Here are 10 bizarre ways you’re probably making yourself miserable. Religion, retail therapy, a meat‑free diet— the Internet is full of people trying to shill “cures” for depression with all the grace of a salesman hawking his last bottle of snake oil. Google “ways to be happy” and you’ll find a million lists reassuring you that all it takes to reach nirvana is a cup of green tea and plenty of fish. Aside from the fact that depression is far too complex to be treated with something as dumb as, say, getting a new pet, most of these so‑called cures aren’t even cures at all. In fact, there’s a very real chance that they’re making things worse.

10 Bizarre Ways to Sabotage Your Happiness

10 Having Lots Of Sex

Having a great sex life is supposed to be the high score bonus on the game of life. Not only are you obviously charming, attractive, and witty enough to be bedding a string of supermodels, you’re also having lots of really good sex. So let’s say you looked at the psychological makeup of a modern Casanova, what would you expect to find?

How about a seething mass of anxiety and depression? A recent study surveyed 3,900 college students about their mental well‑being as well as their tendency to leap into bed with strangers. They found elevated levels of anxiety, social anxiety, and depression among those who frequently engaged in casual sex.

Before you all write in complaining we’ve ruined yet another pastime for you, we should point out that this is a bit of a “chicken and egg” scenario—the researchers didn’t determine whether sex caused depression or depression triggered a desire to lose yourself in sex. Whichever way around it is, it means there’s a very real possibility that Hugh Hefner is the most miserable man on Earth.

9 Being Filthy Rich

Right after “an incredible sex life,” the second thing most of us would probably wish for if we ever met a genie is to be absolutely, stinking rich. After all, money may not be able to buy happiness, but it sure makes misery a lot more comfortable, right?

Sorry, wrong again. We’ve all heard the horror stories about the lottery winners who wound up utterly miserable, but current research suggests even those who start out rich are prone to mental illness. Specifically, children of parents earning over $159,000 a year have been found dangerously prone to anxiety, depression, self‑harm, and drug abuse. Only kids from the very poorest families were found to be more at risk than these real‑life Richie Rich’s, so what’s going on?

It comes down to the sort of people who are likely to wind up earning over $150,000 a year—highly motivated, ruthlessly driven types with little time for failure in others. In other words, the exact sort of people who are likely to gift to their children a great big bag of neuroses from their first Little League game onward. All this pressure to do well and become a major stockbroker like Daddy manifests itself in a crippling fear of failure.

8 Being Vegetarian

While it may not quite rank up there with winning the lottery or being chased by crowds of screaming groupies, a vegetarian diet is thought of as shorthand for “wholesome and healthy.” By circumnavigating the excess fat and cancer‑giving properties of meat, vegetarians seem to be in an ideal position to live long, happy lives making tie‑dye shirts and voting Democrat and whatnot—except science suggests otherwise.

A recent German study analyzed the diets and mental health of 4,000 participants using people from all walks of life. The results were surprising, to say the least. Vegetarians were more likely to suffer from anxiety, hypochondria, depression, and even stuff like body dysmorphia than their meat‑eating counterparts.

This wasn’t just a mild statistical anomaly, either—the study participants were twice as likely to be mentally ill as the general population, and three times more likely than the study control group. Again, no one’s sure if vegetarianism causes all this misery, or if miserable people are just more likely to ditch the meat, but if you’ve ever needed a scientifically‑backed excuse to justify your five‑steak‑a‑day habit, this is it.

7 Not Getting Drunk

Alcohol and depression go together like Glenn Beck and populist extremism. Aside from being a depressant, our favorite liquid drug is also highly addictive, incredibly damaging to the body, and more socially damaging than even crack or heroin. It makes sense to assume, then, that teetotalers will be free from the fog of guilt and misery that binge‑drinkers are forced to wade through every Saturday morning. Well, prepare to be shocked.

A Norwegian study recently compared the mental health and drinking habits of an astonishing 38,000 people. Although the research team found that heavy drinking corresponded to high levels of anxiety, the opposite was true of depression. The respondents who exercised rigorous self‑control were apparently less happy than those who woke up each morning in a pool of vomit.

The theory goes that those who never drink but live in “drinking cultures” are less likely to forge strong social bonds with people than those who are happy to relax a little with a beer. While we’d never recommend that anyone do a Nic Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, it does seem that total abstinence is a recipe for disaster.

6 Being Religious

We’re used to thinking of religion as a great comfort. After all, when little Timmy’s dog dies, is he gonna feel better hearing that he’s now in doggy heaven, or that he’s a cold and lifeless husk you’ll probably throw out with the trash? For all atheists like to find fault with all aspects of it, surely religion at least has a net effect on happiness.

It’s a nice thought, but that’s sadly all it is. A study published earlier this year followed 8,000 people from different religions, countries, and socioeconomic backgrounds for over six months and charted their vulnerability to depression. It found that the more strongly religious someone was, the more likely they were to experience major depression. At the same time, those whose beliefs changed during the course of the study were also assessed. The ones who dumped their religion to become atheists generally got happier, the ones who dumped their atheism to become religious generally got sadder. On almost every criteria, the devout were shown as being worse off than those who were either secular or “weakly” religious. In short, it seems that any faith claiming to be a path to happiness is unfortunately mistaken.

5 Playing Sports

Exercise is supposed to have a positive effect on the brain, and team sports are surely good for at least making friends and feeling part of a group. So what’s all this nonsense about sport causing depression?

Specifically, researchers looked into the mental health of current and former college athletes and found that those still “in the game” were up to twice as likely to be depressed as those who had graduated. In their hypothesis, the researchers stated that they expected to find former stars—now deprived of their teammates, coaches, and the thrill of the game—struggling with major depression. But their findings suggested the complete opposite.

Like the rich kids one above, it more than likely comes down to the insane pressure college athletes are under. Aside from having to deal with studying, they’ve also got to play their best, not let their team down, and try to reach the very top—all goals that can cause major stress if missed. In spite of what common sense may tell you, sport is no more a guaranteed key to happiness than, say—buying a new pair of Levi’s.

4 Going Shopping

You’ve probably heard of “retail therapy,” the idea that the best way to unwind from a stressful week is to go and splurge your paycheck on a really expensive pair of shoes. It’s a staple of consumerism, the driving force behind stuff like Christmas and 80 percent of all Sex and the City storylines—and according to science, it’s making you totally miserable.

A recent study in the Netherlands followed 2,500 people over six years to gauge their shopping habits and happiness. They found that materialistic people were more likely to be lonely, because shopping creates a “loop of loneliness” that makes them more depressed the more they do it.

The problem comes down to our culture of consumerism. Thanks to decades of advertising, we’re taught to associate certain values with certain products. When we’re unable to afford one of these items or have to spend more than we should to get it, we wind up feeling anxious, isolated from our peers, and miserable. It turns out that retail therapy is less cathartic and more systematically destroying any chance you have at happiness.

3 Listening To Music

It’s not uncommon to hear nostalgic music critics talking about the song or album “that saved their life.” It’s a feeling everyone can understand—that moment when you hear a snatch of song that somehow reminds you that things aren’t quite as crappy as they often seem. Therefore, it can come as a bit of a shock to learn listening to music can apparently make you prone to depression.

In 2011, a University of Pittsburgh study categorized teens by the amount of time they spent listening to music and compared it to their mental well‑being. They found that for every increased level of listening, their risk of depression increased by 80 percent. This is almost the exact opposite effect that reading had, with teens becoming 50 percent less likely to be miserable with each level of increased reading time. In fact, music was found to be the pastime most linked with depression, beating out even TV in the sadness stakes.

Why would this be? Are all the teens in Pittsburgh listening to non‑stop Radiohead or something? Well, that’s the thing—we don’t know. Perhaps modern music is just too consistently miserable, or perhaps depressed teenagers are simply more likely to try to escape through music. All we can say for sure is that the bouncy guy on the bus with happy hardcore blaring out his earphones is probably more depressed than the girl sat next to him reading the collected works of Franz Kafka.

2 Voting Democrat

According to The New York Times, conservatives are measurably happier than liberals and have been for years. A 2006 Pew study found self‑professed conservatives were 68 percent more likely than left‑leaning Democrats to say they were “very happy,” with single, childless liberals being the most miserable of all. A similar partisan happiness gap has been consistently reported for decades (LINK 16). In other words, the simple fact that you’d take Ronald Reagan over Bill Clinton means you’re less likely to be depressed.

So what causes all this liberal misery? Well, no one’s really sure. In 2008, Pew suggested it might be because Republicans are more likely to be rich and religious—a statement that flatly contradicts two items in our list so far. Others have claimed conservatives simply have a sunnier outlook, while yet others have noted that liberals are statistically less likely to get married.

However, before you GOP types start celebrating, you should be aware that there’s one type of liberal happier than you are. According to the same studies, people on the extreme left are happier than everyone except the craziest right‑wing extremists, meaning that both the Tea Party and Occupy are enjoying life far more most of us in the middle.

1 Being Social On The Internet

Are you the type of person who will finish reading this, scroll down, and leave a comment? We’ve got some bad news—you’re objectively more likely to be lonely and miserable than the guy who just skims and moves on.

A recent study analyzed the Internet usage of a cohort of depressed and non‑depressed people and found that unhappy people use the Internet differently from anyone else. Specifically, they were more likely to engage in peer‑to‑peer usage like sharing photos, music, and opinions through Facebook, chat rooms, and message boards. Healthy people, on the other hand, were less likely to obsessively check their email, spend time on social networks, and sit up late at night reading list‑based articles.

This kind of goes against everything we think we know about the Internet. The whole social media interaction thing is supposed to make us less lonely and more connected—hence, everyone seeming to have more Facebook friends than there are people on the planet. However, a huge body of research suggests this view is outdated nonsense. So there you have it: The secret to happiness on the internet is to simply ignore all the angry idiots out there and get on with own thing. Who’d have thought it?

When it comes to travel, there are countless beautiful places to explore, but 10 forbidden destinations stand out as spots that are too dangerous, too protected, or shrouded in mystery.

Why These 10 Forbidden Destinations Remain Off‑Limits

10 The Red Zone France

Not all scenes in France are made of rolling green hills filled with gorgeous villages. In fact, there is one deserted area that has been forbidden for nearly a century. In a region near Verdun, France, lies a virgin forest known as the Zone Rouge (aka the Red Zone). Nobody lives there, nothing has been built there, and it is actually forbidden to enter.

Before World War I, Verdun was mainly farmland. The area quickly changed during the war after millions of rounds of artillery shells were fired. The ground was churned up, the trees were smashed, and the towns were destroyed by explosives. The war ended in 1918 and left the villages a casualty of war.

The French government considered the cost of rehabilitating the land but ultimately decided to relocate the local villagers. All the shells and munitions were left in the area, and it was deemed Zone Rouge. The 1,190‑square‑kilometer (460 mi²) area is still strictly prohibited by law from public entry and agricultural use. Authorities are working to clear the land. However, at the current rate, many believe that it could take 300–700 years to complete or it may never be fully cleared.

9 Fort Knox Kentucky

One of the best‑kept mysteries in the US is located just 48 kilometers (30 mi) southwest of Louisville. The United States Bullion Depository (aka Fort Knox) is stacked with glittering gold bricks . . . we think. Very few people have entered the “gold fortress,” leaving many unanswered questions about the location.

Construction of Fort Knox was completed in 1936, and it sits on a 109,000‑acre US Army post. Gold was shipped in at that time by trains manned by machine gunners. Then it was loaded onto army trucks protected by a US Cavalry brigade.

Just to be clear: Technically, Fort Knox (the US Army post) is adjacent to the US Bullion Depository. But the term “Fort Knox” is often used to refer to the gold vault building. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights were both stored there for short periods. The US government figures that the United States Bullion Depository holds nearly 4,582 metric tons of gold, which is worth more than $175 billion. The facility has one of the most advanced security systems known. What goes on there is mostly a secret, which is how the phrase “as secure as Fort Knox” originated.

8 North Sentinel Island

As hard as it is to believe, there are still “uncontacted” indigenous groups, which means that they maintain no contact with modern civilization. The Sentinelese people of North Sentinel Island are one of those few remaining uncontacted tribes.

In 1991, an outside expedition from India floated coconuts in the water toward the island inhabited by the Sentinelese, who are known to be hostile to foreigners. On two such trips, an Indian team made contact. The Sentinelese wanted the unfamiliar coconuts, but they did not really welcome the outsiders.

It is estimated that about 80–150 people live on the island, and their language isn’t known to any outsiders. Little is known about the tribe, which keeps them a mystery to many. But we do know that they don’t care much for company. In 2018, a US missionary attempted to contact the Sentinelese people but was quickly killed by bow and arrow. The group has made it clear for years that they have no interest in making new friends.

In 1896, a convict from the Great Andaman Island Penal Colony escaped on a makeshift raft and eventually washed ashore on North Sentinel Island. His remains were found days later with a cut throat and several arrow wounds. It’s clear that the Sentinelese don’t want any contact, and it’s best to leave it that way.

7 Chapel Of The Ark Of The Covenant Ethiopia

One of the most sought‑after artifacts from the Bible is the Ark of the Covenant. The legendary object was built around 3,000 years ago to house the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The Ark vanished from history after the Babylonian Empire conquered the Israelites. Nobody really knows if it was destroyed, captured, or hidden.

According to Ethiopian lore, the Ark of the Covenant is located at the St. Mary of Zion Cathedral (aka the Chapel of the Ark) in Aksum. The church only allows one man to see the Ark, and he is a monk who acts as the guardian of the artifact.

Although some reports claim that the Aksum object is only a replica of the Ark, nobody else is even permitted to enter the chapel to study the artifact, making it a forbidden place that you wish you could visit.

6 Snake Island

Around 150 kilometers (93 mi) south of downtown Sao Paulo is Ilha da Queimada Grande, better known as Snake Island. The island sits about 40 kilometers (25 mi) off the coast of Brazil, and humans are forbidden from entering the island. Snake Island got the name from the various snakes lurking across the island. Researchers believe that there is about one deadly snake for every 0.09 square meter (1 ft²) on the island.

The island is home to the golden lancehead, a unique species of the pit viper, which is known as one of the deadliest serpents in the world. They can grow to be over 0.5 meters (1.5 ft) long, and it is estimated that anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 of these deadly snakes occupy the island.

A lancehead is so venomous that a human would die within an hour of being bitten. These vipers are responsible for more deaths than any other snake in North and South America. It may be best that this island stays off‑limits to visitors.

5 Mirny Diamond Mine

One of the largest man‑made excavated holes in the world is found at Mir Mine (aka Mirny Diamond Mine). The enormous pit is located in Eastern Siberia and is the second‑largest man‑made hole in the world.

The diamond‑rich deposit was found in 1955, and it is now more than 520 meters (1,700 ft) deep and more than 1,200 meters (3,900 ft) wide. Joseph Stalin ordered the construction of the mine to satisfy the Soviet Union’s need for diamonds.

During the peak years, the mine produced more than 10 million carats of diamonds annually. Open mining ceased in 2001, but underground mining is continued at the location.

The airspace above the mine is off‑limits to helicopters after stories emerged about aircraft being sucked in due to downward air flow. But those claims have never been proved. The town is strictly off‑limits to outsiders, though, so don’t expect to get a glimpse of this diamond in the rough.

4 Tomb Of Qin Shi Huang

Deep in the hills of central China, the country’s first emperor has lain for more than two millennia. The secret tomb of Qin Shi Huang was discovered in 1974 after some farmers stumbled across it while digging wells. They dug out a life‑size terra‑cotta soldier, but they didn’t realize that it would be just one of thousands of pieces of history at the site.

Archaeologists have excavated the site for nearly four decades and have uncovered about 2,000 clay soldiers. Scientists have not yet touched the central tomb, though, which contains the remains of Qin Shi Huang.

Many believe that the tomb is filled with many other treasures such as precious stones. Chinese authorities are the only ones allowed near the area, and it is up to them to decide if anyone ever gets to enter the mysterious tomb.

3 Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Halfway between Norway and the North Pole lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It is tucked away deep inside a mountain on a remote island in Svalbard. It is the world’s largest seed storage and is home to crates of seeds for safe and secure long‑term storage in cold and dry rock vaults. The vault holds tens of thousands of varieties of essential food crops and more than 4,000 plant species.

It is a long‑term seed storage facility that was built to withstand the effects of man‑made and natural disasters. The purpose of the vault is to store duplicates of seeds from the world’s crop collections. If nuclear war or global warming were to kill crops, nations could request seeds from the vault to restart their agricultural processes.

In 2018, the Norwegian government proposed to allocate 100 million NOK (roughly $12.7 million) to upgrade the seed vault to help safeguard the genetic material it contains.

2 Bohemian Grove

Each July, a group of very rich and powerful men gather at a 2,700‑acre campground in Monte Rio, California, for two weeks to hold private meetings, indulge in alcoholic beverages, and who knows what else. Bohemian Grove is the name of the secret campground that belongs to the gentlemen’s club known as the Bohemian Club.

According to rumors, the only way to join the Bohemian Club is to be invited by members or join a waiting list decades long. There is also a $25,000 initiation fee along with yearly dues.

There are currently around 2,500 members, with many of them showing up to enjoy their down time at the campground that features 118 camps, a man‑made lake, and a towering Owl Shrine. Some of the past and present members of the secretive group include Gerald Ford, Clint Eastwood, Bing Crosby, Merv Griffin, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush.

1 Surtsey Iceland

Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. It’s one of the world’s newest islands and was named after the Norse fire god, Surtur. In 1963, it emerged from the Atlantic Ocean after a fiery eruption. Columns of ash were sent into the air almost 9,200 meters (30,000 ft). For nearly four years after the eruption, the volcanic core built up the island with elevations around 152 meters (500 ft).

The island is now home to a long‑term biological research program to study the colonization process of new land by plant and animal life. It was declared a nature reserve in 1965, and in 2008, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Surtsey is restricted to the public and is still only open to a handful of scientists who study the island.

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When you think about a city, you picture its bustling streets, towering skyscrapers and sprawling parks. Yet, a staggering portion of urban space remains off‑limits, tucked beneath the surface where ordinary eyes rarely wander. In fact, the majority of a city’s footprint can be hidden underground, and the phenomenon is especially striking when you consider the ten underground cities that are officially off‑limits to the public.

Why 10 Underground Cities Remain Out of Sight

From imperial bunkers and Cold‑War shelters to secret railway lines and forgotten quarries, each of these subterranean realms tells a story of power, paranoia and ingenuity. Below, we count down the ten most fascinating underground cities you’re not allowed to see, complete with the eerie details that keep them shrouded in mystery.

10 . Mumbai’s Imperial Underworld

Whenever a conquering power takes control of a territory, it often leaves a hidden legacy beneath the cityscape. In Mumbai, British‑era construction crews frequently stumble upon mysterious chambers whose original purposes have been lost to time. Take, for example, the vaulted space discovered beneath Kolkata’s National Library – a structure that could have served as a treasury, a torture chamber, or simply as part of the building’s foundations.

Mumbai itself boasts a veritable maze of abandoned imperial constructions. Among them is a thirteen‑room bunker hidden beneath Raj Bhavan, the city’s governing mansion, and a kilometer‑long tunnel that snakes under the old General Post Office. These subterranean relics hint at a hidden world of military and administrative planning.

The most recent revelation came in 2022, when a two‑hundred‑meter tunnel was uncovered beneath JJ Hospital – a facility whose foundations were laid by a British governor. The tunnel, absent from any official maps, was discovered during a routine water‑leak investigation and appears to be blocked at one end, leaving its original destination a tantalising mystery. Whether it once linked to a neighboring hospital or served some other clandestine purpose, the find underscores how many more secret passages may still be waiting beneath Mumbai’s streets.

9 . LA’s Prohibition Partyways

While the rest of the United States grappled with the first wave of prohibition, Los Angeles kept the booze flowing through an elaborate network of underground service tunnels. These passageways allowed the city’s flappers and dapper gentlemen to slip from one hidden bar to another without ever seeing the law‑enforcing eye.

Originally built for utility purposes and even as a subway to ease surface traffic, the tunnels stretch for more than seventeen kilometres, linking basements that were transformed into speakeasies. Notable venues include the King Eddy Saloon, which migrated underground after twenty years of operation, converting its storefront into a piano shop to survive. Other legendary spots are the Edison, tucked beneath the city’s first privately owned power plant, and Cole’s, hidden under the Pacific Electric building. Patrons accessed these secret haunts using passwords, moving through the darkness while remaining invisible to police and paparazzi.

Today, most of these passages are sealed off and largely unmapped. Many have succumbed to flooding and decay, yet graffiti and whispered rumors reveal that some still function. Atlas Obscura even notes an “easy‑to‑miss elevator” on Temple Street, and there’s talk of a clandestine entrance that links Downtown to Hollywood via the subway. Though officially closed, the underground partyways continue to captivate the imagination of those who love a good secret.

8 . Havana’s Secret Chambers

In the early 1990s, Cuba reportedly embarked on an ambitious project to dig more than thirty‑three kilometres of tunnels beneath its capital. Intended as bomb shelters amid escalating tensions with the United States, these subterranean corridors were manually excavated by hundreds of laborers, their entrances carefully concealed from public view.

Known collectively as the Popular Tunnels, they represent the latest chapter in a long Cuban tradition of underground construction. Back in 1929, the New York Times reported the discovery of five secret chambers hidden beneath Havana’s City Hall, hinting at a legacy of covert engineering that predates the Cold War era.

7 . Tokyo’s Hidden Network

Tokyo’s reputation for futuristic skylines masks an intricate web of hidden waterways, forgotten canals and the world’s largest sewer system. Yet, beyond the documented infrastructure, journalist Shun Akiba uncovered evidence suggesting a far more extensive and deliberately concealed network.

By comparing historic and contemporary maps, Akiba noticed discrepancies that hinted at unknown tunnels and attempts to erase them from official records. For instance, newer schematics show subway lines intersecting near the National Diet building, while older maps depict them as parallel, implying a concealed complex between the Diet and the Prime Minister’s residence. He also observed mysterious tunnel extensions off the Ginza Line. Official inquiries yielded little, with officials maintaining “zipped‑tight” lips despite Akiba’s credentials as a war correspondent for Asahi TV. He estimates up to two thousand kilometres of tunnels beneath the metropolis—eight times the officially reported 250 km. Some lines, such as the Namboku, Hanzomon and O‑Edo, were built long before their conversion to passenger service, and the deepest station, Kokkai‑gijidōmae on the Chiyoda Line, may have originally functioned as a bomb shelter. Additionally, the Yurakucho Line, with its unusually high ceilings and military‑grade facilities, is rumored to serve as a secret road for the armed forces. Though the network dates back to World War II and the Cold War, the persistent silence suggests many sections remain active.

6 . Washington’s Whack‑a‑Mole Hidey‑Holes

The United States capital harbours a sprawling labyrinth of tunnels designed to keep its political elite out of the public eye. Both major parties of the nation’s military‑industrial complex have embraced these subterranean routes, using them to move personnel and equipment discreetly. During the 2021 Capitol siege, several of these passages served as emergency evacuation routes, but they are routinely employed to avoid the elements.

According to The Drive, at least nineteen underground passages criss‑cross Capitol Hill, some dating back to the 1800s when they were constructed for water, ventilation, and even an electric conveyor system that shuttled books between the Capitol and the Library of Congress. The early‑1900s saw the Russell building equipped with a fortified subway car tunnel later designated as a fallout shelter. Over the decades, the network expanded, and today the Cannon Tunnel—linking the Cannon building with the Capitol—resembles an underground town, complete with a shoe‑repair shop, post office, credit union and cafeteria.

In the 2000s, a massive 54,000‑square‑metre expansion added three new underground stories to the Capitol’s complex, linking nearby offices and installing a 305‑metre tunnel for screening garbage trucks for explosives. This development coincided with growing secrecy around Washington’s underworld, not to mention the hidden tunnels and bunkers that lie deep beneath the White House itself.

5 . Moscow’s Many Secrets

The Kremlin, Europe’s most renowned fortress, rests atop a maze of secret passageways. Notable among them is the haunted Neglinnaya River tunnel, the Syani stone mines that supplied limestone for centuries, and the legendary, still‑unfound library of Ivan the Terrible. Excavations aimed at locating the library have only yielded endless, stone‑lined tunnels, prompting officials to abandon the search due to concerns over structural damage.

Discovered dungeons beneath two Kremlin towers once held prisoners such as Prince Andrei Khovansky, who was confined by Ivan the Terrible. Those condemned to torture were gagged, chained to walls and allowed to speak only when addressed. Nearby, the Cathedral of the Archangel housed its own dungeons, where debtors and church offenders endured punishment on “penitence chairs.” Adjacent stone treasuries were built to resist fire and theft. In more recent times, the secret Metro‑2—an underground parallel subway system—was constructed to evacuate government officials, reaching depths of up to 250 metres. Its existence was confirmed by Moscow’s first post‑Soviet mayor in 2006, yet details remain scarce.

4 . New York’s Abandoned Subways

New York City hides a plethora of disused rail tunnels beneath its bustling streets. Among the most storied is Track 61, located under the Waldorf Astoria, which once ferried presidents and generals such as Roosevelt and MacArthur. In 2003, it was even considered as an emergency escape route for President George Bush. The tunnel has also hosted fashion shows and an Andy Warhol event.

Another forgotten conduit is the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel in Brooklyn, abandoned since 1861 after just twenty years of service. Built in 1844, it holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest subway tunnel and was briefly reopened in 1918 to search for German saboteurs. Beyond rail, New York houses a unique 66‑kilometre underground aqueduct—the 1842 Croton Aqueduct—linking Bryant Park to the Croton River in Westchester. Decommissioned in the 1950s, the aqueduct remains “perfectly preserved,” with its massive distributing reservoir in Bryant Park resembling an ancient Egyptian temple, a testament to the engineering that solved the city’s historic sanitation crises.

3 . Rome’s Ancient Quarries

Rome’s subterranean landscape is a sprawling labyrinth of ancient quarries and tunnels that date back to the city’s founding. Their sheer extent has led to frequent sinkholes and surface building collapses. In 2013, geologists finally mapped the network after a spate of incidents—44 collapses in 2011, 77 in 2012, and 83 by the end of 2013—often patched up by residents with makeshift cement bags.

The original Roman tunnelers deliberately kept passages narrow to maintain surface stability. Over centuries, however, weathering and later generations’ widening of these tunnels have compromised that stability. Despite these challenges, the underground spaces have served myriad purposes: catacombs, sewers, mushroom farms, and even wartime shelters during World War II.

2 . London’s Tunnels of Intrigue

London’s underworld is a tapestry of dungeons, crypts, catacombs, thirteen underground rivers and plague pits dating back to the mid‑1300s. In recent years, officials confirmed what urban explorers have long suspected: a sprawling network of tunnels linking government buildings with secret chambers. According to the 2017 Land Registry, the majority of these passages were constructed by the Post Office, British Telecom and the Ministry of Defence.

One particularly intriguing segment is the Postmaster General’s tunnel, stretching from the East End to the former War Office at 57 Whitehall (now a luxury hotel). Elevator shafts along this route connect to various government departments and telephone exchanges. Deep beneath High Holborn, close to Whitehall, a bomb‑shelter‑turned‑underground complex once housed a restaurant, games rooms and two bars—one serving tea, the other alcohol.

Although officially deemed obsolete since the Cold War, the tunnels remain sealed from the public. Those fortunate enough to gain entry describe a time‑capsule atmosphere, with lights perpetually on and deeper levels bricked off. Trespassers who venture too far often face disproportionate penalties, keeping the subterranean world largely a secret.

1 . Beijing’s Underground City

During the Cold War, Beijing constructed an astonishing underground metropolis—known as the dixia cheng or “underground city”—spanning an impressive 85 square kilometres. Hand‑dug by citizens, the complex was designed to shelter up to forty percent of the population in the event of a war with Russia, earning it the nickname “underground Great Wall of China.”

The official guided tour only showcases a tiny, commercialised loop of the vast network. Rumours suggest that the remaining corridors, tunnels and bunkers house up to one million homeless individuals, dubbed the “Rat Tribe.” While some sections have been converted into low‑cost apartments, it is hard to imagine the Chinese government allowing such extensive space to fall into the hands of the destitute when it could serve numerous strategic purposes. With ninety entrances scattered across the city, the complex could also facilitate the disappearance of individuals, a chilling possibility.

Regardless of the speculation, the underground city was built for long‑term habitation. It includes storage facilities for grain, mushroom farms, restaurants, barber shops, a cinema, classrooms and other amenities designed to maintain a semblance of normal life even deep beneath the surface.

In cities the majority of space is off‑limits. Parks and streets may account for up to half the total area, but when you factor in the vertical axis—the floors inside buildings (many of them empty)—you get a different picture. And that’s just the space that we know about. Often there’s a lot more underground.

10 Mumbai’s Imperial Underworld

When an occupying force takes over your country, it tends to cut you out of the loop. Hence, whenever Indian construction workers find structures under cities once controlled by the British, they don’t know what they were built for. The vault beneath Kolkata’s National Library, for instance, might have been anything from a treasury to a torture chamber—and, as it eventually turned out, just part of the building’s foundations.

Mumbai has a veritable underworld of abandoned imperial structures, from the 13‑room bunker under Raj Bhavan (the seat of city government) to the kilometer‑long tunnel under the old General Post Office.

Another mystery was unearthed as recently as 2022: a 200‑meter tunnel under Mumbai’s JJ Hospital, a building whose foundations were laid by the British governor. Appearing on no maps, it was only discovered in a water‑leak survey. And it was blocked at one end so it wasn’t clear where it once led. While it’s thought to have been to a neighboring hospital, it remains something of a mystery for now—as does the number of underground structures that remain to be found in Mumbai.

9 LA’s Prohibition Partyways

While the rest of America endured its first War on Drugs—the doomed‑to‑fail prohibition of alcohol—the mayor of LA kept the hooch flowing through a network of underground service tunnels. These were also the routes by which the flappers and dapper gents of the city’s roaring party scene got from one bar to the next without hassle. Originally built as service tunnels, and for a subway to ease traffic on the surface, they ran for more than 17 kilometers connecting basements converted to speakeasies.

One such bar was the King Eddy Saloon. Established almost 20 years before Prohibition, it moved underground to survive—transforming its above‑ground premises into a piano store. Others include the Edison, in the basement of the city’s first privately owned power plant, and Cole’s, under the Pacific Electric building. Patrons of all these establishments, armed with a password, stumbled around wasted, completely unseen by police and paparazzi.

Despite their historic significance, the passages and basements are now closed to the public and even largely unmapped. Many are flooded and crumbling. Just like in the old days, however, those in the know can find their way in—as evidenced by the tunnels’ graffiti. According to Atlas Obscura, there’s an “easy‑to‑miss elevator” on Temple Street. And there’s also, apparently, an entrance off the subway from Downtown to Hollywood.

8 Havana’s Secret Chambers

In the early 1990s, the Cuban government was reported to have secretly built more than 33 kilometers of tunnels under Havana. These were to serve as bomb shelters amid escalating threats of invasion by the United States.

Known as the Popular Tunnels, they were manually dug by hundreds of laborers and their entrances carefully hidden. But these were just the latest of a long tradition of tunneling under Cuba. All the way back in 1929, the New York Times reported on the discovery of five secret chambers under Havana’s City Hall.

7 Tokyo’s Hidden Network

From rivers and forgotten canals to the world’s largest sewer system, there’s plenty below Tokyo that we know about. But there may be a lot more. When journalist Shun Akiba compared an old map to a new one, he found differences suggesting not only unknown tunnels but an effort to cover them up. Whereas the new map showed subway tunnels crossing in Nagata‑cho, close to the National Diet building (the seat of government), the old map showed them as parallel. Shun also found evidence of an underground complex between the National Diet and the prime minister’s residence. He also remarked on the mysterious tunnels leading off the Ginza Line.

Official enquiries got him nowhere, he said, lips were “zipped tight” despite his respectable professional background as a war correspondent for Asahi TV. From what he’s seen, Shun believes there must be close to 2,000 km of tunnels beneath the city—eight times the stated 250 km. And many of them (the Namboku, Hanzomon, and O‑Edo lines, for instance) were built long before their conversion for trains. That the Chiyoda line platform at Kokkai‑gijidomae, the National Diet station, is the deepest in Tokyo, suggests it was built as a bomb shelter. Yet old blueprints show another level even deeper. There’s also the mystery of the Yurakucho line, which, with its high ceilings and military facilities on route, is rumored to be a secret road used by the military. Although the network dates back to World War Two and the Cold War era, the continued silence from officials suggests they may still be in use.

6 Washington’s Whack‑a‑Mole Hidey‑Holes

The two main parties of the military‑industrial regime based out of Washington have plenty in common, but one thing stands out: they’re both afraid of the public. Hence their underground tunnels to get from one building to another—tunnels they’re advised to make use of. Some of these famously served as evacuation routes during the 2021 Capitol siege, but they are in fact used every day just to avoid going outside.

According to The Drive, there’s “a labyrinth of at least 19 underground passages on Capitol Hill”, not only for people but vehicles as well. The oldest date back to the 1800s, when they were built for water and ventilation, as well as to transport books by electrical conveyor belt between the Capitol and Library of Congress. When the Russell building was finished in the early 1900s, it came complete with a subway car system in a tunnel so fortified that it was, many years later, designated as a fallout shelter. As other buildings followed, the tunnel network grew. And nowadays the Cannon Tunnel, between the Cannon building and the Capitol, is more like an underground town with “a shoe repair store, post office, credit union, and cafeteria.”

Among the most recent major works was a 54,000‑square‑meter expansion of the Capitol building’s underground complex. This added three underground stories to the existing network with links to nearby offices and a 305‑meter tunnel to the northwest, officially built for screening garbage trucks for explosives. That was in the 2000s, amid growing secrecy regarding Washington’s underworld—not to mention the tunnels and bunkers that lie deep under the White House.

5 Moscow’s Many Secrets

The largest of Europe’s old fortresses, the Kremlin sits atop a labyrinth of secret passageways. There’s the haunted Neglinnaya river tunnel, for example, the Syani stone mines where the city sourced limestone for construction, and, although it’s yet to be found, the library of Ivan the Terrible. Excavations for the latter have all turned up nothing but tunnels: “endless tunnels, buried, stoned in, heading in unknown directions”. While the search was called off, however—in part because of damage to foundations—the library’s still thought to be down there, along with its priceless collection.

What has been found are the dungeons under two of the Kremlin’s towers, in one of which Ivan the Terrible imprisoned Prince Andrei Khovansky. Those condemned to torture were kept gagged and chained to the wall, allowed to speak only when addressed by their captors. The nearby dungeons of the Cathedral of the Archangel kept prisoners of the church, people who owed it money, on painful posts known as “penitence chairs”. Just next door are the cathedral’s stone treasuries, built to withstand both fires and theft.

Much more recently constructed was the Metro‑2, a parallel subway system built, in secret, around the same time as the main one. Intended to evacuate the government, it runs as deep as 250 meters in places. And not much is known about it, either, except that it does exist; Moscow’s first post‑Soviet mayor confirmed that in 2006.

4 New York’s Abandoned Subways

There are numerous disused rail tunnels under New York City. Track 61 beneath the Waldorf Astoria is among the most storied, having once carried presidents and generals like Roosevelt and MacArthur. In 2003, it was even considered as an escape route for George Bush. It has also hosted a fashion show and an Andy Warhol event. Other subways were constructed for the mail, such as the Farley‑Morgan Postal Tunnel under 9th Avenue. Although it’s sealed off now, it was briefly used in 2004 to sneak guests between venues for the Republican National Convention.

The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel under Brooklyn, meanwhile, has been abandoned since 1861—less than 20 years after it was built in 1844. It’s the oldest subway in the world and was only briefly reopened in 1918 to look for Germans.

But there’s a lot more under New York besides subways. One of the most interesting and unique tunnels is the 66‑kilometer underground aqueduct between Bryant Park and the Croton River in Westchester. Disused since the 1950s, this “perfectly preserved” tunnel—the 1842 Croton Aqueduct—once carried millions of gallons of water to the city. It was all stored at the Distributing Reservoir in Bryant Park, a vast, 16,000‑square‑meter structure resembling an ancient Egyptian temple. It was actually thanks to this place, the solution to Manhattan’s disgusting sanitation problems, that the city is still there today.

3 Rome’s Ancient Quarries

So extensive are the ancient tunnels and quarries under Rome, dating back to the founding of the city, that it’s common for sinkholes to form and for buildings on the surface to collapse. It was only in 2013 that geologists mapped the network, amid an increasing number of such incidents. There were 44 collapses in 2011, followed by 77 in 2012, and 83 by December 2013. Residents have usually patched up the damage themselves using big plastic bags of cement.

The original Ancient Roman tunnelers actually tried to guard against this happening (in their own day, at least) by keeping the passageways narrow. This ensured the surface was still largely supported. Over time, however, the exposed rock has weathered. Not only that but later generations have widened the original tunnels and kept building more.

Although they’re not open to the public, they’ve been used by Romans down the ages as catacombs, sewers, and mushroom farms, as well as shelters in the Second World War.

2 London’s Tunnels of Intrigue

With its dungeons, crypts, and catacombs, 13 underground rivers, and plague pits from the mid‑1300s, the history of London lies just below the surface. More recently, however, officials confirmed what urban explorers have known for decades: the existence of a sprawling network of underground tunnels connecting government buildings with secret chambers. According to the Land Registry in 2017, most of them were built by the Post Office, British Telecom, and the Ministry of Defence.

One of the more interesting parts of the network, the Postmaster General’s tunnel, runs from the East End of London to what used to be the War Office at 57 Whitehall (now an overpriced hotel). At various points along the way, elevator shafts connect it to government departments and telephone exchanges. Deep under High Holborn Street, not far from Whitehall, one such exchange was built as a government bomb shelter, complete with a restaurant, games rooms, and two bars (one for tea and one for booze).

The tunnels have, officially, been out of use since the Cold War era, but they were never opened up to the public. While those who’ve managed to sneak down there do say it’s like a time capsule, untouched in decades, they’ve only seen parts. Access to the deeper levels is suspiciously bricked off, the lights are kept on, and trespassers are disproportionately punished.

1 Beijing’s Underground City

Built to hold 40% of citizens in the event of a war with Russia, Beijing’s dixia cheng (“underground city”) covers a remarkable 85 square kilometers—all hand‑dug by citizens during the Cold War. It’s also known as the “underground Great Wall of China”, for its massive scale. But you’re not allowed to see it.

The official guided tour takes in only a small, looping, and commercialized fraction of the whole. The rest of the corridors, tunnels and bunkers are said to be inhabited by up to one million homeless—the so‑called Rat Tribe (who presumably stand to inherit the Earth). But that sounds too good to be true. While some of dixia cheng has been converted to low‑cost, sub‑standard apartments, it’s hard to imagine the CCP leaving all of it to poor people and tramps when there are hundreds of more selfish uses. With 90 entrances across the city, for example, its potential for “disappearing” citizens is obvious.

In any case, whatever’s really down there, it was built for long‑term habitation, with storage for grain and space for mushroom farming, as well as restaurants, barber shops, a cinema, classrooms and anything else to help persuade citizens that things were still normal.

When the world goes sideways, the ultra‑wealthy have already drawn the blueprints. Here are the 10 incredible billionaire bunkers that promise safety, luxury, and a strict “no‑fly‑zone” for anyone without a private jet or a secret invitation.

10 Incredible Billionaire Bunker Overview

1 The Aristocrat

If you’re not swimming in billions, there’s still a glimmer of hope. Rising S Bunkers offers a menu of fortified shelters that start at a modest $49,000 for a basic unit and climb to just under $10 million for a full‑blown complex (installation and delivery excluded). Their flagship, the Aristocrat, is a sprawling bomb‑shelter designed to house up to 50 occupants.

The Aristocrat packs everything from climate‑controlled air filtration and spacious workshops to industrial‑grade freezers, a fully equipped gym, saunas, swimming pools, and even a bowling alley. For the more adventurous, a gun range and a motor‑cave exit let you zip in and out like a modern‑day Batman.

Because the layout supports a small community or an extended family, friends can pool resources and split the cost, turning an otherwise astronomical expense into a feasible group venture.

2 Space

The final frontier becomes the ultimate fallback plan. Billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are racing to own a slice of the cosmos, betting that an off‑world sanctuary is the safest bet against planetary catastrophes.

In Musk’s vision, Mars colonies could host humanity’s survivors, while Bezos’s orbital habitats aim to make space travel routine for the ultra‑rich. In theory, leaving Earth eliminates threats like nuclear fallout, zombie hordes, or rogue nation strikes.

Ticket prices remain astronomical—Musk has floated a $100,000‑$500,000 range, but actual costs hover in the millions, if not billions, keeping the dream firmly out of reach for most.

3 Dogen City

Still in the concept stage, Dogen City is N‑Ark’s answer to climate‑driven apocalypse. Imagine a floating, self‑sufficient metropolis that merges the mythic scale of Noah’s Ark with billionaire‑grade engineering.

Designed for up to 40,000 residents, the city would float atop a massive ring, offering a 2.4‑mile jogging track and an underwater medical facility. Its architecture promises protection from rising seas, extreme weather, and even the occasional undead swimmer.

The goal is to have Dogen City operational before 2030, giving a decade’s worth of preparation before the polar ice caps melt beyond repair.

4 The Safe House

Poland’s Warsaw houses a sleek, industrial‑style cube that may not survive a nuclear blast, but it will definitely keep zombies and unwanted guests at bay. Architect Robert Konieczny calls it the world’s first zombie‑proof home.

The structure features sliding exterior walls, aluminum roll‑gates, and a retractable drawbridge that leads to a rooftop terrace above a pool. Every element—from walls and windows to the bridge and fence—can be controlled electronically, and solar panels could easily be added for off‑grid power.

While it lacks the massive blast resistance of Cold‑War silos, its affordable, green design makes it a compelling option for those fearing the undead more than a missile.

5 Shrublands Road

Set in the quiet English village of Mistley, Essex, Shrublands Road began life as a Cold‑War communications bunker, meant to stay intact even if a nuclear strike flattened the town.

The 10,000‑square‑foot (929 m²) structure has been transformed into three high‑end apartments. Two three‑bedroom units and one four‑bedroom unit now boast modern kitchens, Italian‑marble bathrooms, and a shared atrium, all while retaining the original steel‑reinforced shell.

Originally priced around £1.4 million—a relatively modest sum for a bunker—the property offers no extravagant amenities like climbing walls or golf courses, but provides a solid, discreet refuge for the discerning buyer.

6 The Underground House

Deep beneath the Nevada desert, the Underground House is a 15,000‑square‑foot (1,394 m²) subterranean retreat that feels more like a futuristic nightclub than a fallout shelter.

Its interior boasts adjustable lighting that mimics the outside world, a ceiling dotted with twinkling stars, a dedicated dance floor (because it’s Vegas), two hot tubs, a sauna, a bar, and even a barbecue pit. The design blends plastic trees, faux rocks, and muraled wildlife to create a surreal, immersive environment.

Featured on Netflix and frequented by celebrities like Imagine Dragons, the property can be yours for $18 million—a price that reflects both its novelty and its luxurious, apocalyptic vibe.

7 The Survival Condo

Hidden among Kansas’s rolling green fields lies a repurposed Atlas missile silo from the 1960s, now transformed into the Survival Condo—a luxurious underground community.

The silo’s 8‑ton steel doors were originally built to guard the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and they still stand strong today. Inside, residents enjoy communal spaces such as a pet park, arcade, swimming pool, and climbing wall, as well as dedicated mechanical, medical, security, and hydroponic levels.

At the deepest levels, a cinema and bar provide entertainment, while residential quarters offer comfortable living spaces. The overall design blends military‑grade protection with high‑end amenities for a truly unique refuge.

8 Europa One

Europa One is the epitome of exclusivity—a former Soviet Cold‑War bunker in Rothenstein, Germany, now refurbished into the world’s largest private survival complex.

Built to endure nuclear detonations, chemical and biological attacks, earthquakes, and even crashing aircraft, the facility offers opulent individual chambers that were once sold for $5 million each. Owners could customize their personal spaces to exact specifications.

Entry is strictly by invitation, and all invitations have already been dispatched, leaving the rest of us to marvel at its sheer scale and security.

9 Trident Lakes

For the golf‑obsessed prepper, Trident Lakes in Ector, Texas, blends a resort‑style experience with hardened survival infrastructure.

The sprawling private estate—just an hour from Dallas—features a hotel, golf course, polo fields, and roughly 600 condominium‑style units overlooking water. Beneath the glamour lie fortified underground bunkers, armed security, and a towering wall to keep threats out.

An added DNA vault safeguards the very essence of its residents, ensuring that even in an apocalypse, their genetic legacy endures.

10 The Oppidum

Deep within the Czech Republic’s forested mountains sits The Oppidum, a 323,000‑square‑foot (30,000 m²) fortress that reads like a sci‑fi set piece.

The compound boasts a 77,500‑square‑foot (7,200 m²) living area, an underground garden with simulated sunlight, a spa, swimming pool, cinema, library, and more. Access is controlled via a single underground tunnel sealed by a rapid‑deployment blast door, while 24‑hour military‑style security patrols the perimeter.

Though space is limited, the operators also supply custom‑built bunkers and structures that can be delivered straight to a buyer’s doorstep, ensuring privacy even beyond the main estate.

If you’re among the 3% to 15% of people who break out in a cold sweat at the sight of eight‑legged critters, you’re in for a wild ride. Below are 10 things you probably wish you never had to learn about spiders, complete with creepy details, jaw‑dropping statistics, and even a few automotive recalls.

10 Things You Need to Know About Arachnids

10 Huntsman Spiders Can Live in Communities 150 Members Strong

Pinpointing exactly why one spider scares a person more than another is a tricky business. Usually, a mix of factors is at play. A venomous bite is an obvious worry—nobody wants a black‑widow or tarantula nip, even if healthy adults typically shrug off the venom unless they’re allergic. That’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Two extra ingredients often crank the fear meter up: size and sheer numbers. Bigger spiders naturally inspire dread, regardless of danger level. The social huntsman spider illustrates this perfectly.

The social huntsman belongs to a family of Australian huntsmen. While it isn’t the largest—its leg span can stretch to about a foot—it does reach roughly six inches across, which is still impressive.

What truly unsettles many is the “social” part of its name. These spiders form colonies that can swell to 150 individuals. They love nesting behind shutters, under eaves, and in other hidden nooks. A single matriarch heads the group, and the rest are her offspring, all co‑habiting and caring for one another.

The bright side? Despite their size and crowd‑sourced lifestyle, they’re surprisingly gentle, rarely bite humans. And if they do, their venom is harmless to most people.

9 Italian Researchers Made Super Spiders That Produce Silk Stronger Than Kevlar

Everyone’s heard the claim that spider silk outperforms steel, and it’s true—on a per‑weight basis. Yet a single filament isn’t going to stop a hammer. Scientists have now taken that notion a step further, crafting silk that beats even Kevlar.

Italian researchers devised a surprisingly simple trick: they misted spiders with water laced with carbon nanotubes or graphene flakes. The spiders, thinking it’s just water, drank it, and the resulting webs incorporated the nanomaterials.

When the enhanced silk was tested, it out‑performed any human‑made fiber to date, surpassing Kevlar’s strength. In other words, the spiders spun a material tougher than the world’s premier ballistic fabric.

Harvesting spider silk at scale is notoriously difficult, but the same team also pioneered synthetic production methods for spider silk. Marrying both approaches could unlock a flood of new, ultra‑strong applications.

8 There’s a Finnish Museum Infested with Chilean Recluse Spiders

Many people find comfort in knowing the world’s deadliest spiders live far from the temperate north. Most of those lethal species call tropical or desert regions home. Still, spiders are excellent travelers.

Finland, a place you’d never associate with dangerous arachnids, houses the Finnish Museum of Natural History, which has battled a persistent infestation of Chilean recluse spiders for more than five decades.

How the spiders arrived remains a mystery—perhaps hitching a ride inside fruit or wood shipments in the 1960s. The first outbreak was spotted in 1963, and despite repeated eradication attempts, new spiders keep showing up, turning the museum into an ongoing nightmare.

7 Spiders Seem to Have REM Sleep and Are Possibly Dreaming

Humans need REM sleep to rest, dream, and recharge. We still know surprisingly little about how our brains work, so it’s no surprise that many animal sleep patterns are still a mystery.

A 2022 study revealed that jumping spiders display brain activity strikingly similar to REM sleep. This suggests they might experience something akin to dreaming, a trait once thought exclusive to mammals and birds.

These tiny, fuzzy‑looking spiders possess sharp eyesight and adaptable hunting tactics, tailoring their approach to each prey type. Their complex nervous systems make the possibility of spider dreams all the more fascinating.

Scientists have already documented REM‑like states in octopuses, lizards, and numerous mammals. If spiders join that list, they become the first arthropods known to exhibit such a sleep pattern.

6 Some Spiders Don’t Make Sticky Webs But Webs That Snare Prey

Picture a classic horror scene: someone walks into a dim room and a glistening web clings to their face. In reality, not all spider silk is the super‑sticky kind you imagine.

Species such as the black house spider produce silk that resembles loose wool rather than a glue‑coated filament. This “cribellate” or wooly silk works like a snare, tangling an insect’s legs instead of adhering them with a liquid glue.

By contrast, “ecribellate” silk is the familiar sticky type, coating prey with a viscous substance. Both strategies are effective, but they rely on very different physical mechanisms.

5 Some Spiders Can Trap Air Bubbles and Survive Under Water

When you catch a spider in the kitchen and flush it, you might think the water will be its grave. Yet many spiders can endure submersion for hours by creating a tiny air pocket around their hairs.

One species, never before observed fully underwater, survived a half‑hour thanks to this air film. Australian funnel‑web spiders have even been found surviving up to 24 hours after being swept into backyard pools during floods.

These arachnids can cling to the surface tension and keep an oxygen reserve, allowing them to stay alive in water long after most insects would drown. Combine that with the fact that some funnel‑webs are deadly, and a pool party becomes a lot less relaxing.

4 Toyota Had to Recall Hundreds of Thousands of Cars Over Concerns of Spiders Leading to Accidents

If spiders make you nervous, you might think hitting the road is a safe escape—unless you drive a Toyota. In 2013, the automaker recalled roughly 800,000 vehicles because spider‑built webs could trigger unintended airbag deployment.

The recall covered popular models like the Camry and Avalon. The issue stemmed from air‑conditioning systems that could develop internal leaks. When a spider spun a web inside the AC condenser, the blockage caused condensation to build up, overflow, and short‑circuit critical sensors.

Those compromised sensors could fire airbags without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. Toyota reported two injuries linked to the malfunction, underscoring how a tiny spider can cause massive automotive trouble.

3 The Fastest Spider Bite in the World Was Measured at 1/10 of a Second

We’ve already talked about venom, size, and numbers. Speed is another terrifying factor. While tarantulas move slowly, some spiders are lightning‑fast, and their bites can be almost instantaneous.

The Mecysmaucheniidae family—often called trap‑jaw spiders—holds the record for the quickest bite. High‑speed cameras captured a strike lasting just one‑tenth of a second.

Even more astonishing is the force behind the snap. The jaws release stored energy like a spring, delivering a bite power roughly 200 times greater than a human leg can generate in a jump. Despite this, the spiders are tiny, many smaller than a grain of rice, so the threat to humans remains minimal.

2 Some Spiders Create the Biological Equivalent of Transition Lenses

Animals like mantis shrimp and eagles already boast vision that makes ours look primitive. Some spiders join that elite club with eye adaptations that rival the best optical tech.

The rufous net‑casting spider can produce a fresh photoreceptor membrane over its eyes each day. This daily renewal gives it night‑vision capabilities that outshine even owls and cats, allowing it to capture the faintest glimmers of light.

When daylight returns, the membrane is discarded, and a new one forms at dusk. This cyclical rebuilding acts like a biological transition lens, constantly optimizing the spider’s sight for the changing environment.

1 Spiders Could Theoretically Eat The Entire Human Race

If nothing else makes your skin crawl, consider the sheer appetite of the world’s spider population. Collectively, spiders consume an estimated 400‑800 million tons of prey each year.

Human biomass totals about 287 million tons. In a hypothetical scenario where every other food source vanished, the global spider community could, in theory, devour the entire human race in under a year.

While this is a dramatic exaggeration, it underscores the massive role spiders play in the planet’s ecological balance—and why the idea of an all‑consuming spider swarm can be genuinely unsettling.

“Do you have any idea what’s IN that?”

10 O

It’s sweet, it’s wobbly, and it’s semi‑transparent—Jell‑O has been the world’s most popular pre‑made dessert since the mid‑1600s. Archaeologists even uncovered traces of gelatin in an ancient Egyptian tomb, suggesting the treat—or something very much like it—was already being enjoyed back then.

Jell‑O is a classic example of a genericized brand name, just as Kleenex stands for tissues. The term “gelatin” derives from the Latin “gelatus” meaning “frozen jelly.” In its early days gelatin was a status symbol; only the wealthy could afford the skilled kitchen staff needed to render, clarify, and incorporate it into elaborate salads and sweets.

Despite its aristocratic past, gelatin has never been vegetarian‑friendly. The earliest Western reference dates to 1682, when Englishman John Evelyn chronicled a pressure‑cooker experiment that produced a “jellye made of beef bones.” Delicious, but decidedly animal‑based.

Modern Jell‑O still relies on animal hides, boiled bone fragments, and the connective tissue of cattle and pigs. Fortunately, plant‑based alternatives using agar, carrageenan, or other seaweed‑derived gums are widely available for those who prefer to skip the animal component.

9 Capsules

Got a headache? If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you might want to think twice before popping a pill. The same animal‑derived gelatin that gives Jell‑O its jiggle also forms the shell of countless over‑the‑counter and prescription capsules.

Gelatin is prized for its structural flexibility and natural compatibility: it can be molded easily, plays nicely with a wide variety of active ingredients, and remains sturdy enough to keep moisture out over a product’s shelf life. In short, gelatin capsules survive the many stresses demanded of an oral dosage system.

This creates a cultural clash for groups that avoid animal products. In India, for example, several religious traditions require vegetarianism, prompting heated debates within the nation’s massive pharmaceutical sector. The controversy spurred the development of starch‑based, vegan‑friendly HPMC capsules that mimic gelatin’s performance without the animal origin.

Beyond the capsule shell, animal‑derived components often appear as inactive ingredients—binders, fillers, or colorants—in many medicines. Even some vaccine formulations employ animal‑based stabilizers, a fact that has not escaped the notice of vaccine skeptics.

8 Sugar

Got a sweet tooth? Then you might be chewing on… teeth, among other bones.

Bone char is a porous, black granule produced by charring animal bones—typically cattle. It consists mainly of tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and carbon, and is employed to filter and decolorize a variety of sugars.

These charred bones are sold to traders who, in turn, supply the U.S. sugar industry. Bone char finds its way into many sugar types, including brown sugar and confectioner’s sugar, and is openly used by prominent American manufacturers—Domino’s being a flagship example.

If you favor white sugar, you’re likely consuming even more bone char. The process efficiently strips impurities, but to achieve a very white product manufacturers often run large volumes of bone char through the sugar.

Outside the United States, many countries—including the UK, EU members, Australia, and others—have largely phased out bone char from sugar production, showcasing a different approach to refining.

So, how bone‑charry do you prefer your coffee? One lump? Two?

7 Cigarettes

Wanna smoke some beaver taint? The cool kids are doing it. A surprising number of pre‑rolled cigarettes contain castoreum, harvested from the scent‑glands (castor sacs) of beavers. To obtain it, beavers are humanely euthanized, and the paste‑filled sacs are sun‑dried or smoked until they resemble dried figs.

Why sprinkle beaver “ass” onto a cigarette? Castoreum, also used in high‑end fragrances for its leathery notes, imparts a sweet, subtly “enhanced smokiness” to tobacco.

Even the iconic Marlboro Man wasn’t immune: Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro, reportedly flavored roughly 400 billion cigarettes with castoreum in a single year.

Cigarettes: first they kill beavers, then they kill you.

Bonus tidbit: Sweden produces a schnapps called bäversnaps that openly uses castoreum, soaking the beaver musk in high‑proof alcohol to create a distinctive flavor.

6 Beer and Wine

Have a drinking problem? You might after reading this. Isinglass, a gelatin‑like substance harvested from the dried bladders of freshwater fish such as sturgeon, is a type of collagen widely employed in the fining (clarification) of both beer and wine.

Finings are agents added near the end of the brewing or winemaking process to coax unwanted particles—dead yeast cells, bacteria, tartrates, proteins, tannins, and even bits of grape skin or stem—out of suspension. Isinglass excels at speeding up this settling, which translates to faster production times and lower costs.

In the beer world, isinglass is especially prized for cask‑conditioned ales, making it a staple in the United Kingdom’s brewing tradition. In winemaking, the same substance helps achieve a crystal‑clear final product before bottling.

Both beer and wine producers appreciate that isinglass dramatically shortens the time required to remove insolubles, effectively turning a labor‑intensive step into a swift one.

If you prefer to avoid literally drinking fish, vegan‑friendly beer and wine guides are readily available online.

5 Red Candy, Gum, Jams, Syrups…

… and virtually any unnaturally pink or red edible you encounter. Wondering what animal product lurks behind that cherry‑flavored ice or cinnamon‑scented gum? It’s bugs.

Specifically, many of these goodies contain carmine, a vivid red pigment derived from dried, crushed cochineal beetles. The beetles’ bodies are ground into a powder that manufacturers use as a highly effective natural colorant.

For years, carmine earned the label “all natural” because it originates from insects. Today, regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food & Drug Administration require carmine to be listed explicitly on ingredient labels, removing any mystery.

Think you can dodge insects by avoiding red foods? Think again. Many hard or shiny candies are coated with shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug. The resin is harvested, processed into dry flakes, and dissolved in alcohol to form a glossy confectioner’s glaze. (M&Ms are a notable exception.)

4 Worcestershire Sauce

Wait… something’s fishy here.

Worcestershire sauce is a versatile condiment that has been enhancing meals for nearly two centuries. Invented in the 1830s by two chemists in Worcester, England, the most iconic brand—Lea & Perrins—still rolls out the same fermented brew today.

The sauce’s complex flavor profile blends tangy, savory, sweet, and salty notes. Its ingredients can include molasses or sugar, tamarind, onion, garlic, chili pepper extract, soy, salt, cloves, lemon essence, pickle juice, and… anchovies.

Yes, anchovies—the same fish many of us avoid on pizza—provide the umami punch that elevates Worcestershire sauce. In 1990, umami was officially recognized as the “fifth taste,” joining salty, sweet, bitter, and sour.

Anchovies undergo a lengthy 18‑month fermentation in vinegar, releasing a deep, savory essence that makes the sauce uniquely delicious.

3 Condoms

Add “but baby, I’m vegan” to the long list of lines designed to convince a partner to skip contraception. While most condoms are made from latex—a plant‑based polymer—they also often contain casein and glycerin.

Casein, a milk‑derived protein, is added during the latex‑in‑liquid phase to make the final condom smoother and thinner. It also gives latex gloves their characteristic sour scent.

Glycerin, another common additive, can be sourced from animal fats or vegetable oils. In most condoms, the animal‑derived version is used to provide extra lubrication. Fortunately, 100% vegan‑certified condoms are available for those who want to avoid animal ingredients entirely.

Beyond condoms, glycerin appears in many everyday items—toothpastes, moisturizers, shampoos, detergents, shaving creams, and a host of cosmetics. Whether the glycerin is plant‑ or animal‑derived is rarely disclosed on packaging.

2 Crayons

Recently my preschool‑age son drew his dad a beach scene, complete with a lemon‑yellow sun, burnt‑orange sand, carpenter‑pink dad, sky‑blue sky, and sea‑green ocean. You might recognize those hues as …

… waxy beef‑fat sticks? You guessed it: crayons contain animal‑derived stearic acid, a processed form of beef fat. This fatty acid acts as a coagulation agent, helping crayons solidify and stay consistent throughout their colorful life.

Stearic acid isn’t limited to crayons; it’s also widely used in candles. While stearic acid can be sourced from plant materials like coconuts, extracting it from animals is cheaper, so many manufacturers default to the animal version. Animal‑rights groups therefore advise consumers to assume candle stearic acid is animal‑derived unless the label explicitly says otherwise.

On the bright side, candles are among the few products where we actually “burn” animal fat, turning an otherwise grim ingredient into a cozy glow.

1 Bagels

This is the world we live in: a major chain like Panera Bread proudly proclaims on its website that its bagels aren’t made with bird feathers or human hair.

In reality, many processed bagels and bread products contain an enzyme called L‑cysteine, a “dough conditioner” derived from surprisingly unappetizing sources—poultry feathers, hog hair, and even human hair. While synthetic L‑cysteine exists, it costs more, so manufacturers opt for the cheaper animal‑derived version.

Big US chains—including Dunkin’ Donuts and Einstein Bros.—confirm they use L‑cysteine in all of their bagels. The same ingredient also shows up in Pizza Hut’s garlic bread and McDonald’s honey‑wheat rolls, cinnamon rolls, and apple pies.

Fortunately, the leading grocery‑store bagel brand, Lenders, is free of L‑cysteine. However, many large‑scale bread brands still rely on the hair‑and‑feather formula, making local bakeries the safest bet for truly hair‑free bagels.

And for a final laugh: How can you tell if someone’s a vegan? They’ll tell you!

We all know that society is full of double standards. There are countless ways people receive preferential treatment—or slip through the cracks—simply because of what they own, how they look, or the status they flaunt. In this roundup we dive into ten things that feel downright trashy when you’re poor but turn into pure class when you’re rich. Welcome to the world of 10 things trashy and the curious flip‑flop that comes with wealth.

10 Things Trashy: The Double‑Standard Reveal

10 Choosing When to Work

This is the ultimate fantasy, isn’t it? Most of us grind day in, day out to afford the simple luxury of deciding when to clock out, when to grab a mid‑week lunch, or even to tee off on a Monday morning. That sense of autonomy—being able to shape your own schedule—feels like a permanent vacation we all secretly crave.

Yet the reality is far less forgiving. The wealthy can afford to linger on a beach or nap between meetings without anyone batting an eye. When cash is tighter, society is quick to brand anyone who doesn’t adhere to a strict 9‑to‑5 as lazy, insinuating they’re living off the goodwill of others or the social safety net.

We rush to judge the “non‑worker” without ever knowing the backstory, the health concerns, or the personal choices that led to that situation. In short, the freedom to pick your work hours is celebrated for the rich, but condemned for the cash‑strapped.

9 Retaining a Lawyer

This one sneaks up on you because it’s so easy to overlook. When you picture a billionaire’s legal counsel, you imagine sleek downtown offices, sky‑high hourly rates, and a constant stream of high‑stakes cases—think the TV show Suits in full swing.

Conversely, when someone with a modest paycheck mentions they have a lawyer, the narrative flips. The immediate reaction is, “What did they get into?” or “How could they possibly afford that?” The assumption is that a lawyer is a luxury reserved for crisis management, not a proactive tool for protecting assets.

Yet the reality is that the affluent can hire top‑tier counsel for anything—from drafting a trust to negotiating a merger—without a second thought. Meanwhile, a less‑wealthy individual is instantly judged, as if the very act of retaining counsel signals desperation rather than savvy planning.

8 Not Cleaning Your Own House

Cleaning a whole house is a monumental task, no matter the size of the property or the number of occupants. Some days you just don’t feel like scrubbing the floors, dusting the shelves, or tackling that mountain of laundry.

When the wallet is thin, society quickly labels the unclean home as a sign of laziness or personal failure. If the same situation occurs in a mansion, however, the narrative shifts: a hired housekeeper or cleaning crew is considered a sign of good taste and an indicator of success.

In the eyes of many, the poor are expected to be the ones wielding mops and vacuums, while the rich are praised for delegating the chore entirely. The double standard is crystal clear—cleanliness is a virtue when you’re paying for it, a vice when you’re doing it yourself.

7 Minimalism

Most of us picture minimalism as pristine white walls, sleek furniture, and airy, uncluttered spaces. In truth, minimalism is simply the practice of buying only what you truly need and resisting the urge to accumulate excess.

People who have lived paycheck‑to‑paycheck have been practicing a form of minimalism for generations—stretching every dollar, repairing rather than replacing, and making the most of what they have. Their frugality is a survival skill, not a design choice.

When the affluent adopt the same aesthetic, it becomes a curated trend, a statement of refined taste. Suddenly, the decision to own fewer possessions is praised as “stylish” rather than “necessity‑driven.” The same behavior that was once a badge of resilience is now a fashionable hallmark of wealth.

6 Living in a Hotel

Imagine waking up to daily housekeeping, high‑speed internet, and a complimentary breakfast. For many, that image screams luxury—especially when the backdrop is a five‑star resort with marble floors and a rooftop pool.

However, swap that opulent setting for a modest motel, and the perception plummets. The same arrangement—paying for a room, enjoying basic amenities—gets labeled as “trashy” when the price point is low.

The truth is that living in a hotel, regardless of its star rating, offers practical benefits: no long‑term lease, flexible stay lengths, and often fewer bureaucratic hoops. It can be a financially savvy choice for both the affluent and the cash‑strapped alike, yet society judges the experience based solely on price.

5 Debt

Almost everyone carries some form of debt—student loans, mortgages, car payments, or credit‑card balances. It’s a near‑universal financial reality.

When the under‑banked carry even a modest loan, the narrative is often “debt‑free is the goal; you should be ashamed of owing money.” The debt is portrayed as a heavy burden, a sign of poor financial management.

Conversely, the wealthy can leverage massive lines of credit, low‑interest loans, and strategic borrowing without a second glance. For them, debt is a tool—an instrument to amplify investments, acquire assets, and optimize tax strategies. In this scenario, the bank bears the risk, not the borrower.

4 Having Other People Raise Your Kids

When families with limited resources rely on relatives, nannies, or after‑school programs to help raise their children, the public often assumes neglect or a lack of parental commitment.

For affluent households, however, hiring a live‑in nanny, enrolling kids in elite boarding schools, or delegating certain parenting duties is viewed as a savvy allocation of time—an acknowledgment that “important” adults have demanding careers that warrant professional support.

The underlying double standard is stark: both groups are seeking assistance, yet only the wealthy are praised for outsourcing, while the less‑well‑off are silently judged for the same choice.

3 Having a Wedding at Your House

Hosting a wedding at your own residence can be an economical, heartfelt decision—no venue fees, no travel hassles, and a personal touch that makes the day truly yours.

When a millionaire’s sprawling estate becomes the backdrop, the move is hailed as “chic,” “intimate,” and a testament to good taste. The grandeur of the property validates the choice, turning a budget‑savvy decision into a statement of elegance.

For those with modest homes, the same plan is often dismissed as “trash‑y” or a sign of inability to afford a proper venue. The perception shifts entirely based on the size and style of the house, not the intention behind the celebration.

2 Tax Evasion

We’re not endorsing illegal behavior, but the reality is that the affluent frequently brush up against the limits of tax law, employing sophisticated strategies to keep more of their earnings.

When a person with limited means tries to stretch a dollar by finding loopholes, the act is instantly labeled “cheating” or “shady.” The narrative paints the low‑income individual as immoral for merely trying to survive.

Meanwhile, the same maneuver performed by a billionaire is described as “smart financial planning,” with the tax authority portrayed as the obstacle rather than the offender. The disparity highlights how wealth can turn a frowned‑upon act into a celebrated tactic.

1 Addiction

We’re not glorifying addiction, but it’s hard to ignore how society treats the same behavior differently based on who is involved. Celebrities and CEOs who indulge in alcohol, drugs, or high‑stakes gambling are often portrayed as living the “high life,” with their excesses woven into a glamorous narrative.

When a person with fewer resources grapples with the same issues, the commentary shifts dramatically—suddenly it’s a “problem that needs fixing,” a sign of personal failure, and a source of shame.

The double standard persists: the affluent are lauded as “rebels” or “survivors” when they recover, while the less‑privileged are judged harshly for any relapse. No matter the status, addiction is harmful, but wealth can camouflage it in a cloak of fame and fortune.

We like to believe we live in an idealized version of democracy with a government that values our privacy. Well, I think it’s pretty clear by now that that’s not the case. The United States government actually runs the biggest data collection program on planet Earth, and you can bet your bippy that you’re an indexed individual. 

Some of this indexing isn’t that insidious, more like business as usual. The federal government has over 24 agencies such as the IRS, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Social Security Administration, etc., that keep records on U.S. citizens. 

But for more clandestine endeavors, our government engages in advanced spying techniques and surveillance to keep tabs on us. This means they keep lists upon lists of notable individuals. And any one of us can land on these lists for a myriad of reasons. Of course, the U.S. government must abide by the law regarding collecting information, meaning, in many cases, they have to get a court order.

But there’s a convenient workaround.

If the government hires private contractors and doesn’t use government employees to gather information, they don’t need court orders. Pretty creative. So you might as well just accept you are on any number of government lists, some that you’re aware of and maybe a few you’re not.

Related: 10 Things You Won’t Believe Can Spy On You (But Do)

10 Terrorist Watch List

If you type certain terms into Google, you may end up on our government’s watch list. For instance, if you type in “how to make a bomb,” the possibility exists that you might be placed on a domestic terrorist watch list. Don’t be surprised. It’s Google. You kind of painted the target on your butt for that one. 

If you are known or suspected of being a terrorist, it’s probably a certainty that you have been placed on the Consolidated Terrorist Watch List of the United States government. Again, don’t be surprised (dummy).

9 Sex Offenders Registry

I’m prefacing this section by saying that if you’re caught peeing or doing the nasty in public, you’re, technically, by law, a sex offender. So you could end up on this list for hilarious reasons. Mostly, though, people are rapists, pedophiles, and sexual assaulters. 

That said, if the courts have legally found you to be a sex offender, your name will be listed on the National Sex Offender Registry in coordination with the Department of Justice. This registry lists every person designated as a sex offender in all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and also Native American tribal lands. This information is public, and anyone can search the database.

8 The IRS

Have you ever filed a tax return? If yes, then you are listed in the IRS database.

Any law enforcement agency that conducts an investigation must ask the IRS for information on your tax returns. To receive this information, they must first get a court order. However, the IRS itself uses surveillance techniques if you’ve been deemed worthy of an investigation for some reason. They even use what are called Stingrays, which can simulate or impersonate cell phone towers. When someone uses a stingray, it can grab information from any cell phone within its range, such as text messages, data downloads, and calls.

In addition, the IRS can expand on its data about you by contacting your state’s department of revenue and asking them to share their information about your income tax forms and history. For example, suppose your state has fined you at some point for not reporting your income accurately, supplying false information, or not paying your taxes. In that case, the IRS can use that information to build a profile and case against you for their own internal investigation. 

Filing online with the IRS is convenient once you have set up an online account with them. But to do this, the IRS uses the opportunity to gather more information about you for their list. When you set up an online account with them, the IRS requires that you submit the account number of your home mortgage company. Using this, they can confirm your identity and request and acquire more financial information about you regarding your payment history and other details.

However, to access your mortgage information, the IRS must use one of the major credit reporting agencies. If your mortgage company isn’t affiliated with the reporting agency the IRS uses, the IRS will ask you for your credit card number. The card number permits them to study your payment history and your purchases there instead.

Sneaky and convoluted.

7 National Gun Background Check System

Even though we don’t have a national gun registry, I find it very hard to believe that when someone has a background check done on them to purchase a gun, the buyer’s data isn’t stored somewhere. It’s a known fact the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) does keep some databases related to guns. Some of the data include the owner’s name and address on sales reports with specific types of firearms, especially guns the ATF suspects of having been used in a crime (or any gun reported to the ATF as being stolen).

6 Regional Passport Office (RPO)

If you’ve ever applied for a passport, especially if you’ve traveled internationally, you are listed in the database. You see it all the time in suspense-action movies. A traveler gets off a plane and must clear customs. The agent at the window looks at the picture in the passport and then studies the traveler’s face. The agent types into his computer and sees the traveler’s passport has been flagged. In other words, his name is on a list for whatever reason. Next, the poor guy is being led into an interrogation room.

Let’s be honest. We all get a little nervous when it’s our turn to get our passports stamped.

5 Military

The NPRC (National Military Personal Records Center) is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and holds all service records starting with World War I to the present. The National Archives (called the archives for a reason) in Washington D.C. holds all service records from the Revolutionary War to 1912. The military is meticulous about its record-keeping.

And let’s not forget our local draft boards. Even though we have an all-volunteer military, teenage boys still have to register for the draft with their local draft board when they turn 18.

4 Department of Transportation (DOT)

If you have a driver’s license, you are listed in a database. If you’ve had driver’s infractions, in other words, you’ve been pulled over and ticketed. There’s a record of it in the police department database. 

You can not escape it. Unless you “disappear” from the system. Then all they have is your last known whereabouts and car make and model. Heck, unless you do anything that requires a credit card, hooking up to city utilities, or registering your identity through the DMV, you could be living in a cabin in the woods as a survivalist for all we know.

Those databases (well, any database!) can be searched using keywords. If the police are looking for a crime suspect and have a description of the car, they can search their databases for that car’s make and/or model.

3 Social Security Administration

There’s a song by Jefferson Airplane called “A Child is Coming.” In it, our singer expresses his concern over Uncle Sam coming around asking for the kid’s name and assigning him numbers. It’s the original off-the-grid campaign—except in a super hippie way. Anyway, those numbers refer to the child’s social security number.

If you have a social security number, you are in the system, and there’s really nothing legal you can do about it. There’s a reason kids are encouraged to get a social security card. For a teenager, it’s a sort of right of passage. For the government, it’s a way to keep track of every one of us. That number we are so innocently assigned will be with us throughout our lives. It is a way for the government to monitor us when they deem there’s a logical reason to do so.

2 Credit Reporting Agencies

These agencies may not be government agencies, but they are overseen by the government’s FTC (Federal Trade Commission). This is the same commission that administers the Telemarketing Sales Rule, Identity Theft Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If you have a credit card, if you’ve applied for credit, taken out a student loan or a car loan, or purchased a home, you are in the system, and the government can access your records for whatever reason.

1 Banking

If you have a checking or savings account, once again, you are in a database that lists your personal information. The government, with a court order, can access bank accounts to survey your financial activity. Quite often, however, it’s not the banks we have to blame for people accessing these databases. Security breaches can result in leaked lists on the Deep Web. These secondary lists mean people can attempt to infiltrate your accounts, hack into your social media, and attempt identity theft.