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And no, mincemeat pies don’t necessarily contain meat these days.

The details of the story—both small and big—have been interpreted in different ways, some of which have no evidence at all.
Paul Anthony Jones|
No word on how Santa feels about the Jolly Green Giant’s appropriation of his trademark phrase.
Ellen Gutoskey|
These might actually be worth a comeback, even if they sound terrible. Here are five gross-sounding foods that deserve a second chance. People ate them at one point in history!
Ryan Menezes|

Government and Politics

People get a lot wrong about this secretive government agency.
Jake Rossen|
Do members of congress get paid during government shutdowns? And do they get free health insurance? Let’s get to the bottom of some common myths.
Ellen Gutoskey|
On November 5, people across Great Britain celebrate Guy Fawkes Night with bonfires and fireworks. But who was Guy Fawkes and why does he have a celebration named after him?
Claire Cock-Starkey|
From tragic factory fires to toxic food scandals, some safety laws we may take for granted today actually have some pretty unsettling backstories.
Colin Scanlon|
The WPA helped everyone from Jackson Pollock to Louise Nevelson.
Ellen Gutoskey|
These odd architectural features are remnants of a time when people had to pay if they wanted to look outside.
Tim Brinkhof|
The CIA's encrypted art sculpture has puzzled cryptographers for decades. The man with the answers is finally ready to clue them in.
Jake Rossen|
Fears of nuclear war led to a fleeting craze for fallout shelters stocked with crackers, body bags, and guns.
Jake Rossen|

Presidents

The White House took a special liking to the animal.
Jenny Cohen|
Jefferson’s tale of an encounter with a stranger sparked a saying that became pretty popular in the 19th century.
Paul Anthony Jones|
This quiz challenges you to name all the U.S. presidents as fast as possible.
Ellen Gutoskey|

War

Why go to war over gold or land when you could fight over lobsters and a severed ear instead?

Mystery

Test your knowledge of the classic films of Alfred Hitchcock and the behind-the-scenes facts.
Alexandria Ingham|
What really goes on in the Bermuda Triangle? Is it as mysterious and dangerous as we’re meant to believe? And could ocean farts be behind it all?
Jake Rossen|
The latest ‘Knives Out’ film is now playing in select theaters. Here are the five mystery books that clearly inspired writer-director Rian Johnson.
Michael Boyle|
Try to not finish these 15 short, fast-paced books in one weekend.
Sam Hindman|

Misconceptions

Don’t believe everything you hear while in the kitchen—even if it’s an old trick your grandma swears by.
Michele Debczak|
From blue balls to broken hymens, there’s a lot people don’t understand about sex.
Ellen Gutoskey|
The stories might sound interesting, but they’re not all necessarily the truth. Here are five misconceptions about how popular phrases were invented.
Ryan Menezes|
We all remember playing ‘The Oregon Trail’ on our old computers, but how accurate was that game to real life?
Meredith Danko|
Pop culture gets a fair bit wrong about higher education.
Stacy Conradt|

Royalty

Even if you’re not a noble, earning one of their titles doesn’t always require a royal wedding.
Lucas Reilly|
You’ll be happy these folks aren’t your relatives.
Shayna Murphy|
Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.
Colin Scanlon|

Civil Rights

William Shatner’s lip lock with Nichelle Nichols wasn't TV’s first interracial kiss, but it might have been the most controversial.
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