the magazine

The Secret that Helped an Untrained Runner Win an Ultramarathon

Cliff Young was not your typical marathon runner. A scrawny, 61-year-old Australian potato farmer who still lived with his mom, Young didn’t even own a pair of running shoes. So in 1983, when he signed up to compete in one of the world’s most grueling ult

5 "I Slept Like A..." Analogies That Don't Reflect Reality

Although handy for describing a good night’s sleep, these analogies don’t always match reality.

How to Get Over Jet Lag Faster

Why Do We Have Middle Names?

How Ernö Rubik Created the Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube's 40-year history is full of twists—quintillions and quintillions of them.

H.P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu"

H.P. Lovecraft keeps getting name-checked in pop culture. Here's why he matters.

The Man Who Wrote an Album in His Sleep

Dion McGregor's true talent emerged each morning just before he woke up.

Incredible Photos of the World's Scariest Hike

The world's scariest hike is more than an internet meme—it's a 7,000-foot-high cliffside trail in China that will take your breath away.

Miracle on Ice: The Chilling Promise of Cryogenics

It's impossible to resuscitate a frozen corpse. But that doesn't bother the small legion of cryonauts who are betting that an outlaw science will let them live forever.

On the Scene at the Absolutely Insane Barkley Marathons

Inspired by a flubbed prison escape, the Barkley Marathon is a ludicrously challenging 100-mile race only a handful of runners have completed. Finishing it twice? That's next to impossible.

A Brief History of the Road

From ancient mud bricks to salty beet juice, roads have a long, winding history—and a glowing future.

One Man’s Ingenious Plan to Revolutionize the Road Map

Before 1917, the only thing tougher than drawing a road map was reading one.

Your Dog Has Something to Tell You

Step away from the dog whisperer. Canine-cognition scientist Alexandra Horowitz knows what your dog is thinking.

A Family Tree of the Entire Human Race

A.J. Jacobs is one of thousands of researchers tackling the biggest challenge in the history of ancestry.

"I hate makeup, but my friend says I should glam up every day."

How Amrit Singh Goes Beyond the Music

Taking a job as a news anchor for the brand-new music channel Revolt TV—and moving from his native New York City to Los Angeles—was a huge change for this blogger, filmmaker, and Bar-certified attorney. SIngh reveals what his new creative life is like, on

A Brief History of the Roller Coaster

The history of the roller coaster is more than a little loopy.

This Is Your Brain on Road Rage

Road rage is hardly a new phenomenon. In fact, Britain’s first speeding laws were enacted in the early 19th century to stop horse-drawn carriages from “furious driving.” But what is it about roads that turn law-abiding Jekylls into bird-flipping Mr. Hydes