From The Archive

Beloved stuffing and polarizing cranberry sauce.

The Origins of 15 Holiday Foods and Drinks

From cranberry sauce to corned beef and cabbage, here's how we got 15 (sometimes polarizing) classics.

7 Tips for Spotting Samuel Johnson (On the Very Off-Chance He’s Still Alive)

Johnson supposedly died at the ripe old age of 75. But what if he didn’t?

Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World's Most Misunderstood Cards

The meaning of divination cards has changed over time, shaped by each era’s culture and the needs of individual users.

7 Scientific Benefits of Helping Others

Volunteering your time, money, or energy to help others doesn’t just make the world better—it also makes you better.

When a Plane Hit the Empire State Building

It was simply an accident, the terrible result of a confused pilot flying into New York City on a foggy day.

11 Tips for Checking Things Off Your Holiday To-Do List In Record Time

Get through all your seasonal chores in no time with these helpful tricks.

Felipeattilio via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

After the Civil War, Some Southerners Went Farther South—to Brazil

When the Civil War ended in 1865, many Confederate supporters decided that the South was no longer hospitable.

Hitler’s Plan to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill—at the Same Time

But for loose lips and a little bit of luck, a terrible parallel history might have become reality.

5 of the Hottest Baby-Naming Trends of 2015

The parenting website BabyCenter took a deep look at the list of 340,000 names chosen by parents on their site and uncovered these hot new trends.

10 Retro, Rockin’ Facts You Might Not Know About Johnny Rockets

Burgers and shakes as American as they come.

11 Apps to Help You Get Stuff Done This Holiday Season

Does the holiday season leave you feeling stressed and crunched for time starting long before any holidays actually arrive?

What's the Difference Between Jam, Jelly, and Preserves?

Warning! These 1950s Movie Gimmicks Will Shock You

The gimmick craze of the 1950s put special effects in your face and under your seat, literally.

20 Foods You Might Not Know Were Named After Places

Wines and cheeses aren't the only foods that can be traced back to a place on the map.

Watch These Rare Outtakes From Charlie Chaplin’s Early Films

As the creator of the compilation notes, "Chaplin was a perfectionist, but he wasn't always perfect."

11 Famous TV Characters We Never Actually Saw

Our reputations often precede us—but, in the case of these television characters, reputation is all they have. Here are 11 TV personalities that are often talked about, but rarely (if ever) shown on screen.

10 Unconventional Thanksgiving Dinner Options

If you're looking to shake things up this holiday season, you'll appreciate these twists on classic turkey day recipes.

Viktoriia Hnatiuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

13 Words To Know Before You Try to Cook Thanksgiving Dinner

From our friends at Vocabulary.com, here are a baker's dozen (that means 13) of essential recipe jargon collected from Thanksgiving recipes that have appeared in The New York Times.

Why Do Magicians Have Assistants?

While there are plenty of tricks that can be performed solo, having a partner increases both the number and scale of illusions a magician can pull off.

11 Ways to Find the Perfect Souvenir

Expensive isn't necessarily better.

Why This Filmmaker Shot a 14-Hour Movie About Paint Drying

Independent filmmaker Charlie Lyne wants to protest BBFC censorship by forcing the sensors to watch an obscenely boring 14-hour-long film.

Japan is Home to KFC's Latest All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

We're still waiting for this to catch on in the U.S.

Portugal’s Last Traveling Film Projectionist Practices a Dying Art

Antonio Feliciano travels the country in his free time to spread his love of cinema.

And The Award for Biggest Movie Explosion Goes To...

Michael Bay has some catching up to do.

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