All Stories

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?

From health trends to the evolution of marketing, we can learn a lot about American culture from the history of breakfast cereal.

Mad magazine gave us Alfred E. Neuman and Spy vs. Spy and made irreverent, anti-establishment humor a thing. Here's what you need to know about 'Mad.'

Why do voices crack and pimples flare up during puberty? When do boys go through puberty, and when do girls experience it? Read on for pivotal facts you should know about puberty.

When the Titanic sank in April 1912, its architect, Thomas Andrews, went down with it.

From the inventor who disappeared along with the lighthouse he designed to the daredevil whose contraptions vaulted him to fame then cut his life short, these are the sad stories of inventors killed by their own inventions.

Al Capone got the scars that gave him his Scarface moniker in a barroom brawl.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 17, 1899, to Italian immigrants Gabriele and Teresa, Alphonse Capone would go on to become one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. Here’s what you need to know about the man known as Scarface.

These kings and queens held the throne for decades.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown—and no one wore that headpiece longer than the men and women on this list.

Prince Philip at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, England in 1980.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and consort of Queen Elizabeth II, was the longest-lived male royal.

Allegations of an affair led to a series of threatening letters that puzzled authorities in Ohio for years.

For years, residents in and around Circleville, Ohio were plagued by a mysterious letter writer who seemed to know their darkest secrets. Death followed.

Kerouacs First Draft Of Seminal Book "On The Road" Displayed

Many of Jack Kerouac's novels drew details from his own life. Here's what you need to know about the author of 'On the Road.'

Some of these predictions came true in such eerie detail that you have to wonder though whether fiction is as fictitious as it claims.

US Army Signal Corps, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

The Japanese-American regiment that served during WWII received thousands of honors—but most just said they were doing their duty.

A collage of news clippings related to the Clementine Barnabet murders

Did Clementine Barnabet, priestess of a strange sacrificial cult, bludgeon seven families to death with an ax?

Why call him a drunkard when you could call him a borachio?

If you’ve ever wanted to talk like a 17th century swindler, these terms from 'A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew' give you your chance.

Goldfish appeal to pet owners around the world.

On the final day of the typical office workweek, many employers give their workers the opportunity to dress down and loosen the rules on the standard dress code.

From how long a "hoax" like the Apollo 11 moon landing could actually stay a secret to the conspiracy theory involving Queen Elizabeth I, here are the actual facts you need to know about conspiracy theories.

Arthur Rothstein, Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

It was a disaster of mankind’s own making—and as it raged on, people piped up with some wild ideas about how to put an end to it.

What makes a crime a hate crime? Legally speaking, it's largely a question of the offender's motivation.

After a long, snowy winter, it’s hard to resist the allure of warm summer days. Of course, they can come at a cost—including a sunburn. While it’s a well-known advisory for humans to slather on that SPF before taking in the rays, what about animals?

An aerial view of Australia's Heart Reef.

From an island infested with snakes to a vault holding a very special secret recipe, these dangerous, mysterious, or otherwise forbidden places are off-limits to the public.