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Every story includes a protagonist and an antagonist, whether apparent or not. We all have favorite heroes and villains, from paperback novels to Oscar-winning films. Some of the most memorable stories include such dynamic opposing characters that a rivalry is born. Great rivalries can inspire us to do great things. And some of the most

Stone has been mankind’s partner since the beginning of time. Different stones were turned into the first tools, used as weapons, and carved to create the first idols of veneration. There is an otherworldly quality to stone—a seeming immortality in its unchanging appearance. While the rest of the world grows and decays, a stone stays

Weren’t Jaws and Jurassic Park fantastic? I can never venture into water or a forest without imagining some shark or dinosaur, let alone a ghoulish-eyed strange creature, creeping up and turning me into dinner in the most excruciating way. And let’s not mention giant irradiated bugs, zombies, and human-hunting aliens. Why do we watch these

The Old West is a place of legend and lore. We’ve all read the tall tales about outlaws, gunslingers, shootouts, and skirmishes from the Great Plains to the Southwest and places farther west. Many of the shocking stories are real. Many others are embellished. For more than two centuries now, the myths of the frontier

There is a bottomless hole in the ground about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) west of Ellensburg, Washington. At least, that is what a man who went by the name of Mel Waters claimed to exist on his property when he called into a popular paranormal radio show in 1997. People are still talking about the

With Christmas here, the decorations adorning the shop shelves, and mince pies at the ready, we all know that a staple of the festive holidays is the warm memories that remind you of loved ones. We yearn for the fun-filled antics of running across town for last-minute shopping and the quite often hilarious moments that

It’s hard to think of a more iconic animal than the kangaroo. They’re cute and bounce around like they’re on a pogo stick all day, and their pouch is the most adorable thing ever. So you can imagine our disappointment when we learned that these little guys are actually mischievous. Sure, they might be cute

If you studied the Gilded Age in history class, the women you learned about were probably reformers like Carrie Nation, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams—advocates for change with hearts of gold and nerves of steel. But they weren’t the only ambitious women shattering stereotypes in the late nineteenth century. A rash of female con

The Interpol Stolen Arts Database houses an immense list—over 52,000 records—of stolen works of art, along with pictures and descriptions of each piece. Countries all over the world contribute records of stolen treasures—certified with police information—in an effort that spans oceans, crosses continents, and transcends borders. In the billion-dollar black market, it’s no surprise that

Colombia, Poland, Venezuela, Ireland, Sweden, Morocco—the list goes on. For hundreds of years, Scottish soldiers have taken the opportunity to earn money by fighting in foreign lands. In other words, they were mercenaries. Sometimes these Scottish soldiers of fortune supported established monarchs, while on other occasions, they fought with rebels anxious to upend the status

To win a Nobel Prize is one of the greatest honors in the academic world. Scientists, writers, politicians, journalists, and more are nominated each year to receive the coveted award at the Nobel Prize Ceremony, held in Stockholm. While the Nobel Prize Foundation’s committee is busy deciding who will be recognized for their outstanding contributions

When you think of Santa Claus, what comes to mind? Perhaps the image of a large, jolly man with rosy red cheeks and a white beard adorned in a red suit, cap, and black boots. This fictional figure is one of the most famous symbols of Christmas, especially for children. They believe he is watching

Before music streaming, even before CDs, there was vinyl. Vinyl records came in albums and singles. The singles, in a 45 rpm format, had an A-side and a B-side. It was the song on the record’s front, the A-side, which was intended to be the hit. The A-side got the record label marketing. The B-side

Cemeteries are spooky places. It doesn’t matter how old they are. There’s just something unsettling about the presence of dead bodies and ghostly gravestones. Of course, the United States is a young country, relatively speaking. Graveyards across Europe and Asia are often centuries older than those in America. Tales of the people buried on those

The world of advertising is wildly competitive for your attention. Most people despise ads and prefer to skip or mute them if they can (thank goodness for ad-free streaming TV!). The first thing a commercial has to do is grab your attention, and advertisers will do nearly anything to do so. Sometimes these stunts go

The potential of wars to wreak death and destruction surely places them among humanity’s worst traits. We all know the staggering cost to human life that the two World Wars and other devastating conflicts have wrought. However, not all of history’s wars have been violent. Here are ten surprising wars in which nobody died at

The Emerald Isle of Ireland is undoubtedly a beautiful and historic place, filled with amazing cities, gorgeous landscapes, and a thriving culture that stretches back centuries. However, with that storied past come some bloody, spooky, and troubling interludes. So, what are the ten spookiest mysteries in Ireland? Let’s dive in and find out! Related: Top

While interruptions of plays, concerts, and other live theater events may not be that uncommon, it is unusual for a shocking or tragic incident to take place in the middle of a performance. Sometimes, these moments are caused by accidents or sudden emergencies, but often they are intentional actions by people who want to disrupt

Addiction: the compulsive urge to continue doing something regardless of its possible adverse outcomes. Every human is unique, with their likes and fantasies. Some like to travel, and others love to stay indoors. From introverts to extroverts and everything in between, we learn to co-exist through our likes and dislikes. When it comes to addiction,

Death is a huge part of many cultures, with the beliefs surrounding what happens after we pass on causing wars, discussions, and speculation for millennia. Of course, one of the most famous festivals that honors the dead is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, but there are plenty of other interesting death-related