Arguably one of America's most famous and revered novelists, Twain didn't start out with a yen for a pen. Growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River, what he wanted more than anything was to become a riverboat captain. Here's how much he was worth when he died.
Read MoreOn July 20, 1973, Bruce Lee died at the unbelievably young age of 32. Already a mega star in China, Lee left a black hole where the stardom used to be. His passing was a shock in the U.S., too, but each country would mourn differently. Here's why Lee had two funerals.
Read MoreDinosaurs were some seriously big mofos. There were also an array of smaller ones, and no, that doesn't just include cute little newborns like the baby T-rex, and those famously small compsognathus critters you remember from Jurassic Park. Here's the truth about the smallest dino in the world.
Read MoreVictoria's reign was marked by a period of great economic progress in England, as well as advances in learning and technology. There was still grinding poverty, but it was a start. She made it into the 20th century, however briefly, before her death. Here's what killed her.
Read MoreThe mid-2000s were a hell of a time to have a symmetrical face and know how to kick things. It was Jet Li's time to shine. Why wouldn't he want in on the Matrix?
Read MoreShakespeare was a poet as well as a storyteller, and when he didn't find a word that suited, he felt well within his capacity to invent one from whole cloth. As a result, he is credited with coining some of the most common words and turns-of-phrase still in use today.
Read MoreHave you ever felt like your life was so pointlessly repetitive that you felt tempted to punch a clock to death? That's what Groundhog Day does to you. Here's how it all got started.
Read MoreWith 213 reported deaths and just shy of 10,000 confirmed cases across twenty countries, the Wuhan coronavirus has now been categorized by the WHO as a global public health emergency of international concern.
Read MoreTo make an omelet you have to break a few eggs, but to make a pharmaceutical you have to break the bank. But that may change, thanks to a team of eggheads at Harvard and Tel Aviv University who have managed to reproduce a human via tiny chips.
Read MoreWhen you own a highly profitable company and a vet school saves your dog from dying of cancer, there's only one thing to do... spend $6 million on a Super Bowl ad to thank them.
Read MoreTo say that Colombian cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar was prone to excess would be putting it mildly. At the time of his death in 1993 Escobar was worth an estimated $30 billion and he was not one to conceal his immense wealth. So he bought hippos. Now, they're ruining Colombia.
Read MoreIf there were ever a domesticated animal that doesn't feel domesticated, it's cats. If you've ever fantasized about going bigger, though — such as, you know, having a pet tiger — you wouldn't be the first one. Here's a good compromise -- that cat breed that's closest to a tiger.
Read MoreEveryone knows the pyramids of Egypt are old, but it can be hard to conceptualize just how long ago these ancient wonders were constructed. They're so old that the Egyptians had a different North Star. Here is its story.
Read MoreToday, a genuine Rolex sells for a near-sacrilegious amount of money. So much money that, at a certain point, there's no real reason to list actual prices. Why are Rolex watches so expensive?
Read MoreRegardless of the beginnings of Flex Tape, the Flex products are pretty well-known these days. Since they are products and therefore are exchanged for money, surely this means that Mr. Swift has made a buck or two in the process? Hey, let's see just how much the Flex Tape guy is actually worth!
Read MoreFor 20 years, Kobe Bryant dominated basketball, joining the NBA directly out of high school and going on to win five championships and to be named 2008's All-League MVP. But none of that answers the real question: what was he pulling in before taxes?
Read MoreHoward Hughes packed a lot into his life. To say Hughes was an ambitious eccentric is an understatement. Here's the tragic real-life story of Howard Hughes.
Read MoreThe Beastie Boys — three friends from New York who became one of the biggest rap acts of all time — never took themselves too seriously, and the group's story remains remarkable. So make some noise and ch-check out this sure shot of the history of Brooklyn's finest, the Beastie Boys.
Read MoreCryptographers around the world have reason to rejoice, as one of the world's finest mysteries is one step closer to being solved -- or is it? Here's the news on the CIA's Kryptos sculpture.
Read MoreWilliam Shakespeare: author, theater nerd, and exception that makes the rule "just shave your head if you're going bald." Here's the truth about his death. We think.
Read MoreHydrogen peroxide, or the stuff your parents used to pour on your knees any time you crashed your bike, is pretty ubiquitous. You can find it in just about any grocery store or pharmacy. Does it say that you shouldn't swallow it right there on the bottle? You bet it does. But accidents happen.
Read MoreBorn at Westminster Palace in 1489, Margaret Tudor didn't need a silver spoon in her mouth because, according to biographer Sarah-Beth Watkins, the infant princess was baptized in a silver font "lined with fine linen cloth of Rennes." Here's the truth about King Henry's sister.
Read MoreJet Li is an undisputed martial arts superstar who has given the world some of the greatest fighting moves (and movies) in existence. Yet, recent years have brought worrying whispers that insinuate all might not be well in the Li-land. Here's the truth about his illness.
Read MoreWe all know Henry VIII, the iron-fisted monarch who mastered the art of multiple wives. But what, you may well ask, about his sister Mary Tudor?
Read MoreHowever you feel about Joe Rogan personally, millions of people appreciate the range of perspectives that appear on his podcast. With more than 7 million subscribers, the Joe Rogan Experience is one of the most popular programs on Earth. Here's how much money he makes per episode.
Read MoreCanine companions have stayed by humanity's side for countless generations, and millions of Dalmatians, bloodhounds, and Shiba Inus populate the globe, of all shapes and sizes. Of all these dogs, though, which one is the weirdest?
Read MoreAt long last, the final gaps in the animatronic animal kingdom are being filled in, as researchers at the University of Washington have announced the genesis of the Age of RoboFly.
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