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Edgar Allan Poe's Cipher Challenge

Edgar Allan Poe loved ciphers—and in 1841, "The Raven" author issued a cipher-related challenge.

Chernobyl's nuclear power plant is in crisis.

Chernobyl Has Lost Power in Ukraine, Raising Concerns Over Escaping Radiation

It’s a development that could potentially have serious repercussions for Europe.

Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's Most Successful—And Least Known—Wife

Anne of Cleves escaped a joyless family, avoided an unhappy marriage, and jumped at the chance to live her best life.

The World's Tallest Outdoor Elevator Takes Riders Through the Mountains That Inspired 'Avatar'

The world's tallest outdoor elevator takes riders through China's Zhangjiajie National Forest, which inspired the floating mountains in 'Avatar.'

Why Is It Called ‘Plastic’ Surgery?

Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery’s name origin has nothing to do with breast implants being made of plastic.

Over the course of its history, chocolate has gone from a sacred beverage to a sweet treat.

A Brief History of Chocolate

Chocolate’s worldwide popularity streak has lasted centuries, but it wasn’t always the sweet, easily accessible treat we know today.

A Brief History of Sea-Monkeys

You probably had Sea-Monkeys as a kid without knowing what they were or where they came from. The short version? Sea-Monkeys were a get-rich-quick scheme that actually got someone rich quick—but the long version is worth sticking around for.

Your favorite condiments have unusual origins.

A Brief History of Ketchup and Mustard

How did ketchup and mustard—two condiments with thousands of years of history between them—become associated with hot dogs and hamburgers?

Kids couldn't get enough of the Garbage Pail Kids—no matter how gross the cards were.

The Snot-Soaked History of the Garbage Pail Kids

Garbage Pail Kids were a smash hit, but they also drew intense criticism from concerned parents—and renowned ocean diver Jacques Cousteau.

8 Misconceptions About Dreams

Can cheese really give you nightmares? And why do you keep dreaming that you're back in high school? We get to the bottom of eight misconceptions about dreams.

A Brief History of Satanic Panic

Satanic Panic was a phenomenon that swept North America, and the mass hysteria grew to include Oprah, the Smurfs, and even McDonald’s.

A Brief History of Ramen

If the first thing you picture when you hear ramen is a precooked block that comes with a flavor packet, you can thank Momofuku Ando. And World War II ... and the Yakuza crime syndicate.

Franz Reichelt is now remembered as the "flying tailor."

14 Experiments Gone Wrong

From psychological studies that would never pass ethical muster in the present day to disastrous new product launches, here are some experiments that went horrifically wrong.

Nothing to see here—just a baby in a cage hanging out a window, taking in the air!

24 Puzzling Parenting Tips From the 1800s

A lot has changed between the 19th century and today, but one thing that hasn't is the plethora of available parenting advice—though the following tips would likely make today's parents scratch their chins.

Holding a bingo game without the correct permit in North Carolina could get you in trouble.

19 Weird Laws You Might Have Broken

Have you handled fish in "suspicious circumstances," or kept your prescription medication in something other than its prescription bottle? Depending on where you are, you might have broken one of many strange laws on the books.

Flipping the pages of a book may trigger ASMR in some people.

22 Fascinating Facts About ASMR

Here's what you need to know about the brain-tingling phenomenon ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.

21 Ways School Was Different a Century Ago

School has come a long way since the 19th and 20th centuries. From corporal punishment to lunch to recess, here are just a few ways school was different a century ago.

Mykyta Dolmatov // iStock via Getty Images Plus

7 Scientific Mysteries

Scientific mysteries continue to stump experts in fields ranging from meteorology to medicine. Here are a few strange things science still hasn't figured out.

Clockwise from left: Gilbert Stuart's unfinished portrait of George Washington on the $1 bill; Basilica de la Sagrada Familia; a page from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales; Boldt Castle; Reactors 5 and 6 at Chernobyl; and the National Monument of Scotland.

13 Unbelievable Unfinished Projects

Famous presidential portraits, literary masterpieces, and iconic tourist destinations all make the list of amazing unfinished projects.

Shutterstock/Nana_Studio (stack of photos); Hulton Archive/Getty Images (parade)

4 Ways Amusement Parks of the Past Were Not So Amusing

Today's amusement parks have long lines, loud rides, and obnoxious patrons—but amusement parks of yore were far worse. They were bloody, sexist, racist, and basically a hellish mess.

Use your culinary skills and your knowledge of where these terms came from to impress in the kitchen.

The Unexpected Origins of 20 Culinary Terms

The backstories behind some words and phrases we use when cooking and eating, from 'amuse-bouche' to 'umami' and beyond.

jodiecoston // iStock via Getty Images Plus

A Brief History of Fruitcake

Though fruitcake may be the butt of a lot of jokes, there’s a reason it secured its place in our cultural firmament.

Candy corn wasn't always associated with Halloween.

How Candy Corn Became a Halloween Staple

Whether you view a piece of candy corn as a nostalgic treat or a cloying nugget of disappointment, you can’t deny its place in the Halloween season. Here's how it got there.

A Brief History of Pickles

From ancient Mesopotamia to New York deli counters, pickles have played a vital role in the global culinary scene. But where do pickles come from, and how did the cucumber become the standard-issue pickling vegetable in the States?

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