The Secret History Of Dragons
We know that ancient peoples landed on the idea of dragons, and that stories of dragons have been around for centuries. They aren't merely a flight of fancy for fantasy writers.
Read More-
-
The Heartbreaking Tale Of Saartjie Baartman, The 'Hottentot Venus'
Saartjie Baartman, known in her time as the "Hottentot Venus," was a South African Khoekhoen woman who was taken from her home and exhibited in 19th-century European freakshows. Exploited for her buttocks and African features, Saartjie Baartman became a victim of racialized scientific study.
Read More -
Why Does The U.S. Only Have Two Major Political Parties?
As anyone who has sat through a Thanksgiving dinner with two vocal uncles from opposite ends of the political spectrum can readily attest, politics can be divisive, and party lines are not easily crossed. Still, at least it tends to be a tug-of-war between the Republicans and the Democrats.
Read More -
The Terrible Thing Edison Did To Slander Nikola Tesla
The War of the Currents (1880s) between inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla has become one of nerddom's most widely-discussed rivalries.
Read More -
The Mystery Of Cleopatra's Burial
The ancient historian Plutarch, per Ancient History Encyclopedia, wrote that the two were buried together, probably at Cleopatra's request, though Plutarch never revealed the location of their tomb.
Read More -
Here's Why The Romans Erected A Gold Statue Of Cleopatra
When the ancient Romans saw Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII immortalized in gilded bronze in the Temple of Venus Genetrix, they were puzzled as to what Julius Caesar's side piece was doing next to the mother of Aeneas, the mythical founder of Rome, as Encyclopedia Britannica explains.
Read More -
How The Citizens Of The Coldest City On Earth Stay Warm
Three things are most important in Oymyakon: alcohol, meat, and fur.
Read More -
Why The Bridge To Tintagel Castle Has A Gap In The Middle
The new footbridge at Tintagel Castle is a minimalist, elegant, and quite impressive feat of engineering that has a unique feature cut across its center: a 40 mm gap between the two halves of the bridge.
Read More -
The Truth About Edgar Allan Poe's Wife
At the ripe old age of 27, Edgar Allan Poe married his first cousin, Virginia Clemm, who was herself a stately 13 years of age that year of 1836.
Read More -
The Truth About The Shortest War In World History
Wars can last forever. After all, there's such a thing called the Hundred Years' War between France and England and their allies. You know, the war where Joan of Arc died at the stake. But some wars barely last a blip.
Read More -
Why Coco Chanel Chose The Wrong Side In WWII
A number of books, articles, and documentary films have claimed in recent years that French fashion legend Coco Chanel chose the wrong side in WWII, taking up with the Nazis when they invaded France.
Read More -
The Strange Origin Of The Philippines' Chocolate Hills
The hills dot a vast terrain and they look perfectly symmetrical. Hundreds of people marvel at them every day. They're one of the most popular tourist destinations in the province of Bohol. So how did the Chocolate Hills come about?
Read More -
The Truth About Mark Antony And Cleopatra's Drinking Club
Besides being the shrewd, manipulative ruler of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra was also a prank-playing boozehound. It was love at first sight when she met Roman general Mark Antony in 41 BC — and what's a girl to do when she falls for a handsome descendant of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine? Live it up!
Read More -
The Truth About Sigmund Freud's Biggest Addiction
In 1884 Freud published a research paper, "On Cocaine," "a song of praise to this magical substance," and would give the substance to friends and colleagues as a gift -- speaking for himself, he found it aided his digestion and improved his spirits.
Read More -
The Insane Way Cleopatra Flaunted Her Wealth
Not only was Cleopatra an astute politician and savvy diplomat, she was a nightly partier who would rove the streets of Alexandria after-hours with her boyfriend, the Roman general Mark Antony, and play pranks on commoners after getting trashed at their elite "feasts and wine-binges" club.
Read More -
Why 46 BC Was The Longest Year Ever
For centuries, keeping track of time didn't come naturally. Ancient Rome's road to the Julian calendar was especially rocky, and due to the craziness, their effort to reform the calendar ended up resulting in the longest year in human history. This is why 46 B.C. was the longest year ever.
Read More -
The Crazy Real-Life Story Of Jesse Jackson
During the 20th century, Jesse Jackson became a prominent civil rights activist, political figure, and Baptist minister. Known for working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson went on to run for president twice and launched the social justice program Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Read More -
This Is The Largest Bird That Ever Existed
It's a bird! It's a plane! Oh, no. It's both! Such might be the reaction of a time traveler visiting Argentina some six million years ago upon first catching sight of the largest bird that ever existed: Argentavis magnificens.
Read More -
The Phoenicians: Who Were They?
Even today, historians and archaeologists can't quite agree on who the Phoenicians were. What is clear, however, is that they were mighty. They established cities described in the Bible, created impressive artworks, and maybe even sailed as far as the British Isles.
Read More -
The Fascinating History Of The White House Rose Garden
When John F. Kennedy returned to the White House from his trip to Europe, a project came with him, lodged in his mind along with the memories of all the estate gardens he saw in England and France. The modern Rose Garden was born.
Read More -
Inside Sir Edmund Hillary's Fascinating Life Of Adventure
Edmund Hillary made history in 1953 when he scaled Everest for the first time with Nepali climber Tenzing Norgay, but that was hardly his only achievement. Here's a look inside Sir Edmund Hillary's fascinating life of adventure.
Read More -
Letters That Changed The Course Of History
The written word is a powerful thing. You never know when something as simple as a letter is going to spark an idea, a feeling, or a determination to do something that's going to change the world, and literally? That can happen at any time. These are letters that changed the course of history.
Read More -
Inside Dolly Parton's Complicated History With Porter Wagoner
Everyone loves Dolly Parton. She's an icon for a reason and everyone basically agrees she's the best. But even she has a complicated history with some people. Case in point -- Porter Wagoner.
Read More -
False Facts About The Wild West You Always Thought Were True
Yes, the Wild West was awesome, but that's not to say it was as awesome as video games, television, and film make it out to be.
Read More -
How Your BMW Is Lying To Your Face
For BMW reviewer Nico DeMattia, BMW's M235i Gran Coupe introduced a much needed feature: the ability to reduce the car's "artificial engine noises.
Read More -
Did Adam And Eve Really Exist?
It's not uncommon to assume that there is a scientific basis for the biblical version of Adam and Eve. After all, humans had to start somewhere. Often, that assumption is taken out of context, for one reason or another.
Read More -
The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Larry King
Larry King was simply an American institution, known for his tough, direct, and fair interviews with just about anyone. Here's the real story of Larry King.
Read More
