What East Germany Was Like Before The Fall Of The Iron Curtain
The division of Germany into East and West after the conclusion of World War II quickly became a study in contrasts -- in politics, economics, and government.
Read More-
-
The Strange History Of The Martial Art Bartitsu
Bartitsu combines elements of boxing, kicks from savate, grappling and throws from jiu-jitsu, and was a style practiced by Sherlock Holmes.
Read More -
The Untold Truth Of Joe Biden
Joe Biden's political career started early and lasted long — he was the longest-serving senator in Delaware! Here's the untold truth of his life.
Read More -
Things About The Mayan Empire That Still Can't Be Explained
Scientists are frequently surprised by new evidence about the ancient Mayans. These are some things about the Mayan empire that still can't be explained.
Read More -
The Car Salesman Who Didn't Escape JFK's Assassination Unscathed
The murder of John F. Kennedy was the most high-profile killing in the 20th century. But, during the incident, multiple people were also injured or killed.
Read More -
The Wild History Of The Baby Jumping Festival
There are some weird festivities out there. One of the more anxiety-inducing festivals occurs in Spain in which men dressed as devils leap over babies.
Read More -
The US Admits The Horrifying Truth About Indian Boarding Schools
The system of Indian Boarding Schools inflicted on the minor children of Native American tribes is a travesty in the history of the United States.
Read More -
The Truth About A Risque Bathroom In The Vatican
The Vatican is known for being proper, but there's actually a bathroom there you might not expect. Here's the truth about the Vatican's risque bathroom.
Read More -
Bob Lanier Had The Largest Shoe Size In NBA History Before Shaq
It pretty much goes without saying that professional basketball players tend to be statuesque individuals. Their shoe sizes are nothing to sneeze at, either.
Read More -
The Unexpected Religious Origin Of Celebrating A Jubilee
We tend to toss around words like "jubilee" and "jubilation" fairly loosely, but the history and concept behind them stretches back thousands of years.
Read More -
Tragedies That Changed Aviation Forever
While plane travel is one of the safest ways to get somewhere, accidents still happen and aren't any less tragic. However, many have changed the way we now fly.
Read More -
These Were The Last Survivors Of Major Historical Events
Books teach us about history, but those who experienced major historical happenings offered so much more. These were the last survivors of some of those events.
Read More -
The Macabre Truth About Books Bound In Human Skin
Within this world, there is one object that seems to hold particular interest: books bound in human skin. Here's the macabre truth about this practice.
Read More -
This Is The Oldest Known Mummy In The World
Think of mummies, and maybe you conjure up images of Boris Karloff in 1932, or Brendan Fraser in 1999 -- both involving Egypt, sort of. What about Portugal?
Read More -
An Accident Led To The Famed Chinese Theatre Cement Footprints
The first footprint at the Chinese Theatre was accidentally placed by a silent film actress.
Read More -
The True Story Of How A Passenger Made An Emergency Landing With No Flying Experience
Passengers never want to be in the position of having to land an aircraft, but it's not unheard of. Here's t how a passenger once made an emergency landing.
Read More -
Why Buckingham Palace's Legendary Renovator Was Fired
Buckingham Palace is the famous residence of the British Royal Family, and was extensively renovated in the 19th century. Here's why the renovator was fired.
Read More -
The Real Reason Time Seems To Move Faster As You Age
Time can sometimes feel like it's moving faster or slower depending on the circumstance, and that's especially true of time "moving quicker" as you age.
Read More -
What Was The Largest Contiguous Land Empire In World History?
Even though a number of empires have flourished and fallen over the course of human history, only one of them had the largest contiguous empire to date.
Read More -
Washington Post's First City Editor Defended A Lincoln Assassination Conspirator
One of the foundations of the United States justice system is the presumption of innocence -- that the accused is entitled to a fair trial, with counsel.
Read More -
How Robert Liston Killed Three People While Performing Surgery
Robert Liston might be best known for his scientific contributions to the advances of medicine, but he's also known for a devastating surgical accident.
Read More -
Early Chinese Sunglasses Were Not Used To Protect Against The Sun
Sunglasses are typically used these days to protect our eyes from the sun, but early Chinese sunglasses were used for another purpose in courtrooms.
Read More -
One Dog's Bathroom Break Awarded Her A WWII Medal
A dog named Juliana earned a medal in World War II after urinating on an explosive device that fell through her family's home, and neutralizing it.
Read More -
HG Wells' Parody Of His Literary Friend Led To A Lifelong Feud
When we think of the language arts of the early 20th century, especially in England, we probably think of erudition, manners, elegance. Surely not a feud.
Read More -
Why A Japanese Imperial Army Soldier Didn't Know WWII Was Over For 30 Years
A Japanese soldier in WWII didn't realize the war was over for 30 years, and remained hiding out in the jungle until he was eventually found.
Read More -
This Is Likely The Last Sense You Lose When You Die
Much is unknown about death, and the process of dying, but we do suspect that we know the order in which our senses are lost. Hearing is the last sense to go.
Read More -
Before Thomas Dewey Ran For President, He Locked Up Mobster 'Lucky' Luciano
Many in American history made their reputation by going after the bad guys -- Eliot Ness, Wyatt Earp, Frank Hamer. Add a lawyer to the list: Thomas Dewey.
Read More
