Fictional characters, and even real-life folks, often talk about animals and people—particularly snarling dogs and knife-wielding lunatics—being able to “smell fear” on people. No one ever seems to be able to describe just what fear smells like, though.The lack of detail—Is it musty? Does it have a hint of vanilla?—leads one to think that the smell of fear is more metaphorical than literal. But scientific evidence suggests that fear might really have a chemical component that we sense... READ ON

We already learned over the summer that watching Friends is not the best way to learn about wildlife or first aid. Recently, in one of those instances where I was unable to wrest control of the remote from my girlfriend, I caught another animal myth.“Come on, you guys,” Phoebe says. “It’s a known fact that lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You know what? You can actually see old lobster couples walkin' around their tank, you know, holding claws.”While there are plenty of animals... READ ON

Daven Hiskey runs the wildly popular interesting fact website Today I Found Out. To subscribe to his “Daily Knowledge” newsletter, click... READ ON

A fat man in a red suit may have shimmied down your chimney overnight to leave presents (or, if you were naughty, coal) under your tree. Though you're not likely to raise a fuss because the only thing Santa takes from your home is that plate of cookies, you might wonder: Is old Saint Nick actually breaking the law by coming into your... READ ON