And not just ships

What name would you give a car, or a boat, if you had to?

The timeless tradition of naming vehicles is not reserved only for ships but, as it turns out, for anything else as well. Americans in particular tend to name machines as if they were people. When a car, boat, plane, or any other means of transport becomes familiar enough, through daily use or popular culture, it probably ends up earning a nickname. Which of the following 11 is your favorite?

This cheerful Volkswagen Beetle from a long-running Disney film series wasn’t just transportation: it had emotions, opinions, and a somewhat stubborn streak. The friendly name "Herbie" helped audiences accept the idea of a car with a personality.

By pairing a humble compact car with a human nickname, the films transformed an everyday vehicle into a charismatic character that many people embraced.

The Ghostbusters’ iconic Cadillac hearse became famous under this strange, technical-sounding name. "Ecto-1" felt halfway between scientific equipment and a comic-book invention.

The nickname balanced spooky imagery with lighthearted absurdity, turning a creepy old vehicle into a lovable symbol of heroism and DIY aesthetic.

In the Transformers films, Bumblebee stood out for his loyalty, friendliness, and expressive nature. The nickname suggested warmth and charm rather than mechanical power.

By choosing such a gentle name, the films helped audiences emotionally connect with a robot, proving that personality can play a huge role even in a car.

The Plymouth Fury in the Stephen King horror story carried a sweet, ordinary human name that sharply contrasted with its violent nature.

Calling a murderous car "Christin" made it look as if it were disturbingly alive, showing how innocent-sounding names can heighten unease rather than soften it.

This infamous station wagon from National Lampoon’s Vacation had a name that sounded proudly practical and painfully dull. That was entirely the joke.

The nickname perfectly captured the car’s role as a symbol of family optimism gone wrong.

Short for "Knight Industries Two Thousand," KITT was a talking car with intelligence, sarcasm, and moral judgment. The acronym softened its advanced technology.

Rather than sounding cold or futuristic, the shortened name suggested companionship, helping viewers accept a machine as a trusted partner rather than a tool.

Howard Hughes’s massive experimental aircraft officially had a technical name, but the public preferred this quirky name. "Spruce Goose" stuck like glue once it was known.

The playful label softened the plane’s ambition and controversy, making an engineering oddity easier to remember and talk about.

Charles Lindbergh’s historic airplane carried a name that sounded poetic and hopeful. It emphasized civic pride rather than machinery.

That lyrical nickname helped turn a technical achievement into a national story of bravery and ambition.

In the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy’s doghouse doubles as this imaginary World War I fighter plane. The nickname blends history with childhood fantasy.

The vessel’s name gently parodied heroism while marking the imagination of the leading character.

This tour boat from Gilligan’s Island earned a name that highlighted its size. The irony was a trademark of the comedy series.

Calling it the Minnow made its outsized impact funnier, reinforcing the show’s theme that small mistakes can have huge consequences.

Han Solo’s famously unreliable spaceship carried a name suggesting speed and nobility. The contrast was intentional and memorable.

Calling it the Millennium Falcon elevated a beat-up vessel into legend, proving names can create mythology.

Think again

Yes, lightning strikes twice—here are 10 facts that prove you wrong

Image: Elimende Inagella

You repeat them every day—often without thinking twice. But a surprising number of "facts" we take for granted are just plain wrong. Whether it’s the recommended water intake or the behavior of lightning, prepare for a reality check. These 10 everyday misconceptions will make you rethink everything you thought you knew.

Image: Ladislav Stercell

You lose heat through any part of your body that’s exposed—not just your head. This myth likely started from an outdated military study in which soldiers in Arctic conditions wore full-body gear but no hats, for some reason.

Heat loss is driven by surface area and exposure. If you're unlucky enough to be naked in freezing weather, you'll lose heat evenly across your body—not primarily from your scalp.

Image: Leo Rivas

Pure water is actually a very poor conductor of electricity. It’s the impurities in water—like dissolved minerals and salts—that allow it to carry an electric current.

However, since the water we commonly encounter is rarely pure, it readily conducts electricity—making contact between water and electrical sources hazardous.

Image: Supply

Also, nope—it only looks that way. Shaved hair has a blunt edge, which can make it feel coarser or appear darker than unshaved hair.

Hair growth is determined by follicles beneath the skin. Since shaving only trims hair above the surface, it has no effect on thickness, color, or growth rate.

Image: Ahmed Zayan

Goldfish can actually remember things for weeks, even months. They’re far smarter than we usually give them credit for.

Moreover, studies have shown goldfish can be trained to respond to feeding times and light cues. So don’t keep yours in a tiny bowl—it’s far too small for their cognitive and physical needs.

Image: NOAA

It absolutely does—and often. The Empire State Building gets hit about 25 times a year. This is because lightning follows the path of least resistance, which often means tall, conductive structures get hit repeatedly.

So, if you’re caught in an electrical storm, don’t run toward the last spot that was struck—chances are, lightning will hit there again!

Image: C. G.

Glass is an amorphous solid—not a liquid—and despite popular belief, its molecules don’t flow over time.

The myth likely originated from old window panes, which are sometimes thicker at the bottom. This thickness is due to historical manufacturing techniques—not because gravity caused the glass to flow downward.

Image: Joseph Greve

Hydration needs vary depending on age, activity level, climate, and diet—and they don’t require exactly eight glasses. Food and other beverages also count toward your fluid intake.

In reality, the "8 glasses a day" rule isn’t based on hard science; it’s simply a general guideline to prevent dehydration. Under normal conditions, drinking when you’re thirsty is usually enough to stay well hydrated.

Image: Олег Мороз

Blood is always red—it only appears blue through the skin because of how light interacts with tissue and veins.

The only real color difference is that oxygen-rich blood is bright red, while deoxygenated blood is a darker red. Humans and other vertebrates do not have truly blue blood.

Image: Quinten de Graaf

While it’s true that swallowed gum can’t be digested, it doesn’t stay in your stomach—it passes through the digestive system normally.

The same happens with things like corn kernels or hard seeds. Only when large amounts of gum are swallowed—often along with other indigestible objects—can it lead to blockages or health issues.

Image: Romain GROSSIER

While a sleepwalker may be confused or startled if awakened, it’s not inherently dangerous and can sometimes be the safest way to prevent accidental injury.

Experts often recommend gently guiding sleepwalkers back to bed, but waking them is also acceptable if there’s an immediate risk of harm.