How Beauty Marks Told Your Future in Ancient Greece
Beauty marks are pretty common, and they’re usually not a big deal… unless you’re in Ancient Greece where it was believed beauty marks, which they called olives, could tell your future.
The Facts on Shower Thoughts
We’ve all had shower thoughts, those moments where we’re doing something mundane and a random thought-provoking idea pops up in our heads. But what causes it and can you replicate it?
San Francisco v. Dormie the Dog: The Cat Murder Trials
In the United States, even if you’re caught red-handed murdering someone, you still have a right to a trial. Usually, this is thought to just apply to humans but in 1921, the nation found out, it also applies to dogs.
The Facts on Florence Stendhal Syndrome
Can something be so beautiful it makes you sick? Is it possible when people say “that’s so cute I could literally die”, they actually mean it? No, but let’s take a look at Stendhal Syndrome.
3’s a Crowd: Controversial Game Show of the 70s
The late 60s and 70s were dominated by game shows but in 1979 a game show was so controversial it lasted only a handful of episodes and collapsed a media empire.
The Facts on BBC’s “There is No News” on April 18th, 1930
On April 18th, 1930 the BBC announced “there is no news” and played music for 15 minutes. But what’s the real story behind this moment in history and why shouldn’t it be considered a big deal?
The Facts on The Barnum Effect
Horoscopes, psychics, and personality tests all have something in common; they rely on the Barnum effect to get people to keep coming back. But what is the Barnum effect and why do we fall for it?
Louie Louie: The Hit Song Investigated by the FBI
When Richard Berry composed and wrote “Louie Louie” in the late 1950s, he couldn’t have imagined it would be one of the most influential of all time. But it was the 1963 cover by the rock band, The Kingsmen, that propelled the song into the national spotlight, and part of an FBI investigation.
Thuggies: The Dolls with a Criminal Record
It’s hard to figure out what will be a popular toy, sometimes it’s best to stick with the classics; a doll. Well, in 1993 Carolyn Clark thought she had it figured out when she decided her 15-inch dolls should come with a criminal record.
The Facts on The IKEA Effect
What if someone were to come to your home and offer you 25% more than what you paid for your IKEA furniture. You probably wouldn’t sell them for less than about 60% and that’s all because of the IKEA effect.
Mount Tambora: The Deadliest Volcanic Eruption
For centuries Mount Tambora was thought to be nothing but another mountain in the Indonesian archipelago but in 1815 it proved to be one of the deadliest volcanos in recorded history.
Why Are They Called Soap Operas?
Why are these melodramatic shows called Soap operas? Turns out the origin of the term ‘Soap opera’ has more to do with advertisements and singing cowboys than I ever expected.
The Facts on The Doorway Effect
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went in there? You experienced the Doorway effect, but what exactly is it and why does it happen?
The Deadly Train Crash at Crush, Texas
In 1896 the Katy Railway needed a publicity stunt and with several decommissioned trains, they decided the best way to solve two problems was to crash the trains into each other… but things didn’t go as planned.
5 More Logical Fallacies to Avoid When Arguing (with Examples!)
Arguments happen every day, every minute if you believe social media, but it turns out communication is pretty complex, so here are 5 more logical fallacies to avoid when arguing.
The Fiji Mermaid Hoax
In 1842 Barnum’s American Museum displayed an authentic real-life mermaid… it wasn’t true but strap in because this is a story with multiple cons, a famous entertainer, and a few mysteries
April 11th, 1954: The Most Boring Day?
There’s always stuff going on, why can’t we have a boring day where nothing really happens. When was the last boring day we had?
The Time the BBC Banned “Deep in the Heart of Texas”
In 1942 the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the very popular “Deep in the Heart of Texas” but what program led to this and what exactly happened that caused it to be banned?
Occam’s Razor and 3 Other Razors (With Examples!)
Occam’s Razor is a well-known principle or rule of thumb that can be applied in situations to help solve a problem or question. Razors ‘shave off’ unlikely explanations, so here are 3 more that might help you.
RewardZone and UpLevel Rewards A Scam?
A TikToker has been photoshopping Reddit posts in their videos to send people to a survey website that might be a scam. Here’s what I found.