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Ian McKellen as Gandalf with Elijah Wood as Frodo in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.’

IKEA Product or Middle-earth Character?

Sure, ‘Frodo’ isn’t a type of coffee table—or is it?

Why Do We Say “Pony Up” When We Want Money?

The idiom for demanding payment doesn’t quite have the equine origins one would think.

Idina Menzel as Elphaba at the 2004 Tony Awards.

20 Magical Facts About ‘Wicked’

Find out how 'Wicked' the book and 'Wicked' the musical came to be.

A Japanese-style convenience store experience will no longer require a passport.

7-Eleven Is Bringing Its Japanese-Style Convenience Stores to the U.S.

People in the U.S. won't have to admire Japan's incredible 7-Elevens from afar anymore.

What’s the Kennection? #125

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

Olympic fans take selfies in front of the iconic rings in Paris.

What Do the Olympic Rings Mean?

Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, intended the rings to represent nations “united by Olympism.”

In-N-Out employees are fed up with the secret menu.

In-N-Out Workers Reveal Which ‘Secret Menu’ Items Are Fake

Don’t believe social media accounts insisting you can order Doggy Style fries.

Whitewater rafters carry the Olympic torch on its way to Paris.

How Is the Olympic Flame Lit—and How Does It Stay Lit?

This year, the Olympic torch made a symbolic journey from Greece to Paris for the Summer Games.

15 Monumental Facts About the Eiffel Tower

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower—which was built as an entrance arch for the World's Fair—opened to the public.

Why Won’t Team USA Dip the Flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremonies?

America is the only country that refuses to do so.

An ouroboros on a grave marker in West Highgate Cemetery, London.

Ouroboros: The Origins and Meaning of the Snake Eating its Tail

The serpentine symbol has represented the eternal cycle of life for thousands of years.

Simone Biles has five gymnastics skills named for her.

11 Female Gymnasts With Skills Named After Them

At the Olympics, some athletes will be performing tried and true moves. Others might be throwing new skills that will one day bear their names.

Why Do Grooms Break a Glass at Jewish Weddings?

There’s a lot of cultural and religious significance attached to this enduring Jewish wedding tradition. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Just a few punctuation marks that don’t get nearly enough usage.

13 Little-Known Punctuation Marks We Should Be Using

Because sometimes, periods, commas, colons, semi-colons, dashes, hyphens, apostrophes, question marks, exclamation points, quotation marks, brackets, parentheses, braces, and ellipses won't do.

Don't miss the Southern Delta Aquarid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers in late July.

Don't Miss the Rare Double Meteor Shower at the End of July

Astronomy enthusiasts are in for an amazing treat this month.

The 30 Most Popular Botanic Baby Names

If you’re hoping to pass on your love of nature to the next generation, you may be inclined to choose a name rooted in the natural world. Oliver, Olivia, Violet, and Rowan are all top contenders.

Rosemary Fowler (seated) receives her doctorate from Sir Paul Nurse, chancellor of the University of Bristol, at a ceremony at Darwin College, Cambridge, UK.

A 98-Year-Old Physicist Finally Got Her Ph.D., 75 Years After Her Major Discovery

Rosemary Fowler discovered a type of subatomic particle, the kaon—but left the university before earning her doctorate.

Knotts's turn in "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" caught the eye of Universal Studios head Lew Wasserman, which also helped.

Scared Silly: How ‘The Ghost and Mr. Chicken’ Turned Don Knotts into a Movie Star

‘The Andy Griffith Show’ star didn’t seem cut out to be a movie star. But thanks to some enduring connections to Mayberry, Knotts would have the last laugh.

Veeps with jobs: John C. Breckinridge (left), John Nance Gardner (center), and Schuyler Colfax (right)

How 8 Vice Presidents Made a Living After Leaving Office

Fifteen sitting vice presidents have become president. That leaves a lot of other ex-veeps in need of gainful employment. Here's what a few of them did after leaving office.

Impress your crafty friends by actually knowing how their sewing equipment works.

What's the Purpose of the Little Strawberry Attached to Pincushions?

The fabric strawberry is more than just a cute accessory to an already cute accessory. It also serves as an important tool.

7 Tips for Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh

Unfortunately, those blooms you clipped from your home garden or snagged from a local farmer’s market won’t last forever.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

22 Animals You Really Don’t Want to Mess With

Most of the animals we’re covering in the latest episode of The List Show aren’t out to hurt you on purpose—but you still don’t want to face off with them.

Olympic gold medals are the zenith of athletic achievement.

The 20 Countries With the Most Olympic Gold Medals

Whoever said winning isn't everything didn't have 1175 gold medals.

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