Imagine the shock of finding out that your significant other is not only unfaithful but has been living a double life. To make matters worse, they have a different name, a second wife, kids, a house, and a pet dog that you never knew about. Unless you’re in Vegas, most people walk to the altar

Sometimes when creating fiction, authors look for inspiration in real life. History has no shortage of captivating figures whose lives (or, at least, parts of them) would make for fascinating stories. Occasionally, the characters based on them can become even more popular, to the point where people forget that they were inspired by real people.

As a world-famous producer and a cofounder of Miramax Films, Harvey Weinstein’s name has frequently been listed in the credits of some of our favorite movies. He has accepted various accolades and often been thanked by Hollywood’s brightest stars in their award acceptance speeches. This week, however, Weinstein’s name has been mentioned in all the

Becoming a journalist is one of the most popular childhood dreams in the world, but it often comes with a price. Those who tirelessly campaign against the powerful and corrupt sometimes find themselves facing terrifying and violent threats. Reporters Without Borders claim that nearly half of the world lacks access to free information, and journalists

Our environment is kind of an important thing. We all live in it, and the ability to move out isn’t exactly just around the corner. Fortunately, many people do care about the environment and want to help preserve it somehow. Lately, everyone wants to be “green” as science and government groups push us all to

The 1960s was one of the most memorable eras of the 20th century. It ushered in the civil rights movement, gave birth to the sexual revolution, and brought new political and social fervor in the midst of the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The decade is also famous for the counterculture

No matter if it’s music, movies, or literature, many people go to popular art for a brief escape from their own lives. There are various reports, however, of some art creating strange effects in its audience. Stories about art with this power have been around for many years. One legend from before World War II

Snacks are a big part of our lives. An after-school snack is a custom that most of us grow up with. Popcorn is a necessity at the movie theater, and chips are perfect for munching on in front of the TV at home. You wouldn’t throw a party without supplying some sort of finger-food spread.

Many people are afraid of things like lightning striking them dead-on and frying them to a crisp, being a passenger on an airplane when it goes down, being eaten by a shark while swimming, having a tornado rip right through their home, and so on. The fortunate thing is that most of these fears are

In archaeology, an untouched pot shard is more valuable than a gold statue moved miles from its original stand. To understand the great puzzle of our past, context is crucial. How and where an unmoved object is found can retrieve authentic history—from previously unknown rituals and chapters of known history to rare information about vanished

Elizabeth II has been a queen since 1952. In that time, she has made that title utterly her own. (Very few people hear “The Queen” and think of Margrethe II of Denmark.) Elizabeth II is also 91 years old at the time of this writing, so there’s a very high chance within the next decade

If you live in the the United States (and even if you don’t) you’ve probably heard about a number of the country’s prominent historical figures. But what about the history of those who were there before? Even many Americans know very little of Native American history. One of many overlooked aspects of Native American history

There’s a wide variety of detail that must be incorporated into a film to have it come out with as much quality as possible. This will include writing, the style of cinematography, the manner of directing, and most certainly the acting. There’s a reason we tend to remember the actors in a film more so

Struggling to survive against online shopping websites and applications (apps), traditional shopping malls have begun to incorporate innovations that they hope will level the playing field or even give them an edge over their digital competitors. Several innovations have already reached some malls, while others are still in the planning or conceptual stages. In some

A young nation of 37 years, Zimbabwe has seen enough trouble and strife to last a century. A tyrannical leader and rampant corruption will likely ensure plenty more for years to come. It’s a fascinating and beautiful land, striving to reclaim her former riches with the despotic Robert Mugabe in charge. That’s hard when you

Keeping up with the news is hard. So hard, in fact, that we’ve decided to save you the hassle by rounding up the most significant, unusual, or just plain old mind-blowing stories each week. The big news this week was the spectacular fall from grace of Harvey Weinstein, until recently one of Hollywood’s biggest power

We have all met people who go a little too heavy on fake tans and end up looking as if they are a well-varnished piece of wood. Makeup blunders make many people look back at their teenage complexions and blush bright red with embarrassment. But there are other cases of bizarre skin color which have

Death is inevitable, but how we deal with it is often based on cultural practices or religious beliefs. In some cases, mental illness, criminal intent, fear of what may happen to oneself, or simple indifference determine how a person responds to a family member’s death. In general, however, the deceased’s remains are given some sort

Between 1972 and 1995, the CIA and other US governmental organizations asked dozens of young citizens to explore an unconquered frontier: the realm of the psyche. Supposedly beginning in 1972 but with its official start in 1990, Project Stargate involved a number of investigations into the paranormal by the CIA and partner organizations such as

Robots are going to take our jobs. That’s not a paranoid fear of some grim, dystopic future—at this point, it’s just a fact. Factories are becoming automated, delivery trucks are becoming self-driving, and drones are beginning to fill the skies. Some jobs, we’re starting to accept, just aren’t going to be meant for humans much

Halloween is approaching, and this October includes a potentially ominous Friday the 13th. So what better way to get your chill on than reading about some creepy urban legends that have freaked people out for many years. In the same vein as the well-known classics, these urban legends have been carried over from one generation

It wasn’t so long ago that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender was considered to be abnormal. Those who belonged to this community were shunned and deemed to be freaks. Plenty have also been killed over the years or faced persecution. Although members of the LGBT community are gaining increasing respect and acceptance in the

Space is a bit of a problem for religion. Most of the world’s major faiths started thousands of years ago, when we still thought the whole universe revolved around our planet, and now that we know that isn’t true, things are getting a little sticky for theologians. Life might be out there, beyond the stars,

Although it was a flourishing metropolis in the 1700s and 1800s, Naples, Italy, then a kingdom in its own right, was home to multitudes of the poor, many of whom lived in one-room dwellings and were often on the move. In need of cheap, quickly consumed food, they relied on flatbread garnished with toppings of

Christopher Columbus still has his own holiday. Today, most people are at least dimly aware that Columbus wasn’t exactly a great guy, but somehow, he’s still managed to hold on to a little dignity and respect. It was a different time, some might say; or, perhaps, he was no worse than the rest. But Christopher

All countries have agencies and departments that oversee different sectors of their economy. For instance, most countries have departments of defense, education, and foreign affairs. However, there are some agencies and departments that have some truly bizarre roles. They may try to control their citizens, their environments, or even the planet. Sometimes, they’re just trying

Most of us have heard of Area 51, where top secret “flying saucers” are kept, even live aliens depending on your source, but there are many equally dramatic but lesser-known areas of top secret, off-limits activity. By their very nature, secret bases are not spoken about openly. Officially, they don’t exist, or at the very

Books are one of humanity’s greatest inventions. A few scribbles on a page and your thoughts, knowledge, and emotions can transcend space and time, allowing anyone who reads them to know exactly what you were thinking and feeling at that moment. Provided they survive. Unfortunately, books are fragile and the world is a rough place.

Sometimes, despite the best efforts of investigators, a case goes “cold.” More and more police departments are organizing cold case squads to go through these old crimes and see if they can find a new lead to pursue. It can take years, even decades, before new evidence surfaces. Sometimes it’s due to a guilt-ridden confessions.

Keeping up with the news is hard. So hard, in fact, that we’ve decided to save you the hassle by rounding up the most significant, unusual, or just plain old mind-blowing stories each week. The first week of October was a grim week for anyone watching the news. Heartbreaking scenes from Las Vegas filled the