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Ancient World

The Most Horrifying Punishments In Ancient History

From crucifixion to the Brazen Bull, these practices seem barbaric to us today. Understanding them helps paint a clearer picture of the ancient world.

Cities

9 Stunning Small Towns In New Zealand

9 Stunning Small Towns In New Zealand, including Oban on Stewart Island, Manapouri near Doubtful Sound, Glenorchy, Hanmer Springs, Turangi, and Gisborne.

County

The Counties Named After People Who Never Existed

Six US counties carry the names of people who never lived, from a legendary gilded king to characters lifted out of 19th-century novels.

Oceans

The American Waters With The Most Sea Life

The marine life found in these American waters is abundant, featuring humpback whales, vibrant and colorful schools of fish, and more.

National Parks

The National Parks With Waterfalls You Can Swim Under

Rangers ban swimming at most park waterfalls. At these five, from Great Smoky to the Virgin Islands, you can still slip into the pool beneath the falls.

Places

7 Tick Infested Areas In British Columbia

In 2025, residents across British Columbia photographed and logged more than 1,500 ticks through the provincial eTick program.

Lakes

The Reservoirs Out West That May Never Refill

Drought is only part of the story here. Here is why a handful of reservoirs across the American West may never fill to the old line on the map again.

Bodies of Water

5 Most Snake-Filled Bodies Of Water In Kansas

Kansas wetlands and rivers shelter watersnakes, ribbonsnakes, and western massasaugas across five top wildlife-rich locations.

Lakes

The Lakes Where Bowfin Grow Largest

The bowfin world record has stood since 1980 at 21 pounds. Where these prehistoric fish grow largest, and the 2022 study that split them into two species.

Stories

Britain’s National Archives Mark 250 Years of American Independence

Britain's National Archives Mark 250 Years of American Independence with the war seen from the losing side, drawn from the paperwork Britain filed and kept.

History

The African Army That Destroyed An Italian Invasion

The Battle of Adwa: how Emperor Menelik II's Ethiopian army destroyed an invading Italian force in 1896 and kept the country independent from Europe.

Animals

Caribou

Caribou survive the Arctic in herds half a million strong, migrating thousands of miles across the tundra, yet a warming north now threatens their future.

Animals

Giant Anteater

Giant Anteater, the largest of the four anteater species, a toothless insectivore with a two-foot tongue that eats up to 30,000 ants and termites a day.

Space

Which Planet Has the Longest Day?

Venus is considered to be the planet with the longest sidereal and solar day in the solar system, lasting around 243 Earth days.

Ancient World

The Largest Ancient Cities Ever Built

Discover the world's largest ancient cities, from Rome to Chang'an, and explore how these remarkable urban centers grew into the first great metropolises.

Animals

Elk

Elk, also called wapiti, are the second-largest deer species, grazers of western North America and Asia famed for their antlers and their fall bugling call.

Space

Which Planet Is the Windiest?

Discover why Neptune is the windiest planet in the solar system, how fast its winds are, the drivers of its storms, and what scientists still hope to learn.

Ancient World

Did The Trojan War Really Happen?

Did the Trojan War happen? Discover what archaeology, ancient texts, and modern historians reveal about the truth behind one of history's greatest legends.

Animals

Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion, cougar, puma, panther, catamount. Guinness lists this cat as the mammal with the most names, more than 40 in English alone, all one species.

Space

Could Earth Ever Have Two Moons?

Earth's Moon is an unerring companion in our night sky. But is it alone? Could the Earth ever have two moons, and if so, what would it look like?

Ancient World

The Biggest Myths About The Roman Army

Augustus died in 14 CE, not 14 BCE, and Rome lost at Cannae. Sorting the real Roman army from the myths about its discipline, size, and collapse.

Space

Which World Has The Tallest Mountain In The Solar System?

Learn why Olympus Mons on Mars is the Solar System’s tallest known mountain and how it compares with Everest and Vesta’s giant peak.

Travel

10 Small Towns in Texas with the Best Downtowns

Ten Texas towns with the best downtowns, from Port Isabel's fish mural to Fredericksburg's Magic Mile and Bandera's cowboy saloons.

Industries

10 Countries with the Largest Uranium Reserves

Australia holds 1.67 million tonnes of recoverable uranium, but Kazakhstan mines the most. How the ten largest resource holders compare.

Stories

A Driving Tour of River Road National Scenic Byway

A Driving Tour of River Road National Scenic Byway winds along Michigan's AuSable River, past sand dunes, high bluffs, and the Lumberman's Monument.

Travel

8 Underrated Illinois Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Beyond the bright lights of Chicago, there are many smaller, underrated towns in Illinois worth making the drive for in 2026.

Stories

An Afternoon Or More in Creemore, Ontario

An Afternoon Or More in Creemore, Ontario reveals a walkable Mill Street of cafes, a Michelin-starred restaurant, lavender farms, and craft beer.

Religion

African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority

In 19 African countries, Islam serves as the religion of the majority.

Society

Life Expectancy in Asia

Japan has the highest average life expectancy in Asia, as well as the world.

Geography

What Continent Is Hawaii In?

Although politically Hawaii is considered part of North America, geographically Hawaii is not part of any continent.

Geography

Landlocked Countries In Asia

Twelve countries in Asia are considered landlocked, although some of them, like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, are along the Caspian Sea.

Geography

What Are The Contiguous United States?

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia share a boundary with at least one other state and jointly make up the contiguous United States.

Mountains

The Longest Mountain Ranges in Asia

The Kunlun Mountains, in China, is the longest mountain range in Asia.

Geography

Which Countries Border Italy?

Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, plus the two microstates it completely encloses: San Marino and Vatican City.

Climate

The Driest States In The United States

The driest states in the US aren't all deserts. Some are famous for snow. Ranked by NOAA precipitation data, with the geography that keeps each one dry.

Climate

The Cities With the Lowest Annual Rainfall in the US

The Cities With the Lowest Annual Rainfall in the US are led by Yuma, Arizona, where barely three inches fall in a year, followed by Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Society

Countries That Use Their Own Calendar

In Ethiopia, it's not the year you think, and there are 13 months. Discover the countries that still run on their own calendars instead of the Gregorian one.

Society

Deepest Metro Stations in the World

Some metro stations plunge over a hundred meters underground, driven by challenging terrain, leading to engineering marvels with grand designs.

Forests

European Countries With The Most Forest Cover

Sweden has the most forest cover of any European country.

Climate

The 10 Most Hurricane-Prone States in the US

A look at the 10 U.S. states most often hit by hurricanes, with context on storm history, coastal risk, and conditions behind landfall today.