Popular Myths About Vikings You Can Stop Believing
Get famous enough, and the legends start to pile up. The Vikings are no exception. Here are some popular Viking myths you can stop believing.
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The Truth About How The White House Was Built
The White House has a lot of history. It started with a design competition won by Irish architect James Hoban, according to History. The site was chosen by George Washington, with work beginning in 1792, and completed eight years later ...
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What Is The Richest Country In The World?
The number of billionaires in the world is dwindling, which — considering the state of the global economy — is not surprising. But have you ever thought if it meant countries are poorer, too? Which country is the richest anyway?
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The Real Reason Edward III Was Crowned At Age 14
Edward III found himself not that large, but most assuredly in charge, at the age of 14.
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We Now Understand Why The Byzantine Empire Fell
It's tempting to call the fall of the Byzantine Empire, well, byzantine, and then call it a day because life's too short for excessive complexity. Or maybe call it a lot of days, because just as the Western Roman Empire crumbled after decades of obvious decline, the Byzantine Empire, took its time.
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What Do The Colors In The Pride Flag Stand For?
Flags have a hallowed place in human history. Usually made of cloth, they signify all manner of things: something to follow in the midst of battle. Symbolic identity for a group, large or small. The same is true for the Pride Flag.
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Mystery Gems On Netflix You're Completely Missing Out On
A real masterpiece of mystery story-telling needs a bit more than an unknown bad guy to become truly binge-worthy. Mystery gems have that added ingredient of making viewers care. Here are some of the best on Netflix.
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The Truth About The First Cell Phone Call
It wasn't until nearly 100 years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone that the first handheld cellular phone call was placed.
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The Real Reason You Wouldn't Survive Navy SEAL Training
Close to 1,000 fresh-faced candidates start the Navy SEAL training program every year. Most don't make it through training.
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The Real Reason It's Illegal To Watch The Fan-Favorite Version Of Star Wars
Fans of Star Wars have been trying to undo Lucas' litany of changes to the first three movies for decades. Some have even succeeded...
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The Real Reason The FBI Spied On Einstein
Seen from one perspective, then, maybe you can make a case for the FBI investigating Albert Einstein, certified genius. But perspectives are, of course, relative.
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The Most Over-The-Top Royal Palaces In The World
Some palaces aren't just your standard royal residences. They're mini-cities, full of obscene displays of wealth. These are the most over-the-top royal palaces in the world.
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Why No Walking Dead Character Has Ever Said 'Zombie'
It's accepted wisdom that nothing succeeds like success — if it worked one time, it'll probably work the next time, too. Oscar Wilde once observed, "Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess." Both lines would apply to the phenomenon known as The Walking Dead ...
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The Legend Of The Phoenix Explained
Ah, yes, the phoenix! Today, the fiery bird's name is rather unfairly associated with two of the most infamous X-Men movies in existence (Last Stand and Dark Phoenix, natch), but the original beast of legend is considerably more hardcore.
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Here's Why Elon Musk May Not Have As Much Money As You Think
Musk is CEO not only of SpaceX, but also Tesla, with those ever-so-cool electric vehicles. Some call him the real-life Tony Stark. But he may not be as rich as you think.
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Idi Amin: The Truth About The 'Last King Of Scotland'
Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was a man of many titles and epithets. According to ThoughtCo, people called him the "Butcher of Uganda." When Amin died in 2003, the BBC dubbed him "the buffoon tyrant" in a scathing obituary. The names he gave himself were far more charitable.
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The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth I Was Nearly Executed
Before Elizabeth I became queen, she was nearly executed by her half-sister.
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The Legend Of The Mythical Roc Explained
Long before Jumanji, long before Moana, even long before The Mummy Returns, back when Dwayne Johnson was still the Rock ... long before all of that, there was another kind of "Roc," who played with people's emotions and fears and sense of the mythic. No K, thank you very much.
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The Real Reason North And South Korea Split
The first dictator of North Korea was born on April 15, 1912, the same day that the Titanic sank. This was no accident, according to North Korea's United Front Department (UFD).
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The Legend Of The Mary Celeste Explained
How does an entire boatload of people just disappear in the middle of the ocean? The Mary Celeste is one of the most well-known examples of this phenomenon, and to this day, no one knows what happened. This is the legend of the Mary Celeste explained.
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The Truth About Henry VIII's Relationship With The Catholic Church
If Henry Tudor -- England's King Henry VIII -- had posted a dating profile, no doubt it would have included the words "It's complicated." Words which also extended to his relationship with the Catholic Church.
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The Legend Of Giants Explained
In Northern Ireland, you'll find a breathtaking collection of over 40,000 basalt pillars known as Giant's Causeway. The scientific explanation is that 60 million years ago, volcanic eruptions created that breathtaking formation. The slightly less scientific explanation? Well, a giant caused it.
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The Legend Of The Griffin Explained
If you find yourself seeking a mythical beast with lion legs and an eagle's head -- or some variation on that theme -- what you are looking for is a griffin, a griffon, or a gryphon. Depictions of griffins date back as far as 2000 BCE. Here's the legend of the griffin explained.
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The Real Reason Henry VII Is Blamed For Henry VIII's Tyranny
People forget that Henry VIII was necessarily preceded by a Henry VII. And according to historians, there's an argument to be made that his grim-reboot-of-Van-Wilder lifestyle all came down to his relationship with his old man. This is the real reason Henry VII is blamed for Henry VIII's tyranny.
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The Reason Some Nurses Are Quitting Amid The Pandemic
In the U.S., nurses have reported being ordered not to wear masks even when they're available while others have resorted to donning Halloween masks amid PPE shortages. Some have responded with walk-outs. Others walked away entirely.
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The Legend Of The Nain Rouge Explained
This grinning, crimson-skinned devil is the Nain Rouge, or "red dwarf," and he's what paranormal experts describe as "a real Jerk McGurk."
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False Facts About Cult Leaders You Always Thought Were True
Being a cult leader basically requires being pretty crazy. That's why some myths about them have persisted for so long. But if you believe the supposed facts about cult leaders listed here, it's time for some reeducation. Here are false facts about cult leaders you always thought were true.
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