ALL STORIES

Definition Detective Quiz #26

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Skylab 2 commander Peter Conrad attempts to take a shower aboard the spacecraft in 1973.

How Do Astronauts Shower in Space?

Here on Earth, we tend to take showering for granted. But getting clean isn’t so easy without the force of gravity helping you out.

Nurse Agnes from Uganda’s Bwindi Community Hospital prepares a vaccination against measles.

7 Facts About Measles

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.

15 of Tom Hanks’s Best Movies

From the box office bomb he loved to the job he got by kicking Fonzie through a window, Hanks’s filmography is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.

Being in a carrier is not usually a cat’s favorite activity.

How to Load Your Cat Into a Carrier

It doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience.

5 Misconceptions About Antarctica

Misconception No. 4 : It snows a lot.

Robert Kennicott, pictured against Alaska’s Kennicott Glacier, was a key figure in the Smithsonian’s formative years.

Death of a Scientist: The Mysterious Demise of Smithsonian Pioneer Robert Kennicott

In 1866, Kennicott was found dead near the Yukon River. It would be 150 years before anyone knew why.

Many alligators were found in Alachua County‘s sewage system.

At Least One Florida Sewage System Is Swimming With Alligators, Study Shows

Alligators living in the sewers isn’t just an urban legend.

This map caused a stir in the early 2000s.

3 Controversial Maps From History

From a U.S. map with only 38 states to a probable hoax, these maps definitely had geographers buzzing.

See if you can decipher this twisted tune.

Tune Twist Quiz #29

It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

The names of all three of these folks have gotten the adjective treatment.

11 People Whose Names Became Adjectives

From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.

“Gaslighting“ is the most commonly searched term in the U.S.

The Word Definitions Each Country Looks Up the Most, Mapped

If you’ve ever looked up the definition of “gaslighting,” you’re not alone.

Wake Up And Smell These Fluffy Espresso Marshmallows

These coffee-flavored marshmallows kick the classic recipe up a notch.

Rutherford B. Hayes, National Hero of Paraguay

How a largely forgotten U.S. president became a South American idol.

A detail of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Sick Child,’ a portrait of his sister who died of tuberculosis at age 15.

12 Facts About Tuberculosis, the Victorian “Robber of Youth”

Tuberculosis may seem like a historic malady, but it’s still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Here’s what you need to know about its past and current outbreaks.

Can You Guess the Oscar-Winning Song Based on the Lyrics?

A memorable song can elevate a movie from good to great.

Where Did the Saying ‘Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb’ Come From?

The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.

5 of Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods

The 16th president loved nutritious snacks—and he was also a big fan of bacon.

Martin Van Buren Had a Really Nice Toilet

The eighth president had a commode fit for a commander-in-chief at Lindenwald, his home in Kinderhook, New York.

10 Word Pairs That Sound Like Opposites But Aren’t

Flammable vs. inflammable? Regardless vs. irregardless? Here are the linguistic explanations for 10 pairs of false antonyms.

Presidents Day vs. President’s Day vs. Presidents’ Day: Which One Is It?

The apostrophe in Presidents Day—or President's Day or Presidents's Day—is all over the place ... or nowhere to be found at all.

Consider these destinations for your next solo trip.

The Top 10 Destinations for Solo Travel in 2025

This list of 2025’s best solo travel spots features destinations like Spain, Egypt, and New Zealand.

You’re Probably Brushing Your Teeth All Wrong

It’s easy to make these common mistakes when you're brushing your teeth, but here’s how to do it the right way.

Prev Next