HISTORY

Vanderlei Lima getting attacked by Neil Horan at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

10 Scandals That Rocked the Summer Olympics

Though the Games are meant to foster a sense of unity among nations, they’ve seen their fair share of scandal—and even tragedy.

Can You Name the Famous Invention?

See if you know the history behind popular gadgets and inventions that made life easier.

The Man Who Saved the Skyscraper

Fazlur Khan and the idea that would turn architecture on its head.

A Brief History of Bagels

The bagel’s success is undeniable, but its path to breakfast dominance wasn’t straightforward.

Pablo Picasso's Old Guitarist | Art Institute Essentials Tour

9 Things You Might Not Know About Picasso’s ‘The Old Guitarist’

Don’t be deceived by this seemingly simple painting of a man and his instrument. Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist has secrets in its past and in its paint.

10 Sports Cut From The Olympics

If you’re looking forward to polo and tug of war at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, we have bad news for you.

Notre-Dame de Paris in a 19th-century illustration.

13 Facts About Notre-Dame Cathedral

The 800-plus-year-old Parisian cathedral has centuries of French history built into its stone. Here are 13 things you might not know about it.

10 Wild Facts About the 2000s

We’re taking a look back at some of the weird and WTF things that happened during the aughts in the latest episode of The List Show.

This is what Amelia Bedelia would picture.

Why Are They Called “Deviled Eggs” If There’s No Devil in Them?

Eggs aren’t the only things you can devil.

7 Conspiracy Theories About Marilyn Monroe

The first conspiracy theory about the actress popped up a couple of years after her death—and many others have gained traction since.

There’s the Rub: How One Murder Victim’s Risqué Grave Became a French Fertility Icon

Victor Noir was killed by a Bonaparte. These days, he’s more famous for something else.

10 Facts About Madame Clicquot, the Queen of a Champagne Dynasty

Ahead of the release of ‘Widow Clicquot’ on July 19, here are some facts about the “Grande Dame of Champagne.”

Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win.

Watch Jesse Owens Win Four Golds at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany

The Black track star smoked the competition to win a record-setting four gold medals, making a mockery of Adolf Hitler’s belief in Aryan supremacy.

The Radcliffe Camera at the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

10 of the Oldest Universities in the World That Are Still Operating

While many of these hallowed halls have gone through changes over the years, they remain among the oldest universities still operating.

The Evolution of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’

‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ is a fairy tale with a long history. But Goldilocks as we know her didn‘t originally appear in the popular children‘s story.

Ancient Romans were the first to adopt the practice.

Why Do Brides Carry Bouquets?

You’d be laughed out of the wedding party for suggesting garlic for a bridal bouquet today, but it used to be pretty common.

10 Great Olympics Movies

From ice skating comedies to wrestling tragedies, Tinseltown skillfully draws upon the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.

10 Fascinating Facts About ‘The Call of the Wild’

Jack London amassed more than 600 rejections and endured a frigid Yukon winter before he found success thanks to ‘The Call of the Wild’—which also got him accused of plagiarism.

10 Fabulous Ancient Tombs

From King Tut’s treasure-stuffed tomb to one of the world's oldest human burial sites, these ancient resting places sent their occupants to the afterlife in style.

Barry Bremen fooled 'em all. For a moment or two.

The Counterfeit Athlete: Barry Bremen, the Man Who Pretended to Be an MLB, NBA, and NFL All-Star

Bremen, a life insurance salesman from Detroit, specialized in impersonating greatness.

You’ve likely heard at least one tale that starts with the line.

Why So Many Stories Begin With ‘Once Upon a Time’

‘Once Upon a Time’ appears in many fairy tales and stories. The phrase has a long history and a practical narrative purpose.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will open in July in Paris (barring war or a pandemic).

6 Times the Olympics Have Been Postponed or Canceled

Since 1896, when the modern Olympic Games began, the event has been disrupted only six times—and it usually required a war.

Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Albert Camus.

What 3 Famous Thinkers Said About the Meaning of Life

“What is the meaning of life?” is simultaneously one of the oldest questions in philosophy and a relatively new concept. Here’s what Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Albert Camus had to say on the matter.

Theodore Roosevelt was all about Big Stick Diplomacy.

When Theodore Roosevelt Urged Americans to “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick”

Roosevelt launched one of his most famous sayings at the Minnesota State Fair in September 1901—just two weeks before he became president.

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