These Tyrants Were Actually Beloved by Their People
According to Jean Kim, M.D.’s 2017 article in Psychology Today, “Why Do People Follow Tyrants?”,…
Author Jill Summerville
These Maps Were Very, Very Wrong
Maps reveal the world around us. They also reveal how we see that world and…
The Brutal History of Medical Cures (That Sometimes Actually Works)
The bioethics of medicine changes over time. A contemporary doctor would not treat people without…
Why is There a Cultural Rivalry Between England and France?
19th century English playwright Douglas Jerrold cheekily said, “The best thing I know between France…
Surprising Operations by Britain’s MI6
As of 2019, the British foreign intelligence agency, MI6, is seeking new hires. The name MI6 originated…
Even More Weird CIA Programs
The current incarnation of America’s Central Intelligence Agency was established in 1947. The CIA is a…
10 More Shocking Corporate Abuses
Until the mid-19th century in America, corporations’ incorporation charters—the articles that clarify a corporation’s mission—were…
Tourist Destinations Made Famous Through Pop Culture
Someone who is enjoying a book, a song, a movie, or a television show is…
History’s Strangest Maps
In his novel The Colour of Magic, fantasy author Terry Prachett says, “You can’t map…
These Science Fiction Novels Got the Science Very, Very Wrong
Science fiction author Ray Bradbury said, “Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of…
These are Some of the World’s Most Difficult Countries to Visit
13,000 miles long and roughly 30 feet tall, the Great Wall of China symbolizes both…
Top 10 Incredible Facts About the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire has been represented in cultural contributions as diverse as the 1959 American…
Why Kissing is a Part of Most Cultures and Surprising Reasons Why It’s Important
Kissing requires the use of as many as 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.…
10 Psychological Experiments That Went Horribly Wrong
In his 1961 book Madness and Civilization, theorist Michel Foucault argues that an effective method…
10 Important American Cultural Contributions
What is the most iconic image associated with the United States of America? Is it…
10 of the World’s Most Heavily Guarded Public Figures
In his 2014 article for Elite Daily, Adam Pliskin argues that milennials are especially fascinated by…
10 Incredible Facts About the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire has been represented in cultural contributions as diverse as the 1959 American…
10 Daring Heists (That Actually Worked)
Like all workers, bank robbers are adapting to a changing culture. According to Albert Samaha’s…
10 People Who Were Buried Alive
The common belief that idioms such as “saved by the bell” and “working the graveyard…