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The Surprising Original Purpose of Bubble Wrap
Before it became the world’s most satisfying packaging material, bubble wrap was designed for a completely different home decor trend.Quizzes





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The Biggest News Headline the Year You Were Born
These were the stories making front-page news in the U.S. the year you came into the world.
11 Sounds That Defined Back-to-School Season in the ‘90s
Some of these nostalgic sounds include compressed air, Velcro, and a newscast your school got paid to show you.
The Surprisingly Easy Way the Story of 'Practical Magic' Came to Author Alice Hoffman
The idea for 'Practical Magic' came to Alice Hoffman easily—almost, one could say, like magic. Here's the story of how Hoffman came up with the bestselling book and its sequels.
Bruce Springsteen's Favorite Song Is a Frank Sinatra Classic
When asked what song he'd pick if he could only listen to one for the rest of his life, The Boss chose this Frank Sinatra tune—but he's also expressed admiration for The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, and many other artists.
Did Captain Kirk Ever Actually Say “Beam Me Up, Scotty” in ‘Star Trek’?
The popularized phrase supposedly comes from ‘Star Trek,’ but was it actually ever said in original series?
The 5 Best Places in the U.S. For a Cozy Fall Getaway, Ranked
These five places offer a mix of crisp fall weather, seasonal festivities, access to nature, and small-town charm. Here are the five best spots in the U.S. to visit in autumn.
The Polar Bear Once Kept at the Tower of London
The Tower of London was once home to lions, tigers, baboons, and yes—a polar bear whose presence caused city officials a fair amount of grief.
What Charles Dickens's 'A Tale of Two Cities' Gets Right About the French Revolution
How accurate is Charles Dickens’s "A Tale of Two Cities"? See what the novel gets right about the French Revolution—and where it takes some liberties.
6 Pieces of ‘Star Trek’ Technology That Eventually Became Real
From the communicator to touchscreens, 'Star Trek' predicted the future in surprisingly accurate ways.
5 of the Most Common Jobs in America 100 Years Ago
This Labor Day, we’re looking back at the culture of the 1920s. Here are five of the most common professions one century ago.
The Fatal Labor Disaster That Changed American Workplaces Forever
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 resulted in 146 deaths, and led to the creation of dozens of new workplace health and safety laws.
7 of the Strangest Things That Happened at World's Fairs
From incubator babies to a presidential assassination, these are some of the strangest and most disturbing things people would have seen at World's Fairs.
Quiz: Could You Pass an 8th-Grade Geography Test? We Bet You Can't
Test your geography knowledge against an average 13-year-old's with this geography quiz, fit for tweens and people of all ages looking to brush up on their geography skills.
The Ancient Civilization That Built With Seashells Instead of Stone
Long before modern concrete, Florida’s ancient Calusa kingdom built monumental islands, canals, and mounds entirely out of seashells.
Morgan Freeman's Favorite (and Least Favorite) Morgan Freeman Films
The actor referred to one of his films as a "nightmare."
Why Alexander Became Known as “the Great”
Ancient Greek king Alexander III of Macedon is best known as the moniker “the Great.”
Quiz: How Quickly Can You Name the One-Word ‘90s Movie Title?
How much of a ‘90s movie expert are you? Choose the one-word movie title by its definition.
The Book That Inspired George Harrison to Write "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
The idea for the Beatles classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" emerged when George Harrison tested out his interpretation of this classic Chinese text.
The School Band Freddie Mercury Formed Long Before Queen
Before performing in sold-out arenas around the globe, Mercury was part of a school band in which he was described as "the only real musician."































