What It Was Really Like Being A Teenager During The Civil War
The Civil War was by far the bloodiest conflict on American soil. It was difficult for all Americans, including teenagers of the time.
Read MoreThe Civil War was by far the bloodiest conflict on American soil. It was difficult for all Americans, including teenagers of the time.
Read MoreReady for these insane stories from people who lived with animals? We've got bad news for the Man in the Yellow Hat...
Read MoreMedia attention and accidents have convinced many circus patrons that circuses are cruel, and these circus animals might just agree.
Read MoreWhat happened to those dogs who all died after hanging out in or near small bodies of water? The answer is blue-green algae...which isn't actually algae at all.
Read MoreThe bond between dog and human has been forged for centuries, but scientists believe there's more to the man and canine friendship than we think.
Read MoreSome people think that cats are devils incarnate: clawed and fanged fear-balls that plot to assassinate you in your sleep. And push glassware off the table.
Read MoreAll it takes is one look into a cat's eyes to know that it's a magical creature, though it's hard to say whether those supernatural abilities are being used for good or evil. What about this whole nine lives business, though?
Read MorePresident Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on November 25. The funeral was watched on television by millions more around the world. There was one person who not only never grieved the president's loss, she never heard the news of his assassination: his maternal grandmother.
Read MoreThe Library of Congress digitized Rosa Parks' recipe for Featherlite Pancakes made with real peanut butter in 2017.
Read More"Hurricane" is the story of Rubin Carter, a middleweight boxer who, at 30 years old and at the height of his career, was wrongly convicted of a triple homicide.
Read MoreHere are some true crime conspiracies to add more eerie mystery to your life.
Read MoreBut what comes after the Olympics? For some Olympians, post-Olympics life has included a slide into the sad, dark, and criminal.
Read MoreWe all break the law without knowing it, because these laws are so stupid no one would bother enforcing them.
Read MoreThere's a strange national trend of creepy clown sightings across the country, and the facts about this weird wave are almost too bizarre to believe.
Read MoreDoorbell cams record when they detect motion. And sometimes what they capture is pretty freaky. These are the creepiest things caught on doorbell cams.
Read MoreGuess who's back to top off an insane year of seismic news stories with a final nugget of madness? It's convicted felon and "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli.
Read MoreAt the end of the day, a polygraph is just like a final exam. With a little prior preparation, anyone can pass.
Read MoreNorman Bates was based on the so-called Butcher of Plainfield, Ed Gein. However, the true nature of Gein's fixations was more complex.
Read MoreUFC president Dana White is a pretty powerful dude these days. However, everyone has to start somewhere ... and his start came while running away from the Winter Hill Gang, a gangster outfit led by none other than Whitey Bulger, the notorious gangster.
Read MoreWhat if a real-life case came along that combined a conman impersonating a CIA officer, multiple bank heists, and documentation and terminology convincing enough to fake out the police? Throw in a fall guy in the form of an $11/hour Target employee who got suckered into this nonsense.
Read MoreThe M60 is not the sort of vehicle the military wants citizens driving around the streets, and chances are you aren't going to find one with the keys in it unless you're desperate enough to grab one from a military base. Which, oddly enough, is exactly what happened in 1995 in San Diego.
Read MoreIt's pretty sad when a family's avarice turns its own members against each other. They say blood is thicker than water, but apparently for the Quinn family of Ireland, greed goes deeper.
Read MoreHere are ancient discoveries we still can't explain.
Read MoreMötley Crüe had few bona fide hit singles. Two of them came from their fifth and most successful album, 1989's Dr. Feelgood -- one hit being the title track.
Read MoreU2's entire musical oeuvre is informed by their origins as young people growing up in Dublin during a very tumultuous, violent time in Irish history.
Read MoreMarvel movies have a long and rich history, but not all Marvel movies are created equal.
Read MoreWaylon Jennings was married several times before finding true love and settling down with another country artist, Jessi Colter.
Read MoreII's obvious that Mötley Crüe's 1989 song "Kickstart My Heart" from their Dr. Feelgood album isn't an ode to a heart getting kickstarted by love.
Read MoreYou'd be hard-pressed to find a karaoke room or jukebox without "Old Time Rock & Roll." What could Bob Seger possibly regret about such a runaway success?
Read MoreIt's easy to see why a young musician like London Hudson, trying to wade into the waters of rock stardom, might be a bit intimidated by GNR's historic success.
Read MoreMelissa Auf der Maur from The Smashing Pumpkins is still in the music scene today but not exactly in the way you think.
Read MoreCopeland, the Virginia-born musician, has moved far beyond the world of rock and branched into everything from opera to scoring film and television (and more).
Read MoreIn 1976, Clapton shocked the audience in the Odeon music venue in Birmingham, England, with a string of racist comments and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Read MorePlant got a call saying his five-year-old son Karac was sick with a serious stomach virus. A second phone call brought Plant a parent's worst nightmare.
Read MoreWhile Fleetwood Mac has changed throughout the decades, the truth of the band's founding, peaks and valleys, and influence have led to some false beliefs.
Read MoreControversial and enigmatic, Andy Warhol was one of the most important artists of the 20th century. This is the crazy real-life story of Andy Warhol.
Read MoreRemember the Very Special Episodes of the '80s? The ones that got all moralistic and depressing? Here are some of the darkest TV moments from the '80s.
Read MoreWhitesnake lost all its master tapes due to a massive fire at a warehouse controlled by Universal Music Group in 2008.
Read MoreLegendary rap artist and musician, Eminem, is an icon. There are several misconceptions that exist about Eminem. Here's things you get wrong about the rapper.
Read MoreThe real Cheech and Chong are enterprising entertainers, and their current net worth certainly seems to reflect that.
Read MoreMötley Crüe had to write a few tender-hearted ballads to be competitive in the field of hair metal. This is the true story behind Motley Crue's "Without You."
Read MoreThe Witcher is a book series and a Netflix show starring Henry Cavill. Its world is filled with magic and monsters. Here's the real mythology behind The Witcher
Read MoreValve used to be a game developer. Now it focuses mostly on sketchy activities meant to increase its bottom line.
Read MoreRichard Branson owns two private islands: Necker Island and one that is less well-known. Here's Richard Branson's secret island people don't know about.
Read MoreThe group set off in a 1966 Buick Electra. The plan was to arrive at their destination, the Roosevelt Hotel, later that morning. They never made it.
Read MoreAs she explained to Allure earlier this year, "I wanted the audience [in London] to know who we were and what we were about."
Read MoreStella Parton has had as long a career as her more famous older sister Dolly. Dolly and Stella had a girl group together along with two other Parton sisters.
Read MoreFans might be forgiven for forgetting about it, since the song was released as the alternate side pressing (or B-side) to the album's title track, "Let It Be."
Read MoreAfter achieving success in the insular world of modern rock in the genre's heyday, what became of Napolitano, the woman who decided to walk away from it all?
Read MoreUnderneath all the fluff and lightness of The Nutcracker, the ballet's composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky didn't have such a fantastical life.
Read MoreFrom fake documentaries to flying lions, Hollywood has pulled some truly ridiculous stunts to promote its movies.
Read MoreFrank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop captivated the world with their antics both on and off stage.
Read MoreElla Fitzgerald always kept her music bright, upbeat, and positive -- which was a far cry from the reality of her personal life.
Read MoreUnderneath the flamboyance that was Liberace was a man who felt he needed to hide a part of himself. And when he died, some of his secrets came spilling out.
Read MoreThe movie is Braven, a 2018 action thriller starring Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa, which has enjoyed a steady place in Netflix's Top 10 most viewed titles.
Read MoreIf you're a fan of Van Halen, you're bound to remember Lillian Müller, the Playboy playmate/video star who brought the band's 1984 "Hot For Teacher" to life.
Read MoreComedians Bill Murray and Chevy Chase ended up in a fistfight behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live in 1978 when Chase returned to SNL as a guest host.
Read MoreBob Cratchit is one of the most important characters in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but what was his job? What did Bob actually do for Ebenezer Scrooge?
Read MoreThe Libertines stopped making music in 2004, a mere two years after their sudden debut on the garage-rock-revival scene with Up the Bracket.
Read MoreVan Halen got its name after changing it a few times before settling on the famous surname of lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex.
Read MoreThe 1969 Woodstock festival failed to turn a profit despite attracting a half-million people due to miscues in ticketing, logistics, and artist pay.
Read MoreNo one knows exactly when they're going to die, but once in a while, someone says something which inadvertently foreshadows the circumstances of their death.
Read MoreThese famous people surprisingly lived together -- what are the odds?
Read MoreLemmy Kilmister became world-famous both for his fearsome snarls and his complete dedication to the rock star lifestyle, and now a biopic about him is coming.
Read MoreThere's one possible reason he's not shelling out the big bucks for New York City rent anymore. In 2013, Oberst fell prey to a strange and harmful online post.
Read MoreDolenz was 20 years old, and The Monkees, which debuted in 1966, was a hit -- for two seasons, anyway. The studio provided the musicians and the songs.
Read MoreLead Runaways singer Cherie Currie said that being in the band was "a great way to be rebellious. Go up onstage singing those lyrics in your underwear."
Read MoreStability is not usually the word we think about with Hollywood relationships, but that's what Jessica Ditzel and Joe Rogan have.
Read MoreWhat happens if you can't see a new movie right away but you can't resist looking at the toys?
Read MoreThe Storage Wars myth -- finding the coolest and most valuable finds in the world simply by opening the right locker -- is about as realistic as The Goonies.
Read MoreThe copyrights to a number of pop culture icons are due to expire. Here are some popular characters that will soon be public domain.
Read MoreScientists generally take the opportunity to name a new species in honor of someone else. Dr. Torben Riehl of Belgium decided to honor metal icons Metallica.
Read MoreFour decades would pass before Paul got the gumption to take on a whole album all by himself again. McCartney III was finally released on December 18, 2020.
Read MoreNannette Streicher was instrumental in not only building Beethoven's pianos but also in allowing him to compose some of his greatest works.
Read MoreThe main draw of their star, Sober Sue, wasn't what she would do, but what she would not do. Sober Sue, the theater claimed, was the woman who never laughed.
Read MoreDespite Bing's success, he faced many difficulties in his life, including a terrible fire that gutted the family's home in 1943.
Read MoreThe unacceptable political position actor Seagal holds and the threat he poses to Ukrainian national security are the same.
Read MoreImagine you actually wrote all those AC/DC songs and had to choose a favorite. Somehow, guitarist Angus Young did exactly that recently -- two, actually.
Read MoreThe 21st century hasn't been too kind to former Creed frontman Scott Stapp. News about Stapp tends to concentrate on how he ended up broke and homeless.
Read MoreThe theme of the Offspring's first hit "Come Out and Play" has a surprising origin, one based on observation of everyday life in the city of Compton.
Read MoreCrosby, the traditional crooner who wore suits and matching Bailey hats, couldn't have been more unlike Bowie, with his over-the-top, glam rock persona.
Read MoreRobin Gibb was on top of the world. Why was he doing absolutely nutty things like breaking into his estranged wife's home and sending her threatening telegrams?
Read MoreOne piece of Woodstock lore proves partially true: at the time, Woodstock was considered the "largest music festival ever."
Read MoreHe couldn't find a publisher, and so he founded his own company, Tactical Studies Rules. All of this took quite a bit of time, and made Gygax's wife suspicious.
Read MoreIf you're a millennial, you most likely remember Andre the Giant from his role as Fezzik in the classic 1987 fantasy movie The Princess Bride.
Read MoreMatthew McConaughey is a versatile actor with a career that has let him experiment with many roles. Despite tragedy and failure, he's remained successful.
Read MoreIt's pretty surprising that Dee Snider of Twisted Sister is the author of a hit Christmas song, of all things -- and Snider himself agrees.
Read MoreBefore his death in 1990, Davis became a showbiz pioneer, a virtuoso entertainer who helped bring the visibility of Black entertainers to new heights.
Read MoreJames Dean was at the apex of his fame when he was killed in an automobile accident on September 30th, 1955. At the time of his death he was driving a customized 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed "Little Bastard," which would go on to become almost as famous as its owner.
Read MoreAs one would expect from the pop stardom sphere, Elton John and Madonna have been feuding for years.
Read MoreGary Coleman has been called "a casualty of American pop culture" who "sadly embraced and exploited his status as a walking punchline." Though, to claim that Coleman "exploited" his own exploitation seems a bit like a hollow observation. Here's how much money he had when his difficult life ended.
Read MoreHalfway through Fleetwood Mac's 1970 tour through Europe, Peter Green, lead guitarist, lead singer, and co-founder of the band, announced that he intended to leave the band. The initial reaction of John McVie, Fleetwood Mac's bassist, is recorded on Ultimate Classic Rock as "'Oh sh–!"
Read More'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is often referred to as the great breakout track for Nirvana and its controversial (and late) frontman, Kurt Cobain, who shares writing credit on the tune with bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. But Cobain couldn't stand it.
Read MoreAxl Rose might be one of the last people you'd expect to say something uplifting or positively thought-provoking. But even if you consider him a malignant carbuncle on the otherwise un-chafed butt cheeks of human happiness, he's said some fairly inspiration things.
Read MoreThe sentence "the Rolling Stones almost burned down the Playboy Mansion" is somehow less than the sum of its parts. But it's true.
Read MoreBut stepping up to the plate before either Bogart or Chaplin were the world's most famous knuckleheads: The Three Stooges -- three Jewish men, former vaudevillians, not generally recognized for their political commentary.
Read MoreFreddie Mercury is well known for his romantic and sexual relationships with men, but one of his most enduring relationships was with a woman: Mary Austin.
Read MoreFrom unspectacular beginnings as a relatively nondescript medical facility, Arkham Asylum (originally Arkham Hospital) expanded, warped, and eventually became the gothic labyrinth of villainy you know today. But did you know that a real life mental institution inspired it?
Read MoreIf you give a mouse a cookie, it will ask for a glass of milk. So, one might logically conclude that if you give a mouse a house, it will ask for a magic kingdom. When the Walt Disney Company became the House of Mouse, its resident rodent helped build an empire.
Read MoreThe music of Glam Rock is something between the feather boa glitz and dramatic pageantry of stage musicals, plus the fabtastic, over-the-top bombast of rock bands like Queen, or Elton John's ultra-big glasses phase. Add to this distilled essence of Tim Curry from 1975's Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Read MoreA little more than two months after the tragic death of Eddie Van Halen, news has finally come of the official cause of the legendary rocker's death.
Read MoreJust how many times has Mjolnir been obliterated? Here's a look.
Read MoreWhile there are definitely some valid criticisms of the MCU, some of the things we criticize are our guilty pleasures.
Read MoreThe '90s also contained one of the most tragic and heartbreaking events of Prince's life, the details of which were only to emerge following his death and the publication of the memoirs of his wife at the time, Mayte García.
Read MoreActress and activist Jane Fonda dealt with personal and political tragedies through every phase of her life, and continued to fight. This is the tragic real-life story of Jane Fonda, from her difficult childhood and health issues to her romantic losses and how she emerged stronger than ever.
Read MoreFor lovers of classic country music, Charley Pride is a household name. Pride was the latest recipient of the Country Music Association's lifetime achievement award during a ceremony watched by millions. On Dec. 12, 2020, Charley Pride died due to complications from COVID-19.
Read MoreThere's a whole list of celebrities Elton John has publicly stated his distaste for, ranging from Madonna to David Bowie to George Michael. And yes, that list also includes British singer, songwriter and model Leona Lewis.
Read MoreAt first glance, dairy farmer Max Yasgur was about as far from a hippie as one could get. He was politically conservative and had supported the Vietnam War. On the other hand, he championed the concept of free expression, even if people expressed beliefs and opinions different from his own.
Read MoreThe Fab Four would be sadly incomplete without Ringo Starr, and they all knew it. But in 1964, while the guys were getting ready to head out on a world tour that included Denmark, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia, they were faced with just such a possibility.
Read MoreIt's time to put to rest the idea that Michael Anthony isn't an amazing bassist. In fact, the man who played on most of Van Halen's biggest hits and most memorable songs is probably Van Halen's most underrated member from any era.
Read MoreOne recent object of Murray's conceit didn't think he should get away with his notoriously bad behavior. According to USA Today, the actor has been using "Listen to the Music" by the Doobie Brothers in commercials for his line of golf clothing without paying for the rights to do so.
Read MoreWhile performing in London just before the United State was set to invade Iraq, lead singer Natalie Maines said to the audience, "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas."
Read MoreFans of Tom Waits will know that his biggest collaborator and creative inspiration is his wife Kathleen. For the longest time, he only wrote songs with her, but he saw something in Keith Richards that made him want to break that trend. "There's nobody in the world like him," Waits told NPR.
Read MoreYou'd think a group of talented comedic minds would work well together while they ushered in one of the greatest and longest-lived television shows in history, and it probably looked that way from the viewer's side of the TV screen. Behind the scenes, SNL was a totally different beast.
Read MoreOn the day of Eddie's death, a New York City street artist was also among those who paid tribute to him. Spin reported on October 12 that artist Adrian Wilson took credit for changing a sign at the Van Siclen Avenue subway station to read "Van Halen Ave" in homage to Eddie.
Read MoreThe one episode that Waters truly wanted to do was supposed to be part of the now-lost seventh season. The theme was to be Teacher's Appreciation, and the narrators talked about their favorite teachers before launching into an historical education story.
Read MoreDuring television's celebrated golden age, Ernie Kovacs was to comedy what Rod Serling was to drama. Although his name may not be as familiar some 1950s legends, his impact is immeasurable. Yet, much of his life was anything but mirth and merriment. Here are the tragic details of his life.
Read MoreProfessional wrestler Andrew "Test" Martin was one of many bright stars who was lost all too soon. The circumstances surrounding his death were all too familiar to wrestling fans, though an unknown health issue may have played a role as well.
Read MoreEach episode of The Joy of Painting consisted of Ross painting a landscape featuring what he referred to as "happy little" clouds, trees, and other representatives from the natural world while he held a gentle one-sided conversation with his audience.
Read MoreIt was clear from the jump that The Notorious B.I.G. was destined for great success. His debut album, 'Ready To Die,' positioned him at the top of the East Coast hip hop scene. But some of the lyrics from the rapper's first album proved eerily prophetic, foreshadowing his tragic death.
Read MoreFast-food burger brand Wendy's is killing it on social media, grilling the competition without a care in the world. But did you know the chain dropped an honest-to-goodness mixtape? Rest assured, the rhymes are fresh (never frozen).
Read MoreSince its start, Nine Inch Nails has released 11 studio albums, won multiple awards, and produced several stellar music videos. One of those earliest music videos would lead to an FBI investigation, something Reznor never could've predicted. (We're guessing, anyway.)
Read MoreWhether you know the story of John Henry or not, you've almost certainly heard people sing about him. That is because his folkloric tale has captured the imaginations of artists, particularly musicians, for nearly 100 years, and the legend has come to be the subject matter of numerous songs.
Read MoreMore than a decade later, and there's never been a sequel to I Am Legend. Will Smith is still a huge star, and the fact that (spoiler alert) his character died at the end of the original isn't really a heavy lift for Hollywood -- there are any number of ways to could resurrect his character.
Read MoreJohn Rutsey, a formative member of Canadian prog-rock band Rush, certainly stands out among classic rock drummers. The Toronto-based musician not only set the precedent for Rush's signature sound, but also wrote many of the lyrics for the band's debut album.
Read MoreDolly Parton has found a way to appeal to people of all different backgrounds, sexual orientations, political views, and musical preferences, and she's done her fair share of acting as well. Here are some of Dolly Parton's best movie and TV appearances.
Read MoreWas there any other country that took to Bob Ross in the way that Germany took to David Hasselhoff, or that the US has taken to the Canadian Ryans -- Reynolds and Gosling? Indeed there is.
Read MoreJohn Lennon is remembered as a musical genius. We've learned a lot more about his personal life in recent years — and most of it is unflattering. But, with the information we now have about his history, we can see just how his childhood influenced his later behavior.
Read MoreUnfortunately, little did Lennon know that he had actually sealed his fate the day he said those words, for they had a profound effect on a young man from Fort Worth, Texas, named Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed John Lennon on December 8, 1980.
Read MoreThe Laurel Canyon mansion/studio is a popular stop for rock and roll sight-seers exploring LA, and it's popular for reasons beyond the music industry as well. The Mansion is said to be home to spiritual entities, and many of those who've spent time at the studio have left with ghost stories to tell.
Read MoreAs Elton John described his early career, "The word 'celebrity' didn't exist, you were either successful or not." But Sir Elton has a very specific reason for the disdain he has for reality TV and its stars.
Read MoreAlice in Chains were among the pioneers of the sonic sounds coming out of Seattle, Washington, when grunge took over rock n' roll in the 1990s. But the band was plagued by demons that were all too common among their contemporaries and reached the point of breaking up.
Read MoreWhile guitarist Jimi Hendrix's death came unexpectedly in 1970, the 27-year-old's fame continued to blossom posthumously, with the rocker gaining legendary status years after his passing at a young age. This is the eerie way Jimi Hendrix foreshadowed his own death in a song.
Read MoreMank tells how screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz or "Mank," wrote Citizen Kane, a thinly veiled attack on newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. As with all real-life stories turned into film, liberties had to be taken. Here are the times Mank lied to you.
Read MoreWhich brings us to the 2008 production 10,000 BC, where things get even less accurate. Monumentally inaccurate, really. Think of it this way: The film puts history in a tumbler, shakes it up, and pours a tall glass of annoyance for a metaphorical bar full of historians. Honestly, it's almost sci-fi.
Read MoreThe band then returned to England for two performances at the V Festival, which received awful reviews, with NME (per Dedece Blog) reporting, "where songs used to spiral upwards and outwards, they now simply fizzle tamely." In April 1999, it was announced that The Verve had split up.
Read MoreSomeone once told Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins that their '90s emblem "Semi-Charmed Life" sounds like "summer and everything is going to be wonderful." But the truth of the song is a little less charming.
Read MoreBack in the 90s, the Gin Blossoms were everywhere. They had a song in the movie Empire Records, Grammy nominations, and were even onscreen during the end of Wayne's World 2. But after their heyday, it seemed the band virtually disappeared. Or did they?
Read MoreIf you had a Sam Goodie gift card and a lot of feelings about your parents' divorce in the late 1990s, there's a good chance that you owned at least one Everclear album. They had everything that a band could ask for at the time.
Read MoreTina Turner was just 18 years old when she gave birth to her first son, Craig, whose father performed with Tina's future husband, Ike Turner. The Turners had a famously rocky marriage & Tina relayed that Craig had been particularly affected by witnessing Ike abuse her.
Read MoreThe Fab Four were a global sensation, with millions of people in love with their music. Young people everywhere knew the lyrics to Beatles songs by heart. But a few choice words from members of the famous band didn't strike the right chord with some people.
Read MoreStranger Things is, in many ways, a love letter to the 1980s, but while it's known for its attention to detail, the show gets things both right and wrong.
Read MoreWhile a car is coveted, the prize isn't always what it seems. This is true of The Price Is Right. Winning such a big price is thrilling; recipients jump up and down, scream, and then race down to jump behind the wheel of their new ride. But once the lights dim, that dream can become less exciting.
Read MoreSome 23 labels in total rejected her self-titled album. "No one was willing to take a chance on a female rocker, especially one with a look and sound as androgynous as Jett's." Undaunted, Jett and Laguna formed their own independent label, Blackheart Records, and released the album themselves.
Read MoreTrent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails didn't always deal well with that fame, and ultimately, it was the fame that led both to a situation that could've killed Reznor, and to none other than David Bowie saving Reznor's life.
Read MoreMembers of Scotland's Primal Scream were no strangers to drug use themselves, but what they saw when touring with synth-pop megastars Depeche Mode changed them forever.
Read MoreThe popular folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel was formed in the late 1950s and continued on to have a successful career for the next 15 years. The precocious duo were just 16-years-old when they signed to the record company Big Records. This is how Simon & Garfunkel got their start.
Read MoreRadiohead wouldn't have made it that far if their third album, OK Computer, hadn't turned into a massive critical cultural staple. Recording OK Computer wasn't easy, though, since Thom Yorke was creeped out through the whole thing. That's what you get when you record an album in a haunted mansion.
Read MoreDolly PParton is one of 12 children, all of whom have their own story to tell.
Read MoreBattleBots is back for a brand-new season of total robot destruction. The wildly popular Discovery Channel show returns with 60 teams hailing from all corners of the globe to bash, saw, burn, chop, and stomp their way to victory. Here's what you need to know about the BattleBots Season 5 premiere.
Read MoreUltimately, they have sold more than 100 million records together and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. But after each reunion, the two would squabble and go their separate ways, doing their own projects and not speaking for months -- or years -- at a time.
Read MoreHis most recent claim breaks out of the human realm and into the supernatural. In an interview with The Mirror in 2016, Meat Loaf shocked the reporter with a frank proclamation that he could see the spirits of the dead.
Read MoreAllmusic immortalized the artist by claiming, "it is no exaggeration to say that the sound of mainstream pop/rock drumming in the 1980s was, to a large extent, the sound of Jeff Porcaro." Via Toto and countless others, Porcaro made his name as one of the top pop-rock drummers of the generation.
Read MoreWe've got Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, and others, including smaller theme parks like Florida's Epcot Center and Animal Kingdom. So when is enough enough for these guys? Well, back in 2000, they actually tried to nick an idea for an entire theme park.
Read MoreCountry music legend Waylon Jennings died in 2002, but his life was almost cut short much earlier. In 1959, Jennings was almost on the infamous February 3rd flight that crashed and tragically killed everyone on board. This is the story of the plane crash that could have killed Waylon Jennings.
Read MoreFrank Sinatra was the kind of talented singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but he wasn't always known as the Sultan of Swoon, and it turns out, before he hit it big, he looked to another famous entertainer as a source of inspiration. This person was Frank Sinatra's inspiration.
Read MoreIf you think life is easy as one of the turn of the century's biggest pop stars and who married the world's top soccer player, think again. Apparently quite a few people out there are against the whole Girl Power thing, because Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, has had several brushes with danger.
Read MoreFolk-rock group Simon & Garfunkel met early success with their song "Hey, Schoolgirl," breaking the Top 50 in 1957 when they were 15-year-olds living in the New York City borough of Queens. They would reunite several times but behind all the music making were strife and breakups.
Read MoreThe Cars were among the most successful bands to come out of the New Wave scene. Ric Ocasek is typically considered the frontman, but he and Benjamin Orr shared the role of lead singer. Did this make them close friends or breed contempt? It turns out it was a little bit of both.
Read MoreNOFX has been the most unlikely success story of punk rock music. While NOFX remains under the radar for music fans, they have wild, untold history.
Read MoreJust about every type of war you can think of has been turned into a story for the masses, from sword clashes to naval warfare and the one we're here to talk about today, musket shootouts. The American Revolution isn't exempt from onscreen portrayal. Quite the opposite.
Read MoreIn November of 2020, Nine Inch Nails was finally, fittingly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the year after NIN legend Trent Reznor inducted fellow black-clad musical icons The Cure into the same halls.
Read MoreGenerations have given rap their own spin, evolving their techniques and the sound of the music in the process. Can it really be fair to compare the early innovators to those more technically advanced who emerged decades later, thanks to the influence of those that came before them?
Read MoreThese laws were passed for ridiculous reasons, even if they had good intentions.
Read MoreIt takes a lot to make a video game masterpiece. But, above all, a dazzling final sequence is what make these games truly mind-blowing.
Read MoreKetchup. Mustard. Vinegar. All delicious toppings for your fries. And once upon a time, they eased conditions like stomach aches and other ills.
Read MoreFrom 1976-1983, Argentina's right-wing military dictatorship conducted the Dirty War against those it suspected of being leftist political opposition.
Read MoreBy the end of the 19th century, the only Spanish colonial remnants in the Americas were Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Read MoreCat fans might want to list Japan's Tashirojima Island (also known as Tashiro Island) as an itinerary must-see. About 100 people; hundreds of feral cats.
Read MoreThey coexisted for decades, but now, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America are suing the Boy Scouts of America for poaching potential recruits.
Read Morealthough it remains a U.S. territory today, the United States had a bit of trouble hanging on to Guam in the middle of the 20th century.
Read MoreUnfortunately, holidays are like any other day of the year -- Death doesn't discriminate against them.
Read MoreGamers hold a lot of techno-joy for their favorite hobby, will break out their credit cards for the next big system, assuming it isn't ludicrously overpriced.
Read MoreLife is good in the 21st century, but mattress shopping still sucks.
Read MoreMary Heath was the first woman to hold a commercial flying license in Britain, and most people don't know the details of Mary Heath's life.
Read MoreLike many other islands the United States has stolen, the Northern Mariana Islands have a long history of being pushed around by colonial powers.
Read MoreThe United States stole American Samoa and currently controls it from 7,000 miles away in Washington, D.C.
Read MoreYou would think that the man who developed the vaccine for polio, Dr. Jonas Salk, would be celebrated. In reality, he was disliked by his peers.
Read MoreThis is the story of what really happened when scientists gave Tusko the elephant too much LSD in 1962.
Read MoreYou don't get nicknamed "The Big Kahuna" without having a story of riding a massive wave that propels you a mile down the coast and into the stuff of legend.
Read MoreThe reason the Kennedys couldn't stand Fidel Castro concerns a failed plan to remove Cuba's leader from power.
Read MoreBefore The Queen's Gambit there was Vera Menchik, who was one of the best players in the world in the early 20th century and paved the way for women's chess.
Read MoreDid Franklin's kite experiment ever really happen? Or is it just another one of the myths we're raised to believe about our nation's Founding Fathers?
Read MoreDuring the late 1800s and early 1900s, several women were hired at Harvard Observatory to classify the universe. Today, they remain largely forgotten.
Read MoreIt was Aristoteles who said, "There is no genius without having a touch of madness." These are history's most respected geniuses that turned into madmen.
Read MoreBicycles enjoy many variations today, but all stem from one invention dating back over 200 years in Germany: the Draisienne, built in 1817 by Karl von Drais.
Read MoreMeet Stanislav Petrov, the Soviet man who saved the world from nuclear Armageddon. If he'd followed his training, World War III would have started in 1983.
Read MoreHorseshoes were invented to protect horse hooves from the elements, as horses became domesticated, working more, carrying heavier loads, and running faster.
Read MoreThe red serge or coat of the Canadian Mounties was chosen to resemble the redcoats worn by the British Army and to distinguish the Canadian force from the U.S.
Read MoreWhat really caused the Crusades? Beginning in the year 1095, the Crusades had a lot to do with apocalypse fever and how we calculate time.
Read MoreTough. Determined. Adventurous. These are some of the words used to describe the mountain men. Here's what it was really like being a mountain man in the 1800s.
Read MoreWhen most people try recreating medieval cuisine, they use spices, but spices were not as common as you think. Here's a look at the myth about medieval spices.
Read MoreThreatening the USA was nothing compared to some of the sick things the Soviet Union got up to. It's true: the worst part of the USSR isn't what you think.
Read MoreWhile The Aeronauts manages to get the spirit of ballooning of the 1800s, it gets many facts wrong. Here are things The Aeronauts got wrong about history.
Read MorePresidents change a lot between their election and leaving the White House. Here's the explanation for the dramatic way American presidents age in office.
Read MoreOnce the US abutted Canadian and Mexican borders, it simply turned its eyes overseas. Before Hawaii was annexed by the US, it was its own, sovereign kingdom.
Read MoreWhile no evidence exists that the Menehune actually lived in the Hawaiian Islands' dense forests and remote valleys, the mythology tells a different story.
Read MoreRobert Kennedy had a contentious relationship with Hoover. RFK, wanting to protect his brother John, barred the FBI chief from direct access to the President.
Read MoreAside from simply being a sweetener, sugar became a medium for temporary art, similar to modern-day sand art or ice sculptures.
Read MoreYou can't possibly know when you're seconds away from being part of a historical catastrophe.
Read MoreNearly as well known as his art is the legendary story of how Van Gogh cut off his own ear and then presented it to a sex worker as a token of his affection.
Read MoreCanada seems like a calm, peaceful kind of country. But it has a history just like any other country that is surprisingly dark and violent at times.
Read MorePresidents of the United States and their families have all sorts of security procedures and protocols they must follow while living in the White House.
Read MoreYou may have received a pineapple as a housewarming gift at some point. Where did this tradition come from, and what has given it such staying power?
Read MoreGerda Taro is slightly better known by the alias she shared with her partner, Endre Friedmann. Working together, they were known as photographer Robert Capa.
Read MoreTomb Raider's Lara Croft was a privileged girl who became a treasure hunter. She doesn't exactly have a real-life counterpart, but Amelia Edwards comes close.
Read MoreWe call all people who treat us, whether the damage is physical or mental, a doctor. But it hasn't always been this way.
Read MoreDuring the War of 1812, the British would have destroyed the Patent Office building if it weren't for the actions of Dr. William Thornton.
Read MoreIt marked one of the darkest chapters in the annals of Soviet prison camps.
Read MoreTiny Tim Cratchit is known as the ailing young son of Bob Cratchit in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but this is why the young boy sick in the famous tale.
Read MoreDating back to the ancient Egyptians, death masks have been used in funeral rites and art preservation across many cultures.
Read MoreJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise is a business empire that most of us can only dream about. It's 'a state of mind.' And it’s made a lot of money.
Read MoreHow does a two-and-a-half thousand-year-old how-to manual manage to fetch over five million Google hits in the 2020s?
Read MoreUnless you count the stars of the billion or so reality shows set in New Jersey, the Garden State's strangest and most famous creature is the Jersey Devil.
Read MoreMuch as we'd like to believe Robin Hood was a dashing hero for the poor, he may not have actually existed.
Read MoreIt's no coincidence that Santa appeared to spread a little holiday cheer, thanks to artist Thomas Nast. Here's his fascinating and occasionally dark story.
Read MoreTesla is believed to have been the first man to receive a signal from what is now known as the Black Knight satellite.
Read MoreA bit more sinister than many of its cryptic cryptid cousins, this humanoid from Algonquin legend roams the forests of Canada and the Northern United States.
Read MoreThe pilots overshot the runway and tried to land again, but hit a tree with one of the wings, 20 feet off the ground, causing the aircraft to crash.
Read MoreMakeup artist and image consultant Lillian Brown worked with countless political figures over the years, including nine United States presidents.
Read MoreWhile some prefer dogs, others like cats ... and if you're President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, you want both.
Read MoreFeaturing betrayals, beheadings, and lots of people with the same names, these are the most tragic deaths in the British royal family.
Read MoreThe tradition of mummering dates all the way back to Medieval England and Ireland, when Christmas celebrations were a time for drunken revelry.
Read MoreWhile those of us in the 21st century may think of the so-called "war on Christmas" as a relatively new idea, the vehement opposition dates back centuries.
Read MoreBefore Brady, Lincoln had little street cred. He was rustic, literally born in a log cabin, rural -- hardly the politico poster boy of the 1800s.
Read MoreIn England in the Middle Ages, there was one form of payment that stood out from the others: eels. Tenants used eels to pay their rent to English lords.
Read MoreWhy is it that citizens in the richest country on Earth are charged so much money for not dying that many go broke and even end up living on the streets? Let's take a look at the history and the travesty of American healthcare.
Read MoreAction Park officially opened on May 26, 1978, and for the first few years it was a huge success. Waves of visitors flocked to what was then the state's first and largest modern waterpark... but it would also become its most dangerous.
Read MoreIt's not everybody who gets an entire classification of something named after them. Yet so it is with Benedict Arnold, an otherwise hit-or-miss military commander during the American Revolution who is now well and truly and forever associated with traitors.
Read MoreHistory is a murky son of a gun, but most historians agree that Cleopatra died on or around August 12th of 30 BC. It's generally accepted that she killed herself, but firsthand accounts are difficult to come by and the exact method of her demise is up for debate.
Read MorePhotographer Dave Crocket described the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens as "hell on Earth," per My Northwest. One of Washington state's seven mountains, it had sat inactive since 1857...
Read MoreOver the course of the 20th century, experts from all over the world have dug, dug, dug in their quest to reach Earth's mantle. This quest for depth has led to all kinds of terrifyingly deep holes punching through the Earth, but the deepest of them all can be found in Murmansk, Russia.
Read MoreSometimes, mascots can land a company in boiling hot water. From racist controversies to violent incidents, you’ll probably remember these controversial mascots, even if the corporations themselves might prefer that you didn't.
Read MoreThe U.S. divorce rate reached a record low in 2019, when only around 15 out of every 1,000 marriages ended in divorce. That was the lowest figure since 1970.
Read MoreIn the early 1930s, millions of Americans were out of work, and many were struggling to support their families. Unemployment skyrocketed nationally.
Read MoreHenry Hill, the gangster who inspired the book Wiseguy and Ray Liotta's performance in Goodfellas didn't die of lead poisoning, so to speak. His was a much slower passage.
Read MoreThose of us who enjoy the comforts of the modern world would probably be horrified to walk a day in the sandals of the average person in ancient Egypt.
Read MoreAlfred, king of Wessex (the area south of the Thames River in England -- and the Thames is the river that runs through London, so go ahead and check the map), is universally referred to as The Great. But we're not sure how he died.
Read MoreMyth and legend often begins with oral history rooted in fact. But Pecos Bill emerged from the typewriter of a former soldier of fortune named Edward O'Reilly.
Read MoreFederal judge and former special narcotics prosecutor Sterling Johnson, Jr, said of Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, "He had charisma. Have you been in the presence of Bill Clinton when he walks down the street? That was Nicky Barnes." Not a great look for Bill, but Barnes was quite the drug dealer.
Read MoreAll by his lonesome, Elfego Baca took on over 80 outlaws and dodged hundreds of bullets in a clash that lasted more than 33 hours.
Read MoreWhile every other nation in the world has a rectangular or square flag, Nepal's flag instead follows a double-pennant design, and has done so for centuries. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, this makes Nepal the only modern country with a non-quadrilateral flag.
Read MoreThe very first pins for clothing showed up around the 14th century BCE. It was called a fibula (plural: fibulae) and was mostly used by the Mycenaeans. The Fashion Institute of Technology explained fibulae functioned like a clasp to fasten garments.
Read MoreAt the 1936 Olympics, Haiti competed under its civil flag, a horizontal blue stripe on top of an equal-width red stripe. In contrast, Haiti's national flag includes a coat of arms in the center, per CRW Flags, but the civil flag was more commonly used for non-governmental affairs like the Olympics.
Read MoreIn 2017, a team of paleoanthropologists in Morocco made a discovery that would fundamentally alter our understanding of the origin of our species. Their findings, published in Nature, push back the oldest known beginnings of Homo sapiens another 100,000 years.
Read MoreThe heiress and businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather Post (basically, she built General Foods Corporation) purchased an unkempt patch of palm trees and vegetation off the coast of Palm Beach Island in 1923. Four years later, the brush had been transformed into a million-dollar beachfront property.
Read MoreIn January 1959, Igor Dyatlov, a college student, and his cadre of nine fellow hikers set out to cross Russia's Ural mountains in the coldest part of the year.
Read MoreLawrence's notoriety was thanks to the influence of one man: Lowell Thomas, an American journalist who saw something in Lawrence that he knew audiences the world over would just eat right up.
Read MoreIt sucks to end a relationship during or near the holidays, because it's a time when people want to be around their loved ones. So, why is it that someone is willing to break up during this time? Every relationship is different, but it could be because of a few things.
Read MoreThe colorful tissue paper hats are found inside the Christmas Cracker, a festive cardboard tube that, when pulled, emits a bang and dispenses the hats, along with a small gift and a slip of paper containing a joke or funny motto. Christmas Crackers are a delightful part of the holidays in Britain.
Read MoreEven Christmas has fallen prey to 2020. No, Christmas isn't canceled, but it may be a little less bright. Christmas decorations have sold out faster than expected, and retail stores have a harder time restocking their shelves. Several stores have said they were caught short in their supplies.
Read MoreThese people live almost their entire lives at sea, because who needs land?
Read MoreWhat does the Bible actually say about the events of the birth of Jesus? Surprisingly little: the narrative only appears in one Gospel. But tradition, archeology, and science have helped to fill in some of the gaps left in the biblical narrative. This is the untold truth of the nativity of Jesus.
Read MoreThe DeLorean wowed movie audiences in 1985, as the futuristic, spaceship-looking thing streaked across the screen, reached 88 miles per hour, and flashed back to the 1950s in Back to the Future. And as you might expect, the creator of such a unique car was himself unique.
Read MoreAnning, without formal education or training, was integral to the early days of "natural science." She not only transcended class barriers to eventually catch the attention of prominent individuals such as English geologist Adam Sedgwick, but also gender barriers that deemed her ventures unheard of.
Read MoreThe Mounties have instantly recognizable dress uniforms, made up of distinctive red jackets, or tunics, known as the Red Serge, paired with matching breeches, and accessorized with snappy brown leather Sam Browne belts, Stetson hats, and high leather Stracona boots.
Read MoreToday, nearly everyone has a smartphone with a camera. You've probably taken hundreds of photos in your lifetime, if not thousands. But, in the 19th century, photography was a difficult art that required patience and expertise. Few early photographers were as successful as Mathew Brady.
Read MoreAcrylic nails are very common these days, and celebrities can often be seen sporting some insanely long ones that make you wonder how they go about their day. And there's a pretty unexpected person to thank for the long nails that complete a woman's look.
Read MoreOne of the most critical events in Jewish history, especially as a defining moment for Jewish culture, is also one of the Bible's lesser known epochs: The Babylonian Exile, from 586–538 BCE. The Babylonian Exile is the reason why Judaism cohered into a canonical religion at all.
Read MoreAncient Rome has became known as the seat of opulence and luxury. It was the place where people gave up on stretchy pants and went right to togas, and those expanding waistlines might have had something to do with their love of feasting. This is what it was like to feast in Ancient Rome.
Read MoreWhen do you think gift card first appeared? 1950? 1970? Actually, these plastic presents entered the gift-giving industry relatively recently -- in 1994, initially from retailer Neiman Marcus as the NM Express card, and later by Blockbuster Video, the onetime king of video, DVD and game rentals.
Read MoreSir John Macdonald wasn't worried about murderers, trespassers, or even infighting between the Natives and the large influx of new settlers. The Mounties were first formed to deal with the problem of the illegal whiskey trade.
Read MoreDeer meat, or venison, was highly desirable, but rarely offered for sale. The rich people who had access to it on their lands simply kept it for their families' personal use. When it was sold, it was still only accessible to the rich people who could afford to buy it.
Read MoreThe British Royal Family is steeped in tradition, from how they dress to how they interact with people. Celebrating the holidays is no different, even though they are also just a family who wants to be together for Christmas and eat the food that comforts them.
Read MoreFew activities are as synonymous with winter as sledding. In colder regions around the world, children excitedly wait for the next snow day so they can go out sledding with their friends. Adults, too, enjoy the thrill of speeding down a hill on a wooden sled -- but they may prefer not to admit it
Read MoreEventually, the Medici won the altercation and regained control of their city. That meant Michelangelo, the once-beloved protégé of the Medici family, needed to get out of Dodge -- well, Florence -- and he needed to do it fast.
Read MoreMuch of the land where the palace was built was a swampy marsh that drew water from the Tyburn river. The village of Eye Cross was nearby. Living in Eye Cross was a woman named Margarie Gourdemaine (sometimes spelled Margery Jourdemayne), who would later become known as "The Witch of Eye."
Read MoreIt's widely believed that medieval peasants, for instance, glugged their way through entire barrels of beer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but this isn't actually true. They couldn't afford it. Homebrewing was a thing, yes, but uncommon.
Read MoreOne constant in the history of Russia is the phrase "unintended consequences." Russian history is filled with tragedy on a national scale. It has always been a hot mess. To understand why a country so big is so messy, here's a look at the various moments in Russian history that went horribly wrong.
Read MoreWhen it comes to regicide -- the killing of a king -- the historical record is blood-soaked indeed, but few are quite as famous as the execution of France's King Louis XVI, as well as his wife, Marie Antoinette.
Read MoreIt wasn't that Erich Steidtmann was offended by allegations of his role in one of the worst pogroms in human history. No, what inflamed the ire of Steidtmann was that the woman who wrote the book claimed to have had an affair with him.
Read MoreBy 2003, Hooters had been operating as a successful restaurant chain since the 1980s and was "flush with cash." Looking to expand the brand, Brooks bought the North Carolina-based charter airline Pace Airlines and refurbished the fleet of planes with Hooters logos.
Read MoreKwanzaa got its start in 1966 when Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California University, wanted African Americans to build community after the Watts Rebellion, a six-day riot in August of 1965 that killed 34 people and caused $40 million in damage.
Read MoreSurgical instruments mechanic Erwin Perzy of Vienna, Austria, was performing experiments in order to improve the brightness of then newly invented electric light bulbs. Shoemakers at the time used the trick of putting candles in front of glass globes of water in order to create a diffused spotlight.
Read MoreThe holiday season of 2020 is missing many of its traditional gatherings and celebrations due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. This is not, however, the first time in history that the holidays have been interrupted by a widespread and very contagious disease.
Read MoreIt wasn't until after Rasputin seemed to improve the Tsar's son's hemophiliac condition that the country would embrace his reputation. He became a favorite in Tsar Nicholas II's court, until his personality turned certain important people against him.
Read MoreThe Boston Common Christmas tree has been a gift from the Canadian province of Nova Scotia for 48 years. Per the Boston Globe, the gift is thanks for the assistance Boston offered to Nova Scotia after the Halifax Explosion of 1917.
Read MoreIt was even more common to blame animals for the spread of the disease, and 14th century Europeans became completely fixated on the wrong animal. Instead of trying to eradicate the disease-filled vermin that were ravaging the cities, some decided black cats were to blame for all their problems.
Read MoreWomen in ancient China, beginning in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) up until the early 20th century, bound their feet as a means to attract better marriage prospects. This made their feet incredibly small, but it also meant their feet become gnarled, broken, and painful.
Read MoreBetween 1929 and 1939, the entire industrialized world was caught in the grip of the biggest financial crisis in history -- the Great Depression. While the Great Depression was horrible for those who lived through it, the U.S. would look very different today if it hadn't happened.
Read MoreThe Japanese temple at Sanjūsangen-dō is home to 1,001 statues of the Kannon Bodhisattva, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. But this shrine holds more than just an impressive statuary; it's home to an important rite of passage.
Read MoreWhile it might seem pretty straightforward that after the end of WWII, the Nazi party needed to pay the price for their crimes, it didn't exactly work that way. Many fled Europe in the aftermath of the war and ended up in South America. How they got there is both bizarre and terrifying.
Read MoreThe world of the Neanderthals was a near-endless winter and there were many ways to die, as the unluckiest Neanderthal in history once found out. Some deaths, and this still holds true today, are simply the result of an unfortunate circumstance. This was the unluckiest Neanderthal in history.
Read MoreWhen Wisconsin University researchers examined a Stone-Age butchery site in Tanzania, they found that the site's animal remains indicated that those animals had been specifically targeted and killed by human hunters. Hunting is apparently far older than we realized.
Read MoreNeanderthals existed from roughly 400,000 years ago until 40,000 years ago. Though they lived in the Stone Age, they didn't have rocks for brains. Here's what life was like for our Stone Age relatives.
Read MoreGum is generally a one and done piece of entertainment. So it's surprising that a 5,700 year-old form of 'chewing gum' remembers its owner well enough that scientists were able to recreate her entire genome, and also see what she had just eaten. You deserve an explanation.
Read MoreMar-a-Lago is President Donald Trump's primary residence, a resort club for the extremely wealthy, and an estate with more history than you might expect.
Read MoreLong before the word "branding" was used to describe the click-boosting tactics of Instacelebs, it was used by cowherds to keep track of field-roaming cattle (a funny comparison, to be sure). And we mean "long before," as in pre-written language scrawled on cave walls thousands of years ago.
Read MoreFrau Perchta's role in Christmas, though, has changed over the years. It turns out that she tends to be most active between Christmas and the Epiphany, so people believed she's more of a holiday thing. Frau Perchta preyed on lazy people year-'round before becoming a general threat against children.
Read MoreJulius Caesar is the most famous Roman who ever lived, but he tends to be more famous for some things than others. Caesar is remembered as a general and a politician, but not as a priest, a title that Caesar held multiple times. Let's look inside Julius Caesar's connection to priesthood.
Read MoreWe know they brought gifts, but most people aren't too familiar with the characters beyond that. When you hear the visitors mentioned in Christmas carols -- for instance, "We Three Kings," posted on YouTube -- they're often described as being, well, kings who follow a star from far off lands.
Read MoreThe tradition had very humble beginnings. Pre-20th century presidential administrations didn't officially observe Christmas. The president and his family traditionally decorated "modestly with greens and privately celebrated the Yuletide with family and friends."
Read MoreChristmas is still celebrated by soldiers during times of war. That doesn't stop the conflict that's going on, and the stress of combat doesn't dissipate for the holidays. The celebrations that are typical to the military are nothing like they are stateside, but there's still some holiday cheer.
Read MoreThe San Juan County Sheriff's Office shared a joke "Most Wanted" poster with nine alien faces and posted it to Facebook for a laugh, but it didn't seem like anyone had any idea who put the monolith there and no one reported any stolen property.
Read MoreThe mystique of the Orient Express has been tantalizing travelers since 1883. Read on for an enjoyable trip along the history of this magnificent train.
Read MoreThe earliest evidence of people skating on ice was 5,000 years ago. Archaeologists found evidence of ice skating around that time in areas surrounding Scandinavia and Russia. They believe the Finns made the earliest skates in order to move across frozen water and away from predators efficiently.
Read MoreBeing a teenager is tough, from all the changes teens go through to the fact that adults have complained about them in every period of history. But at least the Renaissance era was an interesting time to annoy adults and become one yourself. This is how teens during the Renaissance really lived.
Read MoreWe're aware of the thrills hitting us from all sides while riding a roller coaster, but there's a bunch of weird stuff happening on our insides as well.
Read MoreLife in the Middle Ages was no picnic for most people, what with all the backbreaking manual labor. Famine sometimes led to some pretty horrifying food options.
Read MoreConey Island has a long and storied history as an entertainment hub. Over time, Coney Island has developed a reputation for accidents and ride malfunctions.
Read MoreVlad the Impaler gained such a reputation for cruelty he's become synonymous with his fav method of execution. Here's the messed up truth of Vlad the Impaler.
Read MoreThe gunfight at the O.K. Corral.is a shoot-out that has come to define the Wild West. Here's the messed-up truth of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Read MoreStar Trek has seen bad stuff. What upsetting stuff was going on in one of history's best shows? Here's some messed up things you didn't realize about Star Trek.
Read MoreThe East India Company is pretty much the poster child of an evil corporation. Just how evil? Well, here's the messed up truth about this notorious organization.
Read MoreSome people think that the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm are as dark as a Friday the 13th movie. Well, most of them aren’t … but some of them definitely are. Here are the most messed up Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
Read MoreGifting Table was a supposed female empowerment group designed to help women make it through the difficult economic times of the Great Recession.
Read Morethe case came to a close. The 1817 case came to a close. Or it would have, if it weren't for the fact that the whole thing happened again 157 years later. In a series of eerie coincidences, Barbara Forrest met her astonishingly similar and tragic end in 1974.
Read MoreHere are musicians who bait-and-switched their fans.
Read MoreWhile oldest brother Barry Gibb was considered the frontman of the group, brother Robin Gibb was often regarded to be the more talented vocalist.
Read MoreAndy Gibb launched his solo career in 1977, but would never reach the successful heights of his brothers, the Bee Gees, due to his addiction to drugs.
Read MoreJohnny Mathis knows he has to sing his fan favorites with the perfection worthy of a standing ovation, but Mathis doesn't like some of his most famous songs.
Read MoreDonna Summer became the face of the 1970s dance scene and had a string of hits through the decades until her death. Her road to fame was a tragic one, however.
Read MoreEvery album needs a cover. However, sometimes musicians choose art that won't fly. Here are some times when musicians were forced to change their album covers.
Read MoreThe Day the Music Died was Feb. 3, 1959, when a plane crash killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. It was a shattering end to the decade.
Read MoreIn 1960, Sri Lanka's Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history when she became the world's first woman to hold the position of prime minister.
Read MoreIf you've ever been to a concert and in between a song break or a lull in the show, heard someone shout from the back of the crowd, "Free Bird!", there's actually a fascinating history behind it.
Read MoreAfter Duane Allman's death, his partner in rock guitar innovation, Dickey Betts, had to continue on without him, and Betts would stay with the band through its wild ups and downs for three more decades.
Read MoreLiberace defined glitz and glamour. However, when the stage lights dimmed and the curtain closed, Liberace was a man at war with himself. Here's his story.
Read MoreSandoval, in the Refinery 29 interview, describes a highly sensitive, artistic process of crafting stories and music, saying, "We like to take our time experimenting with different ideas and creating new sounds until we feel satisfied that we've accomplished something mind-expanding."
Read MoreThere were always two kinds of people: Those who loved The Dave Matthews Band and those who loved to make fun of those who loved them. After the 2000s, both types went quiet. The Dave Matthews Band's popularity has waned in what could be argued as a "natural course," but they didn't disappear.
Read MoreAs MTV reported, Manson and the other members felt they'd had enough. Manson unequivocally said the band was on a hiatus, though many thought they had broken up. Manson said recording and touring for Bleed Like Me had been difficult for all band members. They just needed time away from each other.
Read MoreNo Doubt rocketed into mainstream fame with their third album, 1995's Tragic Kingdom, and the song "Don't Speak." It's no surprise that the quintessential nineties rock band who found success because of a breakup will be subject to constant rumors of splitting up.
Read MoreRadiohead hasn't released a new album since 2016's A Moon Shaped Pool, so of course fans eagerly await the next one. And they might be waiting a while.
Read MoreThe Counting Crows, one of the 90's bands you used to love, released a new song in 2019, but it's been half a decade since the band came out with a full album. Here's why.
Read MoreAs any Gen X'er who still wears acid wash jeans and calls people "dude" can attest, Winger was, for a while there, a band. According to some, it was none other than Beavis and Butthead who brought Winger down.
Read MoreElla Fitzgerald is undoubtedly one of the greatest singers ever. And, like many extraordinary talents, her rise to fame seemed to have come out of nowhere. But Fitzgerald worked hard to find success and a last-second decision helped propel her to stardom.
Read MoreLouis Armstrong was more than just a jazz pioneer. The incredibly talented musician also had a peculiar habit, one that made his life what's been described as "one of the most well documented private lives of any American artist."
Read MoreThe Doobie Brothers have won Grammy Awards, sold nearly 50 million records, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here's their story.
Read MoreIn his book, Lawrence recounts adventures and death-defying self-mythologizing during his time as a British intelligence officer working to take down the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Thanks to the 1962 film starring Peter O'Toole, it's even more difficult to separate fact from fiction.
Read MoreThe mystery of the Black Knight satellite is enduring and strange. It involves Nikola Tesla, lots of other scientists, astronauts, and more!
Read MoreOn March 12th, the Winchester Mystery house, located in San Jose, California, announced via its website that it would be closing its doors until at least April 7th, citing concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic. Now the location is open to the public, if only virtually.
Read MoreCome into a tremendous fortune under no action of her own, and bearing not only the weight of the Winchester name, but the knowledge of how many deaths her money came from. Such was the dilemma faced by Sarah Winchester.
Read MorePower pop hit "Closing Time" by American rock band Semisonic checks all the boxes for a novelty hit: an infectious melody, an easy-to-memorize chorus and a meditative double-meaning, much deeper than you might imagine.
Read MoreSitting Bull was a respected spiritual leader who was revered for bravery on the battlefield. He brought Sioux, Arapaho, and Cheyenne tribes together and led a legendary united front against the United States. Here's the truth about his death.
Read MoreCities all over the globe love letting buildings go to rot, including ones that were once a bustling hub of activity.
Read MoreAykroyd not only believes in the paranormal, he finds the whole idea "entertaining." He grew up with ghost stories that put most campfire tales to shame.
Read MoreBlack Sabbath transformed the music world with their dark and haunting aesthetic, but a prodigious pace in the early days left the band's creative well a bit dry. It turns out all they needed was something dark and haunting to turn things around.
Read MoreIt's no surprise that politicians lose it from time to time. When they do, it'll probably get caught on camera.
Read MoreThe request is not in the 5,593-page stimulus bill, but attached to the intelligence budget rolled into it, according to a posting on the Senate's website.
Read MoreThe staff of the White House is responsible for the activities of maintaining the residence and taking care of the first family. They do have rules to follow.
Read MorePolitical cartoons are cool. But the gig is also extremely dangerous. Here are political cartoons that got people fired.
Read MoreWhile many political candidates would have been nuts to think they could win an election, the same can't be as easily said for the MyPillow guy, Mike Lindell, who may very well have a soft place to lay his political aspirations in the near future, thanks to a Trump endorsement.
Read MoreEvery American president certainly is aware that the office makes them uniquely vulnerable targets. Some presidents have had to face that danger more than once.
Read MorePresident Gerald Ford managed to survive not just one, but two serious attempts on his life in the space of just 17 days -- both committed by women.
Read MoreWilson Roosevelt Jerman witnessed decades of history unfold. One of the White House's longest-serving employees, he died in May from the coronavirus at age 91.
Read MoreSome of America's greatest leaders had different aspirations as kids. Here are a few former presidents whose American dreams were not what you'd expect.
Read MoreDespite Taylor's assertion that he was "no threat to society," the tens of thousands of lives lost or destroyed by his actions reflect a very different reality.
Read MoreTo become president of the United States, you just have be rich and prepared to do and say anything. Or, the president could die and then BOOM, you got a job.
Read MoreIn today's cutthroat political era, Americans are used to hearing a lot about presidential elections, but it wasn't always like that.
Read MoreAfter clinching the presidency in 2016 Donald Trump would have his Teflon tested by all kinds of allegations.
Read MoreThey're not just for Thanksgiving turkeys: presidential pardons have long been a contentious practice, seeming to give a green light for close allies of a sitting President to engage in nefarious dealings with the knowledge that a get-out-of-jail-free card will be waiting for them.
Read MoreThere are a few rules that even close friends are subject to when a buddy gets elected president, and it really is a life-changing deal — which means there's stipulations that continue even after their term ends. Here are some rules that friends of the American president have to follow.
Read MoreThe wounded President McKinley was rushed to Pan-American Hospital and operated on by Dr. Matthew Mann. Mann was a gynocological surgeon who happened to be at the exposition and was the first physician to respond. When Mann opened up McKinley's stomach, he couldn't find the bullet.
Read MoreAmerica's sixth president, John Quincy Adams, was known for his intellectual mind and passion for science and exploration. During his presidency, explorers were charting the western frontier like never before, and revolutionary scientific findings were being examined and documented.
Read MoreIf you've ever been told "You look like an angel!", you probably took that as a compliment. But according to the Bible, you probably should have felt insulted.
Read MoreThese royals mysteriously vanished, and they probably won't be showing up anytime soon.
Read MoreReady to rank the most expensive movie theaters in the world? If you want to see a movie in one of these places, get ready to open your wallet.
Read MoreQueen's "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" were both written to involve the audience and to explore the limits of participatory arena rock.
Read MoreWith her role in the Bible, the Queen of Sheba is one of the most famous and mysterious women of the ancient world. Here’s the true story of the Queen of Sheba.
Read MoreKing Arthur's tale is a classic old yarn about a scrappy kid who pulls a sword out of a stone. But there's more. Here's King Arthur's history finally explained.
Read MoreMaybe it's not that surprising that the '80s hard rock glam band, Whitesnake, wrote a song for blues musician and songwriter B.B. King.
Read MoreTalking Heads were an art-rock band formed in Rhode Island in the early 1970s by David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison.
Read MoreKing James I tried raising silkworms at Buckingham Palace in 1609, only to see his idea fail due to a serious miscalculation on a silkworm's proper diet.
Read MoreThe history of 9th century Vikings is passed down to us today via Old Norse oral tradition, written down long after the campfires died. Did tales get changed? Quite possibly. Over time, things get added, subtracted, multiplied, and even turned into shows on the History Channel, like Vikings.
Read MoreAfter becoming a world champion, Kahanamoku moved to Hollywood for a time and worked as an actor. It was during his time in California -- June 1925 -- that his skills would end up serving a purpose more vital than sport when he saved the lives of eight people who were caught on a sinking ship.
Read MoreNow 73 years old, King is still writing -- he published If It Bleeds and The Institute just last year. While his literary output is indeed impressive, he's as mortal as the rest of us. And back in 1999, King suffered a near-fatal accident that almost deprived the world of his extraordinary mind.
Read MoreThe holidays offer a time to enjoy family, celebrate the beauty of the season, and engage in festive traditions like tree-trimming, drinking eggnog, and singing carols. While the British Royal Family also does such yearly rituals, their Christmastime is also filled with certain obligations.
Read MorePBS is held to higher standards, so PBS has found itself deep in controversial territory on several occasions. Here are the biggest scandals to ever hit PBS.
Read MoreThe films of Warner Bros. have captivated audiences for generations. However, the work that goes into the art is sometimes filled with secrets and scandals.
Read MoreThe Black Sox Scandal ushered in a new era in professional baseball. Here is the truth of the Black Sox Scandal of 1919.
Read MoreThe author was not only accomplished, he lived an insane and exciting life, including, per Biography, marriage to an Academy Award-winning actress, Patricia Neal. And on top of all that, he was a pretty awful dude who said some pretty awful stuff.
Read MoreThe feud between Van Halen lead singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar has gone on forever. Here's a rundown of the Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth feud.
Read MoreAstronauts and other experts in the astronomy field fully expected human Mars colonies to exist by now.
Read MoreSmart and possibly insane individuals have some pretty unconventional ideas about the best way to go about getting their hands on all that sweet space loot.
Read MoreThe next projected appearance of arguably the world's most famous short-period comet (Be honest: Can you name any others?) is set for July 28, 2061.
Read MoreAir Force One is huge and packed full of high-tech security measures and luxury accommodations. Here are the craziest features found on Air Force One.
Read MoreThe Impossible Burger supposedly looks, tastes, and smells like meat, but isn't. Instead of glorious beef, it's made entirely out of plant-based materials.
Read MoreFrom radiation illness to widespread power outages, solar storms bring invisible destruction from above. The worst part? We never know when the next might hit.
Read MoreYou know deja vu. And if you've ever experienced deja vu, you've probably wondered what causes it. Here are some of the leading scientific theories on deja vu.
Read MoreThe inability to sweat might (at first) sound almost ideal. People who can't perspire, however, have their own very specific challenges, including heatstroke.
Read MoreEveryone is familiar with the smell of rotting fish, right? Wrong; it turns out the experience of getting a noseful of spoiled seafood is not quite universal.
Read MoreLife always finds a way. And that's exactly what happened when scientists tried to reproduce Russian sturgeon eggs through gynogenesis, using paddlefish sperm.
Read MoreIf you've ever had to fly in the middle of a bad thunderstorm, you might have found yourself wondering: Is it possible for planes to be struck by lightning?
Read MoreGenetic family trees get creepier when you realize that the long, yellow fruit in your pantry shares about half your genes.
Read MoreThat's right: When NASA couldn't make a tortilla that would last up to six months, it turned to fast food vendor Taco Bell for help.
Read MoreCracking your neck is incredibly satisfying and feels good afterward, so what's the problem, right? Not so fast.
Read MoreThe sun may disappear from view at the North Pole starting on September 25, but that doesn't mean that total darkness sets in.
Read MoreIf you close your eyes and imagine, it might be easy to envision what it sounds like: torrents of wind buffeting the craggy peaks of icebergs.
Read MoreThe North Pole can be a dangerous spot. That danger lies not in its climate or wild animals; the most dangerous thing at the North Pole is the ice.
Read MoreWhether we're talking about chinstraps, soul patches, mustaches or the full Duck Dynasty, the male beard is a fashion statement that has been floating in and out of style since World War I. But when it comes to growing one, some men have more luck than others. Here's why some men can't grow beards.
Read MoreResearchers have found as many as 130 viruses carried by bats. But the bats don't get sick. Why not?
Read MoreIn his autobiography, Mark Twain wrote, "A bat is beautifully soft and silky; I do not know any creature that is pleasanter to the touch or is more grateful for caressings, if offered in the right spirit..." But he may have written differently if he knew about the world's largest bat.
Read MoreAt this point, lots of people are afraid of the same thing: You're walking down the street minding your own business, when suddenly, some random person coughs at you, and boom! You now have coronavirus. But is that how it would work? How long does it last in the air?
Read More"Earthquakes have the Midas touch," at least according to a 2013 study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Here's how earthquakes create gold from water.
Read MoreA minimum wage worker would need to work three full time jobs to afford a two bedroom apartment. With this in mind, you have to ask yourself "how much sleep do I need if I don't want to die?" Here's how long a human can really go without sleeping.
Read MoreMore endearingly known as "water bears" and "moss piglets," tardigrades are water-dwelling micro-cuties that usually measure less than a half a millimeter long. And they're very hard to kill.
Read MoreWhat are the most venomous animals on the planet? Which creatures could murder you in minutes with just a simple sting or a tiny bite? Well, from sea-dwelling beasts to eight-legged arachnids, these are some of the most venomous creatures in the world.
Read MoreIf you know one thing about the North Pole, it's that Santa lives there. But if you know two things about the North Pole, then you know that it's extremely cold. The North Pole is the northernmost point on the Earth, lying in the middle of the frozen Arctic Ocean, but not as cold as you imagine it.
Read MoreThe truth is that no place on Earth seems safe from pollution at this point, and the North Pole is particularly vulnerable for a few specific reasons.
Read MoreNepal announced in 2012 that they would perform their own mission to check Everest's height; they were spurred to take action after a destructive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015, after which scientists disagreed whether or not the quake had affected the mountain's size.
Read MorePart of the intrigue surrounding blonde hair has to do with its rarity. According to author Christie Davis, just 5 percent of adult European and North American women have naturally blond hair, while Fact Retriever reports that just 2 percent of the world's population can claim natural blondness.
Read MoreSome rare and surprising allergy cases are especially debilitating. As strange as it might seem, allergies to sunlight are reportedly on the rise, as are allergies to cold temperatures. Though that might seem odd at first reading, such allergies can in fact be deadly.
Read MoreIt's taken quite some time to go from Gregor Mendel's 1860s original work to these current results. After all, people used to believe that children's eye color sort of blended from their parents, like paint on a palette. It took quite some time, however, for the first blue-eyed human to even exist.
Read MoreFinding mold on a piece of fruit or a loaf of bread is always a disappointing and gross experience, but what happens to your body if you eat the mold growing on your food? It really depends on the type. To begin with, there are over 100,000 varieties of mold. Some are healthful; some are not.
Read MoreBack in 1845, a disease swept across Ireland. It didn't directly affect humans; instead, it hit their crops, and hard. According to History, an organism spread around the country, killing half the potato crop that year and about three-quarters of the produce of the next seven years.
Read MorePhotographer and free diver Franco Banfi was diving in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of the island country of Dominica, when he came across a pod of the giant aquatic mammals some 20 meters (65 feet) below the surface. And get this: They sleep "standing up."
Read MoreHomo erectus looked a bit different from Neanderthals and modern humans, but you probably wouldn't notice they're a different species if you ran into one on the street. They grew to nearly average modern human height and had similar proportions.
Read MoreFor the longest time, it was believed that we killed off Neanderthals, since they seem to have disappeared shortly after we traveled out of Africa. The takeover was thought to be a gradual one. All the evidence suggested we were smarter, with more advanced weapons, hunting techniques, and language.
Read MoreWhile we know that humans are led by senses such as sight and sound, a recent study has found that humans are also led by their noses and their senses of smell. Here's what you probably didn't know about humans' sense of smell according to science.
Read MoreThe creature is part of the Oviraptoridae family that roamed the Asian and American continents over 60 million years ago. With the discovery of Anzu, scientists have been able to fill in evolutionary gaps within the Oviraptorid evolutionary tree. In the world of paleontology, this is a big deal.
Read MoreCurrie had come from a difficult background, and her upbringing appeared to set the stage for the kinds of situations she would either find or put herself in.
Read MoreMost people grow up wanting to be athletes, doctors or astronauts. You know what job you don't hear as often? Space criminal. But all that might change thanks to Anne McClain, a NASA astronaut who has been accused of the world's first space crime, according to AOL.
Read MoreHigh-speed action and bodies in motion, plus the intense emotions of everything in sports makes mishaps like these all too common.
Read MoreThough nowadays we are used to trash-talking sportspeople in boxing, and even chess and poker, Ali's ringside rabble-rousing was highly unusual at the time.
Read MoreIron crotch kung fu is one of the many forms of "Tongbeiquan" kung fu practiced in Juntun, China. This specialized martial art focuses on protecting weakness.
Read MoreThese crimes were actually committed at the Olympics. It isn't always the big smorgasbord of international harmony it's cracked up to be.
Read MoreThese athletes got in trouble over cell phone videos.
Read MoreWhen Mike Tyson first showed up in 2003 with his instantly recognizable tribal face tattoo, the first reaction of many folks was, "huh?" followed by, "why?"
Read MoreA number of special rules have been added to the North Korean version of basketball. Here's how basketball game rules are different in North Korea.
Read MoreMany wrestlers retire due to the wear and tear of body slams and pile drivers over the years, but Hogan stepped away from the ring in a storm of controversy.
Read MoreBeing a celeb definitely pays a whole lot better than college football. Here are celebrities you didn't know played college football.
Read MoreSherpa, who was born and raised in Nepal, has climbed Mount Everest nine times and holds the world record for most Everest summits by a woman.
Read MoreBasketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was named Most Valuable Player twice, just signed a record $228 million deal to play for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Read MoreThe human body is capable of far more than what we ask of it in a normal day. Some people like to test those limits, like Dean Karnazes, a world-famous endurance runner who ran longer than anyone else, ever, to "test the physical limits of his body while raising money for childhood organ donation."
Read MorePlenty of other players lined up for their shot at the king over Michael Jordan's fifteen seasons on the court, and some of them even walked away without looking like chumps.
Read MoreJackie Chan has dished out acrobatic beatdowns with punches, kicks and the occasional stepladder in over 140 movies, so it makes sense to assume that the man knows his way around a Kung Fu fight. Let's look at the ultimate tale of the tape: How many black belts does Jackie Chan have?
Read MoreOooh yeah! Randy Savage was one of the true greats of the pro wrestling circle -- a talented performer with an arena-sized personality and enough charisma to actually use "Pomp and Circumstance" as his entrance theme and get away with it. Here's how much he was worth when he died.
Read MoreSteve Austin retired from competition in March of 2003 after losing to The Rock in WrestleMania 19, but there has been chatter -- often spouted by the Stone Cold wrestler himself -- that he would come out of retirement to give the new generation of contenders a beer-soaked lesson in respect.
Read MoreJohnson became interested in photography while growing up in Livermore, California, where he would take photos at Day on the Green, a local music festival. He continued to shoot photos in college, working as a staff photographer for the school paper of the University of Southern California
Read MoreVince McMahon built the WWE into a global sports entertainment empire worth billions. But all that success came at a cost, as the use of steroids became rampant among wrestlers. In 1993, McMahon's chickens almost came home to roost. Here's how a steroid trial almost led to Vince McMahon's downfall.
Read MoreSkaggs' best year came in 2018, with a 4.02 ERA and an 8-10 record. In the following year, he nearly matched his personal wins record with seven by late June, and, soon after pitching against Oakland, Skaggs and the rest of the team headed for Dallas for a four-game series against the Texas Rangers.
Read MoreHe excelled on the football field as his team's offensive tackle. While he was known as a "gentle giant" off the field, in his football pads and helmet he let a more aggressive personality come through, a "formidable, intimidating figure" whose large size made it hard for opponents to get past him.
Read MoreSome water slides are responsible for a constant stream of bumps and bruises and even worse. Here are some of the most dangerous water slides in the world.
Read MoreSome cities are safe, but there are definitely places in America where you don't want to be out at night. This is the most dangerous city in the US.
Read MoreThe sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff could be considered the worst maritime disaster in history, surpassing even that of the Titanic.
Read MoreAfter years spent photographing the U.S. Civil War, photographer Mathew B. Brady tragically died alone in a hospital charity ward on January 15, 1896.
Read MoreBaltimore native Reggie Lewis was on his way to becoming an NBA legend when the young basketball star tragically collapsed on the court.
Read MoreAnthony Burgess is known to many today only as the writer of A Clockwork Orange, the 1962 novel that inspired the infinitely more famous movie of the same name.
Read MoreBy the time Layne Staley passed away, the Alice in Chains singer was crippled by his drug addiction. This is what the final 12 months of his life were like.
Read MoreSid Vicious' life was turbulent from the moment he was born and would stay that way until his death. From drug addiction to alleged murder, here is his story.
Read MoreEazy-E had a very successful solo career after N.W.A. but ultimately suffered a tragic death in 1995 after contracting AIDS.
Read MoreTibet's fate has been largely down to the fact that it lies adjacent to China. That's a recipe for turmoil and tragedy. This is the tragic truth about Tibet.
Read MoreThe inventor of the image of Old Saint Nick we all love is cartoonist Thomas Nast, whose version of Santa appeared in the January 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly.
Read MoreOriginal Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr died of a drug overdose at his home in 2011.
Read MoreThe Hilton name is one of the most recognized in modern American history, but the family's history is fraught with drama and tragedy. This is their story.
Read MoreAs hilarious as his public persona was, in many ways he was the archetypal sad clown. This is the tragic real-life story of Chris Farley.
Read MorePink Floyd evolved into one of the most adventurous and introspective bands of all time, but the band's history is shrouded in both mystery and tragedy.
Read MoreSandy West, the Runaways drummer, who paved the way for a generation of female rockers, tragically passed away in 2005 from a battle with lung cancer.
Read MorePappalardi had a pretty open marriage with lyricist Collins, who also helped him write several lines of "Strange Brew." The open relationship lasted until 1982.
Read MoreDuring the Vietnam War, John McCain was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese for nearly six years. Here are the tragic details about McCain's time as a POW.
Read MoreIn 1977, 'Heroes' became the last performance Marc Bolan, the lead singer and guitarist of the pioneering glam rock band T.Rex, ever played.
Read MoreEva Perón, better-known as Evita had more tragic life story than many realize.
Read MoreCass Elliot is remembered for a few things, especially: Great voice, fun to be around, but, well, chubby
Read MoreMost would say country legend Loretta Lynn leads an enviable life. But she has seen her fair share of tragedy. Chief among those tragedies -- the deaths of her children.
Read MoreIt's one of those great "What If?" stories of American pop music. Unfortunately, we'll never know what would have happened for Buddy Holly after his life was tragically cut short in a plane crash at the age of just 22.
Read MoreNo one who died in the 1959 plane crash, that day the music died, was an old man. The pilot, Roger Peterson, was just 21. Buddy Holly was 22; J.P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper," was the old man on the plane, at 28. Youngest of all was a rising star of Chicano rock -- Ritchie Valens. He was 17.
Read MorePatty Duke's colorful career in acting spanned across seven decades, earned herself 13 awards, and even won herself an Oscar for The Miracle Worker. As Patty Duke struggled with bipolar disorder, addiction, and personal loss, she became a strong mental health advocate and a powerful memoirist.
Read MoreAlthough it's a sport that involves two highly athletic competitors going at each other with swords, fencing is actually much safer than many other popular sports. A five-year study by sports science professor Dr. Peter Harmer found that it is especially safe for children and youth.
Read MoreDespite being worth billions, the Getty family makes being incredibly rich sound like a really terrible way to live -- which is quite an accomplishment -- due to the sheer number of kidnappings, suicides, and other horrors inflicted on them. This is the tragic real-life story of the Getty family.
Read MoreJohnson had his hardships, including an ailment that had affected him since infancy. Prodigy was diagnosed as an infant with sickle cell anemia, a painful, chronic disorder where red blood cells take on a crescent shape, which slows down and obstructs blood flow.
Read MoreSince its official inception in 1917, the House of Windsor has been wrought with tragedy and scandal. From forbidden love affairs, to sex scandals, to a struggle to stay legitimate in an ever-modernizing world, here are the tragic details of the House of Windsor.
Read MoreSonny & Cher rode a rollercoaster of successes and failures. Together they topped the charts, danced on the edge of bankruptcy and became a television sensation. But they eventually split, effectively ending Sonny Bono's time as a star. After a rebirth in politics, his life was cut short by tragedy.
Read MoreThe disappearance of Captain Alfred Loewenstein from his Fokker Tri-motor private airplane while crossing the English Channel is still puzzling.
Read MoreA sample of saliva is all it takes for companies to paint a detailed picture of family trees. It started as a fun way to find new genetic connections. But that's not where it ended. Here's the coming-of-age of genealogical data, cold cases it helped solve, and where the technology might go next.
Read MoreThere are rock stars and then there's Keith Flint, who put them to shame with his antics and his engaging performances. Here's the untold truth of Keith Flint.
Read MoreJohn Mellencamp, or John Cougar Mellencamp, or John Cougar, depending on how old you are, has lived an epic life. This is the untold truth of John Mellencamp.
Read MoreRic Flair has quite the colorful history. Here are facts and stories from Ric Flair's history you might not have known.
Read MoreChristopher Nolan's Dunkirk dramatizes the true story of a devastating battle from World War II. This is the untold truth of the Battle of Dunkirk.
Read MoreThe disappearance of Patrice Endres is a cold case on Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries reboot. This is the untold truth of Patrice Endres' mysterious disappearance.
Read MoreIf all you know about Joseph from Genesis is his Technicolor Dreamcoat, there's a lot more to him. Here is the untold truth of Joseph in the Old Testament.
Read MoreJohn Wilkes Booth shot and killed Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But what do we really know about the assassin? This is the untold truth of John Wilkes Booth.
Read MoreAfter a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, patrons took up whatever they could find and fought back against their oppressors, and amid the chaos, the Gay Rights movement was born. This is the untold truth of the Stonewall Riots.
Read MoreBarry Bonds was voted Most Valuable Player a record seven times (and finished second in the MVP voting twice). Second, there's his offensive output. Bonds holds the all-time record for career home runs at 762, a number so enormous there's almost no chance anyone will beat it.
Read MoreHe was one of rock n' roll's earliest and most promising stars. Here's a look into the tragically brief life of Ritchie Valens.
Read More"Clap on, clap off, The Clapper!" Long before Siri was sending texts with your voice, Alexa started putting Yacht Rock Radio on for you or a quick "Hey Google" got you the local forecast, The Clapper was turning America on. So what's the story behind this piece of of 80s tech lore?
Read MoreSince its inception in 1998, the virtual band, Gorillaz, created by Blur's Damon Albarn and Tank Girl's Jamie Hewlett has been about showing the music industry how to do things differently. From top-notch collaborators to experimental sounds to animation, here is there story.
Read MoreThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of a few literary works to pass into popular culture. This is the bizarre truth of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Read MoreNot every car follows the normal shape and form we expect. Some are so insane, seeing them on the highway would probably cause distracted driving accidents.
Read MoreThe jackalope, just like its hairy cousin Bigfoot, has become something of an American institution.
Read MoreTake a second to think about all the much worse jobs you could have.
Read MoreThese are the most disturbing places people have found hidden cameras. Is nothing sacred? Is no bathroom stall safe?
Read MoreThe word "alchemy" is enough to conjure images of strange medieval scholars or magicians trying to turn lead into gold. Here's the weird history of alchemy.
Read MoreThese coincidences are guaranteed to blow your mind. Really truly. You won't believe some of these, but they did happen.
Read MoreNorth Korea is very different, to put it lightly, than anywhere else in the world.
Read MoreEvery so often educational videos turn out to be really insane.
Read MoreIt's so expensive to lace up in a pair of Kanye West's Yeezys you'll need a prenup before you tie the knot. So why are Yeezys so expensive?
Read MoreThese comedians are pretty weird folks. Try not to judge them too harshly. At least they're funny!
Read MoreThey do some odd things in Canada like apologizing for accidentally swallowing a frostbitten toe. Here are some of the bizarre things that only exist in Canada.
Read MoreChristmas is a summer holiday in Australia. That means it's different, and yet weirdly the same in many ways. Here's how it's celebrated.
Read MoreThe Cash-Landrum UFO incident left its witnesses both traumatized and physically ill. This is the terrifying true story of the Cash-Landrum UFO incident.
Read MoreHere's why voice assistants are almost always female.
Read MoreIf you only know Marcus Crassus as the man who killed Spartacus, there's much to learn about him and the odd and crooked ways he made his money, as well as his almost comically tragic end. Here are some of the strangest details in the bizarre life of the richest man in Rome.
Read MoreIf you think lifting a dresser upstairs is hard work, here's a riddle for you: how do you go about stealing a 1-ton chunk of solid rock without breaking your spine? Wait, that's not hard enough. What if the rock sits on the side of a highway, and is a popular roadside attraction named Wizard Rock?
Read MoreTravel will always come with a few attendant risks, but some locations are certainly riskier than others. For those cautious globetrotters looking for the cultural experience with the lowest threat level, there's one international destination that scores better than all the rest for traveler safety.
Read MoreRoberto De Jesús Escobar Gaviria, who astute readers will recognize as the brother of that nutty Pablo Escobar fella that had some trouble with the law a ways back, has launched a new line (wink) of smartphones. The flagship: the Escobar Fold 1, a phone and tablet that folds!
Read MoreThe novel coronavirus spreading out of Wuhan, China and causing the potentially severe respiratory infection COVID-19 is concerning up and down the socioeconomic ladder. Viruses don't care if you're rich or poor. A global pandemic knows no borders and abides no prejudice. Unless you're rich.
Read MorePeople try to sneak all sorts of illicit items through airport security. These bizarre attempts discovered by security agents defy all sanity and expectation.
Read MoreBillionaire Patricia Kluge took her 1990 divorce to the bank, but like other billionaires who lost their entire fortunes, it wouldn't last. The $1 billion she got in the breakup was the largest divorce settlement ever at the time. This is the way billionaire Patricia Kluge lost everything.
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