HISTORY

Official White House portrait of President John Tyler by George P. A. Healy.

President John Tyler’s Grandson Is Still Alive

John Tyler was born in 1790. He took office in 1841, after William Henry Harrison died. And he has one living grandchild.

A Sanitized History of the Sneeze Guard

The snot-blocking glass has been keeping buffets (relatively) safe since the 1950s, and it's thanks to one germophobe.

‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’: From Age-Old Axiom to Spider-Man’s Mantra

The origins of 'with great power comes great responsibility' and the story of how it became a canon event for Spider-Man.

Before you start pranking, read up on where April Fools’ Day might have come from.

The Hazy Origins of April Fools’ Day

The origins of April Fools’ Day have long been caught up in myths and legends involving everything from mackerels to calendar switches.

10 of the Biggest Earthquakes in History

From a surprise temblor in the Mississippi Valley to colossal ruptures and tsunamis around the Pacific Ring of Fire, these are some of the biggest earthquakes in modern times.

11 Amazing Things Invented by Kids

The 5-year-old who created transforming toy trucks was the youngest person to hold a patent.

How Did the White Picket Fence Become a Symbol of the American Dream?

The white picket fence has become a cliché for suburbia. Blame archers.

The BBC once pranked the world by declaring that Big Ben’s clock face would be going digital.

11 of the Greatest Pranks of All Time

From Taco Bell buying the Liberty Bell to the time the BBC convinced its viewers that spaghetti grows on trees, these are some of the most iconic pranks in history.

Is Death by Guillotine Painless?

Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin described the guillotine's effect as being “Like a cool breath on the back of the neck.” Anne Boleyn would likely disagree.

A beaver that may or may not have parachuted out of a plane.

Watch Beavers Parachute From Planes in Footage From 1948

The best way to relocate beavers in the 1940s? Drop them out of planes, of course.

An 1878 painting of Richard, Duke of York, and Edward V (right) by John Everett Millais.

The Princes in the Tower: British Royal History’s Most Tantalizing Murder Mystery

An heir and a spare disappeared during England's War of the Roses. Here's what happened—and how we might hope to solve the mystery today.

Why Do We Capitalize ‘I’?

Some languages capitalize several of their pronouns. Some don’t capitalize any of them. English just capitalizes ‘I’—but why?

‘A Village Fair, with a Church behind,’ by Isack van Ostade

The Hidden Pooper in Isack van Ostade’s ‘A Village Fair, With a Church Behind’

Art conservators for the UK’s Royal Collection were in for quite a surprise when they set about cleaning a 17th-century oil painting.

The mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’ has confounded historians for more 150 years.

The Unsolved Mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’

What really happened to the crew of the ‘Mary Celeste’? Delve into the theories and speculation surrounding this enduring maritime mystery.

The Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building

How Big Is the Library of Congress?

The ”world’s largest public library,” the Library of Congress holds more than 160 million items.

6 Easter Traditions From Around the World

When it comes to Easter, the feast dishes, public celebrations, and even the candy often vary depending on where you live.

The Man Who ‘Invented’ the Labradoodle Called the Dog Crossbreed His Biggest Regret

The Labradoodle is a beloved designer dog breed, but in the eyes of the dog's creator, it's a 'Frankenstein['s] monster.'

Illustrations from 1997’s ‘Get Fit! ... How To Get in Shape To Meet the President’s Challenge and Earn the Presidential Fitness Award’

The Origins of the Presidential Fitness Test

Almost as soon as it was introduced—and for generations after—the Presidential Fitness Test was absolutely traumatizing to students who had to endure it. Here’s how the program started—and ended.

Leona Libby, the Pioneering Nuclear Physicist Who Helped Build the Atomic Bomb

To win a nuclear arms race, Leona Libby hid a pregnancy and brushed off being irradiated.

Why the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich Has Been on McDonald’s Menu for More Than 60 Years

The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich was introduced as an alternative for Catholics avoiding meat on Fridays during Lent—and it almost lost its spot on the menu to a pineapple burger.

‘Listen to me! I’m old and know things!’

Boomer Slang: 26 Terms You Should Know

The generational group born between 1946 and 1964 contributed a lot to slang.

14 Fascinating Facts About Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Despite what you might have heard (or seen on the big screen), famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart probably wasn’t poisoned by Antonio Salieri—but he did spend time with a young Marie Antoinette and keep a starling as a pet.

Curious about what your state's name means?

This Map Shows the Literal Translations of U.S. Place Names

From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.

20 Iconic Things Turning 50 in 2024

The year 1974 gave us Post-It Notes, the Rubik's Cube, Bailey's Irish Cream, and more.

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