• Did Benjamin Franklin Really Discover Electricity?

    You may have seen the famous Currier and Ives print depicting the electrifying kite experiment that Benjamin Franklin conducted with his son, William. Did Franklin really discover electricity? You may find the truth shocking.

    By A. C. Grimes April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • Is The Yakuza Still Active?

    For a long time Yakuza members buttered their bread with extortion, blackmail, and racketeering. But their numbers are flattening like a heated panini. What happened?

    By A. C. Grimes April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Meaning Behind AC/DC's Name

    With Angus Young's horn signs and the band's copious "Hell's Bells" imagery, it's easy to believe that the biggest controversies regarding AC/DC might have been of the devil-worshiping variety. Back in the day, it seems that one of the most curious things about the band was ... their name.

    By Pauli Poisuo April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • We Now Understand Why The Mongol Empire Crumbled

    For the better part of the 13th century, the Mongols were a horseback riding cultural and military juggernaut of the Eastern hemisphere. Still, nothing lasts forever, and Genghis Khan's empire, while still famously genetically prevalent, has since crumbled. Here's what happened.

    By Tom Meisfjord April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Nazis Performed Experiments On Twins

    In 1937, Doctor Josef Mengele began work at Frankfurt, Germany's Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene. There, he worked under the supervision of hardcore eugenicist Otmar Frieherr von Verschuer, researching the effects of nature versus nurture, specifically focusing on twins.

    By Tom Meisfjord April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • The Truth About Queen Elizabeth I's Successor

    Elizabeth I had the extremely mixed blessing of being born of the House of Tudor, the reigning royal family of England, which began with Henry VII in 1485. Royalty being what it is, and national elections being what they weren't, succession was always an issue.

    By Eric Meisfjord April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • This Was Ray Kroc's Net Worth When He Died

    In 1954, the Ray Kroc met Dick and Mac McDonald at their San Bernardino, California restaurant, was impressed by their efficient operation, and became their franchise agent who polished the concept, built the McDonald's restaurant chain ... and became filthy rich.

    By Pauli Poisuo April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • What Life Was Like During The 1918 Flu Pandemic

    In 1918, children used to skip rope to a rhyme that captured the tenor of the time. Via Stanford University, it went like this: "I had a little bird. Its name was Enza. I opened the window, And in-flu-enza." Unfortunately, Enza flew in through a lot of windows.

    By A. C. Grimes April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • The Tragic History Of Joshua Tree

    Joshua Tree National Park's got death, despair, stifling heat, and a dark and sinister past. Joshua Tree is in the Mojave Desert, the only place on Earth where you'll find the giant yucca plants called "Joshua Trees." The park's history is full of tragedy. This is the tragic history of Joshua Tree.

    By Becki Robins April 13th, 2020 Read More
  • What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Blood?

    So you, like the terrifying Nosferatu, the quietly noble chupacabra, and Nicolas Cage before you, have heard the seductive call of the night and decided to give in to your insatiable lust for blood. What's going to happen to your body?

    By Tom Meisfjord April 11th, 2020 Read More
  • The Truth About Sneezing With Your Eyes Open

    If asked to name the most remarkable yet weird and disgusting body part, we would have to pick our nose. And on the grosser end of the spectrum, if you sneeze with your eyes open your peepers will pop out of your head. Or will they? Here's the truth about sneezing with your eyes open.

    By A. C. Grimes April 11th, 2020 Read More
  • What Really Happens When You Crack Your Joints

    In life, there are two kinds of people: those who crack their knuckles, and those who hate them for it. If you crack your knuckles, you understand the good feeling you get. But how does crracking your knuckles work, and what really happens when you crack your knuckles?

    By Nicholas Conley April 11th, 2020 Read More
  • The Intriguing History Of Why We Wear Pants

    How did we as a culture get from wearing tunics, robes, gowns, and togas to cargo shorts and mom jeans? How did pants go from being a sign of barbarism to being one of the only requirements to eat at a Waffle House? And why do we call them pants?

    By Benito Cereno April 11th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Slash Was Once Given Six Weeks To Live

    Ready for a stunning revelation? Make sure you're sitting down, not operating heavy machinery, and preferably barefoot because this news would knock your socks off so fast you'd suffer third-degree friction burns. Okay, you ready? Sometimes famous musicians abuse drugs. Including Slash.

    By A. C. Grimes April 10th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason Sweden Won't Go On A Coronavirus Lockdown

    Most of the world has locked down due to coronavirus. But not every country has been on board. The world's Scandanavian meatball mecca, Sweden, has refused to play ball, opting not to lock down parts of the country. Why aren't the Swedes sweating coronavirus as much as some other places?

    By A. C. Grimes April 10th, 2020 Read More
  • The Stinkiest Dog Breed In The World

    In many ways, dogs are just like us. They love a long walk in the sun, they want to eat cats, and they can spend hours every day screaming at small animals outside the living room window. And they, like us, smell terrible.

    By Tom Meisfjord April 10th, 2020 Read More
  • Famous Stores That May Not Survive The Coronavirus

    With the rise of the coronavirus, what's left of the mall experience is often shuttered as part of the nation working together to stop the spread. Classic mall stores such as Sears, among others, may not survive the pandemic.

    By Eric Meisfjord April 10th, 2020 Read More