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Why Your Christmas Lights Always Get Tangled, According to Science

We turned to mathematicians, physicists, and engineers to find out why the lights are so frustrating—and how to improve them.

8 Odd Items People Have Used to Decorate Christmas Trees

From ears of corn to live canaries, these old-school trimmings didn't make the jump to modern times.

Department Of Classics, University Of Cincinnati

Ancient Poop Contains First Evidence of Parasites Described by Hippocrates

It's the earliest physical evidence of ancient Greek parasites.

15 Things You May Not Know About Close Encounters of the Third Kind

We are not alone. Here are a few facts about Steven Spielberg’s UFO classic, which had a lot of trouble finding its leading man.

Before Bitcoin: The Rise and Fall of Flooz E-Currency

The debut of the virtual gift currency in 1999 was supposed to change how we shopped on the internet. Russian hackers ruined it for everyone.

Arctic Temperatures are Rising So Fast, They're Confusing the Hell Out of Computers

The temperatures triggered a failsafe meant to detect equipment malfunctions.

If You Want Your Cat to Poop Out More Hairballs, Try Feeding It Beets

Beet pulp may hold the key to healthier cat digestion.

12 Events Correctly Predicted by The Simpsons

'The Simpsons' has had an impressive track record for predicting future events. A 1998 episode showed the 20th Century Fox logo with "A Division of Walt Disney Co" beneath it.

11 Fast Facts About Cash Cab

It's back!

23 Funny Historical Letters to Santa

"I wish you would please bring me a typewriter and a drum and a doll dressed in a sailor suit so I can call it Raymond."

Why Can Parrots Talk and Other Birds Can't?

It's all about the brain, not the beak.

Prehistoric Ticks Once Drank Dinosaur Blood, Fossil Evidence Shows

This is the first direct evidence that the pesky arachnids once dined on feathered dinosaurs.

Alaska Got 15 Inches of Snow in 90 Minutes Last Week

It was one of the most intense snowfalls in modern history.

The Most (and Least) Expensive States for Staying Warm This Winter

In some parts of the country, staying warm will cost you.

What Could the Repeal of Net Neutrality Mean for Internet Users?

Inflated pricing, hindered access to knowledge, and slower connections are just the beginning.

An AI Program Wrote Harry Potter Fan Fiction—and the Results Are Hilarious

“Magic: it was something Harry Potter thought was very good.”

Extinct Penguin Species Was the Size of an Adult Human

<em>Kumimanu biceae</em> would have dwarfed the penguins of today.

Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival

15 Surprising Facts About Steve Buscemi

The beloved character actor—who is fully aware that his characters often die—is turning 60 today.

Clay Enos - © 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC

30 Facts About 2017’s Most Googled Movies

In the past 12 months, film lovers were hungry for as much information as they could find on killer clowns, superheroes, wonder women, and baby drivers.

Netflix's Most-Binged Shows of 2017, Ranked

Which ones did you devour?

Mount Jackson Loses Spot as UK's Tallest Mountain After Satellite Reveals Measurement Error

Old measurements were off by over 1200 feet.

New Patient Test Could Suggest Whether Therapy or Meds Will Work Better for Anxiety

Expediting the diagnostic process could save patients months of anguish.

Newly Discovered 350-Year-Old Graffiti Shows Sir Isaac Newton's Obsession With Motion Started Early

Conservators used light imaging techniques to spot a tiny windmill sketch that's invisible to the naked eye.

14 Fascinating Facts About Saturday Night Fever

The disco drama that turned John Travolta into a superstar premiered 40 years ago.

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