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We recognize certain symbols almost without thinking. Yet, when we stop to consider them, the object and the idea it represents can seem unrelated. As history unfolds, some unforeseen events created symbols that stuck until they became conventions. And now, when we see a gavel, we think of justice; commitment with a wedding ring, surrender with a white flag, and royalty with a shiny crown. Here is the story of how 10 everyday objects became universal symbols. Read more

Science moves so fast that you probably haven't heard that cancer can now be detected with a simple blood test or that you can choose the color of a baby's eyes before in vitro fertilization. Some of these breakthroughs are controversial, while others represent extraordinary progress in preventing disease and in fighting pollution. Here are some of the most fascinating recent scientific discoveries that you may not know about. Come join us! Read more

If languages and grammar are not your thing, linguistics might seem complex and boring, but nothing could be further from the truth. While some areas of linguistics require prior knowledge, many linguistic concepts and ideas relate to everyday life and can be understood by anyone. Here are some simple linguistic facts that might surprise you! Read more

Modern financial terminology is deeply grounded in history and physical objects, originating from medieval garments, board games, livestock management, and gambling, long before spreadsheets existed. These 10 terms you use every time you set a budget or swipe a card had a totally different meaning. Prepare to be amazed. Read more

What if some of the Bible stories you grew up with aren't exactly what the Bible says? Was the forbidden fruit really an apple? Were there actually three Wise Men? Did "God helps those who help themselves" really come from the Bible? Over centuries, translations, traditions, and famous works of art have added details that became so familiar, we stopped questioning them. But go back to the texts, and some of these stories look surprisingly different. From Eve's "apple" to the date of Jesus' birth, here are 10 familiar parts of the Bible that may not be quite what we remember. Read more

Everyone, even the most articulate of us, has a few words they lean on while speaking. Linguists often call them discourse markers: expressions that organize ideas, soften opinions, invite agreement, or buy time while the brain catches up with the mouth. They are not necessarily mistakes, but when repeated too often, they can become more noticeable than the message itself. Are any of the following 12 part of your everyday repertoire? Read more

What is the correct word to describe experiencing nausea? What about saying that you have several choices to pick from? If your first choice was to say "nauseous" or "alternative", you are mistaken. Vocabulary is, in great part, learned through copying and imitating others, but this can also lead to incorrect uses of a word becoming widespread. Let us explore some words that you might be using incorrectly! Read more

Ever wondered why Chicago is called Chicago, when Florida got its name, or what Alaska's name really means? Some of America's most familiar place names have surprisingly old, and sometimes unexpected, stories behind them. From Native American languages to Spanish explorers and even a fictional island, these names offer little glimpses into the people, languages, and cultures that shaped the country. Here are the fascinating stories behind some of America's best-known place names. Read more

Sometimes, a character is the perfect alter-ego to write a song about oneself without self-referencing so much. Other times, a character is just a character. Over the years, musicians have come up with lonely dreamers, fearless heroes, mysterious strangers, and even supernatural villains who have become just as famous as the songs themselves. Some were inspired by real people, others sprang entirely from imagination, but all of them left a lasting mark on music history. Which of these 12 do you remember? Read more

The names of the flowers blooming in gardens, parks, and shops carry centuries of linguistic history. Modern botanical taxonomies standardized plant classification, but everyday names were forged through visual observation, ancient mythology, and cultural trade. Exploring flower etymologies reveals how past generations perceived the natural world. Keep reading to discover the origin of the names of 10 common flowers. Read more

How much do we really know about Shakespeare? Thirty-nine plays, over a hundred sonnets, and more words invented than any writer in history; we even believe that his life was so tidy that he was born and died on the exact same date. But most of these facts are mere myths: historians now assure us that we do not know his date of birth, we cannot confirm he came up with those 1,700 words, and we don’t really know how to properly spell his surname. Read on to learn 10 decoded facts about The Bard. Read more

History is full of memorable questions, but every so often, someone answers in a way that outlives the question itself. Whether spoken on a mountain, a battlefield, in a prison, or in the halls of government, these replies became famous because they condensed courage, wit, conviction, or wisdom into just a few unforgettable words. Discover 10 real exchanges in which a simple answer became part of history because of the beautiful way in which it was expressed. Read more

America's regional slang words are as interesting as they are funny. They say a lot about how folks in different corners of the country see the world, and what kind of culture took root there over the years. No accent or phrase is "better" than another; most are just practical, colorful, or a little window into what a community is like. Take "y'all," beloved down South, or "wicked," which New Englanders toss into sentences like seasoning. None of these are used only in the places we mention: they've just made themselves at home there. Read more

You’ve probably imagined yourself as a detective at least once and wondered if you would trust your instincts or question every clue. Quite possibly one of these world-famous mystery authors should have written a story about you. Today, we will be looking at 10 of the best intrigue masters who keep readers on the edge of their seats with thrilling stories of secrets and riddles that must be solved sooner rather than later. Read more

Ever reread a book and realize it hits completely differently? Time changes us, and how we relate to and understand things does too. If you’ve read these books, you’ll know; if you haven’t, you will soon. Some stories can mean one thing at one point in our lives, and something completely different at another. Let’s go over these incredible novels that may have already changed us once, and might just do so one more time. Read more

Language is a moving target. What we consider a precise definition today is often just the latest stop on a centuries-long journey of semantic drift. A 17th-century scholar would likely be horrified by how we use words like sophisticated or anecdote. Etymology is like a fossil record of human behavior, class struggles, and cultural priorities. Here are 10 common words that have undergone radical transformations. Read more

Imagine telling someone you were carefully supervising a project, only for them to think you completely forgot about it. Or saying you dusted the furniture, and someone isn't sure whether you cleaned it or covered it with powder. It sounds weird, but in English, it happens more often than you might think. Most of us know that many words have more than one meaning, but some English words do something even stranger: they can mean the exact opposite of themselves. These linguistic oddities are called contronyms, and once you know them, you'll start noticing them everywhere. Here are 10 surprising examples that can completely change the meaning of what you're trying to say. Read more

Compared to other languages, English employs a relatively high number of acronyms and initialisms. According to linguists, this happens because English words tend to be short, and the word order is quite strict. While initialisms are easy to distinguish because they are not pronounced as a word, we don’t always recognize acronyms, especially when they refer to everyday things. Here are 11 popular acronyms and initialisms and their meaning. Read more

English has a word for almost everything, even the things most people never think to name. From the tiny metal ring on a paintbrush to the groove above your upper lip, countless everyday objects, sounds, and sensations have surprisingly specific names. Most of these words come from Latin, Greek, or centuries-old trades, and many are still used by doctors, architects, musicians, and craftspeople today. Here are 12 wonderfully obscure terms that might just become your new favorite vocabulary words. Read more

What if I told you some of the most recognizable, everyday things we use, like the microwave oven or Post-it notes, and other revolutionary inventions like penicillin or Velcro, came about by accident? That’s right; they weren’t necessarily the result of careful planning, but the byproduct of other experiments that unintentionally led to their findings. Keep reading to learn about 10 fascinating discoveries that occurred by accident. Read more