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8 Close-But-Not-Quite Cats

These unusual animals are in the same taxonomic group as cats, but there isn’t much family resemblance.

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi conducts research aboard the Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

“Humanity’s Next Giant Leap”: Citizen Astronaut Kellie Gerardi Envisions the Future of Spaceflight

Bioastronautics researcher Kellie Gerardi envisions a future when space is open to all.

Fire trucks are a common sight at ambulance calls.

Why Do Fire Trucks Come When You Call for an Ambulance?

Why does the fire department show up for emergency calls if nothing is on fire?

The dialects of the two countries have been diverging.

13 Words That Differ in the North and South Korean Dialects

The two dialects have transformed to the point that North Korean defectors often struggle with unfamiliar language when arriving in South Korea—so much that the South Korean government publishes a list of commonly confused words to aid new defectors.

In for 2024: kabocha squash with seaweed butter.

Want to Eat More Veggies in the New Year? Start With This Soy-Braised Kabocha Squash

This soy and mirin braised kabocha squash with seaweed butter is both healthy and decadent.

A 13-Year-Old Just Became the First Person to Ever Conquer ‘Tetris’

Willis Gibson, an Oklahoma teen, just beat 'Tetris.'

The first full moon of 2024 is on the horizon.

Kick off 2024 with January’s Wolf Moon, the First Full Moon of the Year

The wolf moon—the first full moon of 2024—is a great chance for astronomy enthusiasts to ring in the new year.

Portrait of Alexander Hamilton by Thomas Hamilton Crawford.

11 Surprising Facts About Alexander Hamilton

Even if you've seen the Broadway musical 'Hamilton,' there's probably a lot you don't know about this enigmatic founding father.

An illustration of the Vril-Ya Bazaar and Fete.

The Strange Story of the Vril-Ya Bazaar and Fête, the 'World's First Sci-Fi Convention'

The Vril-Ya Bazaar and Fête was inspired by a popular Victorian science fiction novel—and introduced the world to Bovril.

The Scientific Reason Cheddar Cheese Tastes So Good

That delicious bowl of cheddar soup is really a big bowl of (good) bacteria.

Barack Obama giving his inauguration speech, 2009.

Listen to Some of the Most Famous Presidential Speeches From History

Listen to inaugural addresses and other speeches from each president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.

Disc vs. Disk: What’s the Difference?

Deciding to write 'disc' or 'disk' depends on what kind of disc it is. Sometimes.

14 Austin Slang Terms You Should Know

You may know Austin, Texas, as the Live Musical Capital of the World that’s devoted to keepin’ itself weird—but you might not be familiar with the city’s many slang terms.

Eating good food can leave you lighter in the wallet.

The Reason Healthy Food Is Often More Expensive Than Junk Food

Eating well often comes at a premium price. Here’s why.

Here's What the 'A' Button Does in Your Car

Worried about pressing strange buttons in your new car? Us, too. But you'll probably like this one.

13 Fascinating Facts About Gertrude Stein

American writer Gertrude Stein left a profound mark on 20th-century modernism through her literary work and her enthusiastic patronage of avant-garde art. Read on for more facts about her idiosyncratic life.

It‘s best to have dry oven mitts before taking anything out of the oven.

Why You Should Never Use a Wet Oven Mitt

Oven mitts allow us to handle delicious hot things, but using one that's not totally dry can result in kitchen mishaps.

From Blue Ball to Intercourse: Why Pennsylvania's Amish Country Has Such Lewd-Sounding City Names

The Amish aren't known for their bawdy senses of humor, but try telling that to the couple snapping a photo under the sign announcing they've arrived at Intercourse.

This 50-Year-Old Footage Shows What Life in New York Was Like in the 1970s

Long gone are the days of graffitied subway cars and cigarette ads in Times Square.

James Cameron was indeed "The King of the World"—and the box office—in the 1990s.

The 25 Highest Grossing Movies of the 1990s

Box office success does not always equal critical acclaim. But many of the biggest hits of the 1990s are still being talked about, and revisited, today.

What’s the Kennection? #95

All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

A Brief History of Dry January

Participating in Dry January means that no booze at all is to pass your lips for the entire calendar month of January. Here's how it started.

Barbie and Ken are just two members of the Barbie bunch.

Our 26 Favorite Stories of 2023

From Celine Dion’s “erotic motorcycle” to the crafty female platypus who faked a pregnancy in order to bust out of the Bronx Zoo, 2023 was full of some pretty great stories.

Rihanna, David Bowie, and Bjork have all had their names mispronounced—frequently.

14 Musician and Band Names You've Probably Been Mispronouncing All Along

From pronouncing the name of one of the Beastie Boys to how to say “Sade” correctly, here are a few tips for your tongue.

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