Famous Poems Read By Famous Men

Classic poems by Auden, Wordsworth, Keats, and the like are even more of a treat when recited in the rich and resonant tones of such actors as Alan Rickman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Words off a page have never felt so alive.

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The judges of the 2013 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition have picked some real winners. 

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Which fictional character shares your birthday?

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A single man, formerly a monk, has spent the past half-century building a 131-foot cathedral with his own hands, but advancing age and the lack of a building permit could put an end to all of that.

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Ernest Hemingway wasn’t known for a particularly playful sense of humor, but a newly published satirical short story from the writer’s early years might help change that.

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Certain “unisex” names, like Leslie, Casey, Stacy, and Riley have been batted back and forth between genders over the years; their spikes and slumps over time form a fascinating picture of how easily “boy names” and “girl names” can change.

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The men behind the bizarre Twitter account @horse_ebooks and the equally strange YouTube channel Pronunciation Book have stepped forward and pled guilty to performance art.

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An international panel of scientists has weighed in: it is “extremely likely” – and they are 95% sure – that humankind is predominantly to blame for rising global temperatures. Better start apologizing to the Earth now.

A Growing Movement of Scientists is Pushing for a Ban on Killer Robots. Separating human judgment from war is a recipe for disaster.

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17 Homes You’ve Seen On TV And What They Look Like Off-Screen. Not shown: the tourists who stop and take pictures.

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The Curious Case of the Law of the Tongue. When orcas help you hunt whales, it's only right to share the meat with them.

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The Hunt for Mexico’s Heirloom Beans. A return to rare and exotic bean varieties has made the humble legume cool.

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Why Restaurants Became So Loud—And How to Fight Back. An ambience designed for "buzz" and "energy" can damage your hearing.

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Should America Go Cash-Free? Digital money is convenient, but total reliance on banks comes with costs.

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10 Out-of-This-World Facts About Plan 9 From Outer Space. What made it a bad movie also made it a lot of fun.

Superman at 80: The Real Values of the Man of Steel. Action Comics #1000 celebrates the anniversary by reminding us of what the superhero is all about.

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North Carolina’s Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum. Detour your next road trip to enjoy this whimsical attraction.

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The Rise and Fall of the Hormel Girls, Who Sold America on SPAM. The drum and bugle corps made the act of eating canned meat feel patriotic.

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O Moldy Night: A Celebration of Molded Food. Outstanding dishes at an event in North Carolina ranged from the sublime to the disgusting.

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What It's Like To Be Latino In the U.S. The hyphen makes life difficult on both sides.

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A Real-life Lord of the Flies: the Troubling Legacy of the Robbers Cave Experiment. Muzafer Sherif manipulated boys at summer camp to hate each other in the 1950s, but they only learned the truth as elderly men.

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Ten Superstitions of Writers and Artists. They must have worked, since all these people became famous.

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On Pins and Needles: 11 Famous Knitters. The hobby never completely goes out of style.