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For many people, the end of the day is the best part: it’s finally time to rest! Whether it’s a quick nap on the couch or a full night’s sleep, getting some rest is an essential part of our daily routine. But even though we sleep every night, there’s still so much we don’t know about it. If you want to learn 10 surprising things that happen while you sleep, keep reading! Read more

How do you preserve and handle your food? Do you think your kitchen hygiene is good enough to avoid food poisoning from cross-contamination? Even if you are very careful about the safety of your food and the cleanliness of the surfaces you use for storage and cooking, we assure you that there are some generally overlooked threats you should pay attention to. In this article, we’ll go through 10 bromatological tips you probably didn't know. Get ready to learn how to take better care of yourself and your family! Read more

There’s no denying it: Few pleasures compare to curling up on a rainy day with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book, don’t you think? But behind the book you’re holding, there are many stories to be told. For example, do you know how big the largest private collection is? Or have you ever put a name to that fear of running out of books to read? Well, in this article, we’ve gathered 13 book-related facts that will make you love books even more! Read more

If you ask an English speaker which common words originate from Spanish, the answer might be something like taco, tostada, or sombrero. They wouldn’t be wrong—but Spanish influence goes much deeper than that. Read more

No one can know what the future holds, but there’s no harm in trying to guess! Throughout history, some people have had a knack for making predictions that, no matter how impossible they seemed at the time, turned out to be true. From robotic assistants to the tragedy of the Titanic, there’s no shortage of eerie predictions that became reality. Here, we’ve gathered 10 of the craziest for your enjoyment! Read more

Swimming is a fun and refreshing activity, but you should be careful: dangers are lurking out there. Even the bluest and clearest lakes, rivers, and creeks can expose you to a number of invisible threats. In addition to the risk of drowning, microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause unpleasant symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. If you're planning a good old summer dive, these 10 safety tips will come in handy on your next vacation. Read more

Not all conflicts are fought for power or territory—some "wars" erupted over pies, buckets, and even unsuspecting animals. Human history, it seems, can be incredibly unpredictable. From bizarre misunderstandings to centuries-long stalemates over trivial disputes, here are 10 of the strangest "wars" ever fought. Read more

Did you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was torn between naming his famous detective "Sherringford" or "Sherlock"? Or that James Bond was actually named after an American ornithologist? We repeat names like "Moby Dick" or "Harry Potter" with such ease that we forget some writer, at some point, sat down and scribbled out a list of possibilities. Read more

Writing has come a long way since the days of clay tokens and etched stone tablets. What started as simple marks to track trade has evolved into a tool for storytelling, record-keeping, and instant messaging. Along the way, alphabets, paper, printing presses, typewriters, and touchscreens have all helped to shape the way we communicate. Take a look at 14 cultural and technological milestones that brought us to where we are today. Read more

Ever felt something so oddly specific that you couldn't quite put it into words? Turns out, there are words for those hard-to-describe emotions—you just haven’t heard them yet. Some come from other languages, some are made up but still meaningful, and all of them might just make you say, "So that’s what I’ve been feeling!" Here are a few you might recognize from your own inner world. Read more

Cats may be mysterious, but let’s not give them credit for magic tricks they don’t actually perform. Over the years, these curious creatures have picked up numerous myths—some harmless, others simply misleading. Today, we’re debunking 12 common cat myths and setting the record straight. Ready? Here we go! Read more

A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. From dire situations to the flicker of oil lamps, these expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. You probably use quite a few of these, but did you know what they really mean? Read more

Idioms let us express ideas in creative and colorful ways. Luckily for us, English is full of popular expressions—many of which use the colors of the rainbow to describe moods, feelings, and all sorts of everyday situations. Join us as we explore the meanings and origins of 10 color idioms that brighten up our daily conversations! Read more

We use countless objects daily without questioning their design, yet many have hidden features or were meant for entirely different purposes. From kitchen tools to bananas, here are 11 everyday items you might be using all wrong—or that at least have surprising secrets built in. Read more

Thinking about one’s own demise is not a pleasant task for most of us. Still, it’s wise to make preparations in case the worst happens, to ensure your material possessions are handled according to your wishes. The same goes for any plans you might have for your funeral. Last wills are fairly common, but as it happens, in some cases, people go beyond the usual, leading to the 12 extraordinary examples that follow. Read more

It should come as no surprise that many plants have names linked to mythological figures, since most scientific plant names are derived from Greek or Latin. These 12 plants have names with hidden meanings that most of us may not recognize. Did you know any of these? Read more

Let’s play an etymology game! You’ll guess whether these pairs of words share the same root. Take "road" and "root," for instance. They look alike and make us think of paths and directions. You can almost hear the evolution: road, route, root. But are they related? Not at all. They come from different language origins. So, do you think you can pass the test with these next couplings? Read more

There are thousands of religions around the world, each following unique beliefs and customs. Some practices arise from the cultures associated with a particular faith, others from traditions shaped by historical events, and some can work as a way of showing adherence to a certain religion. Read more

Between 15,000 and 18,000 new species of plants and animals are discovered every year, and, as it happens, they all need a name. Most of those names are just descriptive, but every now and then, an inspired scientist decides to honor a famous individual by naming the newly discovered species after him or her. The reference is usually hidden within a Latin name, but it is there, as these 12 examples show. Read more

While we take for granted our ability to understand the pets who live near us, animal vocalizations and visual clues can and often are misinterpreted. Similar sounds or actions might mean different things, depending on the context. Take a look at these examples of similar signals in different situations and how their meanings differ. Read more