Austin Thompson

Joined: Jun 27, 2014

Austin is a researcher and app developer from Albuquerque. Despite that, he only knows two extras from Breaking Bad.

You'd be surprised about a few of these theories.

Why Are Red and Green the Colors of Christmas?

For a time, people couldn’t make up their minds.

The Debate Behind How to Number a President

The Surprising History Behind 5 Popular Halloween Costumes

Korneeva_Kristina/iStock/Getty Images Plus

10 of the Best-Selling Books in History (Minus Religious Texts)

In the winter of 1861, former president Franklin Pierce found himself accused of treason.

The Bizarre Story Behind How Franklin Pierce Was Accused of Treason

An anonymous letter supposedly from a member of a secret society claimed that Franklin Pierce was involved in treasonous activities against the American government—an accusation that infuriated the former president.

What the @%$!! is the oldest known curse word?

What‘s the Oldest Curse Word in English?

The four-letter words that still have the power to offend took a circuitous route out of our mouths and into our language.

Shakespeare is the source of a lot of words.

21 Words Created by Shakespeare (And 4 That Weren’t)

Shakespeare is the first known citation for over a thousand words and even more meanings—but new research occasionally shows that Shakespeare actually didn't originate some phrases, a trend that will likely continue over time.

How Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials Got Their Names

Discover how the different generation names for Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials came to be.

Before you start pranking, read up on where April Fools’ Day might have come from.

The Hazy Origins of April Fools’ Day

The origins of April Fools’ Day have long been caught up in myths and legends involving everything from mackerels to calendar switches.

6 Conspiracy Theories That Turned Out to Be True

Humans love conspiracy theories, and always have—there’s even evidence that ancient Romans had a few. But with the advent of the internet, they seem to be everywhere. And some of them are actually true.

18 Fascinating Facts About the Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a foundational moment in American history—and it was not without controversy. Honor its 250th anniversary with these surprising facts.

There’s no denying how cute red pandas are.

12 Facts About Red Pandas

Red pandas have always lived in the shadow of the other, more famous panda. But now it’s time to give them their due.

10 Scientific Benefits of Being a Cat Owner

Studies have shown that just watching cat videos on the internet can boost a person’s energy and create positive emotions—so it’s no surprise that actual cat ownership has a number of benefits. Here are a few.

James Patterson, Barbara Cartland, and Mao Zedong are all bestselling authors.

10 of the Best-Selling Authors of All Time

Whether it's Mao Zedong or Leo Tolstoy, these authors probably deserve a place on an all-time top-selling list (caveats abound!).

Learn more about the traditions behind Passover.

12 Things You Might Not Know About Passover

The festival of Passover (or Pesach) commemorates the story of the Jews' escape from Egypt—and is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar.

It's easy to make a case for The Nile as the longest river in the world, but measuring a river isn't that easy.

What Is the Longest River in the World?

It’s an issue so complicated that river length isn't even considered a useful measure anymore.