When Spaghetti Grew On Trees

April fool! We considered putting up some horrible photos and telling you it was the up-and-coming photographer of the decade. But we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. So we'll let you enjoy someone else's prank:

Back in 1957, the BBC program Panorama offered a lengthy profile of a family that was successfully growing spaghetti on trees. Unusually warm weather and the near extinction of the spaghetti weevil had produced conditions ripe for a bountiful pasta harvest.

Watch the YouTube video:

Hundreds of people called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. According to the Museum of Hoaxes, operators replied "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."

You can read about other pranks that made the Museum of Hoaxes — including NPR's story on Richard Nixon's second run for President — here.

In a pinch for an April Fools' Day hoax of your own? Check out some of NPR's past pranks including portable zip codes, universal pet health care and projecting advertisements on the moon.