
VIDEO
How to Use Email (in 1997)
In 1997, the idea that you could access email (specifically Hotmail) via a web browser was pretty revolutionary. "Even attachments show up!" exclaims the host in this charming segment of 'The Computer Chronicles.'
What Portable Computers Were Like in 1987
Our definition of portability has changed over the years, from 1975's IBM 5100 (what we used to call a "luggable" computer) all the way to today's ultrabooks, which are finally actually "notebook" sized -- and still have halfway decent battery life.
45 Odd Facts About U.S. Presidents
Here's a whole bunch of strange facts about all the people who have been President of the United States, including the one named Leslie.
What the Internet Looked Like in 1995
In this retro episode of 'Computer Chronicles,' the team goes in-depth on "The Internet," a trendy topic in 1995.
Farewell, Jason Molina
Google Celebrates UK's WWII Codebreakers
How to Cross the Road in the UK, 1948
What 1967 Thought 2001 Would Look Like
The Greatest Dance Number Ever Filmed
11 Original Songs That Were Cut From Their Movies
Maybe they didn't fit the tone of the film they were supposed to appear in. Maybe the director just couldn't find a place for them. Whatever the reason, these 11 songs never made it into the movies they were intended for.
Super Mario Bros. in 5 Minutes
In late 2011, Andrew Gardikis set a record for a "speed run" on <em>Super Mario Bros.</em> -- this means he played through the entire game as quickly as possible (yes, he used the warp tubes). For that 2011 run, Gardikis calculated his time at 4:58.898,
6 Memorable Movie Musical Moments That Were Recorded Live
Much ado is being made about the fact that the movie musical version of Les Miserables, out December 25, did not use pre-recorded vocals. Instead, the actors sang live to a piano track played through earpieces; the full orchestra was added in post-product
12 Nutty Dungeons & Dragons Media Mentions From the 1980s
In the 1980s, U.S. and Canadian media were up in arms over Dungeons & Dragons and the problem of teen suicide.
12 Essential American Cartoons
American cartooning began well before 1937, the year Walt Disney’s full-length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs debuted to astonished audiences. In fact, American animation started as an offshoot of vaudeville, and moved into the theater t
Why Does the Moon Sometimes Look Huge?
Have you ever seen the moon floating above the horizon of your city, and noticed that it looked oddly huge? I sure have. In fact, I've seen the effect in lots of popular media, including that one iconic shot from E.T. and other "supermoon" photos. But
Kryptos: The CIA Cipher Hiding in Plain Sight
Kryptos, a set of huge copper plates with enciphered text carved into them, is an encrypted sculpture installed at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Although the sculpture was installed in 1990, it took until 1999 for someone to actually decrypt part
What People In the '50s and '60s Thought Houses Would Look Like in 1986
In 1957, Monsanto demonstrated its vision for future housing, emphasizing one word: plastics. Its House of the Future was displayed at Disneyland from 1957 through 1967, and it envisioned a future home from the then-distant future of 1986.
How Did the Game Genie Work?
The Game Genie was the technological holy grail of my Nintendo-playing childhood. Here was a device that would let me play Super Mario Bros. with infinite lives, or get infinite rockets in Metroid. Here's exactly how it worked, and how people are still us
The Creepiest Spider Videos You'll Ever See
If you're even slightly arachnophobic, stop reading right now. Wait, you're still reading this? Okay, fine, let's chat. In this 90-second time lapse video, we're treated to (okay, thoroughly disgusted by) a tarantula molting. Yes, spiders molt as they
11 Awkward Canadian Game Shows
Some of America's best-known game show hosts are actually Canadian -- including Alex Trebek, Monty Hall, and Alan Thicke. But in Canada, the game show landscape has featured plenty of painfully weird ways to win a few bucks (sorry, Loonies). Here's a ru