Bored by flowers and chocolate? Sacrificing a goat or streaking through town in broad daylight are also valid Valentine’s day traditions.
Culture
The 5 Most Famous Clowns of All Time: Cool or Creepy?
The jury is still out for many on whether or not clowns are creepy or fun. Let’s look at some of history’s most famous clowns and try to figure it out.
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.
Sex Toys: An Exhilarating History
The long, exciting history of the dildo and other sex toys.
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.
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.
What Is Cosplay, and Why Do People Do It?
Cosplay is a labor of love, but it also fosters self-confidence and community.
Can AI Fight Fake News?
AI is helping us catch fake news, but it may also be helping some create even more convincing fakes.
7 Badass Nuns in History
From murderous conquistadoras to human rights defenders, these real nuns are more badass than any TV nuns.
Was the Minotaur Story Real? Investigating the Myth of King Minos and the Labyrinth
A son of Zeus and a monstrous bull? It’s no surprise that King Minos is written off as a myth but evidence suggests there may have been some truth to the story.
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.
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.
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.
Enclothed Cognition: The Science of Dressing to Impress
Growing up, we’ve all been taught not to judge a book by its cover. It’s one of those phrases that gets ingrained in you as you get older, along with “don’t talk to strangers” and “look both ways before crossing the street.” Unfortunately, unlike those latter examples, “don’t judge a book by its cover” isn’t […]
The Ultimate Drinking Game Master List for Your Next Party
Tired of boring conversations at parties? Tell everyone to shut up and play one of the amazing drinking games on this masterlist.