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Why Do We Call Someone a “One-Trick Pony”?

Maligning ponies has become a go-to way to dismiss someone. How did that happen?

Sleeping naked might improve your sleep quality.

Should You Sleep in the Nude? Here’s What the Experts Say

Sleeping in your birthday suit may feel good, but is it good for you?

Rosa Parks is fingerprinted by a Montgomery, Alabama, police officer after being arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.

11 Peaceful Protests and Their Historic Results

Civil disobedience and nonviolent protests have moved mountains. Here are just a few examples of when people took back power.

Why Do Bridesmaids Traditionally Wear the Same Dress?

Bridesmaid traditions can get pretty bizarre, but the real reason behind why they usually wear the same dress is perhaps the most fascinating of all.

7 of the Most Valuable Vintage Pyrex Dishes That Are Worth Collecting

The patterns on these vintage Pyrex dishes aren’t just eye-catching—they also make this classic kitchenware extremely valuable among collectors.

American officials exchanged Soviet spy Rudolf Abel for the American U-2 spyplane pilot Francis Gary Powers in the 1962 “Bridge of Spies” transfer.

How a Nickel and a Paperboy Brought Down a Cold War Spy

Soviet spy Rudolf Abel might have never been caught were it not for a Russian turncoat and a newspaper delivery boy who thought he’d been stiffed.

10 Hoax Definitions, Paper Towns, and Other Things That Don’t Exist

Facts become very easy to copyright when they aren’t true. Here are people, places, and things that exist only on paper, solely to thwart would-be info burglars.

A fragment of the organic glass found inside the skull of the deceased individual in Herculaneum.

A Vesuvius Victim’s Brain Turned into Glass, and Scientists Think They Know How

The Herculaneum resident, killed by the volcanic eruption in 79 CE, presents the only known vitrified brain on Earth. Now, researchers have a theory for how it happened.

You must be a lucky one of you find a four-leaf clover.

Why Are Four-Leaf Clovers Considered Lucky?

While the shamrock mainly has religious ties, the four-leaf clover—often mistaken for the same plant—is often associated with luck. We explain why.

8 Common Fears You (Probably) Don't Need to Worry About

There are things we’re all a little (or lot) afraid of, but the numbers tell us we don’t need to be. Read on for more statistically soothing details about some of the most common, but not commonly occurring, concerns.

Can You Solve This Old-Timey Riddle? #27

The riddle below dates back to the 19th century—can you figure it out?

March’s weather is notoriously volatile.

Why Do We Say March ‘Comes In Like a Lion, Goes Out Like a Lamb’?

It’s one of the most common weather idioms. But what do lions and lambs even have to do with the month of March?

15 Gene Hackman Quotes

Here are some bon mots the actor and author said over the years, on everything from how he chose his projects to the joys of writing.

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War from 1961 to 1989.

11 Chilling Facts About the Cold War

The U.S. and USSR employed spies, quelled internal dissent, made allies abroad, and stockpiled nuclear weapons in this proxy war.

Why Are Brown LEGO Bricks So Brittle?

LEGO bricks are notorious for being indestructible, but one color is an exception.

This island may look mysterious, but it isn’t a phantom island.

8 Mysterious Phantom Islands

Old maps are littered with islands that have vanished. What happened to these strange and unexplainable lost lands? Did they ever exist in the first place?

The ‘Eagle’ has (crash-) landed: The Andrée expedition’s balloon on the ground on Kvitøya, Svalbard.

The Disastrous North Pole Balloon Mission of 1897

Swedish engineer Salomon August Andrée and two companions wanted to fly a hydrogen balloon over the North Pole. Their Arctic mission didn’t go as planned.

The 10 Best States to Move to for a Fresh Start

New York, California, and Texas come out on top.

Definition Detective Quiz #27

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

What Happens When an Astronaut Gets Sick in Space?

Sick astronauts on a space mission can’t just pop down to Earth to see a doctor. Here’s how they deal with bumps, bruises, and worse.

Next time, there won't be any need to panic.

What Do These 18 Common Car Dashboard Symbols Actually Mean?

When something goes wrong with your car, a curious-looking icon illuminates on the dashboard. But what those symbols mean isn’t always obvious.

The Equal Rights Amendment is the best-known Constitutional amendment that is not yet part of the Constitution.

6 Constitutional Amendments That Just Missed the Cut

Since 1789, Congress has sent 33 constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. Here’s the scoop on the six amendments that didn't make the grade.

Mr Payback, An Interactive Movie (1995) trailer [FTD-0013]

The ’90s Flop That Billed Itself as “the First Interactive Movie”

‘Mr. Payback’ might not have set the box office alight, but it did at least try to pioneer a new form of entertainment.

How One Pilot’s Sweet Tooth Helped Defeat Communism

The code name for the American mission: Operation Little Vittles.

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