Arthur Conan Doyle credited him by name for decades, but the detective he built out of him called him a very inferior fellow.

ALL STORIES
Learn what causes static electricity, why it's worse in cold weather, and how to prevent painful shocks.
Take a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s with seven iconic fall smells, from Halloween candy and baked goods to overpowering perfumes and cool autumn air.
From Dracula's castle to the hotel that inspired Stephen King's 'The Shining,' these real places inspired some of the most famous horror stories of all time.
The phrase "turn over a new leaf" didn't originally refer to the kind of leaves you find on trees. Here's where it really comes from.
Ghosts and ghouls are actually very different. Here's a little about the history of each of these creatures, and the etymology of their names.
How well do you know Halloween specials? We're putting you to the test.
Where do educators thrive? Discover the best and worst states for teachers in 2026 based on income growth potential, student-teacher ratios, and per-student public school spending.
These '90s films capture the essence of a cozy fall so well that it's become tradition to watch them each year when the leaves change.
The origin of the phrase "steal someone's thunder" comes from an incident involving a stolen invention on the London stage in 1709.
Readers couldn’t get enough of the novel, but critics had a lot to say about its flaws.
The creators of 'Gilmore Girls' based the setting of Stars Hollow on a real Connecticut town that they visited and fell in love with.
Trick or treat was very literal, and costumes were inspired by beloved books and timeless spooky figures.
Think you know all of John Steinbeck's books? Let's put that to the test with the latest quiz.
Only two episodes of the BBC's legendary horror anthology series "Late Night Horror" have ever been found.
Pumpkin patches, hayrides, and farmers’ markets, oh my!
Give your rhyming skills a whirl! See how many words that rhyme with "bed" you can list with this quiz.
From biltong to pemmican, these hardy foods have kept armies alive through grueling conditions and have outlasted droughts, famines, and many other disasters.
These eerie lines set the tone for a haunting spooky season.