8 Lesser-Known Inventions of Famous Inventors
Everyone knows that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and Thomas Edison came up with the bright idea for the lightbulb, but of course people who invent things never stop with just one thing – and their most famous invention probably wasn’t their first, either. If you’re curious what other things your favorite inventors contributed...
12 Major Cover Ups That Really Backfired
You know how when you’re a kid and you do something wrong, and then you have to decide whether to come clean with your parents or make something up instead, and you always choose the excuse and it’s never a good idea? I think it’s because most human beings can sniff out a lie and...
11 Times People Tried to Cover Up Something Major and Made It Worse
When something truly awful happens – on purpose, an accident, whatever – that hurts or has the potential to hurt people, the best thing is to own up to it immediately so that the fallout can be mitigated as quickly as possible. Now, that might be the truth (and common sense) but for a lot...
The True Story of Why NORAD Started Tracking Santa During the Cold War
We all know about the NORAD Santa Tracker, but did you know that NORAD didn’t originally intend to get involved? A Tumblr thread recently broke down the little-known story, which was previously recorded as a part of NPR’s StoryCorps. It all started in 1955 with an enterprising Sears store in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As part...
14 Beloved Countries That Aren’t As Squeaky-Clean As You Might Have Thought
When it comes to traveling the world, there are some countries that seem to end up on most people’s lists. Whether it’s the culture or the sights, maybe the history or people, that draw us to certain places, we want to believe the best about these countries we’ve dreamed of seeing in person. Some (probably...
What Are People Going to Be Nostalgic for in 40 Years? Here’s What People Had to Say.
After the crazy year that we all just lived through, I’m really hoping that humanity and society are only headed in an upward trajectory, but I guess you never really know, right? And that’s why this conversation will be interesting because it’s kind of hard to imagine any of us being nostalgic for a whole...
Could a Huge, Ancient Shark Still Haunt the Deep? Scientists Weigh In.
If you were a child once, there’s a good chance that you were fascinated with dinosaurs. If you’re an adult, there’s a chance that fascination lives on – you love the Jurassic Park movies, and somewhere in the back of your mind, you think it would be pretty awesome to meet a live dinosaur…as long as...
The History of Alaska’s Giant Rhubarb
Rhubarb is one of those flavors that divides people along pretty clean lines – you love the tart bite of it or you can’t stand the stringy nature, and there’s very little in between. That said, you don’t have to eat it to be interested in how and where certain plant life settles in the...