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Joseph Welch (left), with Sen. Joe McCarthy (right), at the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations' McCarthy-Army hearings, June 9, 1954.

Joseph N. Welch is credited with bringing down the fearmongering Sen. Joseph McCarthy during a congressional hearing in 1954. But his famous plea has since taken on a life of its own.

From “Alien” to “Gone with the Wind,” some classic movies you might not expect actually do manage to pass the Bechdel test.

This simple nursery rhyme comes with a number of unanswered questions about everything from its authorship to who inspired it.

American slang terms can vary from state to state—these in particular are known to cause confusion.

Test your knowledge of literary history with this quiz.

It’s not one you’re likely to use in everyday conversation—but you will find it in an dictionary.

Spoiler alert: Despite what you might have heard, it’s not ‘antidisestablishmentarianism.’

A scene from 'The Bride Of Frankenstein' (1935).

From 'Casablanca' to 'The Bride of Frankenstein,' these are the movie posters collectors are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to own.

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

If a trip to Target inevitably ends with you making a pit stop at the restroom, you're not alone.

A spoonful of sugar would definitely taste a lot better.

There's a reason that cough syrup you're trying to choke down tastes like cherry.

Dr. Donald “Reef” Nelson dedicated his life to studying sharks and was part of the inspiration for Matt Hooper, Richard Dreyfuss’s character from 1975's “Jaws.”

She probably wound up with bug bites in some very uncomfortable places.

Like gardening naked? You may want to move to one of these cities.

Lightning strikes over the Freedom Tower (a.k.a. One World Trade Center) in New York City.

Ben Franklin’s famous experiment with the kite and key gave him a better understanding of the nature of electricity. But did that event lead to the lightning rod?

Replicas of golden sarcophagi are showcased in “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures.”

If you can’t make it to Egypt, head to Washington, D.C., where “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures” puts visitors inside the artifact-stuffed rooms of King Tut’s tomb.

Spoilers for this article without context.

This list of linguistics terms will teach you how to tell your spoonerisms from your mondegreens.

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

Angkor Wat reflected in one of its waterways.

Angkor Wat is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Here is what we know of its story, from its countless carvings to feats of engineering.

“Pomp and Circumstance,” also popularly known as “The Graduation March,” is typically used during graduation processionals. Here’s why.

A lock of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair in the collection of San José State University.

Researchers speculate that ingesting lead may have contributed to the famous composer’s hearing loss and other unexplained ailments.

LEGO minifigures can be valuable, but they usually need a body to accompany their head.

Sometimes it pays to play with toys, especially if they're a sought-after LEGO minifig.

Perhaps Herb should have never entered the limelight.

In 1986, Burger King customers could win $5000 for spotting ad pitchman Herb in restaurants. It still wasn't enough to make them like him.

The rapper-turned-actor dedicated the book to his penis.

Presidents have had a lot of titles and nicknames, but the wife of every president has one common honorific. Why do we call her “first lady”?

Princess Diana and Prince Harry in 1987.

To celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12, 2024, here are 25 of history’s greatest moms.

“Have You No Sense of Decency?”: The Question That Took Down Senator Joe McCarthy

10 Iconic Movies That Pass the Bechdel Test

“Frère Jacques”: The History of the Classic Nursery Rhyme

America’s 10 Most Commonly Misunderstood Slang Terms

Quiz: Can You Guess the Book Based on Its Original Title?

What’s the Longest Word in English?

The 12 Most Valuable Movie Posters

What’s the Kennection? #114

Why You Feel the Urge to Poop When You’re Shopping, According to a Doctor

Here’s Why So Many Medicines Are Cherry-Flavored

The Real-Life Marine Biologist Who Helped Inspire ‘Jaws’

The Best U.S. Cities for Gardening Naked

Did Ben Franklin Really Invent the Lightning Rod?

See Exact Replicas of King Tut’s Treasures in His Recreated Tomb

15 Fascinating Linguistics Terms You Didn’t Learn in School

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

10 Facts about Angkor Wat, the World’s Largest Religious Temple

Why ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ Became the Soundtrack of American Graduations

Beethoven’s Hair Reveals He Suffered from Lead Poisoning

14 of the Most Valuable LEGO Minifigures

Bad Beef: Remembering Burger King’s Infamous “Where’s Herb?” Commercial

10 Things We Learned From ‘Marky Mark,’ Mark Wahlberg’s 1992 Autobiography

Why Do We Call a President’s Wife “First Lady”?

25 of History’s Greatest Moms