The history of 9th century Vikings is passed down to us today via Old Norse oral tradition, written down long after the campfires died. Did tales get changed? Quite possibly. Over time, things get added, subtracted, multiplied, and even turned into shows on the History Channel, like Vikings.
Read MoreHistory is a murky son of a gun, but most historians agree that Cleopatra died on or around August 12th of 30 BC. It's generally accepted that she killed herself, but firsthand accounts are difficult to come by and the exact method of her demise is up for debate.
Read MorePhotographer Dave Crocket described the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens as "hell on Earth," per My Northwest. One of Washington state's seven mountains, it had sat inactive since 1857...
Read MoreOver the course of the 20th century, experts from all over the world have dug, dug, dug in their quest to reach Earth's mantle. This quest for depth has led to all kinds of terrifyingly deep holes punching through the Earth, but the deepest of them all can be found in Murmansk, Russia.
Read MoreSitting Bull was a respected spiritual leader who was revered for bravery on the battlefield. He brought Sioux, Arapaho, and Cheyenne tribes together and led a legendary united front against the United States. Here's the truth about his death.
Read MoreSometimes, mascots can land a company in boiling hot water. From racist controversies to violent incidents, you’ll probably remember these controversial mascots, even if the corporations themselves might prefer that you didn't.
Read MoreThe East India Company is pretty much the poster child of an evil corporation. Just how evil? Well, here's the messed up truth about this notorious organization.
Read MoreThe U.S. divorce rate reached a record low in 2019, when only around 15 out of every 1,000 marriages ended in divorce. That was the lowest figure since 1970.
Read MoreIn the early 1930s, millions of Americans were out of work, and many were struggling to support their families. Unemployment skyrocketed nationally.
Read MoreHenry Hill, the gangster who inspired the book Wiseguy and Ray Liotta's performance in Goodfellas didn't die of lead poisoning, so to speak. His was a much slower passage.
Read MoreCass Elliot is remembered for a few things, especially: Great voice, fun to be around, but, well, chubby
Read MoreMost would say country legend Loretta Lynn leads an enviable life. But she has seen her fair share of tragedy. Chief among those tragedies -- the deaths of her children.
Read MoreIt's one of those great "What If?" stories of American pop music. Unfortunately, we'll never know what would have happened for Buddy Holly after his life was tragically cut short in a plane crash at the age of just 22.
Read MoreGary Coleman has been called "a casualty of American pop culture" who "sadly embraced and exploited his status as a walking punchline." Though, to claim that Coleman "exploited" his own exploitation seems a bit like a hollow observation. Here's how much money he had when his difficult life ended.
Read MoreHalfway through Fleetwood Mac's 1970 tour through Europe, Peter Green, lead guitarist, lead singer, and co-founder of the band, announced that he intended to leave the band. The initial reaction of John McVie, Fleetwood Mac's bassist, is recorded on Ultimate Classic Rock as "'Oh sh–!"
Read MoreThose of us who enjoy the comforts of the modern world would probably be horrified to walk a day in the sandals of the average person in ancient Egypt.
Read MoreWhether we're talking about chinstraps, soul patches, mustaches or the full Duck Dynasty, the male beard is a fashion statement that has been floating in and out of style since World War I. But when it comes to growing one, some men have more luck than others. Here's why some men can't grow beards.
Read More'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is often referred to as the great breakout track for Nirvana and its controversial (and late) frontman, Kurt Cobain, who shares writing credit on the tune with bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. But Cobain couldn't stand it.
Read MoreResearchers have found as many as 130 viruses carried by bats. But the bats don't get sick. Why not?
Read MoreAlfred, king of Wessex (the area south of the Thames River in England -- and the Thames is the river that runs through London, so go ahead and check the map), is universally referred to as The Great. But we're not sure how he died.
Read MoreAxl Rose might be one of the last people you'd expect to say something uplifting or positively thought-provoking. But even if you consider him a malignant carbuncle on the otherwise un-chafed butt cheeks of human happiness, he's said some fairly inspiration things.
Read MoreAll it takes is one look into a cat's eyes to know that it's a magical creature, though it's hard to say whether those supernatural abilities are being used for good or evil. What about this whole nine lives business, though?
Read MoreThe human body is capable of far more than what we ask of it in a normal day. Some people like to test those limits, like Dean Karnazes, a world-famous endurance runner who ran longer than anyone else, ever, to "test the physical limits of his body while raising money for childhood organ donation."
Read MoreMyth and legend often begins with oral history rooted in fact. But Pecos Bill emerged from the typewriter of a former soldier of fortune named Edward O'Reilly.
Read MoreIn his autobiography, Mark Twain wrote, "A bat is beautifully soft and silky; I do not know any creature that is pleasanter to the touch or is more grateful for caressings, if offered in the right spirit..." But he may have written differently if he knew about the world's largest bat.
Read MoreRoberto De Jesús Escobar Gaviria, who astute readers will recognize as the brother of that nutty Pablo Escobar fella that had some trouble with the law a ways back, has launched a new line (wink) of smartphones. The flagship: the Escobar Fold 1, a phone and tablet that folds!
Read MoreAt this point, lots of people are afraid of the same thing: You're walking down the street minding your own business, when suddenly, some random person coughs at you, and boom! You now have coronavirus. But is that how it would work? How long does it last in the air?
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