The Troubled Story Of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was one of the greatest writers the English language has ever seen, but few know the man behind the writing. This is the troubled story of Charles Dickens.
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How Attila The Hun Wasn't As Savage As You Thought
Forget Attila the Hun's murderous, barbaric ways. Instead, why don't we let cooler heads prevail and remember that he was also a generous dinner host who dressed modestly. So, you know. There's that.
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The Strange History Of The Weekly World News
For close to three decades, WWN was a staple of grocery store checkout lines, a beacon of grayscale hope in a dreary landscape, serving its piping hot, all-caps message to a public ill prepared to accept the truth, with headlines such as, "HILLARY ADOPTS ALIEN BABY!"
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The Legends Of Mount Shasta Explained
No other California peak exudes more mystery and mysticism than Mount Shasta. Located in Northern California's Cascade Range, Mount Shasta stands tall as the fifth highest peak in the state. It's inspired many legends. Some of these stories have a grain of truth.
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What Is The Fastest Speed Limit In The United States?
No matter where you drive, you'll always find four kinds of drivers: the speed demons, the slow pokes, the normal people just trying to get where they're going ... and, of course, the slow pokes who, without warning, suddenly become speed demons as soon as you try to pass them in the left lane.
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What Really Went On Behind Closed Doors At The World's Largest Asylum
The Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center's history is as notorious as the history of psychiatric care itself. Here's what really went on behind closed doors there.
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The Eerie Past Of The Flannan Isles
The replacement keeper, Joseph Moore, was surprised when none of the three lighthouse keepers greeted him upon arrival. Not only that, but the light did not shine atop the tower. The door of the lighthouse was unlocked and food still sat on the table. There was no sign of the men.
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What The Samurai Really Ate In A Day
Samurai did not live in ancient Japan's cities, but rather held land in more rural areas as feudal lords. This allowed them to gather root crops and other fresh ingredients. According to Medium, the samurai diet focused more on fuel than enjoyment.
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How The Fall Of Constantinople Led To The Renaissance
"When Mehmed (II) saw the ravages, the destruction and the deserted houses and all that had perished and become ruins, then a great sadness took possession of him and he repented the pillage and all the destruction. Tears came to his eyes ..."
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The Sad Truth About The Woolly Rhino
Picture a rhino... with fur. That's the woolly rhino, and once upon a time, it was real.
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The Crazy Letter Sent By The Axeman Of New Orleans
Out of all of history's serial killers, the Axeman of New Orleans is perhaps the most remarkable, for two reasons. First, he was never identified, and secondly, he's standing right behind you.
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The Troubled History Of Joel Osteen
Compared to some televangelists, Joel Osteen has kept himself relatively free of scandals. But he's not squeaky clean. Osteen has plenty of critics, who are quick to point out that the powerful preacher man is not without his controversies. Let's look at the troubled history of Joel Osteen.
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The Mystery Of The 1853 Tennessee UFO Sighting
The UFO sighting took place at the long-since defunct Burrett College during the wee morning hours. As the sun rose over the school, a group of students noticed something peculiar. More specifically, two things: glowing orbs.
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What Happened To The Iconic Navajo Blanket From Antiques Roadshow?
In June of 2001, a soft-spoken old white guy hit the soft-spoken old white guy lottery when he brought his grandmother's old Navajo blanket to an Antiques Roadshow taping and discovered that it had more than just sentimental value. It was worth big time money.
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The Sad Life Of The Man Who Tried To Stop John Wilkes Booth
Look at the pictures from the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination with an inquisitive eye and you'll notice that, along with the Lincolns and a failed actor, there's another couple in frame. The Lincolns had guests with them that night. Their names were Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris.
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The Mystery Of Carly Simon's You're So Vain
Simon has played out the Who of "You're So Vain" since the very beginning. She auctioned off the answer to benefit a charity, under the condition that the winner was forbidden to reveal the name (or is it names?). (The name -- whichever it is -- has an "e" in it. She said.)
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What Life Was Really Like As Hitler's Food Taster
It's a scene repeated ad nauseam in World War II films. "I'd hardly arrived when the SS showed up at the door and demanded, 'Come with us!'" Margo Wölk's recalls of her experiences, which she recounted to the German magazine Der Spiegel.
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The Tragic History Of The Search For The Fountain Of Youth
Throughout history, explorers ventured into uncharted territories to source a body of water that could turn back biological clocks, but how seriously did they take their quests for curing waters? Here is the perplexing, sometimes tragic history of the search for the Fountain of Youth.
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Things The Ancient Aztecs Couldn't Live Without
There were at least three items that defined Aztec life. Without them, the Aztecs wouldn't have been who they were. One was endearing. Another had horrifying implications. And the third ... kind of brings everything together and helps put their culture into sharper focus.
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Art Rivalries That Took Things Too Far
Feuding artists can behave like reasonable adults, but some pretty big names in art history have been involved in some incredibly petty disputes. Here are some art rivalries that took things too far.
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The Truth About The Real-Life 'Dexter' Killer
"He has 71 confirmed murders to his name, although this could be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his kill count. The vast majority of these victims were criminals themselves." One more time for the cheap seats -- "the vast majority." Not all.
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The Rise Of Empress Cixi, China's 'Shadow Queen'
Empress Cixi, known as the Shadow Queen and the Dragon Lady, is a controversial figure in Chinese history. At once revered, feared, and hated, she worked to consolidate power even as rebellions broke out across her empire.
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Mysteries And Secrets Of The Shroud Of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is arguably the most famous Christian relic in the world. Devotees claim that it shows the authentic Holy Face of Jesus, while skeptics claim that it's nothing but an impressive and puzzling forgery. Read on for some mysteries and secrets of the Shroud of Turin.
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This Was William The Conqueror's Final Misfortune
After managing to escape the stigma of being a bastard by conquering a country, William the Conqueror's legacy will now always include a series of slapstick jokes tied to his final misfortune.
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The Rey Rivera Unsolved Mysteries Helicopter Theory Explained
Viewers of Unsolved Mysteries who saw the episode on Rey Rivera might have wondered if there was an entirely different theory about how he died. Enter the helicopter theory, which wasn't included in the Netflix series but was mentioned in a recently released clip.
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Things The Ancient Egyptians Couldn't Live Without
Many histories of ancient Egypt only deal with the lives of pharaohs. But everyday Egyptians also had interesting lives. They weren't just farming or building stone memorials and there were certain things they couldn't live without.
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The Sad Truth About JFK's Sister, Rosemary Kennedy
The young lady developed some medical complications as she grew older. Seizures weren't uncommon, but what really seemed to upset her parents were the developmental delays.
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