All Stories

A bride and groom exchanging wedding rings.

For years, couples have dedicated that finger to romance when any other digit would do.

Some exciting changes might be coming to Wendy‘s.

Wendy’s may be taking a page from the McDonald’s and Dairy Queen playbooks in the coming months.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, home of the Lion Rock Fortress, ranks number one on the list.

Planning a vacation? Check out these friendly destinations.

The Chimborazo hillstar is native to the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia.

An ornithologist discovered a hummingbird “hive” in Ecuador‘s High Andes—a major departure for the solitary animals.

Today, Amber Valley looks like any number of small, rural communities, but a couple dilapidated log cabins hint at what was once the northernmost all-Black settlement in the world.

A portrait of the Hatfield family, sworn enemies of the McCoys.

If you have a disagreement with your neighbor today, you might head to small-claims court. In 19th-century rural America, such disputes were often solved with the business end of a gun.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Skylab 2 commander Peter Conrad attempts to take a shower aboard the spacecraft in 1973.

Here on Earth, we tend to take showering for granted. But getting clean isn’t so easy without the force of gravity helping you out.

Nurse Agnes from Uganda’s Bwindi Community Hospital prepares a vaccination against measles.

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.

From the box office bomb he loved to the job he got by kicking Fonzie through a window, Hanks’s filmography is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.

Being in a carrier is not usually a cat’s favorite activity.

It doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience.

Misconception No. 4 : It snows a lot.

Robert Kennicott, pictured against Alaska’s Kennicott Glacier, was a key figure in the Smithsonian’s formative years.

In 1866, Kennicott was found dead near the Yukon River. It would be 150 years before anyone knew why.

Many alligators were found in Alachua County‘s sewage system.

Alligators living in the sewers isn’t just an urban legend.

This map caused a stir in the early 2000s.

From a U.S. map with only 38 states to a probable hoax, these maps definitely had geographers buzzing.

See if you can decipher this twisted tune.

It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

The names of all three of these folks have gotten the adjective treatment.

From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.

“Gaslighting“ is the most commonly searched term in the U.S.

If you’ve ever looked up the definition of “gaslighting,” you’re not alone.

These coffee-flavored marshmallows kick the classic recipe up a notch.

How a largely forgotten U.S. president became a South American idol.

A detail of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Sick Child,’ a portrait of his sister who died of tuberculosis at age 15.

Tuberculosis may seem like a historic malady, but it’s still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Here’s what you need to know about its past and current outbreaks.

A memorable song can elevate a movie from good to great.

The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.

Why Are Wedding Rings Worn on the Left Hand?

The Wendy’s Frosty May Be Getting a McFlurry-Inspired Upgrade

The 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth

Hummingbirds Found Nesting Together in Groups in Surprising First

The Forgotten History of Amber Valley, Canada’s Northernmost Black Settlement

4 Bloody Family Feuds in American History

Definition Detective Quiz #26

How Do Astronauts Shower in Space?

7 Facts About Measles

15 of Tom Hanks’s Best Movies

How to Load Your Cat Into a Carrier

5 Misconceptions About Antarctica

Death of a Scientist: The Mysterious Demise of Smithsonian Pioneer Robert Kennicott

At Least One Florida Sewage System Is Swimming With Alligators, Study Shows

3 Controversial Maps From History

Tune Twist Quiz #29

Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?

11 People Whose Names Became Adjectives

The Word Definitions Each Country Looks Up the Most, Mapped

Wake Up And Smell These Fluffy Espresso Marshmallows

Rutherford B. Hayes, National Hero of Paraguay

12 Facts About Tuberculosis, the Victorian “Robber of Youth”

Can You Guess the Oscar-Winning Song Based on the Lyrics?

Where Did the Saying ‘Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb’ Come From?