Richard III was a Hunchback. Not True! His Bones Don't Lie. #mythbusters...

King Richard III's Unexpected Resting Place

In one of archaeology's most remarkable success stories, the remains of King Richard III—the last English king to die in battle—were discovered in 2012 beneath a municipal car park in Leicester, England. What makes this discovery particularly extraordinary is not just the unlikely location, but the uncanny accuracy of one historian's prediction.

A Parking Lot Fit for a King

For over 500 years, the final resting place of King Richard III remained a mystery. After his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Richard's body was reportedly buried at Greyfriars Friary in Leicester. However, when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 1530s, the friary was demolished, and knowledge of the exact burial location faded into obscurity.

Philippa Langley's Remarkable Hunch

Enter Philippa Langley, a screenwriter and member of the Richard III Society. Langley had been researching Richard's life for a script and became convinced that his remains might still be found at the site of the former friary—specifically in an unremarkable council car park in Leicester city center.

What's astonishing is that Langley reported feeling a strange sensation when visiting the car park in 2004—a feeling she later described as "walking on his grave." She even noted that she felt drawn to a specific parking bay marked with an 'R' (which actually stood for "Reserved"). In what would prove to be an incredible coincidence, Richard's skeleton was indeed discovered almost exactly beneath that spot.

The Quickest Archaeological Success Story

When the University of Leicester Archaeological Services began excavations in August 2012, expectations were cautiously optimistic at best. Finding human remains in an urban setting after five centuries seemed like the longest of long shots.

Yet on the very first day of digging, human leg bones were uncovered. By day two, archaeologists had revealed a complete skeleton with a curved spine and evidence of battle wounds. The entire excavation of the skeleton took just a few days—an almost unprecedented speed for such a significant historical discovery.

Confirming the King's Identity

The skeleton exhibited several characteristics consistent with historical accounts of Richard III: a notably curved spine (scoliosis rather than the "hunchback" of Shakespeare's depiction), battle injuries, and evidence the body had been buried hastily with the hands bound.

DNA testing provided the final confirmation. Researchers traced a living descendant through the female line from Richard's sister, and mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed a match. The odds of the match occurring by random chance were calculated at 6.7 million to 1.

From Car Park to Cathedral

In March 2015, following extensive scientific analysis, Richard III was given a proper royal reburial at Leicester Cathedral, just 100 meters from his makeshift grave. His tomb, marked with a massive block of Swaledale fossil limestone, finally provided the king with a resting place befitting his royal status.

Richard III's discovery remains one of archaeology's most improbable success stories—a tale of scholarly research, scientific advancement, and perhaps just a touch of intuition coming together to solve a 500-year-old mystery in a municipal parking lot.

A broken mirror brings seven years of bad luck - True or False? Myth Buster

The Truth Behind the Broken Mirror Superstition: Seven Years of Bad Luck Tested

Have you ever felt that heart-stopping moment when a mirror slips from your hands and shatters across the floor? That instant of panic isn't just about the mess—for many of us, it's the sudden dread of supposedly triggering seven whole years of misfortune. But is there any truth to this persistent belief, or is it simply a reflection of our superstitious nature?

My Mirror-Breaking Experiment

I recently had the opportunity to watch an absolutely fascinating myth-busting video that took this superstition head-on. The creators didn't just discuss the myth—they deliberately broke multiple mirrors and meticulously tracked what happened afterward. Talk about commitment to science!

What struck me most wasn't just their courage in tempting fate, but the thoroughness of their approach. They didn't just break one mirror and call it a day. They created controlled conditions, documented everything, and even followed up over time to see if any patterns of "bad luck" emerged.

The Ancient Origins Will Surprise You

Did you know this superstition dates back to ancient Rome? The Romans believed mirrors didn't just reflect your image—they actually captured pieces of your soul. Breaking a mirror meant fracturing part of your soul, and they believed it would take seven years for that soul to fully regenerate.

Seven years wasn't a random number, either. The Romans believed the body renewed itself every seven years (an idea that's not entirely without scientific merit, considering how our cells regenerate).

What's fascinating is how this belief spread across cultures and centuries. The video traced the superstition's journey through medieval Europe and into modern times, showing how it adapted to different cultural contexts while maintaining its core premise.

The Psychology Behind Superstition

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the mirror myth is what it reveals about human psychology. When something goes wrong after breaking a mirror, our confirmation bias kicks in—we notice and remember these events precisely because they confirm our expectation of "bad luck."

The video featured interviews with psychology experts who explained how superstitions function as cognitive shortcuts. In an unpredictable world, they give us the comforting illusion of control and understanding. If bad things happen because I broke a mirror, at least there's a reason—and potentially a timeframe for when the bad luck will end.

Do Mirror Handlers Live Charmed Lives?

One of the most surprising segments featured interviews with professional mirror handlers—people who work in glass shops, mirror factories, and antique restoration. These folks break mirrors all the time as part of their jobs. Do they experience disproportionate misfortune?

The answers were enlightening. Most developed their own rituals to "counter" the supposed curse—from immediately throwing salt over their shoulder to burying mirror fragments under the light of a full moon. Others simply laughed off the superstition after years of breaking mirrors with no noticeable pattern of bad luck.

The Verdict: Science or Superstition?

After conducting their experiments and following the results, what did the video conclude? While I don't want to spoil everything (you should definitely watch it yourself!), the statistical evidence didn't support the curse. However, the psychological impact was undeniable—people who believed they were cursed often made different decisions or noticed negative outcomes more readily.

My Personal Take

I've accidentally broken two mirrors in my lifetime. The first time, I was around 12 years old and absolutely terrified that I'd doomed myself. I remember crying to my grandmother, who wisely told me, "Bad luck only follows those who expect it."

After watching this myth-busting journey, I'm inclined to agree with my grandmother's wisdom. The power of superstitions might not lie in any magical properties but in how they shape our perceptions and expectations.

What Do You Think?

Have you ever broken a mirror? Did you notice any string of bad luck afterward, or did life continue as normal? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below!

And if you're feeling brave, check out the original video that tests this ancient superstition through actual experiments. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, it offers a fascinating look at the intersection of psychology, cultural history, and our deep human need to make sense of random events.

Remember: sometimes the most powerful reflection isn't in the mirror itself, but in what our reaction to its breaking reveals about our own beliefs.

Have you encountered other superstitions you'd like to see scientifically tested? Let me know, and maybe we can explore those in future posts!