Mary Ward was a pioneering Irish scientist whose 1869 death became the first recorded automobile fatality. Discover the remarkable woman behind the trivia.
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Mary Ward was a pioneering Irish scientist whose 1869 death became the first recorded automobile fatality. Discover the remarkable woman behind the trivia.
Discover the story behind the British Hat Tax, requiring licenses and tax stamps—and forging one of those stamps could carry the death penalty.
Discover the remarkable WWII stories behind the Hogan’s Heroes cast, including Jewish refugees, U.S. veterans, and Holocaust survivor Robert Clary.
The Oxford Electric Bell has been running on the same batteries since 1840. Discover how this mysterious device has kept going for more than 185 years.
Discover how Robert Chesebrough turned oil-rig waste into Vaseline, injured himself to prove it worked, and reportedly ate a spoonful every day.
In 1818, an English murder defendant demanded trial by combat—and the court ruled it was still legal. Discover the strange case of Ashford v. Thornton.
Discover the Great Hedge of India, the massive 19th-century barrier Britain built to stop salt smuggling and enforce colonial taxes.
In 1184, a peace meeting in Erfurt ended when the floor collapsed and nobles plunged into a cesspit. The bizarre Erfurt Latrine Disaster was real.
Meet Margaret Knight, the overlooked inventor who revolutionized the flat-bottom paper bag and fought a patent battle to prove the machine was hers.
Benjamin Franklin explained how to lose a great empire in 20 easy steps. Explore his hilarious 1773 satire—and why Britain should have taken the hint.
Discover the bizarre true story of Mary Toft, the woman who convinced 18th-century doctors that she was giving birth to rabbits.
Discover bizarre migraine facts, from auras to phantom smells, that make you question reality—without needing Alice or LSD!
Explore the Dark Triad personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—and what psychology says about our darker side.
Admit it. You’ve wondered, “Will my dog eat me if I die at home alone?” OK, maybe you’re wondering about your cat. Forensic science has investigated the unsettling question—and the answer may surprise pet owners.
Learn how the friendship of Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Dickens was ruined by one of history’s worst cases of an overstayed houseguest.
