HISTORY

Apple pie is a classic fall treat for Americans.

How Did Apple Pie Become an Iconic American Dessert?

The phrase “American as apple pie“ leaves out the dish’s complicated history as an English dessert made of fruit that originated in Asia.

The underwriting room at Lloyd's of London circa 1960.

Legs, Noses, and the Loch Ness Monster: 8 Bizarre Lloyd’s of London Insurance Policies

The vaunted UK insurance marketplace will cover just about anything. Even a single grain of rice.

It’s easy to recognize these political symbols.

How Did the Donkey and Elephant Become Political Mascots?

Andrew Jackson’s 1828 political campaign kicked it off, and cartoonist Thomas Nast made the political symbols really gain traction.

11 Discontinued Ice Creams

Not all the classic frozen treats you remember from the ’80s and ’90s are still available today

13 Odd and Obsolete Occupations

History is full of jobs that are no longer needed due to technology, cultural advances, and everything in between.

The History—and Value—of the Princess Diana Beanie Baby

Trying to sell your Princess Diana Beanie Baby? She probably isn’t worth as much as you hope—here’s why.

Dodos were more agile than most people think.

Dodos May Have Been Fast and Strong, Contradicting Stereotypes

What you think you know about the dodo bird is probably wrong.

Chalkboards have given way to dry-erase boards and smart boards.

11 Things We No Longer See In Schools

From book straps to dunce caps, these obsolete items may make you feel really young … or really old.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan served from 1981-1989 and is remembered for his Reaganomics policies, the war on drugs, and other political endeavors. He also ate a lot of jelly beans.

A portrait of the scientists who found and examined the Piltdown Man skull (accompanied by a picture of Charles Darwin on the wall).

10 Famous Archaeological Hoaxes

From forged artworks to fake mummies and even fraudulent orangutan bones, archaeological hoaxes fool scientists and stir the public’s imagination—until the culprits are forced to come clean.

A Brief History of Leaf-Peeping

From Henry David Thoreau's 'Autumnal Tints' to the origins of the term 'leaf-peeper.'

A tornado south of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, touched down on April 15, 2012.

10 of the Most Terrifying Tornadoes in History

Tornadoes can (and do) happen anywhere. Here are 10 of the most terrible twisters to ever take a turn on Earth.

The Long, Strange History of the Word ‘Weird’

Where did this bizarre word come from, and how has it changed over the centuries?

Asteroid That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Likely Came From the Outer Solar System

Chemical signatures from the Chicxulub asteroid’s impact—which caused a mass extinction on Earth 66 million years ago—match those of carbonaceous meteorites formed beyond Jupiter.

20 Old Words for Ignorant People

Here are a few words for ignorant people you might want to add to your lexicon, from ‘wantwit’ to ‘dorkmunder’ to ‘ninnyhammer.’

A replica of Paleolithic cave drawings of deer, horses, and aurochs, dating to 15,000 BCE, from Lascaux cave in France.

7 Misconceptions About the Stone Age

The Stone Age timeline encompasses a huge chunk of prehistory—and life wasn’t only about hunting and gathering.

The ruins of the Maya settlement Palenque in Mexico.

5 Civilizations Destroyed by Climate Change

The changing climate did not bode well for Khmer Empire, the Maya Civilization, and more ancient cultures.

Tollund Man on display at the Silkeborg Museum, Denmark.

A Brief History of Bog Bodies

The bodies of Iron Age Europeans are so well preserved in peat bogs that they’re sometimes mistaken for modern murder victims.

1/72 Testors F19 Secret Stealth Fighter unboxing and review LIVE!

The ’80s Toy That Was Considered a Threat to National Security

The F-19 became the bestselling model plane of all time. Some feared it leaked some highly classified military secrets.

Imagine waving around a wooden version of this.

How the Giant Foam Finger Became a Staple of Sports Events

Those giant foam fingers you wave in the air at sporting events might seem to tower over the crowd, but they actually have a pretty humble origin story.

A scanning electron micrograph of ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ particles (colorized red), the bacterium that causes TB.

6 of the World’s Oldest Diseases

Ailments as diverse as tooth decay and malaria have caused suffering for thousands, even millions, of years—and they’re not done with us yet.

20 Albums Turning 50 in 2024

Everything from ‘Jolene’ to ‘Waterloo’ is hitting the big 5-0 in 2024. Give ’em a spin.

Hand fans were the Tinder of the Victorian era.

The Secret Language of Victorian-Era Hand Fans

Want to let a lover know you’re into them? Try letting a fan come to rest on your cheek.

The coins show a figure of a kneeling archer.

Hoard of Gold Coins Meant for Mercenaries Found in Ancient Greek City

Archaeologists discovered a hoard of Persian coins at the site of ancient Greek city in what is now Turkey.

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