2018: A Look at the Year's Most Bizarre Stories

An accidental test layout published to Instagram's mobile app on Dec. 27, 2018, had unhappy users flooding Twitter and Facebook to complain about the "Story" styled posts.

Some Instagram users found themselves swiping through their timelines left to right on Thursday, rather than vertically, prompting widespread outrage and the social media company to roll back the update,…
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

In this image provided by NASA, Mars InSight team members Kris Bruvold, left, and Sandy Krasner rejoice, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, inside the Mission Support Area at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., after receiving confirmation that the Mars InSight lander successfully touched down on the surface of Mars. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Unboxing Videos on Youtube a Hit with Kids During Holidays

A big logo created from pictures of Facebook users worldwide is pictured in the company's Data Center, its first outside the U.S., on November 7, 2013, in Lulea, in Swedish Lapland.

True colour satellite image showing Puerto Rico and the surrounding area of the Atlantic Ocean. The Puerto Rico Trench is north of Puerto Rico.

Alyssa Reece Stars in 'EroticVision VR' Episode From DDFNetworkVR

In DDFNetworkVR’s latest virtual reality porn video, “EroticVision VR: Episode 4,” viewers can fulfill their porn-directory fantasy, where every starlet is horny and wants nothing more than to pleasure you once the cameras stop rolling.

Curious Bear Causes Holiday Mischief, Proves to Be Great Listener

A curious bear in Naples, Florida, found its way into some local holiday decorations before ringing his neighbor’s doorbell.

In this undated file photo, the Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone.

Mysterious object seen in the California sky late Wednesday. (Dec. 19, 2018)

A mysterious object seen in the California sky late Wednesday sent a flurry of people searching for answers.NBC Bay Area has reached out to the United States Air Force at NORAD Headquarters at Peterson AFB in…

Photo Credit: Robert Handa/NBC Bay Area
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Do You Even Twitch? Go Inside the Hub of Game Live-Streaming

Twitch’s new headquarters is a combination of gaming and popular culture, and it’s everything streamers would expect it to be.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Gonzalez / NBC Bay Area
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Liv Revamped Stars in DDFNetworkVR's 'FitGirls' Series

Fitness trainers to the stars are getting a lot of attention these days with almost as much hype as the stars themselves.

In this Aug. 21, 2018, photo a Facebook start page is shown on a smartphone in Surfside, Fla.

Facebook denied Tuesday night that its dozens of “partners” — companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, Spotify and Yahoo — were able to misuse Facebook users’ personal data, NBC News reported.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File

Security camera video shows a sheriff's department patrol car chasing a stolen ambulance Sunday Dec. 16, 2018 in a convenience store parking lot.

Security cameras captured a shirtless man in a stolen ambulance as he stopped for cigarettes before a pursuit Sunday that began in the Lake Elsinore area and continued into the high desert north of Los Angeles.

Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

This Jan. 9, 2014, file photo shows Colin Kroll in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Colin Kroll, the co-founder of HQ Trivia and Vine, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday.Police responded to a 911 call for a welfare check at the Spring Street apartment on Sunday, a New…

Photo Credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Variety, File

$293,000 Cash Still Missing After Truck Spills on NJ Highway

Authorities are looking for $293,000 in still-missing cash after an armored truck rained money onto a New Jersey highway Thursday morning, causing two crashes as drivers attempted to collect the loot scattered…

Photo Credit: Sabrina Quagliozzi

A man from Downey received the shocking news that what he thought to be fat, was actually a giant 77-pound cancerous tumor.

A man from Downey received the shocking news that what he thought to be fat, was actually a giant 77-pound cancerous tumor.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Hector Hernandez
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Hector Hernandez thought his large gut, as seen in the image to the left, was just fat that wouldn't come off. He later learned it was a cancerous tumor, weighing 77 pounds.

Photo Credit: Hector Hernandez

In this Aug. 21, 2018, photo a Facebook start page is shown on a smartphone in Surfside, Fla.

Facebook revealed on Friday that a bug in its platform may have allowed third-party apps to have access to a broad range of user photos, including pictures that users uploaded to Facebook but did not…

Photo Credit: Wilfredo Lee/AP, File

Reality Lovers Names Texas Patti as Brand Ambassador

Virtual reality adult entertainment studio Reality Lovers has named global adult star Texas Patti as its exclusive brand ambassador.

Virgin Galactic's Space Ship Unity is carried aloft by a plane, then detaches and fires up its rockets for a near-vertical climb to the edge of space.

An unusual looking plane designed to take tourists to space is being tested in Southern California’s Mojave Desert.

Photo Credit: Virgin Galactic

Why This Helicopter Was on a 101 Freeway Overpass

Drivers on the 101 Freeway northeast of downtown Los Angeles saw what might be considered an unusual sight on an overpass. But in LA it’s just another day on the set. Video broadcast Thursday Dec.

Traveler Busted at NY Airport With 70 Live Finches in Hair Rollers

On Saturday, U. S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a passenger arriving from Guyana and discovered they were carrying 70 live birds hidden in hair rollers in a black duffel bag.

A man was trapped in a vent at a vacant restaurant in San Lorenzo before being rescued Wednesday morning. (Dec. 12, 2018)

First responders on Wednesday rescued a trespasser — possibly a burglar — who was reportedly trapped for about two days in a grimy vent at a vacant restaurant in San Lorenzo, according to officials.The…

Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area/Alameda County Sheriff’s Department

Reality Lovers Celebrates 3rd Anniversary With Oculus Promo

Trend-setting virtual reality adult entertainment studio Reality Lovers is celebrating its third anniversary with a special year-end offer.

File photo: Offerup

Buying on sites or apps such as OfferUp can be a great alternative for those looking for great deals, but as the holidays approach, these avenues offer new opportunities for potential criminals to pull off scams…

Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Comet 46P/Wirtanen is seen in this southern hemisphere telescopic view on Nov. 7, 2018.

Stargazers have something extra to look forward to this holiday season: The brightest comet of 2018 will pass closest to Earth on Dec. 16.The comet 46P/Wirtanen, which passes Earth every 5.4 years, was one of…

Photo Credit: Alex Cherney/NASA

View of rocky surface of Mars from NASA's Viking 2.

Scientists have known for decades how the vast and barren landscapes of Mars look. Now, researchers are getting their first taste of what the Red Planet sounds like, NBC News reports.NASA’s InSight lander…

Photo Credit: Time Life Pictures/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty

Popcorn and poodles and golden retrievers in front of the silver screen will be a common sight at K9 Cinemas when the movie theater opens Friday. (Published Dec. 7, 2018)

K9 Cinemas opens in Plano Friday.

Photo Credit: NBC 5 News
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Updated Apple Watch unveiled during an Apple event at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park on September 12, 2018 in Cupertino, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple Watch is now fulfilling its promise to let people take EKGs of their heart and notify them of any irregular heartbeat.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Pimproll Debuts VR Trans Sex Site TranzVR.com

The team that developed WankzVR and MILF VR announced today the official launch of TranzVR.com.

Face recognition system at PSA, screening area for passengers, during a joint drill between Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Tokyo Metropolitan Police department in Tokyo on Sep. 28, 2018.

Eight Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers from Amazon regarding privacy concerns with the company’s facial recognition software that has been used by some local police departments, NBC News reports. The

Photo Credit: Alessandro Di Ciommo/NurPhoto via Getty Images

VR Bangers Features Riley Reid in 'Fanatic Dreams'

VR Bangers has announced the release of “Fanatic Dreams,” featuring Riley Reid.

The BMW Z4 M40i Roadster is one of the cars making its debut at the 2018 LA Auto Show.

Several cars, trucks and SUVs are making their World and North American debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Here are some of the new and shiny things to see.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Lloyd/NBCLA

In this Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, file photo, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on 'Foreign Influence Operations and Their Use of Social Media Platforms' on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Facebook on Thursday said it not only probed billionaire George Soros’ motivations for criticizing the platform, but also any potential investments he might have in the social media juggernaut, NBC News…

Photo Credit: Jose Luis Magana/AP, File

Miami Duo Arrested For Operating Dental Practice Out Of Bus

Two people are behind bars after allegedly running an illegal dental practice out of a bus in Miami.According to Miami-Dade Police officials, Daniela Sulbaran and Victor Bernal were arrested earlier this month…

Terpon Deploys V-Nova's Perseus Video Compression Software

Terpon, the manufacturer and distributor of virtual reality webcams, has selected V-Nova Ltd.’s Perseus software to solve video compression challenges, including the critical component of high-quality live streaming.

Man Finds Missing Cat Under His Truck

A woman lost her cat after a repairman left her house, but the man later found the cat under his truck.