earth; we're talking about the actual, mythical kind. But here’s the kicker: If you asked that very same question in Iceland, many people might actually say yes. Over the years, numerous polls have shown that a majority of Icelanders believe in elves, or the "hidden folk," to some degree. This belief isn't just a quaint fairy tale, either. A few years back, a judge literally halted the building of a road in Iceland because it was thought it might disturb elves living in the area. That's real-world impact!
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in History
5 Terrifying Ghost Sightings Caught on Camera
I love a good ghost story, and let’s be real, a big part of the fun is the thrill of the unexplained. There’s something undeniable about that little rush of adrenaline you get when you hear about something truly strange. I remember when I was a kid, hearing about ghosts and haunted places always captured my imagination. The idea that something unseen could be just around the corner was captivating. Like many of you, I grew up watching shows dedicated to the paranormal and unexplained mysteries. These shows always held a special place for me. Anyway, speaking of ghosts and hauntings, here are some of the most terrifying ghost sightings ever to be caught on camera.
By Areeba Umair3 months ago in Horror
