HISTORY

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

10 Questions About the Kentucky Derby, Answered

Put on a fancy hat, grab a mint julep, and become the best-informed person at your Derby party.

The Real History of Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Speech

Here's how one transcription of Sojourner Truth's 1851 speech fabricated her most famous quote.

‘Don’t Fire Until Your See the Whites of Their Eyes’ may (or may not) have been uttered at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

‘Don’t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes’: The Obscure Origin of the Military Command

Legend has it that a heroic American commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill implored his men to hold their fire until their enemies were under their noses. But did the event actually happen?

Why Do People Drink Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby?

How the bourbon-mint concoction took the horse-racing world by storm.

Everything you knew about normal human body temperature is a myth.

The 98.6°F Myth: Why Everything You Think You Know About Body Temperature Is a Lie

The average body temperature isn't actually 98.6°F, a fact scientists have known for at least three decades. So why does this myth persist?

Yves Klein: The Artist Who Invented a Color

Picasso and his Blue Period have nothing on Yves Klein, who created art almost exclusively in a shade of his own invention.

What do you think these Anglo-Saxon warriors are talking about?

20 Brilliant Anglo-Saxon Words We Should Bring Back

Old English had a rich array of inventive and intriguing words, many of which have either long since dropped out of use or were replaced.

Detainees at California's Manzanar War Relocation Center.

Researchers Have Published a List Honoring the More Than 125,000 Japanese Americans Incarcerated During WWII

The Irei Project and Ancestry have teamed up to publish the most comprehensive list ever assembled of the more than 125,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated on American soil during WWII.

D-Day: The scene of the Allied invasion on the Normandy beaches in June 1944.

13 Memorable Facts About D-Day

The Allied forces’ Normandy landings on June 6, 1944—an event better known as D-Day—became a pivotal moment in World War II .

Rawfords Mill near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, was a target of the Luddite movement.

The Luddite Movement’s Bloody Origins

The original Luddites were workers whose jobs were threatened by new technology—and who fought back.

The Most Common Last Name in Every Country, Mapped

The names were put into one of six different categories: ancestral, occupational, geographical, toponymic (or place name), personal characteristics, and patronage.

A 4000-year-old dog walks into a 4000-year-old bar ... / AevanStock, Master1307, and saoirse2013, via Shutterstock

9 of the World’s Oldest Jokes and Brainteasers

The oldest joke in recorded history is a fart joke that dates all the way back to 1900 BCE.

Mary and her little lamb, Humpty Dumpty mid-fall, and Little Jack Horner.

10 Interpretations of Popular Nursery Rhymes

You’ve probably grown up your entire life without putting much thought into the nursery rhymes drilled into your head. But there are tales behind each of them—some pretty dark.

Picasso Painting Breaks Auction Record At Christie's In New York

15 Things You Might Not Know About Pablo Picasso’s ‘Women of Algiers’

‘Les Femmes d’Alger’ (‘Women of Algiers’) isn’t a single artwork, but a series of 15 paintings—though one is more famous than the others.

We invented jewelry (such as this ancient Egyptian beaded necklace) before we invented the wheel.

11 Inventions That Came Before the Wheel

In the scope of human history, the wheel is actually a rather young creation. Beer, clothing, and jewelry are much older.

It can be tough to describe something most people have never seen.

Quiz: Can You Guess the Animal Based on an Early Description?

These descriptions are as wild as they animals they talk about. Can you figure out which creatures they refer to?

Military Slang Terms: 11 Examples, Explained

The close quarters of those serving together in war is a perfect Petri dish for slang. From ‘FUBAR’ to ‘fobbit,’ here are some military slang terms you should know (plus, why the military uses so many acronyms, anyway).

“Blackbird” Revisited: How The Beatles’ Civil Rights Anthem Has Been Inspiring Artists for More Than 50 Years

How Johann Sebastian Bach and the Little Rock Nine inspired one of The Beatles’ biggest hits—and one of the most covered songs ever recorded.

According to some depictions of her, Mother Goose isn't even a bird.

Who Even Is Mother Goose?

Many nursery rhymes are attributed to Mother Goose. But was Mother Goose even a real person?

We’re All Mispronouncing Mount Everest’s Name

George Everest gave his name, if not the pronunciation of it, to Mount Everest.

Rin Tin Tin and trainer Lee Duncan prepare to go before cameras in 1935.

14 of the Biggest Animal Stars in Hollywood History

Rin Tin Tin was found on a World War I battlefield in France before making his way to Hollywood, while poor Arnold the Pig was rumored to have been eaten after ‘Green Acres’ was canceled.

In the winter of 1861, former president Franklin Pierce found himself accused of treason.

The Bizarre Story Behind How Franklin Pierce Was Accused of Treason

An anonymous letter supposedly from a member of a secret society claimed that Franklin Pierce was involved in treasonous activities against the American government—an accusation that infuriated the former president.

'Flash in the pan' doesn't mean a literal fire in a pan. But good guess.

Why Do We Call Something a “Flash in the Pan”?

The phrase used to describe a has-been reality star or trend originated on the battlefield.

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