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Portion of ‘The Card Players,’ 1890–1892, by Paul Cezanne.

14 Things You Should Know About Paul Cézanne’s ‘The Card Players’

One of the paintings in the series was stolen from a museum and held for ransom. Another sold for a record-breaking price.

Good ol' Depression-era fun. / Hulton Deutsch via Getty

Misconceptions About the Great Depression

The Great Depression was caused by the 1929 stock market crash and plunged the entire country into poverty … right? Maybe not.

You'd be amazed at what things you can get through a TSA checkpoint.

10 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know You Could Bring Through TSA Checkpoints

Most airline passengers focus on what they can’t bring through TSA checkpoints—but you'd be shocked by what can actually slip right through.

The Otherworldly History of the Demogorgon

The Demogorgon is much, much older than ’Stranger Things,’ or even ’Dungeons & Dragons.’

Veterans Day honors those who served in the past and active military members.

11 Things to Remember This Veterans Day

The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War I, which occurred at the 11th hour of 11th day of the 11th month.

Why Do We Eat Pumpkin Pie on Thanksgiving?

Pumpkin pie was actually born in Europe—until American colonists claimed it as their own in the late 18th century.

35 Old-Timey Slang Terms for Informants

We’ve used the term ‘rat’ to refer to an informer since approximately 1910. But criminals have had many more names for snitches over the years.

Christmas is coming earlier and earlier.

Christmas Creep: Why Holiday Candy Is Already Everywhere

'Christmas creep' is getting stronger, with chocolate Santas popping up the second Halloween wraps. Here's why.

Larimar, one of the world’s rarest gems.

10 of the World’s Rarest Gemstones

They may not be as “precious” as diamonds or emeralds, but these scarce gems are just as valuable—if not more so.

Some words are bound to make you laugh—but why?

From Farts to Floozy: The Funniest Words in English, According to Science

“Wriggly, Squiffy, Lummox, and Boobs: What Makes Some Words Funny?” analyzed an existing list of 4997 funny words and recruited 800 survey participants to whittle down the collection to the 200 words the people found funniest.

Each country has its own quirky election rules.

15 Facts About Elections Around the World

Voters in the U.S. may head to the polls on Tuesdays, but the rest of the world prefers to save its votes for Sunday.

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.

Louis Wain at his drawing board circa 1890.

10 Facts About Louis Wain, the Cat-Obsessed Victorian Artist

Louis Wain sketched, painted, and even animated cats throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

15 Surprising Facts About Winter Weather

Whether you like bundling up in your coziest gear or are counting the days until spring, you’ll enjoy these facts about winter weather.

President Eisenhower making Veterans Day the holiday’s official name.

The Kansas Shoe Repairman Responsible for Veterans Day

Alvin King—a shoe repairman from Emporia, Kansas—probably isn’t in many history books, but he deserves at least a paragraph.

Some of these Thanksgiving staples were the result of good marketing.

Why We Eat What We Eat on Thanksgiving

We look back at the history of Thanksgiving to explain how turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie got on your plate.

A Shop Selling Nothing But Rocky Merch Has Opened in Philly

The gift shop is located near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and sells everything from Rocky trunks to hoodies.

The cover of Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Parable of the Sower.’

11 Fascinating Facts About Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Parable of the Sower’

When Octavia E. Butler wrote her science fiction novel ‘The Parable of the Sower,’ she vowed to include only things that could actually happen.

What’s the Kennection? #87

All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

Explore the History of the Internet Through This Online Museum

From ARPANET to Myspace, this internet timeline hits all the important milestones.

Knock other players off the board in 'Monopoly Knockout.'

This New ‘Monopoly Knockout’ Game Lets You Get Physical

Unlike most ’Monopoly’ games, this version will keep you on your feet.

From Dunkaroos to Crystal Pepsi: The 10 Most Missed Snacks and Drinks From Your Childhood

Most of these items are ’90s snacks and drinks that’ll evoke a hearty “I remember that!” from the nearest Millennial.

People have kept these beautiful fish as pets for centuries.

How the Goldfish Became Everyone’s First Pet

They’re quintessential starter pets for young children. But it’s important to know how to properly care for a pet goldfish.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in ’Game of Thrones.’

‘The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook’ Lets You Indulge in the Cuisine of Westeros

Recipes from the ‘Game of Thrones’-inspired cookbook include Dothraki Blood Pie and Winter Town Wassail.

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