Spilling the tea is an evolutionary adaptation. Here’s how to gossip responsibly to get the social benefits without hurting anyone.
Priests, Poems, and Animal Sacrifice: The Fascinating History of Valentine’s Day
Bored by flowers and chocolate? Sacrificing a goat or streaking through town in broad daylight are also valid Valentine’s day traditions.
The Nuclear Bombs of SpongeBob’s Home: The Story of Bikini Atoll
SpongeBob, bikinis, and nuclear bombs all have a shared history: the brutality of American imperialism.
A Brief History of Wordle (Plus Fun Spin-Offs to Try Out, Too)
From a personal project to a seven figure sale in just three months, here’s the history of the viral word game, Wordle.
Croissants Aren’t French (And More Facts From Their Curious History)
One of the most quintessential French foods isn’t even French.
What Humans Are, According to Scientists Explaining Us to Aliens
From carving gigantic triangles into the Siberian forest to beaming a Doritos commercial, scientists have tried everything to explain what humans are to aliens.
The Bloody History of Period Products
The period products we use have improved over time. But the stigma and discrimination around menstruation remains.
What Is Cosplay, and Why Do People Do It?
Cosplay is a labor of love, but it also fosters self-confidence and community.
The Best DC Animated Movies, According to IMDb
DC has been quietly making some of the most well-crafted animated superhero movies for years. Here are the ones you need to watch.
6 Real-Life Benefits of Optimism
Choosing optimism in the midst of a seemingly endless pandemic might sound insane, but it could be one of the healthiest choices you make.
Can AI Fight Fake News?
AI is helping us catch fake news, but it may also be helping some create even more convincing fakes.
Why Giving and Receiving Compliments Feel Great, According to Science
January 24th is national compliment day. Here’s why you should participate.
The Best Credit Cards for Young Adults
Building credit from scratch can seem impossible. These credit cards for young adults make it easier.
What Our Noses Know: The Significance of Our Sense of Smell
COVID is taking away the sense of smell for a growing number of people. It’s a bigger deal than you might think.
What Is Ableism, and What Can We Do to Fight It?
When the CDC announced that it was “encouraged” by data showing COVID mostly kills people with disabilities, the world got a taste of the ableism people with disabilities face daily.
Welcome to Hell, Norway: Places in the World With Silly and Fascinating Names
Hell on earth is actually one of the more pleasant places to live.
7 Badass Nuns in History
From murderous conquistadoras to human rights defenders, these real nuns are more badass than any TV nuns.
K-Pop’s New Super Group Features BoA, Red Velvet, and More
Girls on Top was one of the albums that helped thrust K-Pop onto the international stage. Now, it’s the name of the latest star-studded super group.
The Brain Benefits of Learning a New Language
Whether you learn French or Klingon, your brain will thank you for learning a new language.
Most New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Survive January. Here’s How to Change That
If you’re already feeling skeptical about those resolutions you made a couple of weeks ago, use these tips to keep you going.
What We Can Learn From the World’s Happiest Nations
What does it mean to be happy? The answer can differ from person to person: being surrounded by friends and family, doing meaningful work, listening to music that speaks to you — the list is endless. But while we tend to think of happiness as something we experience individually and is studied by psychologists, there’s […]
The Top Fanfic Ships on AO3, and What They Mean for Fandom
The 2021 list of top ships on AO3 is out, and it reveals a serious representation problem in fanfic.
What Is Internalized Misogyny? (And 6 Ways We Experience It)
Decades of being taught to devalue all things associated with femininity don’t disappear the moment you embrace feminism.
5 COVID-19 Myths (And Why They Refuse to Die)
The dangers of misinformation have become glaringly apparent over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.