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  Do you love adventure? Are you an explorer at heart? Do you love to take road trips with your family? Do you yearn for a life filled with purpose and nonstop action? If this sounds like you, then we have just the thing for you. What is it? A mission? Not quite. A trek? Sort of. An adventure? Definitely. We’re…

  Pour a glass of water and take a sip. Pretty good, isn’t it? Would you believe the water you’re drinking has been around for millions of years? It’s true! Before any creatures were living on land, your water was part of the ocean. The water we have on Earth has been here for a very, very long time, and Mother Nature has been constantly recycling…

  It would drastically change abortion rights in America. In a leaked draft opinion made public Monday (May 2), the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that has protected abortion rights in the U.S. for nearly 50 years. Although the leaked draft is not necessarily the final opinion of the…

  The 1973 court ruling could be overturned. In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the landmark case of Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 (1973)), in which seven of the nine sitting justices agreed that the Constitution protects the right to abortion. The case was initially raised to challenge a Texas law that…

  Memorize this date, and don’t forget to call your mom! You have a lot going on, so we’ll forgive you for asking “When is Mother’s Day?” once or twice this month. (Oh, fine, it might’ve been three times, but you have a lot going on.) Don’t panic, it hasn’t happened yet! The holiday is in…

  On the anniversary of the start of Nazi Germany’s last gasp attack at the Battle of the Bulge, explore eight surprising facts about the fight Winston Churchill called “undoubtedly the greatest American battle” of World War II.   1. Hitler’s generals advised against the attack. Many historians have argued that the Nazi attack on…

  Should you ever happen to meet up with a royal, here’s how to handle yourself with the utmost of elegance and decorum. For better or for worse, there are no “obligatory codes” It would probably be a lot easier if there were a specific set of rules to follow when meeting Her Majesty The…

  Don’t be caught committing cellular sins! Follow our expert phone etiquette rules to avoid being rude and annoying on your smart phone. Put your phone away at the dinner table This phone etiquette rule may seem obvious because, hello, it’s rude, but being courteous in public to both your dining partner and other diners…

The early signs of pregnancy can differ between women. Here are some of the clues your body may provide. Looking out for the early signs of pregnancy in the body can help you to find out if you have become successful in conceiving. When discovering you are pregnant, it can be the start of a remarkable,…

Getting rid of powdery mildew on plants is easier than you may think. Gardening is full of rewards. But sometimes, regardless of whether you’re a novice or a pro, you’ll come across issues in the landscape. Powdery mildew on plants—a white fuzz or powder that usually appears on leaves and sometimes on the stem, flowers,…

  What exactly do we mean when we talk about a “fetal heartbeat” at six weeks of pregnancy? So far this year, 11 states have enacted 90 laws meant to restrict abortion — the most in a single year since the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Now, lawmakers in nine U.S. states have passed laws banning abortions when…

  Scientists growing human brains in mice? It sounds like science fiction, but it’s happening right now. 1 / 13 NAGYDODO/SHUTTERSTOCK Pig bladders regrowing human limbs Scientists have discovered that tissue from pig bladders can be dried into a powder called extracellular matrix and used to regrow human fingers. While typical mammals heal injuries by growing scar tissue, which…

  Nevado del Ruiz, the highest active volcano in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, suffers a mild eruption that generates a series of lava flows and surges over the volcano’s broad ice-covered summit. Flowing mixtures of water, ice, pumice and other rock debris poured off the summit and sides of the volcano, forming “lahars” that…

Global trade is bringing invasive species to new environments around the world. Is that always a bad thing? An invasive species is a type of animal, plant, fungus or any other living thing that has arrived in a new environment and can harm other species there. You might hear the term “invasive species” used interchangeably…

As with all math-related concepts, students often want to know why corresponding angles are useful. “Well, if you want to make sure that you have two lines that are parallel, you can use this little trick,” said Pauly. “Why not draw a straight line that intercepts both lines, then measure the corresponding angles.” If they…

  What lessons can we learn from the world’s worst financial disasters as the cost of living rises? Economies around the world are reportedly on the brink of the worst financial disaster in recent times, as the cost of living is set to increase during 2022. In the U.K. in particular, may see another recession,…

  Explore 10 surprising facts about one of the longest and most brutal campaigns of World War I.   In a war known for its brutality, the Battle of Verdun, (February 21–December 18, 1916), was among the longest and most bloodiest conflicts of World War I. In the battle that slogged on for 10 months, the…

    Albert Einstein may have been a genius, but when it came to relationships, he was just as clueless as the rest of us—maybe even more so. In a letter written near the end of his life to the family of his closest friend, Michele Besso, the great physicist shared poignant regrets about his…

    On November 13, 1979, in the middle of a game at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaps over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine and slam-dunks the basketball, shattering the fiberglass backboard. The result, according to people who were at the game, was a sound like a bomb going…

  Hint: It has to do with the American Revolution.   It’s no secret that the Brits spell a few words differently than us Americans: “color” becomes “colour,” “organize” becomes “organise,” “liter” becomes “litre”—and that’s before we get into the whole thing about calling “sneakers,” “trainers” and “elevators,” “lifts.” So how did our spellings become…

Ever wonder why you can find grape ice pops, but not grape ice cream? When you think about common fruit flavors, grape is probably one of the first to come to mind. But as common as it is in candy and Popsicles, it’s nowhere to be found in ice cream. Weird, right? If you’ve ever…

  As the war dragged on, creator Anthony Pratt longed for the fun of English country-estate murder-mystery parties, where guests would skulk the hallways, shriek and fall ‘dead’ on the floor.   Before Professor Plum, Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard gathered on a game board to claim their first victim—wielding a revolver, a rope or…

  Which team was literally named because a sports reporter ran out of space? Find out here. 1 / 23 ISTOCK/LITTLENY New York Mets Team executives considered Bees, Jets, Skyliners, Skyscrapers, Burros, Continentals, and Meadowlarks but ultimately decided on Mets. It references the organization that successfully lobbied Major League Baseball for the expansion team: the New York…

It’s a miracle that Trevor Rees-Jones made it out alive. The sole survivor of a tragic accident At half-past midnight on August 31, 1997, a black Mercedes crashed into a concrete pillar outside the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. The world mourned Princess Diana’s death in the wake of the crash, with Princess Diana’s funeral being held on…

Hearing “the other side” is surprisingly good for your brain.   In life, once on a path, we tend to follow it, for better or worse. What’s sad is that even if it’s the latter, we often accept it anyway because we are so accustomed to the way things are that we don’t even recognize…

  During the dog days of summer, there’s nothing quite like a day at the pool. Donning your swimsuit and doing a cannonball into a pool full of cool water is one of the best ways to cool off. As you sink down to the bottom, the water surrounds you. It refreshes you like no shower ever could!…

There’s a community in Maryland called Boring. It has 40 houses, a church, Post Office, a fire company, and well… not much else. Nicknamed “The Old Line State” but also known as the “Free State,” “Little America,” and “America in Miniature,” Maryland was the 7th state to join the United States of America on April 28, 1788.…

Planning to let go of a habit or two cold turkey in the New Year? Learn where that expression comes from first!   From “let the cat out of the bag” to “the dog days of summer,” there are all sorts of idiomatic expressions that don’t actually mean what they sound like they mean. Take “quit…

I’ll never understand why this wasn’t fixed a long time ago! It’s a food dilemma that’s been haunting people around the world for too long…and we’re finally ready to right this wrong. You know what we’re talking about. You’re at the store trying to stock up for your backyard barbecue, and you always end up with more buns…

The famous Olympic rings logo is more than 100 years old, but its symbolism is ageless.   When we think of the Olympics, a few things come to mind immediately: the athletes marching in during the opening ceremonies, proudly carrying their countries’ flags; the dramatic awarding of gold, silver, and bronze medals to winners of the events; the…

  One of the best parts of camping is being outside and enjoying nature. During the day, it’s fun to take a nature hike to see what kinds of animals you can find. But did you also know that it can be a lot of fun to hike at night? It’s true! A fun night hike…

  Do you like to laugh? What gets you giggling? A good joke? A funny movie? How about situational humor? Wonderopolis is a great place to find a few laughs. Have you learned about your funny bone? How about memes? We hope you laugh a little bit every day. After all, it’s good for you! Sometimes, people laugh without knowing…

  Which band is the greatest of all time? What’s the best topping to put on a pizza? Which superhero has the best superpowers? Try asking any of these questions in a room full of people. You’ll soon have an argument on your hands! Eventually, you may have to agree to disagree. Wait. Agree to disagree? What does that actually mean? Agreeing…

  Today’s question might sound a little odd. But let’s face it. If you have an octopus, you’ll probably need to hide it. After all, most parents and teachers aren’t going to let you walk around with an octopus. Some people find octopuses frightening. With their eight tentacles and huge heads, they do look a little scary. Their…

  Has your mouth ever gotten you into trouble? You know what we’re talking about. An adult says something and you come back with a smart reply. You might not have thought about what you were saying. Before assigning your punishment, you might be told to stop being such a “wise guy.” This is kind of a funny phrase.…

Humans are the oddballs of the mammalian class. Hippos and naked mole rats aside, nearly every other mammal has fur covering its body. Humans are practically naked, besides the hair on our heads. So why are people mostly hairless apart from our head hair? First, it’s crucial to understand why mammals have fur in the first place,…

  Sometimes people want to know where Wonderopolis is. Do you know? You may visit Wonderopolis while you’re at home or at school. However, Wonderopolis isn’t in either of those places. It also isn’t on the bus, in the library, or even on the North Pole! However, you can visit Wonderopolis from any of those places.…

The dimples on a golf ball serve a greater purpose than just making it look cute—no ifs, ands, or putts.   There’s just so much to learn when it comes to the world we live in. Like, what are those colored squares on toothpaste? What are the solo cup lines actually for? What do the numbers on a toaster really mean?…

Contrary to popular belief, escalator brushes are not actually for cleaning your shoes.   Many of us have ridden an escalator before, whether that be in an airport, a mall, or just around town. You’re probably thinking, what kind of interesting facts are there to really learn about a moving staircase? Well, besides those escalator grooves, haven’t you…

Women’s shirts have buttons on the left, while men’s have them on the right. But it’s not about which hand you write with…   The button differential Once upon a time, your gender determined your fashion choices. For most of the last few hundred years in the Western world, women wore dresses and skirts, and…

  Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. What does a red porch light mean? You often see them in February, but it’s not…

  Do you like cake? We do! And it doesn’t matter what form it takes. We like regular cake. We love cupcakes. We’re big fans of cake pops. No matter what the shape or size, we like cake. Even better if it’s topped with that special coating of extra deliciousness! What are we talking about? Frosting,…

  Have you ever sat in your backyard on a warm, summer night? It can be fun just to sit back and enjoy gazing up at the stars that dot the sky. You might even see a shooting star paint a streak across the sky. We often associate stars with the faint light they produce in…

  Labor unions are organizations that represent workers in collective negotiations with employers. Labor unions are organizations that represent workers in negotiations with employers over rights, benefits and collective interests. In the United States, organized labor rose alongside the industrial revolution in the late 1800s, accompanied by strikes that were often put down violently by…

  Goosebumps, chills, heebie-jeebies — whatever you call them — are an oddly pleasant sensation that most of us experience when cold, overcome with emotion or are sexually aroused. They cause small puckers to form on our flesh (reminiscent of a plucked goose) and send chills down our spines. But have you ever stopped to wonder why…

  Since 1895, the city of Venice, Italy, has hosted a 7-month-long public art exhibition every two years. Called the Venice Biennale (that’s pronounced “Bee-a-nah-lay”), this artistic extravaganza is more than a mere exhibition of world-class art. “The Biennale establishes trends for art and can elevate and change people’s careers or perspectives on contemporary art movements around…

  You’ve spent hours getting into costume and makeup. Now, you’re trying to see past all the bright lights. It’s almost time. Your nerves are getting to you. What’s your character’s name again? Do you remember your lines? Too soon, you hear those three words from the director: “Lights. Camera. Action.” But the process of making a movie began…

Willis Newton and his brothers may not be, for most of us, as easily identifiable as Charley Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Or “Baby Face” Nelson. Or John Dillinger. Or Al Capone. They certainly weren’t as renowned as either Bonnie Parker or Clyde Barrow. That, though, may go a long way toward explaining why Newton and his gang were infinitely more…

  How would the real world be different if it looked like your dreams? Would it be in black and white instead of color? Would it be full of wacky animals? Maybe humans would fly or breathe underwater! Many people find inspiration in their dreams. One such person was Salvador Dalí, a Spanish painter. For Dalí, art was a…

  Imagine you’re enjoying a cool spring evening in a local park. Your family is sitting on a blanket, finishing the dinner you brought as a picnic. The sun has just set on a beautiful day. Suddenly, you notice blue orbs of light in the distance. You watch, confused, as they hover near the horizon. That’s when you feel the…

  Have you ever gone grocery shopping with a friend or family member? Did you help pick out the meat your family would eat? How about milk and eggs? Maybe you picked out a loaf of bread or a bag of apples. If you paid much attention to any of these items, you may have seen…

  Why do skeletons like to drink milk? Because it’s good for the bones! Ha! Did that tickle your funny bone? It sure got us laughing. But it’s also true. Milk is very healthy for your bones. In fact, it can help you avoid a bone condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens the bones. Most often, it affects the hip, spine, and wrist…

  Humans spent the last five and a half millennia inventing over 100 different ways to write down numbers. With due respect to Roman numerals, the world’s favorite technique right now is — by a huge margin — the modern decimal system. Its users can express any whole number they like with just 10 little characters: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,…

  Countless tales of lore are set on the seven seas. But perhaps the most thrilling stories are those of pirates. Who doesn’t love hearing about Anne Bonny, Long Ben, or Black Bart? And there’s one pirate that seems to rise above the rest. Who are we talking about? Perhaps the most famous pirate of them all—Blackbeard!…

  Heirloom tomatoes are one of summer’s most prized bounties. The varieties number into the thousands with attention-grabbing names like Cherokee Purple, Green Giant, Kellogg’s Breakfast, Abraham Lincoln and Yellow Oxheart. Loved for their variety of color and flavorful taste, heirloom tomatoes are a feast for the eyes and the palate, whether sliced on a…

  Have you ever WONDERed how doctors diagnose their patients? What about how mechanics find out what’s wrong with a car? The truth is, these two occurrences often have something in common. They both employ Occam’s Razor. Have you ever heard someone say, “Keep it simple”? That’s the basic idea behind Occam’s Razor (or Ockham’s Razor). It’s…

  The average headache or backache often sends people reaching willy-nilly for the nearest bottle of pain reliever, but for best results it’s smart to match the particular problem with the perfect pill. That’s because the wide variety of pain relievers (known in medical circles as analgesics) available today are each effective at different problems and come with different risks.…

  The Earth’s ocean, rivers, and lakes are full of excellent swimmers. You might immediately think of fish, dolphins, or whales. Of course, sea turtles, penguins, and otters are also strong swimmers. But only one animal on Earth has turned swimming into a competitive sport–humans. Have you ever watched or taken part in a swim competition? If so, you…

  What comes to mind when you think of flowers? How about sunshine, seeds sprouting, and Mothers Day? In the northern hemisphere, most people associate these things with the month of May. And many of them think of a special holiday—May Day! What is May Day? The holiday falls on May 1. For people living north of the equator, it’s…

November 11 is, of course, Veterans’ Day. Originally called “Armistice Day,” it marked the ending of World War I in 1918. It also marked the beginning of an ambitious foreign policy plan by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Known as the Fourteen Points, the plan—which ultimately failed—embodied many elements of what we today call “globalization.” Historical Background World…