All Stories

The rich history of the English language is full of similar directional words that are cool but uncommon, like ‘pancakewards,’ ‘couchward,’ and ‘pocketwards.’

The comic teased that we may not have seen the last of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer.

Scientists investigated whether Ouija Boards could speak for those beyond the veil.

Some 19th-century scientists embraced psychical research, while others tried to debunk the sensational stories.

It’s a fun website for people who aren’t comfortable enough with a soldering iron to DIY a real stained glass window.

The answer lies in their chromosomal makeup.

The cover of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’

The true facts surrounding the classic work are as mysterious and intriguing as the novel itself.

LEGO’s new bricks in honor of Blindness Awareness Month form braille symbols with the toy’s classic studs.

Still from 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951) beside illustration of a theremin.

The theremin—a spooky instrument that scored the biggest sci-fi films of the 1950s—was invented by accident.

Technically, the most cost-efficient time is December 26. But your kids probably won't like that.

Can you get out of the country in one day? Yes, but it won't be pleasant.

The cover of Emily Wilson’s translation of ‘The Iliad.’

This all-new translation of the Homer epic is six years in the making.

‘Avocado’ doesn’t mean what you think it means.

‘Avocado’ comes to us from Nahuatl—and it doesn’t mean what you might think it means.

When you have to grab everyday stuff, Amazon Basics makes it a little easier.

If you need to stock up on affordable essentials for the house, Amazon Basics products are great—and now they're on sale for October Prime Day.

'The Exorcist' arrived in theaters the day after Christmas in 1973—and promptly traumatized audiences.

Thousands of moviegoers rushed to theaters to experience ‘The Exorcist’ in 1973—and many left just as quickly when the scares proved too much to handle.

All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

Exeter Cathedral in England has had cats on the payroll since the 14th century.

Ghost words have nothing to do with otherworldly apparitions, but they’re enough to scare the headwords off lexicographers.

For decades, a man dressed head to toe in leather moved through Connecticut and New York. Who was he, and what did he want?

The Ouija board has terrified countless slumber party children and served as a plot vehicle in a number of Hollywood films. Here’s where it came from.

Almost every country has its own cryptid, from giant bats in Java to enormous water hounds in Ireland.

You, too, could be dreaming about these cookies.

Taylor Swift once shared recipes for two different versions of her chai sugar cookies—here are both.

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the family-friendly characters that normally populate Universal Studios are replaced with killer clowns and chainsaw-wielding maniacs.

The ‘phone phreakers’ of the 1960s and 1970s indirectly led to the tech boom of today.

Carving pumpkins is one of the most famous Halloween traditions.

Love Halloween costumes and spooky decorations? Let’s dig a little deeper and learn the creepy stories behind the holiday's traditions, from carving pumpkins to munching on candy corn.

21 Old and Odd Directional Words

Jerry Seinfeld Hints That “Something“ Is Happening When Asked About a ‘Seinfeld’ Reunion

8 Victorian Scientists Who Investigated Ghosts

Design Your Own Virtual Stained Glass Window on This Interactive Website

Why Do Most Lemons Have Seeds, While Most Limes Don’t?

11 Strange Facts About ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde’

LEGO’s New Braille Bricks Are Here—Just in Time for Blindness Awareness Month

Audio Invasion: How the Theremin Went From Soviet Labs to Hollywood

The Best Time to Buy a Christmas Tree

How to Get a Same-Day Passport

A New Translation of ’The Iliad’ Is Bringing a Truer Ancient Greece to Modern Readers

11 Common English Words That Come From Native American Languages

These October Prime Day Deals on Amazon Basics Products Are Great if You Want to Save on Essentials

Watch Moviegoers’ Terrified Reactions to ’The Exorcist’ When It Premiered in 1973

What’s the Kennection? #83

A Cathedral in England Is Home to One of the World's Oldest Cat Doors

9 Fake Words That Ended Up in the Dictionary

The Eerie Legend of the ‘Old Leatherman,’ Connecticut’s Silent Wanderer

A Brief History of the Ouija Board

16 Cryptids That Might (Or Might Not) Exist

How to Make Taylor Swift’s Famous Chai Cookies With Cinnamon Eggnog Icing

10 Facts About Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios

How Phone Hackers Paved the Way for Apple

15 Spooky Halloween Traditions and Their Origins