When the Whole World Went Wild for King Tut

After archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of King Tut, it launched a worldwide fad for all things ancient Egypt.

The Most Famous People to Pass Through Ellis Island

Across 60 years, more than 12 million emigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. Some of them went on to become extremely famous.

Presidential Conspiracies (From the 1800s)

Presidential conspiracy theories go way back to the 1800s. Here are some of the wildest supposed stories about 19th century presidents.

Secrets of the Mall, Exposed!

Malls and stores use all kinds of tricks to get you to spend more money. Here are some of them.

8 Foods That Aren’t Old As You Might Think They Are

It seems like some foods — bananas, Hawaiian pizza, garlic bread — have been around forever. They’re actually quite new.

Check Your Calendar…And Make it More Efficient?

The calendar we use makes the most sense, but it’s not the only choice. Here’s a look at the history of calendars.

Some Shocking and Spooktacular Facts About Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley wrote FRANKENSTEIN, one of the most important (and scary) novels of all time, but that’s just one moment in a fascinating life.

History’s Myth-Stories: The American Revolution

Dispelling myths and filling in the whole story on some of the best-known facts and stories surrounding the American Revolution.

The Story of Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States. Here’s a look back on how it became a federal holiday.

The Science and History of Dad Jokes

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, despite their love of “dad jokes.” Here’s why dad jokes are so unfunny they’re funny and how they came about.

The Wild and Wacky World of Tariffs

Tariffs are nothing new. Here’s a look at the history of tariffs, and how they’ve been used as economic tools ad loopholes.

In Retrospect, These Popes Probably Weren’t the Best Popes

You know there’s a new pope, but did you know about these quirky popes from centuries ago?

Mayday! It’s May Day!

Here are the origins of “May Day” – as a spring celebration, a holiday honoring workers, and as a distress signal.

5 of the Best April Fool’s Day Pranks of All Time

There’s an art to pranking, and throughout history, a few people and groups understood the assignment and staged some epic April Fools’ Day stunts.

The Jane Austen You Never Knew

Happy 250th birthday Jane Austen! Here’s some trivia about the life and work of one the greatest novelists of all time.

Uncle John is Serving Up Hot Breakfast Facts

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so these origin stories of classic, hot breakfast foods must be pretty important, too.

When the Super Bowl Got Super Strange

A look into the history of the Super Bowl, and the weirdest, goofiest, and most unpredictable moments that ever took place on the NFL’s biggest stage.

Great and Impactful Black Authors You Might Not Know About

In honor of Black History Month, here are some overlooked and under-heralded African-American writers and authors.