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Definition Detective Quiz #7

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips, not pumpkins.

You might want to visit these places—or not.

The 20 Most Haunted Highways on Earth

Kick off the spooky season with these haunted highways from New Jersey to South Africa.

Scientists are concerned, and you should be too

Scientists Say Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Could Be Gone Within 200 Years

Scientists warn that the loss of the Thwaites Glacier could raise global sea levels by 25 inches.

Costumes are ok—as long as they’re safe and don’t stress your pet out.

5 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe This Halloween

Yes, pet costumes are adorable. But they—along with candy and strangers at the door—can also be dangerous.

Washington Irving, the Knicks' biggest fan.

The Disappearance of Diedrich Knickerbocker: How Washington Irving’s Clever Hoax Named the New York Knicks

‘Knickerbocker’ has many meanings. Without Washington Irving, it would likely only have one.

‘The Universe in 100 Colors: Weird and Wondrous Colors from Science and Nature’ (Sasquatch Books).

10 Historical Pigments—and Their Surprising Origins—from ‘The Universe in 100 Colors’

In their new book, Tyler Thrasher and Terry Mudge explore the origins of colors found rocks, animals, plants, and even space—including these 10 historical pigments with surprising histories.

See if you can decipher this twisted tune.

Tune Twist Quiz #9

We ran the lyrics of a hit song through multiple languages, then translated them back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?

Old age may precede dying, but it doesn’t directly cause it.

Do People Really Die of ‘Old Age’?

Can an octogenarian really just collapse from the wear and tear of life?

‘B Dubs’: 10 Slang Terms for Popular Brand Names

Shoppers have been referring to Target as ‘tar-jay’ for over 60 years.

Italian Organization Confirms the World’s Best Pizza Is in New York

The best pizza in the world has a strong link to New Jersey.

For some people, the “Countdown to Christmas” really is the most wonderful time of the year.

How Schmaltzy Hallmark Christmas Movies Came to Rule the Holiday Season

The Hallmark Channel’s annual Countdown to Christmas kicks off every October. But the channel's reputation for producing feel-good holiday films began years before the annual event.

A Los Angeles high school turned out to be a hotbed for fossils.

Millions of Marine Fossils Discovered Beneath Los Angeles High School

Millions of fossils, from shells to the largest known shark species, were unearthed beneath San Pedro High School.

President Theodore Roosevelt, the youngest U.S. president.

Who Are the Youngest Presidents Ever Elected?

Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton are among the youngest U.S. presidents.

Rayne Beau the cat made an incredible journey.

Cat Lost in Yellowstone Is Back Home After Traveling 900 Miles in 2 Months

This cat proved that love knows no distance when he traveled hundreds of miles to be with his owners.

Raking leaves is annoying—and totally unnecessary.

Leave the Leaves: Why Nature Experts Say You Shouldn’t Rake Your Yard This Fall

Good news for anyone who hates raking their lawn: You don’t have to.

These books were banned for silly reasons.

13 Books That Were Banned For Ridiculous Reasons

Each year, the American Library Association complies a list of books that are challenged and banned. There are some books that get banned because of insensitive material; however, others get banned for completely ludicrous reasons.

Can You Choose the Correct Version of these Commonly Misspelled Words?

Put your spelling skills to the test.

The crescent wrench has helped DIYers for decades.

Why Is It Called a “Crescent Wrench”?

A Swedish immigrant changed the face of wrenches forever.

7 Supposedly Haunted Artworks

From a weeping statue to painting that moves on its own, the stories behind these supposedly haunted pieces of art are downright spooky.

The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

In honor of Banned Books Week, the ALA published its list of 2023’s most contentious titles.

17 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

The Stephen King prison fable has become a modern classic—but it initially disappointed at the box office.

What’s the Kennection? #133

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

Members of Earth, Wind & Fire performing in 1978.

Do You Remember? 12 Memorable Events That Happened on September 21—the Internet’s Favorite Day of the Year

“Do you remember the 21st night of September?” Earth, Wind & Fire first asked the question in 1978. And in the years since, the date has taken on new meaning online.

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