As 2025 fades into the rearview mirror, it’s worth taking a moment to look back at the stories that made us stop, reread, and occasionally ask, “Wait… what?” From AI-fueled delusions and haunted buses to brain-powered computers and possible portals ripping open reality, these were some of the most unusual headlines we covered this past year. There’s no ranking here—just a grab bag of high strangeness for you to peruse again as the new year breaks and the world continues doing whatever this is.

A series of mysterious lights appearing above the US Capitol building this week has captured widespread attention, fueling debates ranging from UFO theories to natural explanations. While some claim the lights are evidence of extraterrestrial activity, skeptics have pointed to more mundane causes. The sighting comes at a time of heightened interest in UFOs, following recent congressional hearings on alleged government involvement with alien technology and whistleblower intimidation.