Although it’s been controversial since its debut, Playboy magazine has long been an icon of American pop culture. Sure, it features sexist “pictorials” of beautiful nude women, including many celebrities, but the monthly periodical also publishes short stories, articles, and cartoons by some of the world’s leading writers and artists. Playboy runs interviews of well-known,

Fortunately, we live in a world with modern medicine. Usually, we can rely on our doctors to make or keep us well. But this hasn’t always been the case. A lot of bad diseases and viruses wiped out entire populations before the invention of antibiotics, antiretroviral drugs, vast medical and anatomical knowledge, and many more

From health to the paranormal, we all have an opinion on many things. Maybe you’re convinced that aliens are real. Perhaps you’re not into quinoa. And maybe, just maybe, you liked The Dark Tower this summer. Whatever your opinions, they’re probably based on knowledge. Well, here is a list of things you may or may

When extreme medical conditions are unfamiliar to the general public, these illnesses and disorders may seem especially strange. Horror movies, which, in general, have seldom been known for their sensitivity concerning such conditions, sometimes exploit movie patrons’ fear of, and fascination with, such maladies, basing the victims, villains, or other characters on the afflictions real

Professional wrestling might have predetermined results, but those results only matter if the wrestlers in the ring agree to actually follow the script. As you are about to learn, that isn’t always the case. Whether it ends up being a stiff shot to remind a rival wrestler about the behind the scenes pecking order, an

Nicaragua, or “Nica-wah-wah” if you’re a member of the upper class, is the largest Central American nation. Sandwiched between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, Nicaragua is known as “the land of lakes and volcanoes.” Since becoming an independent republic in 1838, the nation has certainly seen its fair share of

You can find almost anything for sale at auctions. Some incredible items, including human remains, have been sold. Whether at traditional auction houses or online, sellers have parted with body parts, including those of famous people, sometimes for big bucks. These anatomical bits and pieces include a decapitated head, brains, pigtails and hair clippings, teeth,

Gingers are naturally born redheads and are usually pale with many freckles on their bodies. You might even say they are the feisty and sexy mythical creatures of this planet. Red is the rarest hair color in the world—only one to two percent of the world’s population is lucky enough to have been born with

Facial recognition technology (FRT) is one of the most controversial new tools. First developed in the 1960s, it has recently become accessible to the mass market—to both law enforcement and private consumers. FRT has the potential to eliminate the need for pass codes, fingerprint data, and even keys. However, it could also end privacy as

The term “kingmaker” is used to describe a person of power and influence who plays a pivotal role in a royal or political succession. They typically rely on their political connections, great wealth, or military prowess to gain an outcome which would not be possible without their contribution. Two other characteristics that generally describe a

For most of us, our understanding of prisons comes from what we see on TV and in films. From the hazing in The Shawshank Redemption to the underhandedness of Orange is the New Black, much of what we see is fairly realistic. But there is always a bit of exaggeration and artistic license. In the

Disney has designed a system for their amusement parks that usually runs very smoothly. People love returning to Disney World and Disneyland every single year because there is so much to do and see. However, the sheer magnitude of the number of rides and attractions, combined with the millions of people who come in and

With another year in the rearview mirror, it’s time to sit back, take a deep breath, and look at some of the scientific headlines that we might have missed. Scientists are continuously churning out new developments in various fields. To name a few, nanotechnology, gene therapy, and quantum physics are always breaking new ground. Science

Death, for the ancient Egyptians, meant a lot more than just mummies and pyramids. The Egyptians had a terrifying vision of what awaited them after death. The souls of dead Egyptians didn’t just drift on to eternity—they had to fight for it. After death, the Egyptians had to battle their way through the 12 lands

There will always be the old favorites, but nothing beats the thrill of something revealed for the first time. Such artifacts can deepen the personal stories of famous historical figures and even reveal what they tried to keep private in life. These artifacts open unseen glimpses into expeditions and little-known military traditions. Even more enticing,

Zoology wasn’t always a precise science. Thousands of year ago, people like Aristotle and Pliny the Elder did their best to compile everything anyone knew about animals into massive, encyclopedic tomes. But they didn’t always get the details right. Before airplanes, cameras, and Google, most people had never seen an elephant. If they wanted to

The death or disappearance of an individual will usually torment their family for the rest of their days. Lives are permanently changed by such tragedies. It is arguably worst when a relative is simply missing, forever denying their loved ones closure. In some cases, however, multiple members of the same family are lost at once,

Sometimes touted as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, the Great Sphinx of Giza is about as iconic of a symbol of ancient Egypt as you can get. The structure offers us an invaluable glimpse into the past. Many hope that one day, it might also offer us an insight into the true purpose

Women throwing underwear and screaming doesn’t come to most people’s minds when they think about classical music concerts, but that’s where it began. Long before Elvis, Beatlemania, and Justin Bieber, one man became the first person to fill concert halls with shrieking, fainting, lovelorn women: classical pianist Franz Liszt. They called it Lisztomania—and in the

Who would sleep with a dead person? Surprisingly, many people have. Sometimes, it happened due to old age, and other times, alcohol was involved. There were cases of intentional necrophilia, and there were coldhearted cases of brutal murder. In every one of the following instances, a living person curled up in bed or on the

When we think about things that trigger allergies, we usually imagine something that people eat or drink. You know, that kid who will be dead in seconds if he eats peanuts or the girl who bolts to the bathroom after she drinks milk. But not all allergic reactions are to food or drink. This list

Christmas is coming, and children are writing their letters to Father Christmas or Santa or Pere Noel depending on where the kids live. But no matter how odd it seems to receive gifts from a jolly fat man on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, Santa is not the strangest character who pops up in

Shortly after 9:00 AM on April 19, 1995, a huge explosion ripped through the heart of Oklahoma City at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Casualties were in the hundreds, and the event rocked the entire nation. Ninety minutes later, it was almost as devastating to learn that the culprit, who had already been apprehended,

Holiday movies often serve as an emotional reminder of our past. Settling down with the familiarity of a favorite film can be as comforting and warming as a Christmas Turkey, or a glass of eggnog; indeed some holidays may even feel incomplete without them. The following ten iconic films are nostalgic for millions of people

The stars of ancient Egypt are undoubtedly the pharaohs, the gold artifacts, and the pyramids. Often overlooked, however, are the common people who reflect the complexity and mystery of their famous culture. They played sacred games, had a sense of humor, and promoted members of society who were often discriminated against in both the ancient

Nearly everyone can remember a beloved pet they had for one reason or another. Maybe it was a gift from a long-departed relative or an animal which was a comfort for them as a child. Whatever the origin, animals have been important parts of many people’s lives. Sometimes, that importance can’t be overstated. A number

Signing up for the US Armed Forces isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s a long commitment that involves leaving your family behind, undergoing a punishing exercise regimen, and being the public face of your country to people around the world. Ninety percent of those who join undertake this task with all the seriousness you’d

The history of the US dollar predates the United States itself. It goes back to the Revolutionary War when all thirteen colonies issued a single currency to fund the war against Britain. The current dollar was first issued during the Civil War. Several other currencies were introduced before, during, and after the war, and some

We usually think of teachers as people who have the best interests of their students in mind. Sure, there are teachers who pick on certain kids or give ridiculous amounts of homework, but we really don’t associate them with criminal behavior. Nevertheless, some teachers become overly attached to their pupils and form inappropriate relationships with

If there is one constant in human history, it’s the worry that we aren’t having quite as much sex as we could be. There have always been various solutions proposed for such concerns. They’ve often tended toward the ludicrous. Those dry, boring characters you learned about in history class liked a good time as much