CRIMINAL ARCHIVE

Was Pretty Boy Floyd really pretty? 10 criminals’ nicknames explained

Image: Ye Jinghan

Just like an artist chooses a stage name, criminals have long used aliases to instill fear and avoid capture. These pseudonyms often embody part of the essence of the individual behind the mask, or are related in some way or another to their past.

Let's delve into the stories behind these 10 infamous criminal aliases and the individuals who wielded them.

Image: Miami Police Department

Al Capone, dubbed "Scarface" for the distinctive scar on his face, was one of America's most notorious gangsters during the Prohibition era. He earned the scar during his time in the Five Points Gang of New York. Capone insulted a woman while working in a gang-operated dance hall, only to be viciously attacked by her brother, who slashed his face with a knife. In time, his hair-raising alias became synonymous with organized crime in Chicago, where he ran speakeasies and engaged in bootlegging.

Image: Artur Tumasjan

Frank Abagnale, an American con artist famous for his many frauds against individuals and small businesses during the ‘60s, earned the alias "The Skyway Man" for his audacious scheme of impersonating a Pan Am pilot and using his status to cash fraudulent checks without suspicion everywhere in the world. His life was later portrayed in the acclaimed Steven Spielberg film "Catch Me If You Can."

Image: Indiana State Penitentiary

John Dillinger was a notorious bank robber during the Great Depression, known for his brazen heists and daring escapes from the police. His dangerous exploits earned him the nickname "Jackrabbit" due to his graceful movements during heists, such as leaping over the counter - something he allegedly copied from the movies. The FBI also dubbed him "Public Enemy Number One," and his larger-than-life figure epitomized the glamorization of outlaws in American folklore.

Image: Nastya Dulhiier

The Zodiac Killer, an unidentified serial killer active in California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, earned his alias for his taunting letters sent to newspapers and police, filled with cryptic ciphers and threats and signed under the "Zodiac" pseudonym. Though the police identified a series of potential suspects, the killer behind the letters was never positively identified, leaving behind an enduring mystery surrounding his identity and motives.

Image: Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

Blackbeard was the nickname of Edward Teach, a notorious English pirate who roamed the Caribbean during the early 18th century. He earned his alias for his fearsome appearance and ruthless tactics. The pirate was described as a tall man with a thick black beard, often braided into pigtails. During battles, he often stuck lighted slow matches under his hat to scare his enemies. However, despite his appearance and reputation, most historians believe that Blackbeard never murdered or harmed those he held captive.

Image: Rob Wicks

John Gotti, a powerful Mafia boss in New York City during the 80s, earned the alias "The Teflon Don" for his ability to evade conviction despite numerous charges against him. His apparent legal invincibility was achieved by intimidating witnesses and buying jury members with the help of the Gambino crime family. However, he was eventually convicted by the FBI after a lengthy investigation, receiving life in prison without parole.

Image: Konrad Summers, CC BY-SA 2.0

Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord known for her ruthlessness, earned the alias "The Black Widow" for reportedly ordering the killing of each of her husbands. Also known as the "Godmother", she rose to prominence in the underworld of Miami during the 1970s and was known for her penchant for eliminating rivals who dared cross her path.

Image: Scott Graham

Meyer Lansky was a key figure in organized crime during the Prohibition era, as he earned his alias "The Mob's Accountant" for his financial prowess in managing illicit enterprises. Lansky’s alias reflected his strategic role in introducing money laundering and offshore banking in 1932 to the American criminal underworld. However, until his death in 1983, he was never found guilty of anything more than illegal gambling.

Image: George Bergman, GFDL 1.2

Ted Kaczynski, an American domestic terrorist and mathematician, gained notoriety as "The Unabomber" for his targeting of universities and airlines with homemade bombs. But before his real identity was known, the FBI internally used the name UNABOM (meaning University and Airline Bomber) to refer to his case. The media soon picked up the FBI identifier and creatively transformed it into the "Unabomber."

Image: Roman Kraft

Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd, a Depression-era bank robber and folk hero, earned his alias for his youthful appearance and charm. His exploits and story contributed to the romanticized image of the outlaw as a Robin Hood figure, as he was believed to burn mortgage documents during robberies, in theory freeing many people from life-long debts.

From medicine to sustainability: The 10 most shocking recent discoveries

Science moves so fast that you probably haven't heard that cancer can now be detected with a simple blood test or that you can choose the color of a baby's eyes before in vitro fertilization. Some of these breakthroughs are controversial, while others represent extraordinary progress in preventing disease and in fighting pollution. Here are some of the most fascinating recent scientific discoveries that you may not know about. Come join us!

A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered something that could completely change cancer diagnosis and treatment worldwide. The study, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, found that cancer can be detected up to three years before doctors can provide an official diagnosis.

The researchers discovered that cancerous tumors shed genetic material that can show up in the bloodstream much earlier than previously thought. Early detection of this disease is crucial and significantly impacts the survival rate of patients. Thanks to this groundbreaking finding, it will be possible to develop more effective methods in preventing and detecting cancer.

The textile industry emits billions of tons of pollutants every year, but two 28-year-old American twins found a way to make it more sustainable. Neeka and Leila Mashouf created an innovative system that captures C02 and transforms it into biodegradable fibers to create new textiles.

The scientists were able to mimic the process by which trees convert carbon into cellulose, although in their case, they use a chemical reactor. Their discovery could revolutionize the construction sector and the production of packaging, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In 2025, the European Patent Office recognized the Mashouf sisters with the Young Inventors Award.

A 36-year-old Canadian woman diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was part of a stem cell experiment that resulted in her never needing insulin again. Before undergoing this innovative treatment, Amanda Smith had spent nearly a decade of her life constantly measuring her levels and giving herself insulin injections.

Of the 12 patients who received the cells for this study, 10 did not need insulin again for at least a year. The cells were implanted directly into the liver, which means they’ll need to take immunosuppressants to prevent their body from rejecting the cells, which could lead to risks such as infections, cancer, and organ damage.

Can you imagine storing energy in sand? This is what a company in Finland was able to achieve by building the largest sand battery in the world.

It is a cylindrical structure capable of storing 100 MWh of thermal energy. The device is charged by heat produced from renewable sources such as the sun or wind, which reduces pollutant emissions by up to 70%. When needed, the energy is released in the form of steam or hot air and can be used for industrial processes or heating systems.

There is nothing worse than a toothache; the good news is, scientists have found the source of our dental sensitivity. The exact origin of teeth has always been a great scientific mystery. Recently, a team from the University of Chicago discovered that the answer lies in a fish from about 465 million years ago.

These creatures had external bumps called odontoids. Those odontoids had a sensory function to detect temperatures and vibrations, and probably evolved to become our teeth. So now you know, the next time you get a toothache, you can blame it on those prehistoric armored fish!

A group of Swiss researchers has developed an innovative robot that could change the way research is conducted in aquatic environments. It uses surface tension to move through the water in the same way as some insects do.

The tiny robot is shaped like a boat and is built out of fish food, which turns it into food for wildlife at the end of its useful life. The design, which also uses biodegradable fuel, is particularly efficient as it doesn’t rely on plastics, batteries, and electronic components to operate. These robots are expected to collect environmental data on water pH, temperature, pollutants, and the presence of microorganisms.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to use E. coli bacteria to convert the molecules of PET plastic, usually used in water bottles, into acetaminophen, better known as paracetamol, a medicine that you have probably taken to treat the flu.

By genetically modifying the bacteria and through a fermentation process, they were able to turn plastic into paracetamol in just 24 hours with a 92% effectiveness. How is this possible? Paracetamol is also a petroleum derivative; it is produced by converting a molecule known as terephthalic acid into the drug's active ingredient. For now, the experiment has only been achieved in the laboratory and in low quantities, but it is a major breakthrough in the fight against environmental pollution.

No, it's not the plot of some science fiction movie. A UK company has found an out-of-the-box solution to fight funeral industry pollution: by mixing the ashes of your loved ones with pieces of seashells to create artificial reefs that can support deep-sea life.

So far, the company has worked only with pet ashes, whose artificial reefs were left in Bali. They hope to be able to start human "sea graveyards" in 2026. What do you think of this idea?

We have all felt overwhelmed at one time or another; however, due to the fast-paced culture we live in, we often don't realize it and continue to work nonstop. A group of researchers may have found a solution.

Through sensors, an electronic tattoo that sticks to the skin without adhesive can track brain and eye activity to determine mental fatigue. And it not only detects stress, but can also predict it! This discovery will undoubtedly be essential in work environments, but also to remind us that sometimes we need to take a breath before we reach complete burnout.

The New York-based startup Nucleus Genomics has launched a "genetic optimization" service that allows parents to analyze embryos to determine physical traits and even the IQ their baby will have before in vitro fertilization.

Although these types of services already existed, they only focused on potential health issues instead of other physical traits such as intelligence, height, or eye color. Nucleus Genomics’s new approach raises a whole ethical debate about genetic medicine. Do you agree with this type of manipulation of nature?