All Stories

Catching a kid picking their nose isn’t too unusual, but have you ever wondered what makes them want to actually eat their boogers? Discover more about the science behind mucophagy and its enduring appeal to youngsters.

The albatross visits the Mariner and his crew in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," as illustrated in 1876 by Gustave Doré.

‘Having an albatross around your neck’ means “facing an inescapable burden.” As for where the phrase originated, you can thank classic literature.

The cover of the book ‘The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies.’

Here’s how to steer a predictable discussion about teamwork and manners to one on sex and panda discrimination.

One in five people give up before solving the puzzle.

Antacids have a surprisingly rich history of catchy ad slogans.

Discover the most memorable advertising slogans that stuck with us. How many have you uttered without even realizing it?

Artist's concept of red giant triggering thermonuclear reaction in white dwarf.

If you missed this year's total solar eclipse, this is your chance to see another once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.

When we promise to honor a commitment, it's a "rain check." And yes, it originally had something to do with the weather.

Vintage Chatty Cathy toy doll TV Commercial 1960's

Remember when Mr. Potato Head was just an actual, edible potato with stuff you'd stick into him? And “Captain Action” promised to be any superhero you could afford the clothes for?

'Organic' doesn't necessarily mean 'healthy.'

To be certified as organic, farmers can’t use prohibited synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or hormones for three full years before applying. Further, any animals they have must be raised on organic foods.

Shakespeare is the source of a lot of words.

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.

A 14th-century illustration from 'The Book of the Hunt.'

Medieval dog names ran the gamut from 'Argument' to 'Feete.'

Four American soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland in 1942.

Here's how 'Roger' came to mean "received" (and how 'wilco' fits in).

‘Jaws’ changed the summer movie season when it premiered in 1975.

From ‘Jaws’ to ‘Barbie,’ here are the biggest summer blockbusters since 1974.

Don't let this sweet face fool you: Arctic foxes eat anything that moves.

Adorable Arctic foxes will eat anything they can catch on the snowy tundra.

When “Midnight’s Children” was released in 1981, The New York Times pronounced that “the literary map of India is about to be redrawn.” Here’s what you should know about the novel that introduced the authorial voice of Salman Rushdie.

A stained-glass window at the Coats Observatory near Glasgow, Scotland, depicts William Herschel.

In 1781, William Herschel looked through his telescope and saw Uranus.

Some states try to look out for workers. Others actually set minimums below the federal rate.

From the cars to the fashion, a lot has changed in the Windy City.

Some decaf coffee contains trace amounts of a carcinogen. Should we be worried?

The microscopic “moss piglets” may be the hardiest creatures on Earth—and anywhere else.

You may not have given it much thought in the past, but you've most definitely seen a single shoe hanging around the side of the road. How did it get there?