• How Many Black Belts Does Donnie Yen Really Have

    Yen started training in the martial arts as a child when, according to Men's Journal, he spent his time at one of three places: the weight rack, the boxing gym, or his mother's martial arts school. That's right: His mother was a Tai Chi and Wushu master, and Yen started his training with her.

    By Nick Vrchoticky September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • The Tragic Death Of Tommy Cooper

    Known for his big red fez, the bumbling prop comedian Tommy Cooper elicited belly laughs from countless fans throughout his 37-year career. But while the 6'5" actor brought joy to audiences, the on-screen death of the 69-year-old proved to be more shocking than any of his gags ever would be.

    By Nicole Rosenthal September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • This Might Have Been The First American Civilization

    The Americas -- the entire region, not just the United States -- was home to several different pre-Christian civilizations. People have heard about the Incas and the Mayans, but there might even be an entire civilization that came before them. Meet the Norte Chico peoples.

    By Emilia David September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Weird Al Yankovic Will Always Be Grateful To Michael Jackson

    Yankovic called his attempt to get permission to parody "Beat It" was "a shot in the dark. We're talking about the most popular and famous person in the known universe, and here I was, this goofy comedy songwriter." Jackson approved the parody and told him he thought the idea was funny.

    By Karen Corday September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • The Truth About Jamie Hyneman's Beret

    The decision to top his noggin with a beret was really up to nature, rather than fashion sense. Jamie started going bald, so he had to cover up. "It was kind of by default," Jamie tells Adam while beret shopping on the aforementioned episode of MythBusters.

    By Cody Copeland September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • The Hidden Meaning Of Hogwarts' House Colors

    The houses represent different traits. Ravenclaws are generally curious and value knowledge, Slytherins are ambitious, Gryffindors are brave and impulsive, while Hufflepuffs are loyal. But it isn't just traits that make each house stand apart. Even the house colors mean something.

    By Emilia David September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • What Really Happened To The Franklin Expedition

    The "best-equipped and most technologically advanced Arctic expedition to that date" set sail on May 19 with a crew of 134 men and enough provisions to last three years. Despite the planning and care that went into preparing for the journey, the boats disappeared just two months later.

    By Karen Corday September 12th, 2020 Read More
  • The Bizarre Life Of The Murderous French Fortuneteller La Voisin

    Parisian, fortune teller, serial killer, secret abortionist, poisoner, clairvoyant, black mass priestess, businesswoman, possible sociopath: quite a resume for one person. But this list of crimes and occult practices did indeed belong to a single individual: Catherine Monvoisin.

    By Richard Milner September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • The True Meaning Of The Dendera Light

    The Dendera light is a motif carved into the walls of the Hathor Temple in Dendera, Egypt. The image, depicted across three stone reliefs inside the temple, shows a unique depiction of what, at first, looks to be a light bulb shaped like a Crookes tube, with a cord snaking through the middle.

    By Aimee Lamoureux September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • Why The Moon Is Drifting Away

    The Moon is not actually quite as attached to us as you'd think. In fact, it's ever so slowly inching away from Earth, like a guest at an awful party tactically maneuvering toward the exit.

    By Pauli Poisuo September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • The Cabbage Farmer Who Became Emperor Of China

    Zhu took on the name Hongwu and claimed he had the divine right to rule, becoming an absolute monarch. Wary of losing his throne to violence -- after all, he took it by violence -- he stamped down rebellions and even established secret police.

    By Emilia David September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • The Mystery Of The Klerksdorp Spheres

    They're classified as pyrophyllites, a layered silicate formed by hydrothermal alteration (i.e., they dried out). Despite their names, they're not, in fact, spheres, but somewhat flat, oval, and some have three parallel lines across their length. The kicker? They're about 3 billion years old.

    By Richard Milner September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • This Is The Smallest Fish In The World

    The fish is native to Southeast Asian peat swamp forests and is found in the waters of the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Bintan Island. A mature female Paedocypris progenetica measures only 7.9 millimeters, or just over 0.3 of an inch.

    By Karen Corday September 11th, 2020 Read More
  • How The Golden State Killer Was Finally Caught

    All serial killers are evil, but the Golden State Killer was particularly terrible. In early 2020, the four-decade-old case came to a close and it gave a lot of people a lot of hope — hope that there's always still a chance for justice. Here's how the Golden State Killer was finally caught.

    By DB Kelly September 11th, 2020 Read More