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Tom Cruise feels the need for speed. And Ray-Bans.

When Tom Cruise Saved the Ray-Ban Brand

Tom Cruise's charisma helped salvage an iconic-but-dying pair of sunglasses. Two of them, actually. (Cue maniacal laughter.)

David Bowie during 1983's Serious Moonlight World Tour.

Zig Brother: When David Bowie Tried to Turn George Orwell’s 1984 Into a Musical

David Bowie’s 1974 album 'Diamond Dogs' wasn’t just meant to be a concept album with a few references to George Orwell’s ‘1984.’

Pablo Escobear: The True, and Tragic, Story of ‘Cocaine Bear'

In 1985, a botched drug smuggling operation by former narcotics officer Andrew Thornton led to a bear discovering 40 packages of cocaine in the woods. Now, the bizarre story of the drug kingpin and "Pablo Escobear" is being made into a movie.

Beneath a parking lot, archeologists uncovered the ruins of a chapel in which Henry VIII prayed.

11 Things Found Buried Under Parking Lots

Sometimes deliberately, often unintentionally, countless artifacts have been buried—and then rediscovered—under parking lots.

Naming a cat "Whiskers" is like naming a baby "Fingertips."

Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?

Apart from being the feline equivalent of a fancy mustache, what are cat whiskers for? As it turns out, multiple things.

11 Retro TV Shows Based on Toys

From He-Man to My Little Pony, many classic cartoon franchises started as marketing tools for toy brands.

11 of Stephen King's Scariest Passages

The master of modern horror has made readers jump out of their chairs for decades thanks to excerpts like these, which are best read after dark.

Why Do We Say 'Cut to the Chase'?

“Cut to the chase” is a slightly friendlier way of telling someone to get to the point, but old Hollywood filmmakers meant it literally.

Doris Miller saved a number of lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Doris Miller, the Naval Cook Who Became a Hero of Pearl Harbor

Doris Miller was stationed on the USS 'West Virginia' when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Despite being prohibited from gunnery training due to his race, Miller ended up saving an untold number of lives.

6 Surprising Facts About Rami Malek

Actor Rami Malek has earned acclaim for his roles in 'Mr. Robot' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' But his first credited work was something he had to pay a fee to get.

Blue Staid ’Dos: How Blue Became Old Ladies’ Hair Color of Choice

Platinum blonde locks were first popularized by Jean Harlow, but older women quickly co-opted the trend.

7 Cool Facts About Dairy Queen Blizzards

The Blizzard debuted in Dairy Queen restaurants in 1985, and it's been a popular menu item with customers ever since.

The Reason Why Clothes in the Laundry Shrink When You Wash Them—and How to Stop It

Are you making doll clothing after every wash? Here's how to prevent the dreaded shrinkage in your laundry piles.

Why Are Bathtubs So Small? The Answer Is More Complex Than You Might Imagine

If you're a human of average size, taking a bath isn't always as relaxing as it sounds—especially when your legs are sticking halfway out of the water. The problem? Bathtubs are too small. But why?

Are Tennis Balls Bad for Dogs?

As far as dog toys go, tennis balls aren’t exactly the safest kind. Here are the risks (and how to avoid them).

10 Luckiest States in the U.S.

Whether they boast a long life expectancy or a high number of lottery winners, these states qualify as lucky.

A Brief History of Sea-Monkeys

You probably had Sea-Monkeys as a kid without knowing what they were or where they came from. The short version? Sea-Monkeys were a get-rich-quick scheme that actually got someone rich quick—but the long version is worth sticking around for.

Sympathy vs. Empathy: What’s the Difference?

Empathy’s definition originally described the relationship between humans and objects. Now, it’s much less straightforward.

The late Robin Williams on The Tonight Show in 2011.

America's 20 Funniest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time

If you spend 60 minutes watching Robin Williams, you’ll be laughing out loud for roughly five of them.

You Can Sleep in a UFO in the Middle of Joshua Tree National Park

Long before it became a Joshua Tree glamping dream, this UFO-shaped 'Futuro House' lived at the first Playboy Club Hotel.

Why Are Deserts So Hot During the Day and Cold at Night?

Deserts either want to broil you alive or force you to put on layers. It's a fascinating ecological condition with a simple explanation.

Two doses of the coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are required for optimal protection.

What Happens If You Miss Your Second COVID-19 Vaccine Shot?

Two of the three vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization in the United States require two doses, and skipping the second isn't optional. Here's why.

James Garfield sometime between 1855 and 1865.

The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing James Garfield’s Diaries

James Garfield kept detailed diaries from his teen years right up until the day before his assassination.

The Quest for the North Pole Episode 8: Triumph by Snowmobile

In 1968, a Minnesota insurance salesman named Ralph Plaisted was sitting in a bar, talking to a friend about snowmobiles. His friend said that if snowmobiles were so great, he should be able to ride one to the North Pole. Plaisted accepted the challenge.

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