CULTURE

The woman above is technically a maiko, or young geisha in training.

Why You’re Not Allowed to Photograph Geisha in Japan

Japan’s geisha are experts in their field, but they’re often treated like tourist attractions. Learn why Kyoto officials have had to crack down on tourist photos.

Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Eurythmics all turned down Live Aid.

10 Artists Who Refused to Play Live Aid

From pop royalty to prog-rock gods, here are the household names who decided against showing up to the July 13, 1985 event.

Personal injury attorneys help keep up a system of legal checks and balances.

12 Secrets of Personal Injury Attorneys

Injured and need help? Here's why you actually want a billboard lawyer—and why you really, really don't want a big settlement.

Up in the Air: When ‘Balloon Boy’ Took Flight

In 2009, the world was captivated by a little boy seemingly trapped in a runaway aircraft. As a new Netflix documentary reveals, the truth was a lot stranger.

It's more than just a decorative choice.

Why Do So Many Porches in the South Have Blue Ceilings?

It’s not a coincidence that so many porch ceilings are often painted blue in the South, and the history of why is even more fascinating.

Most firework shows feature an array of different effects.

10 Dazzling Fireworks Effects You Should Know

Many of the fireworks you’re familiar with also have pretty common names. When in doubt, assume a display is named for a flower or animal.

The Best Offbeat Museum to Visit in All 50 States

We love museums devoted to art, history, and science as much as the next person—but sometimes, our curiosity demands quirkier territory.

in H.T. Opsahl's classroom, bad kids faced serious repercussions.

H.T. Opsahl, History’s Worst High School Teacher

In 1924, H.T. Opsahl sentenced disruptive kids to a high-voltage electric chair. Parents were not amused. Discover more about the origins of one of history's worst high school teachers here.

Exploring an ice cave in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park.

10 Hidden Gem UNESCO World Heritage Sites Worth Visiting

From waterfalls in Argentina to old-growth trees in Japan, these under-the-radar destinations deserve a spot on your bucket list.

These throwback scents still put us in another time and place.

7 Discontinued Perfumes From the ‘90s and ‘00s That Smelled Amazing

From retired Victoria’s Secret perfumes to fragrances from Calvin Klein and others, these discontinued scents will always be great for a nostalgia trip.

The seal of Anthony Comstock’s New York Society for the Suppression of Vice.

The Moral Policeman: Anthony Comstock’s War on Sex in 1800s New York

Anthony Comstock would stop at nothing to rid the world of explicit photos, birth control, and anything else he deemed a threat to morals.

Get ready to welcome summer, however you see fit.

15 Facts About the Summer Solstice

In 2025, the summer solstice will fall on Friday, June 20. Here are some fascinating facts to celebrate the celestial occasion.

'The Garden Party' by Johann Michael Kupfer.

15 Forgotten Summertime Activities We Need To Bring Back

Ditch your TV, shut down social media, and go outside to try these summer activities from yesteryear.

Villa Baviera was originally a Germany colony known as Colonia Dignidad.

10 Failed Utopias

Inspiring to imagine but nightmarish to live in, these failed communes have become cautionary tales in hubris and ego.

Linz, Austria, isn‘t a popular travel destination, but it should be.

The Top 20 Under-the-Radar Travel Destinations in Europe

Escape the crowds this summer by exploring Europe’s hidden gems—from the artsy city of Linz, Austria, to the medieval time capsule of Carcassonne, France.

Everything You Need to Know About Labubu

Labubu dolls are more than fashion charms—they‘re rare art collectibles with a cult following.

5 Defunct Calendars

Cultures throughout history have come up with their own unique ways to track the days, months, and seasons.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

A mural titled ‘The Security of the People’ by Seymour Fogel, illustrating the values and programs put forth by the New Deal.

10 New Deal Programs We Now Take For Granted

Nearly 100 years after the Great Depression, Americans are still benefiting from New Deal programs—and their protections and entitlements have become such a part of the social fabric that we often take them for granted. Here are just a few.

Each State’s Most Popular Baby Names, Mapped

See which names your state's new parents chose most often in 2024.

When People Thought Paul From ‘The Wonder Years’ Grew Up to Be Marilyn Manson

Kids in the ’90s swore geeky Paul became shock rocker Marilyn Manson. Did he?

A night at the museum is closer than you may think.

9 Museums Where You Can Spend the Night

If you ever dreamed of being Ben Stiller in “Night at the Museum”, we’ve got the next best thing.

The Greggs sausage roll is the first food wax figure at Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds London Will Display a Wax Sausage Roll Alongside Its Celebrities

A sausage roll is stealing the spotlight at Madame Tussauds, marking a tasty first for the famous wax museum.

Fortunately, the tooth fairy doesn't actually pull teeth.

The Strange Origins of the Tooth Fairy

While the Tooth Fairy herself may be surprisingly modern, the bits of folklore that went into her creation are hundreds of years old.