HISTORY

Roman coins from the Hoxne hoard, buried in the 5th century in Hoxne, Suffolk, UK.

Lead Pollution May Have Lowered IQs in Ancient Rome, Study Finds

The mass production of silver coins in the Roman Empire had an unintended effect: spewing so much lead into the atmosphere that it may have lowered citizens’ IQs.

A rather intense child with his teddy bear circa 1906.

‘A Bundle of Horridness’: The Great Teddy Bear Panic of 1907

Little kids loved them—but adults thought they were setting up girls to have no motherly instincts.

You want nothing to do with chimney sweep’s scrotum.

16 Weird Work-Related Ailments

Today’s work-related ailments have nothing on these (mostly) historical diseases. You’ll be glad you're not suffering from Hatter’s Shakes—or worse, Chimney Sweep’s Scrotum.

A gold coin depicting Mithradates VI Eupator.

10 Facts About Mithradates VI, the “Poison King” of Ancient Pontus

The 1st century BCE king of Pontus, a kingdom on the Black Sea coast, earned his nickname by creating poisons and antidotes—and testing them on himself.

A Danish-Swedish farmdog reacts excitedly to the news it’s now AKC-approved.

Danish-Swedish Farmdog Gains Full Recognition From the American Kennel Club

The yodeling working dog can now vie for Best in Show honors.

Rupert Holmes played piano on “Timothy,” a song he wrote about cannibalism.

When the Guy Behind “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” Wrote a Song About Cannibalism

Rupert Holmes hoped his controversial tune would get banned from the radio.

The Origins of 15 Fascinating Cat Breeds

People tend to know a bit about the history of popular dog breeds, but cat breeds are just as unique and interesting.

The USS ‘Cobia’ is a living memorial—and an Airbnb attraction.

You Can Book a Night on a World War II Submarine Through Airbnb

Wisconsin's USS ‘Cobia’ offers guests a living history lesson via Airbnb.

The Zavaritskii Caldera on Simushir Island, the site of a climate-altering 1831 volcanic eruption, as seen from the International Space Station.

Solved: The 200-Old Mystery Behind a Colossal Volcanic Eruption

Scientists have long suspected that a gigantic eruption was behind the strange atmospheric phenomena of 1831. Scientists have finally figured out which volcano blew its top.

8 Questionable Moisturizers from History

Winter is synonymous with dry and flaky skin, but we don’t recommend treating it with these ancient recipes for body lotion.

A tugboat on the Thames near Tower Bridge in heavy smog, 1952.

The Great Smog Descended on London More Than 70 Years Ago—And its Cause Took Almost As Long to Discover

Heavy fogs have long been a part of life in London. But the darkness that enveloped the city on December 5, 1952 wasn’t your typical pea-souper.

Why Do We Make New Year’s Resolutions?

Every time a new year rolls around, people set out to better themselves. But why do we make these promises to ourselves, and where did this tradition come from? We can start by blaming the ancient Babylonians.

Who First Said “The Customer Is Always Right”?

The proverb that empowers rude shoppers has been going strong for over a century. Who’s to blame?

A dish of Hoppin’ John is a delicious way to start the new year.

Why Is It Lucky to Eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Year’s Day?

The humble black-eyed pea has become a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Southern New Year's traditions.

101 Things We Learned in 2024

Let’s celebrate another year in the books with a look back at how our knowledge grew over the past 12 months.

A Brief History of “Auld Lang Syne”

On New Year’s Eve, after the ball has dropped, revelers queue up “Auld Lang Syne”—that song that makes you cry, even though you don’t understand it and know almost none of the words.

Even if you grew up eating pound cake, you may be less familiar with its origin story.

How Did Pound Cake Get Its Name?

The original formula for pound cake was impossible to forget.

Jamie Kennedy, Mariah Carey, and Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

10 Wild and Weird New Year’s Eve TV Moments

A look back at some of the times that the small screen celebrated the year’s end in unpredictable fashion.

Drop this fact at your New Year’s Eve party.

Why Do We ‘Ring In’ the New Year?

The meaning of ‘ring in the New Year’ is now mostly metaphorical, but it used to involve literal ringing.

Halloween isn't the only holiday with superstitions.

Odd Lang Syne: 7 Creepy New Year’s Superstitions That’ll Keep You Up Past Midnight

Some New Year’s superstitions and traditions are spookier than others, but these are some of those most memorable from around the world.

The famous Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was home to Ancient Puebloan people for hundreds of years.

15 Ancient Cities You Can Still Visit

Make sure your passport is current, book your flight, and let yourself imagine the lives of the people who called these ancient cities home.

Scotland knows how to ring in the New Year.

9 Festive Facts about Hogmanay, Scotland’s New Year’s Celebration

Celebrating the New Year is a big deal in Scotland.

New Year’s babies used to be showered with gifts and publicity. Not anymore.

The Fleeting Fame of the New Year’s Baby

New Year’s babies used to get showered with gifts and prizes, but today their fame is fleeting.

6 Surprising Facts About Boxing Day

Boxing Day occurs on December 26, and continues to be a big day for shopping.