These days, kids know Pukwudgie as the name of a house from Ilvermorny, the American version of Hogwarts, in the Harry Potter series. The Pukwudgie is one of many mythical creatures referenced in the books. But what exactly is a Pukwudgie?
Read MoreThere are lots of nominees for "most expensive flower," and the ground shifts considerably in terms of when the petals are being estimated.
Read MoreA conquistador's mission in life is succinctly conveyed in the title itself. Spanish for "He who conquers."
Read MoreWhile Rock Hudson radiated light on screen, he had to keep the public in the dark about his sexuality. Otherwise, the prevailing homophobia of the era would eclipse his career. They found out in 1985, when the actor announced he's be diagnosed with AIDS. This is the tragic death of Rock Hudson.
Read MoreWe know dogs are great at sniffing out all sorts of maladies, whether it's the bag of cocaine you accidentally shoved too far up your backside or cancer of the non-butt. Their otherworldly olfactory senses might even be useful in detecting COVID-19. Here's how dogs could help detect the coronavirus.
Read MoreEven when your job is judging the most extreme everything, there needs to be a line. Yes, the Guinness World Record committee has limits, and there are some attempts at exceptionalism that they won't touch with a 10-foot thumbnail. Here are world records that Guinness refuses to certify.
Read MoreIn 2018, a group of mammoth tusk hunters were honing their craft in Siberia when they unearthed a dead baby horse. It belongs to a long-extinct species, and its body is outlandishly well naturally mummified. Here's why this 42,000-year-old specimen is an eye-opening discovery.
Read MoreIf ever you find yourself getting attacked by a swarm of bees, here's the short answer -- you ought to run.
Read MoreIn the wild, wasabi grows exclusively on the rocky banks of cold, freshwater rivers. The plants are as finicky as pandas: the water has a temperature range of only about 9 degrees; sun is important, but not too much sun.
Read MorePoets Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton captivated the world with their words and their tragic endings. But through an inspirational professional relationship, they also captivated each other.
Read MoreWhen Napoleon Bonaparte married Josephine, the future emperor saw greatness on the horizon. But if if it weren't for a crazy twist of fate, instead of marrying Napoleon, Josephine would have gotten a forced divorce from her own head. Here's the reason Napoleon's first wife was nearly executed.
Read MoreIt was 1999, and World Championship Wrestling was in a bad way. World Championship Wrestling needed to drop costs and do something fresh. But first, old habits dying hard and all, they were going to spend a near-sacrilegious amount of money on 25-year-old glam rock played by 50 -year-old men.
Read MoreFelines, believed to be domesticated first in Egypt, were held in such high regard that anyone who killed a cat, even by accident, was in turn sentenced to death. What is up with Egyptians and cats?
Read MoreAn average of only 10 alligator attacks occur in the U.S. per year -- but it's a more exciting prospective nightmare than realizing you're locked into an upside down mortgage. What do you do when Florida's biome decides to turn you into a Peter Pan villain?
Read MoreIn 1983, Randy and Vicki Weaver packed up their belongings and moved to a place in rural Idaho, just 40 miles south of the Canadian border, known as Ruby Ridge. A decade later, an 11-day standoff with the government ended in tragedy. Here's why the Ruby Ridge standoff was worse than you think.
Read MoreThe first Juggalos were arguably born before the word 'Juggalo' existed. That sounds a bit like fodder for a chicken-and-egg debate, but as Shaggy 2 Dope told the Metro Times, avid fans painted their faces before there was a label for it.
Read MoreNearly everything involved currently with space travel involves pots and pots of money. Space suits are no exception.
Read MoreThe whole world loves dogs. But in Nepal, they really show it. During the five-day Hindu festival of Tihar, one day is set aside as "Kukur Tihar," or "Day of the Dogs."
Read MoreThe Spanish flu was very different than seasonal flu - it kicked off in the spring of 1918 on the tail end of World War I, and it was downright brutal.
Read MoreMailmen deliver in any condition, day or night -- except, of course, on Sundays. That observation led to an inspired moment of trash which Scottie Pippen delivered to "Mailman" Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz during Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
Read MoreIs there an actor who has done more in Hollywood than Clint Eastwood? The tall, darkly charismatic man has gone from one of the most esteemed Western stars in history to an acclaimed, award-winning director who keeps making quality movies six decades later.
Read MoreGrunge circles weren't the cozy love-in that fans would perhaps prefer to imagine them as. "There was a rivalry to have your voice be heard, and be successful," is how Courtney Love described the situation.
Read MoreRosetta Stone: It's not just a linguistics software company. And Napoleon isn't just the name of a cream-filled dessert pastry. But they are inextricably linked, and for good reason.
Read MoreTodd Boyd, one of the first U.S. professors to examine rap academically, said, "When you listen to Tupac, you feel something." And for some fans, those feelings have lingered for an incredibly long time.
Read MoreRegardless of what your opinion about R.E.M. is, there's no denying that they shaped the face of alternative rock for years. Heck, they've basically been every kind of alternative rock band themselves. They spent their formative years as cult favorite college rockers.
Read MoreAh, nineties-era Chicago Bulls basketball. The lights would go down, the lightning effects would hit the court, bursts of flame would explode into the air, and Your Chicago Bulls would enter the arena ... to this song.
Read MoreMost people see airplane food and think of slop. Airlines try their best, but unless you're in the most expensive airline seat, airplane food often brings joyless dining experiences. There's a reason for that, and part of the blame lies with the traveler.
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