curiosities

3 Historic “Firsts” That We’ve All Got Totally Wrong

A tragic flaw of most elementary history lessons is that we focus on teaching trivia. As it turns out, most of these "facts" are totally wrong.

By Richard Stockton • May 31, 2015

3 Historic “Firsts” That We’ve All Got Totally Wrong

A tragic flaw of most elementary history lessons is that we focus on teaching trivia. As it turns out, most of these "facts" are totally wrong.

By Richard Stockton • May 31, 2015

Salt Caves Might Not Be A Fountain Of Youth, But They’re Still Stunning

Salt caves are proliferating in terms of popularity and praise. Their physical benefits are uncertain, but as this gallery shows, their beauty is not.

By Erin Kelly • May 29, 2015

Salt Caves Might Not Be A Fountain Of Youth, But They’re Still Stunning

Salt caves are proliferating in terms of popularity and praise. Their physical benefits are uncertain, but as this gallery shows, their beauty is not.

By Erin Kelly • May 29, 2015

This Is What Delhi, The World’s Most Polluted City Looks Like

Beijing can rest easier for the moment as it is no longer the most polluted city in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the dubious honor of the world’s most polluted city goes to Delhi, India. It’s estimated that the city’s air pollution kills 10,500 people in...

By Susan Sims • May 29, 2015

This Is What Delhi, The World’s Most Polluted City Looks Like

Beijing can rest easier for the moment as it is no longer the most polluted city in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the dubious honor of the world’s most polluted city goes to Delhi, India. It’s estimated that the city’s air pollution kills 10,500 people in...

By Susan Sims • May 29, 2015

What We Love This Week, Volume CXXIV

Arresting Masks From Around The World Come Halloween, masks are products of commerce and pop culture, used for both horror and humor. But apart from Halloween–and especially in many countries beyond our borders–masks remain rooted in tradition and folkways, used for both celebration and protest. In Burundi, a mask made...

By John Kuroski • May 29, 2015

What We Love This Week, Volume CXXIV

Arresting Masks From Around The World Come Halloween, masks are products of commerce and pop culture, used for both horror and humor. But apart from Halloween–and especially in many countries beyond our borders–masks remain rooted in tradition and folkways, used for both celebration and protest. In Burundi, a mask made...

By John Kuroski • May 29, 2015

10 Awful Jobs You’ll Be Glad No Longer Exist

And you thought working as a temp was bad — at least you don't have to provide emotional support to royalty when nature calls.

By Bernadette Deron • May 28, 2015

10 Awful Jobs You’ll Be Glad No Longer Exist

And you thought working as a temp was bad — at least you don't have to provide emotional support to royalty when nature calls.

By Bernadette Deron • May 28, 2015

Haunting Photos Of People Just Before They Died

In the back of our minds, we know we're going to die. But what does it look like just before it happens? These death photos reveal how mundane the end can look.

By Richard Stockton • May 27, 2015

Haunting Photos Of People Just Before They Died

In the back of our minds, we know we're going to die. But what does it look like just before it happens? These death photos reveal how mundane the end can look.

By Richard Stockton • May 27, 2015

The Cowal Highland Gathering Helps Keep Scotland Weird

Every year at the end of August, the village of Dunoon quadruples in size. Why? To celebrate the Cowal Highland Gathering.

By All That's Interesting • May 24, 2015

The Cowal Highland Gathering Helps Keep Scotland Weird

Every year at the end of August, the village of Dunoon quadruples in size. Why? To celebrate the Cowal Highland Gathering.

By All That's Interesting • May 24, 2015

Kaldi And The Dancing Goats: How One Boy “Discovered” Coffee

While some may think of Italy as the epicenter of the world’s coffee addiction, the world’s most popular drug arrived to Europe fairly late in history. In fact, coffee was born in Ethiopia. Both the arabica and robusta varieties have their origins there. Today, around 5,000 varieties of arabica grow...

By John Schellhase • May 23, 2015

Kaldi And The Dancing Goats: How One Boy “Discovered” Coffee

While some may think of Italy as the epicenter of the world’s coffee addiction, the world’s most popular drug arrived to Europe fairly late in history. In fact, coffee was born in Ethiopia. Both the arabica and robusta varieties have their origins there. Today, around 5,000 varieties of arabica grow...

By John Schellhase • May 23, 2015

Artist Guido Daniele Turns Your Arm Into Your Favorite Animal

And you thought that jewelry was the only way to transform your hand into something more exotic.

By Savannah Cox • May 19, 2015

Artist Guido Daniele Turns Your Arm Into Your Favorite Animal

And you thought that jewelry was the only way to transform your hand into something more exotic.

By Savannah Cox • May 19, 2015

The 7 Most Terrifying Experiments Ever Conducted

For the record, the writers at All That Is Interesting are not anti-science. For every person that scientific research hurts, hundreds are saved from pain and disease. But, sometimes, a scientific experiment is so obscenely brutal that you have to wonder if it was really worth it. Here are some...

By Chris Altman • May 16, 2015

The 7 Most Terrifying Experiments Ever Conducted

For the record, the writers at All That Is Interesting are not anti-science. For every person that scientific research hurts, hundreds are saved from pain and disease. But, sometimes, a scientific experiment is so obscenely brutal that you have to wonder if it was really worth it. Here are some...

By Chris Altman • May 16, 2015