When the name bin Laden is mentioned today, the first thing that comes to most people’s minds would be terrorism—particularly against the United States. Similarly, the name George Bush (the father or the son) evokes images of each man’s time as president of the United States. In the case of George W. Bush, his time

Many people say that music isn’t what it used to be, and it surely isn’t. Just compare 1980s and ’90s hits to today’s most popular songs, for example. Even singers from eras gone by who are still producing songs have had to adapt to the new music landscape. You can hear it when you listen

Long a symbol of the remote and the mysterious, Antarctica caps the southern extremity of our planet as one of the world’s largest land formations. Pull up an image of Antarctica on Google Earth, and you’ll see a largely featureless white mass. But beneath a seemingly impenetrable sheet of ice lie endless hidden mysteries to

Movies are often entertaining, but they’re not always accurate. Understandably, many filmmakers are more interested in creating dramatic, stirring films than they are in providing accurate information. After all, they’re entertainers, not educators. Sometimes, the plot of a movie or a film’s dramatic appeal depends on a misconception. For example, a woman who normally uses

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce maintains the official site of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They announce “Upcoming Ceremonies,” profile celebrities who’ve received stars on the Walk, and provide other information concerning the organization and its more than 2,500 stars. (Actress Gillian Anderson will become the 2,625th celebrity to receive a star on the Walk

Phineas Taylor Barnum, commonly known as P.T. Barnum, entered the circus business in 1841, when he purchased Scudder’s American Museum and renamed it Barnum’s American Museum. In 1875, he brought circus owners Dan Castello and William Cameron Coup on board and renamed the business P.T. Barnum’s Great Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome. In 1881,

There are thousands of islands in the world. Many have their own rich histories, culture, and mysteries. A degree of isolation comes with the territory, but this can sometimes create strange natural dynamics and human behavior. We tend to think of ancient civilizations like those in Rome and Egypt as holding all our historical secrets.

It’s easy to get lost in the numbers when looking at missing persons statistics. Worldwide, eight million children go missing each year. While most of these cases have happy endings, some remain unsolved tragedies. Plenty of adults disappear as well. For instance, in the US alone, at any given moment, there are roughly 100,000 active

Animals have spent hundreds of millions of years evolving, so they’ve had plenty of time to come up with some pretty amazing designs. From hilarious results such as the duck-billed platypus and the blobfish to the majestic likes of lions and elephants, nature has proven that it can produce pretty much anything. But perhaps most

A honeymoon is expected to be one of the happiest times in a couple’s marriage. Unfortunately, for each of the following couples, it was the end of their relationship. In these marriages, one of the newlyweds decided that he or she would be happier alone. Of course, each of them could have filed for divorce

Some of us complain about winter incessantly—the cold temperatures, the tricky driving conditions, and all the time we’re stuck inside. Yeah, summer gets all the glory. And it’s true that winter can be dangerous. But it can also be hauntingly beautiful. Various kinds of snow and ice carpet the landscape during this time of year.

Have you heard the one about the exploding toilet? No, this isn’t the setup for a bad joke. It really happened, and it’s not the only weird explosion to have taken place in recent years. The bizarre blowups aren’t limited to latrines; they’ve involved furniture, animals, household appliances, and other things you probably wouldn’t suspect

Keeping up with the news is hard, so hard, in fact, that we’ve spent the last year rounding it up for you in bite-size weekly chunks. And what a year 2017 was. President Trump had an explosive first 12 months. The lines of geopolitical power were redrawn in the Middle East. There were nuclear crises,

With another year almost gone, we have taken a look back at some of the biggest stories from archaeology and space science. Now it is time to see what kind of interesting discoveries we have made in the animal kingdom. Our understanding of the natural world around us is continually evolving, as new ideas and

Folklore is woven into the fabric of most countries around the world. There are lighthearted tales, romantic ones, holiday tales, war stories, and more, all told with great gusto around dinner tables that host generations of the same families. However, there is also a very dark side to folklore, as evidenced by the entries on

Today, Vikings are known mostly for their ferocity as barbaric raiders who lived to loot, pillage, and burn. They were formidable adversaries whose merciless forays into Europe gave rise to a special prayer for deliverance among their victims. They not only plundered and murdered victims, but they also raped and enslaved survivors. The Vikings were

Everyone loves to solve a good mystery. We examine the clues, try to figure out motivations, if necessary, and put the pieces together to determine a logical answer to what happened. But sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can’t unlock the solutions to the world’s most perplexing puzzles. Who was Jack the Ripper?

Professional wrestling is known for being staged with colorful characters and predetermined outcomes. On-screen, the wrestlers are often portrayed as larger-than-life valiant heroes or despicable villains. However, the drama doesn’t always stop after they exit the ring. In fact, their real-life exploits can sometimes be even more fantastical than what they do in the ring.

After nearly two millennia, Christians have yet to stop arguing over doctrines. One does not have to look far to see differing opinions across the Christian stage—Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Anglicans, Episcopalians, and more. Even before a plethora of denominations existed in Christianity, though, some beliefs about Jesus Christ were considered incongruent with what the

Part of the great thrill of exploration is the unknown. Risk and reward must be considered on every exploratory trip. Ships might sink, disease might run rampant, and sand may be quick, but new knowledge can be gained and places in the history books secured. For the following explorers, however, the risk caught up with

China is infamously known for its censorship within the religious sector because the government can’t actively the monitor theological teachings of churches or actively incorporate these religious teachings within China’s communist agenda. The PROC has an active running list of ongoing cults that Chinese citizens should be aware of. The Church of Almighty God, aka

Doctoring photographs is as old as photography. Although in portrait photography, such alterations aren’t typically regarded as deceitful, changes to photographs taken for news articles are considered dishonest. For editors of reputable newspapers or owners of news services, doctoring a photograph is a fireable offense. It also brings censure upon those who perform it and

On November 4, 1979, the US embassy in Iran was overtaken by Iranian students supportive of the Iranian Revolution. Over 50 American citizens were taken hostage. The whole of the United States, and indeed the world, looked on, fearing how the situation would end, given the instability in the country since the abdication of the

Visible from space, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest animal-made structure in the world. Across half a million years, it grew in layers and now displays over 3,800 individual reefs. Despite the reef’s popularity, some of most fascinating facts surrounding it are not well-known. Its remotest corners still deliver unexpected surprises big and small.

Whatever your reasons for celebrating it, whether it’s religious belief or just the chance to spend carefree quality time with family and loved ones, Christmas is generally a time of joy, happiness, and festive fun. However, on occasion, what should be a time of love for all around us can quickly turn into a festive

With Christmas approaching, it’s time to wrap the presents, drink obscene quantities of eggnog, and take stock of another year of the Earth orbiting the Sun (and lament all the festive socks and sweaters we were given). But what do we know about our festive traditions? For that matter, what do we know about Christmas

The history of the balls used in various sports is rather gruesome. Players used pretty much whatever was available, including simple stitched-together cloth, inflated animal bladders, human heads, and animal and human skulls.[1] Materials and technology have come a long way since ancient times, and the sports balls in use today reflect these changes. Compared

At this stage, you’d need to have been living under a rock to have not heard of Bitcoin. With the market price having recently exceeded US $18,000, media attention is at an all-time high. What most people are a little uncertain on is what exactly Bitcoin is. Terms like “cryptocurrency” and “blockchain technology” get thrown

The word “overdose” typically brings illegal drugs to mind. But it is not only street drugs or the abuse of prescription medications that can overwhelm the body and cause damage or death. Substances that are considered harmless or even healthy can become poisonous when misused. The items listed below range from benign to beneficial in

Children’s stories (the classics, at least) provide kids their first glimpse into a fantasy world where magic happens, and anything is possible. It teaches children around the world to use their imagination and that good always wins over evil. (Well, most of the time, anyway.) Perhaps that’s why so many have withstood the test of