HISTORY

Chloe Effron, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.5

6 Practical Ways Romans Used Human Urine and Feces in Daily Life

The emperor Vespasian reportedly defended his tax on urine by saying "pecunia non olet"—money doesn’t stink.

Jere Keys, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

7 Famous Death Masks That Had Lives of Their Own

Once a common type of memorial, death masks have been used in science, art, and beyond.

Is This the Coldest and Windiest Intersection in North America?

Neil Young sang so, so probably.

25 Things You Should Know About Vienna

14. Get your waltz on at one of the more than 450 balls taking place in the Austrian city annually.

Wild Ride: When President Eisenhower Stopped to Pick Up Hitchhikers

“I thought we’d give you a lift,” he told one surprised airman.

When You Needed a Prescription for Alcohol

Prohibition may have banned booze, but there was one way you could legally imbibe back then.

Show & Tell: Wanted Posters from 19th Century Nova Scotia

A scrapbook that gives us a snapshot of the way the international pursuit of criminals functioned during the Victorian era.

9 Things You Might Not Know About Uncle Sam

He might have been named for a meat packer.

Watch Conservationists Restore This 130-Year-Old Samurai Doll

A behind-the-scenes look at a delicate restoration of a rare 19th century artifact.

25 Things You Should Know About Reykjavik

17. There aren't any McDonald's restaurants in the country—but a six-year-old Mickey D's cheeseburger is kept, under glass, at a Reykjavik hostel.

Why Some People Thought the World Might End on March 10, 1982

On March 10, 1982, a certain facet of people were bracing for a series of global disasters—earthquakes, tidal waves, and violent storms—that they believed would be caused by an alignment of all nine planets.

11 Plucky Moments in the History of Eyebrow Grooming

They may not have been able to articulate it, but people have been trying to get their eyebrows on fleek for thousands of years.

CHLOE EFFRON // WIKIMEDIA COMMONS (PLUTARCH), ISTOCK (SMOKE)

13 Anger Management Tips From Ancient Philosophers

Avenger your father's murder ... but only if you can do it calmly.

Who Answers Sherlock Holmes's Fan Mail?

Podcaster and YouTuber Simon Whistler has cracked the case of who responds to Sherlock Holmes’s fan mail. (Spoiler: It's not Dr. Watson.)

Changing Your Pajamas: The Evolution of 7 Sleepwear Trends

Simple decorum isn't the only reason nightwear fashions have changed.

9 of History's Most Creative Political Insults

If you’re going to tear your rival a new one, at least use some imagination,

Many of the predictions made about the internet in 1996 were wildly accurate—and also quite funny.

29 Prescient Quotes About the Internet from 1996

"Ten years from now, America Online will have gone the way of the water-bed store." -Bruce R. Burningham

Why Don't We Ride Zebras Like Horses?

Why didn't humans tame zebras and ride them across the savanna?

25 Wild Facts About Wyoming

3. Wyoming elected the country's first female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross, in 1925.

Today in 1960, Elvis Concluded His Army Service (Video)

The press started with: "Did you get the black-eyed peas when you got home?"

David Nicholls via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

Robert Recorde, Inventor of the Equals Sign

Why did this brilliant mind end his days in prison?

A larger companion piece to this chest was mistakenly used as a household item.

9 Historical Treasures Unwittingly Used as Common Household Items

Just because an artifact is ancient or historically significant or even sought after for years doesn't mean its owner is aware of it.

At What Point Does a Novel Become Literature?

To understand the concept of literature, we have to travel back to the 18th century.

Alberto Alvarez-Perea via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

Kids' Books Have Gotten Longer Thanks to the 'Harry Potter Effect'

The average page length has increased by 115 percent in the past decade.

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